Abstract
To evaluate the influence of compaction quality on the mechanical properties of rockfill materials, conventional triaxial compression tests are numerically carried out based on the convex polyhedron Discrete Element Method (DEM). A DEM model of rockfill materials considering compaction quality and particle shape is proposed together with a flexible boundary algorithm. After the validity of the model is verified with laboratory test results, a series of numerical experiments are carried out for rockfill materials with different compaction qualities to determine the distribution and variation of mesostructure parameters, e.g., the particle rotation, the contact number, and the contact force. The results show that increasing the compaction quality of rockfill materials can strengthen the interlocking among the rockfill particles, reduce the proportion of floaters, improve the supporting role of small particles in the force chain, and restrict the rotation of small particles, which are macroscopically characterized by the enhancement of the strength and stiffness. It is also found that although the compactness exhibits a non-negligible effect on the variation and distribution rules of the rotation, the contact number, and the contact force, these impacts are gradually weakened with the loading process and almost disappear when the critical state is reached.
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