Wide-graded soil-rock mixtures (SRMs) are heterogeneous geotechnical materials with rock sizes from millimeters to meters. The stability of embankments constructed with SRMs are largely affected by the controlled minimum void ratio (emin). To investigate SRM deformation mechanisms, scaling methods such as equivalent substitution, scalping, hybrid, and similar grading are commonly employed to downscale SRMs In laboratory tests. Due to scale effects, laboratory-determined emin values differ from those measured in situ. Moreover, the quantitative expression incorporating scale effects on the emin of wide-graded SRMs is not available yet. Thus, systematic laboratory compaction tests were performed. Results indicate that SRM compaction performance is governed by the interaction between voids formed by coarse particles and the content of fine particles (i.e., particle size smaller than 5 mm). The equivalent substitution method yields the highest emin values resulting from a greater proportion of coarse particles, whereas the scalping method results in the lowest emin owing to a higher fine particle content. The emin decreases with increasing fine content when fine content is below 20%. A semi-empirical model was developed to capture the effects of particle gradation and maximum grain size on emin. Validation against existing datasets demonstrates the capability of the proposed empirical model to predict prototype-scale emin values with limited data.
Caifeng Zhu, Jungao Zhu, Tao Wang — Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Geomechanics and Embankment Engineering, Hohai University, Xikang Road, Nanjing 210024, China
Sheng Su — China Southern Power Grid Energy Storage Corporation Limited, Fenghuang Road, Wenshan 663099, China
Xuan Liu — Powerchina Zhongnan Engineering Corporation Limited, Xiangzhang East Road, Changsha 410014, China
Wanli Guo — Geotechnical Engineering Department, Nanjing Hydraulic Research Institute, 223 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing 210024, China
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