Abstract Soil strength is an influential property in determining agricultural and geotechnical outcomes. In uniaxial compression test the strength of artificial aggregates containing different proportions of kaolinite (cementing agent) and feldspar (skeletal particles) was determined in uniaxial compression test, and empirical model of aggregates breakage was constructed. Using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) and bulk density (BD) measurements, structural parameters influencing the aggregates strength were estimated. Next the strength of the aggregates was simulated by discrete elements (DEM) coupled with parallel bonds (BPM) model. The structure of the aggregates was approximated as spherical silt particles joined by kaolinite bonds, similarly as it appeared in SEM images. Real breakage curves and failure development were satisfactorily simulated for aggregates in which kaolinite filled not more than their total pore space. The micro-parameters of interactions inside the aggregate (mean bond normal and tangent forces and critical bond force) provided links between the modeled and real physical interactions (Young’s modulus and the compressive strength) resulting from aggregate formation.

中文翻译：

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高岭石-土壤粉砂骨料的结构和强度：测量和建模

摘要 土壤强度是决定农业和岩土工程成果的一个有影响力的特性。在单轴压缩试验中，通过单轴压缩试验测定了含有不同比例高岭石（胶结剂）和长石（骨架颗粒）的人工骨料的强度，并建立了骨料断裂的经验模型。使用扫描电子显微镜 (SEM)、压汞法 (MIP) 和堆积密度 (BD) 测量，估计了影响聚集体强度的结构参数。接下来，通过离散单元 (DEM) 和平行键 (BPM) 模型模拟聚集体的强度。聚集体的结构近似为通过高岭石键连接的球形淤泥颗粒，与 SEM 图像中出现的类似。对于其中高岭石填充不超过其总孔隙空间的聚集体，真实的断裂曲线和破坏发展得到了令人满意的模拟。聚集体内部相互作用的微观参数（平均键合法向力和切向力以及临界键合力）提供了由聚集体形成导致的建模和真实物理相互作用（杨氏模量和抗压强度）之间的联系。