A New Paradigm Integrating the Concepts of Particle Abrasion and Breakage

Abstract

This paper introduces a new paradigm that integrates the concepts of particle abrasion and breakage. Both processes can co-occur under loading as soil particles are subjected to friction as well as collisions between particles. Therefore, the significance of this integrating paradigm lies in its ability to address both abrasion and breakage in a single framework. The new paradigm is mapped out in a framework called the 'particle geometry space.' The x-axis corresponds to the surface-area-to-volume ratio ($A/V$), while the y-axis represents volume ($V$). This space facilitates a holistic characterization of the four-particle geometry features, i.e., shape ($β$) and size ($D$) as well as surface area ($A$) and volume ($V$). Three distinct paths (abrasion, breakage, and equally-occurring abrasion and breakage processes), three limit lines (breakage line, sphere line, and average shape-conserving line), and five different zones are defined in the particle geometry space. Consequently, this approach enables us to systematically relate the extent of co-occurring abrasion and breakage to the particle geometry evolution.