Abstract: The coarse aggregates could demonstrate a significant particle breakage characteristics under the external loading conditions and this particle breakage has a great influence on the mechanical properties of the coarse aggregates. In order to analysis the effect of particle breakage mechanism on macroscopic mechanical properties of coarse aggregate, and study the influence of different factors on particle breakage, the concept of “cluster” was introduced to simulate the characteristics of the particle breakage effect. Physical experiments and the corresponding numerical studies were performed in Gushui Rockfill Dam project. The particle breakage effect was verified with the PFC2D simulation software. The results indicate that, with the increase of axial stress, particle breakage gradually began to produce when the yield stress was reached. Then, the crushing rate had a sustained increase. The change of the contact stress is the main cause of the particle breakage. The confining pressure, particle shape, parameters can contribute some degrees of influence on the particle breakage.

Key words: Particle Breakage, Coarse Aggregates, Numerical Simulations