Shape Characteristics and Deformation Properties of Granite Crushed Stone During Compaction

The shape of particles plays a significant role in determining the mechanical properties of granular materials. This study explores how the morphology of crushed stone affects its deformation characteristics during compaction. Granite crushed stones were analyzed using a 3D particle measurement system and image processing techniques to assess their sphericity, flatness, and shape factor across four particle size groups: 5–10 mm, 10–15 mm, 15–20 mm, and 20–25 mm. Compaction tests were conducted using a hydraulic universal testing machine to evaluate the stress-strain relationships. The results indicate that the particle shape parameters, such as sphericity and flatness, vary with particle size, and the stress-strain curves during compaction follow an exponential function. Tetrahedral particles exhibited the highest deformation under identical stress conditions, while hexahedral particles demonstrated the lowest deformation. Field tests conducted in the − 1465 m belt roadway chamber of the Sha-ling Gold Mine validated the theoretical model, emphasizing the heterogeneity of fractured rock masses under excavation-induced stress adjustments. These field tests were essential to confirm the reliability of the theoretical analysis.