Influence of volumetric block proportion on mechanical properties of virtual soil-rock mixtures

Abstract

It is well known that the volumetric block proportion (VBP), to a large extent, dominates the mechanical properties of the soil-rock mixture (S-RM). In this study, random convex polyhedrons were applied for simulating rock blocks. Random structural models of S-RMs were generated based on the statistical regularities of volumetric proportion, size, shape, and spatial distributions of rock blocks. Then numerical simulation of triaxial compression tests was conducted sufficiently for studying the influence of VBP on the mechanical properties of virtual S-RM. Results indicate that the VBP indeed poses a major influence on the S-RM's mechanical properties. A high VBP will always lead to a more significant improvement in the strength and deformation parameters. There is an approximate quadratic polynomial relationship between uniaxial compression strength (UCS), elastic modulus, and VBP, while a linear piecewise relationship between internal friction angle, cohesion and VBP. The formulas for the mechanical parameters of S-RM regarding VBP are finally summarized and discussed in detail.