A physical justification for log e–log σ based on fractal crushing and particle kinematics Available to Purchase

For granular materials subjected to one-dimensional compression, it is usual to plot voids ratio e against the logarithm of vertical effective stress σ. Beyond yield in the region of maximum curvature, a linear normal compression line develops over some range of macroscopic stress. This is shown for a silica sand in Fig. 1 (McDowell, 2002). McDowell & Bolton (1998) justified the existence of a linear normal compression line with a theory of fractal crushing and an energy equation: the smallest particles continue to crush as stress increases, and they protect the large particles that remain intact. Approximately one...