Study on the scale effect and mechanical properties of gravel materials in riverbed cover layers

To address the challenges of performing in-situ tests on riverbed overburden gravel, this study employs three scaling methods-equal mass substitution, similar gradation, and the mixed method-to investigate the original gradation of the gravel. Large-scale triaxial consolidated drained shear tests were conducted to evaluate the effects of the maximum particle size reduction ratio (M) and confining pressure on the stress-strain behavior, fractal dimension, particle breakage, and the parameters of the Duncan-Chang model (an elastic model describing nonlinear stress-strain relationships). The study explores how scaling, based on fractal dimension and particle breakage rate, impacts the strength and deformation characteristics of gravel materials. The results show that increasing confining pressure typically leads to higher material strength. As confining pressure increases, particle breakage becomes more pronounced across the various scaling methods. Gravel processed using the similar gradation method exhibited the highest strength, the smallest change in fractal dimension, and the lowest breakage rate, followed by the mixed method. Furthermore, as the M value increases, peak stress also rises, with the modulus coefficient (k) and bulk modulus coefficient (K_b) in the Duncan-Chang model increasing by 4.5 times and 3.3 times, respectively, for M = 15 compared to M = 0. A clear relationship was observed between the change in fractal dimension before and after testing and the breakage index (B_g). As the M value increases, both the difference in fractal dimension and the breakage rate decrease, suggesting that larger M values lead to reduced particle breakage and improved mechanical stability.