Suction effects on rockfill compressibility

A conceptual mechanism of rockfill deformation was postulated by Oldecop & Alonso (2001) on the basis of the observed rockfill behaviour in suction-controlled oedometer tests. Rockfill mechanical behaviour was linked to water action by means of some crack propagation phenomena, usually known as subcritical crack growth (Atkinson, 1984). For most rocks, the propagation velocity of cracks depends on the applied loads and the chemical action of water contained within the rock particles. Water action is conveniently measured by the relative humidity or by the total suction. It is believed that such phenomena are involved in rockfill particle breakage,...