Shear mechanical properties of aggregate cemented materials: a numerical study based on a particle flow modeling strategy

In this study, three-dimensional laser scanning technology is applied to obtain real geometric data of aggregate particles in cemented materials, and a characterization method of surface roughness of aggregate is proposed to quantify the surface roughness of aggregate. A series of three-dimensional direct shear tests are conducted using particle flow code. The shear mechanical properties of cemented materials with different cementation degrees and different surface roughness levels of aggregate particles are investigated through the direct shear tests. The results show that the roughness level of aggregates and the cementation degree both affect the mechanical properties of cemented materials. As the degree of cementation increases, both of the internal friction angle and cohesion increase. As the degree of roughness increases, the internal friction angle increases while the cohesion decreases. The surface roughness of aggregate is in linear relationship with the internal friction angle and in nonlinear decreasing relationship with the cohesion.