Effects of water saturation and salinity on particle crushing of single coral sand

Abstract

To evaluate the effects of particle size, water saturation and salinity on the mechanical properties of coral particles, single particle crushing tests were performed on 366 dried and saturated coral particles with varying sizes under different solution salinities. The AE energy release during particle breakage was monitored along with the diametrical compression loading. The results indicate that the increase in particle size and solution salinity decreases the particle crushing strength and increases its variability. The descending tendency in size-dependent crushing strength is attenuated by water saturation, causing more reduction in tensile strength for smaller particles than for larger ones. The breakage of single coral particles may be categorized into four typical patterns, predominated by the “Angularity fracture” and “Uniform failure” patterns. The AE features are distinctly different in the progressive failure of coral particles. The majority of the AE activities originate from frictional sliding, crack initiation and propagation.