Crushing of Soil Particles

In order to understand the physics of the strength and stress‐strain behavior of soils and to devise mathematical models that adequately represent such behavior, it is important to define the degree to which the particles of an element of soil are crushed or broken during loading. The amount of particle crushing in a soil element under stress depends on particle size distribution, particle shape, state of effective stress, effective stress path, void ratio, particle hardness, and the presence or absence of water. Data are analyzed for single mineral soils and rockfill‐like materials and equations are presented that can be used to estimate the total breakage expected for a given soil subjected to a specified loading.