The effect of particle size distribution on shearing response and particle breakage of two different calcareous soils

An experimental investigation was carried out on the two originally different calcareous sands to obtain the effect of particle size distribution on the shear responses of granular soils in this study. Triaxial compression tests were performed on the reconstituted samples of calcareous soils obtained from different locations of the Persian Gulf, including Hormuz Island sand and Bushehr Port sand. To evaluate the effect of the particle size distribution on the mechanical behavior of the two calcareous sands, similar samples were prepared by changing the original gradation curves. In other words, the specimens of Hormuz Island sand were prepared by the original gradation curve of Bushehr Port sand and the specimens of Bushehr Port sand were prepared by the original gradation curve of Hormuz Island sand. The result showed that Hormuz Island sand has higher strength in both original and artificial gradation curves compared to Bushehr Port sand. The particle size distribution can change the stress–strain behavior of soil materials. The results also showed that soils with bigger particles are more likely to break.