The rate-dependent mechanical properties of a specific geomaterial play a crucial role in engineering design and application. However, there have been very few studies involving rate-dependent mechanical properties of calcareous sand particles. This present investigation aims to study the rate-dependent breakage behavior of calcareous sand particles experimentally and numerically. Experimental tests were conducted under various loading rates. Moreover, the discrete element method was utilized in particle crushing tests to assess the breakage sub-processes. The experimental results reveal that the particle crushing strengths conform to the Weibull distribution. As the loading rates increase, the fragmentation mode changes from primary splitting and successive breaking to severe disintegration, corresponding to the three types of axial force-displacement curves, namely, the quasi-hardening, the slight quasi-softening, and the obvious quasi-softening. The simulation results show that the fractures initiate in the vicinity of contact point between the particle and loading walls, eventually penetrating through the particle along the vertical section of the sample. A higher loading rate may lead to a greater extent of particle breakage. The findings presented in this study may advance the understanding of the rate-dependent mechanical properties of calcareous sands.

特定岩土材料的取决于速率的机械性能在工程设计和应用中起着至关重要的作用。但是，很少有研究涉及钙质砂粒的速率依赖性机械性能。本研究旨在通过实验和数值研究钙质砂颗粒的速率依赖性断裂行为。在各种负载率下进行了实验测试。此外，在颗粒破碎测试中使用了离散元素方法来评估破损子过程。实验结果表明，颗粒的破碎强度符合威布尔分布。随着装载速率的增加，碎裂模式从初次破碎和连续破碎到严重崩解，对应于三种类型的轴向力-位移曲线，即准硬化，轻微准软化和明显准软化。仿真结果表明，断裂在颗粒与加载壁之间的接触点附近开始，最终沿样品的垂直截面穿透颗粒。较高的加载速率可能导致更大程度的颗粒破裂。这项研究中提出的发现可能会促进对钙质砂的速率依赖性机械性能的理解。最终沿着样品的垂直截面穿透颗粒。较高的加载速率可能导致更大程度的颗粒破裂。这项研究中提出的发现可能会促进对钙质砂的速率依赖性机械性能的理解。最终沿着样品的垂直截面穿透颗粒。较高的加载速率可能导致更大程度的颗粒破裂。这项研究中提出的发现可能会促进对钙质砂的速率依赖性机械性能的理解。