Numerical discrete element method investigation on mechanical properties of construction and demolition wastes within the critical state soil mechanics framework

Construction and Demolition Wastes (CDW) serves as an effective filler for highway subgrades, demonstrating commendable performance characteristics. The efficient utilization of CDW not only contributes to environmental sustainability but also yields significant economic benefits. This study employs...

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Main Authors: Hao Yang, Fujie Zhao, Junhui Zhang, Ke Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-07-01
Series:Case Studies in Construction Materials
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214509525006023
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author Hao Yang
Fujie Zhao
Junhui Zhang
Ke Liu
author_facet Hao Yang
Fujie Zhao
Junhui Zhang
Ke Liu
author_sort Hao Yang
collection DOAJ
description Construction and Demolition Wastes (CDW) serves as an effective filler for highway subgrades, demonstrating commendable performance characteristics. The efficient utilization of CDW not only contributes to environmental sustainability but also yields significant economic benefits. This study employs discrete element simulation to develop a triaxial sample model comprising particles with four distinct levels of sphericity. By varying the combinations of sphericity, brick-concrete ratio, and void ratio, triaxial simulation tests are conducted, and the critical state soil mechanics framework is applied to fit the critical state line (CSL) of the samples. The results indicate that sphericity, brick-concrete ratio, and void ratio substantially influence the macroscopic mechanical properties of CDW. Notably, as sphericity increases, the peak deviatoric stress of the samples decreases, and significant volume deformation occurs. The slope of the CSL in the q-p′ plane diminishes, while the slopes of both forms of the CSL in the e-log p′ plane increase. Furthermore, a decrease in the brick-concrete ratio enhances the anti-deformation and compressive capacities of the samples. As the brick-concrete ratio decreases, both the slopes and intercepts of the CSL in the e-log p′ plane exhibit an upward trend. Conversely, an increase in the void ratio leads to a reduction in the overall strength and anti-deformation capacity of the specimens, an increase in the compressibility of the specimen volume, an elevation of the CSL slope on the q-p′ plane, and a gradual increase in both the slope and intercept of the semi-logarithmic form of the CSL on the e-log p′ plane, as well as a gradual increase in the slope of the power-law form of the CSL.
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spelling doaj-art-d1ec5db1189240609e6bbcbe7f00f2542025-08-20T02:26:14ZengElsevierCase Studies in Construction Materials2214-50952025-07-0122e0480410.1016/j.cscm.2025.e04804Numerical discrete element method investigation on mechanical properties of construction and demolition wastes within the critical state soil mechanics frameworkHao Yang0Fujie Zhao1Junhui Zhang2Ke Liu3Key Laboratory of Highway Engineering of Ministry of Education, Changsha University of Science & Technology, Changsha, Hunan 410114, China; School of Transportation, Changsha University of Science & Technology, Changsha 410114, ChinaKey Laboratory of Highway Engineering of Ministry of Education, Changsha University of Science & Technology, Changsha, Hunan 410114, China; School of Transportation, Changsha University of Science & Technology, Changsha 410114, ChinaKey Laboratory of Highway Engineering of Ministry of Education, Changsha University of Science & Technology, Changsha, Hunan 410114, China; School of Transportation, Changsha University of Science & Technology, Changsha 410114, China; Corresponding author at: Key Laboratory of Highway Engineering of Ministry of Education, Changsha University of Science & Technology, Changsha, Hunan 410114, China.Key Laboratory of Highway Engineering of Ministry of Education, Changsha University of Science & Technology, Changsha, Hunan 410114, China; School of Transportation, Changsha University of Science & Technology, Changsha 410114, ChinaConstruction and Demolition Wastes (CDW) serves as an effective filler for highway subgrades, demonstrating commendable performance characteristics. The efficient utilization of CDW not only contributes to environmental sustainability but also yields significant economic benefits. This study employs discrete element simulation to develop a triaxial sample model comprising particles with four distinct levels of sphericity. By varying the combinations of sphericity, brick-concrete ratio, and void ratio, triaxial simulation tests are conducted, and the critical state soil mechanics framework is applied to fit the critical state line (CSL) of the samples. The results indicate that sphericity, brick-concrete ratio, and void ratio substantially influence the macroscopic mechanical properties of CDW. Notably, as sphericity increases, the peak deviatoric stress of the samples decreases, and significant volume deformation occurs. The slope of the CSL in the q-p′ plane diminishes, while the slopes of both forms of the CSL in the e-log p′ plane increase. Furthermore, a decrease in the brick-concrete ratio enhances the anti-deformation and compressive capacities of the samples. As the brick-concrete ratio decreases, both the slopes and intercepts of the CSL in the e-log p′ plane exhibit an upward trend. Conversely, an increase in the void ratio leads to a reduction in the overall strength and anti-deformation capacity of the specimens, an increase in the compressibility of the specimen volume, an elevation of the CSL slope on the q-p′ plane, and a gradual increase in both the slope and intercept of the semi-logarithmic form of the CSL on the e-log p′ plane, as well as a gradual increase in the slope of the power-law form of the CSL.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214509525006023Construction and Demolition WastesDiscrete Element MethodCritical StateMechanical Properties
spellingShingle Hao Yang
Fujie Zhao
Junhui Zhang
Ke Liu
Numerical discrete element method investigation on mechanical properties of construction and demolition wastes within the critical state soil mechanics framework
Case Studies in Construction Materials
Construction and Demolition Wastes
Discrete Element Method
Critical State
Mechanical Properties
title Numerical discrete element method investigation on mechanical properties of construction and demolition wastes within the critical state soil mechanics framework
title_full Numerical discrete element method investigation on mechanical properties of construction and demolition wastes within the critical state soil mechanics framework
title_fullStr Numerical discrete element method investigation on mechanical properties of construction and demolition wastes within the critical state soil mechanics framework
title_full_unstemmed Numerical discrete element method investigation on mechanical properties of construction and demolition wastes within the critical state soil mechanics framework
title_short Numerical discrete element method investigation on mechanical properties of construction and demolition wastes within the critical state soil mechanics framework
title_sort numerical discrete element method investigation on mechanical properties of construction and demolition wastes within the critical state soil mechanics framework
topic Construction and Demolition Wastes
Discrete Element Method
Critical State
Mechanical Properties
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214509525006023
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