A strength model of rockfill particles considering wetting time and size effect
ZHOU Xiongxiong1, 2, LI Ruoting1, 2, WANG Jinwei3, CHEN Bowen1, 2
(1. Key Laboratory of Agricultural Soil and Water Engineering in Arid and Semiarid Areas of Ministry of Education, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China; 2. College of Water Resources and Architectural Engineering, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China; 3. School of Electric Power, Civil Engineering and Architecture,
Shanxi University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030031, China)
Abstract：The wetting deformation of rockfill materials exacerbates the uncoordinated deformation of rockfill dams during the water storage period and may even lead to cracks in the dam structure. Investigating its characteristics is crucial for controlling deformation in rockfill dams and ensuring their safety. Wetting deformation is not an instantaneous variable; rather, it exhibits a coupling relationship with creep. Therefore, studying the time effect of wetting deformation in rockfill materials is essential. While numerous experimental studies have explored the wetting deformation and development processes of rockfill materials at the macro level, systematic research on the variation of crushing strength in rockfill particles throughout the complete wetting process remains insufficient. In this study, indoor compression tests were conducted on rockfill particles from both soft and hard lithologies after different wetting durations to assess the influence of wetting time on particle breakage and strength characteristics. The results revealed that particles of varying sizes exhibited significant size and wetting time effects upon immersion in water. Specifically, the average breaking strength of particles within each size group decreased as particle size and wetting duration increased. The particle breaking strength, in both dry and various wetting states, follows a Weibull distribution, with the size effect diminishing as wetting time extends. Based on the Weibull size effect model, this paper introduces a deterioration coefficient and establishes a predictive model for the characteristic crushing strength of rockfill particles, incorporating both wetting time and size effect parameters. This model provides a theoretical reference for further research on the wetting deformation of rockfill materials.
周雄雄1，2，李若婷1，2，王晋伟3，陈博文1，2. 考虑湿化时间与尺寸效应的堆石颗粒强度模型[J]. 岩石力学与工程学报, 2025, 44(11): 2931-2942.
ZHOU Xiongxiong1, 2, LI Ruoting1, 2, WANG Jinwei3, CHEN Bowen1, 2. A strength model of rockfill particles considering wetting time and size effect. , 2025, 44(11): 2931-2942.
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2025, Vol. 44 
