Abstract: A total of 10 series of calcareous sand compression tests with different average particle size, water content and relative density were performed for one dimensional compression tests. The particle size distribution analyses before and after the compression test were also performed to analyze the particle crushing characteristics and the change trend of the particle group during compression. The results show that the calcareous sand is a low compressibility soil, and the compression deformation is mainly plastic deformation; the average particle size has a linear relationship with the particle crushing rate. The larger the particle size, the more obvious the crushing of the particles leads to the greater the compression deformation; The water content can improve the compression performance of coral sand to a certain level. The fine-grained calcareous sand only produces limited particle fragmentation. The difference in the particle fragmentation caused by changes in water content is not the main reason for its compression characteristics; reducing the initial void ratio can effectively control the compression deformation caused by external force; 0.25mm can be used as the limit particle size to control the crushing of coral sand particles.

Key words: Calcareous Sand, Compression Characteristics, Average Particle Size, Water Content, Relative Density