Abstract: This article develops a new method using particle flow code (PFC) to simulate the roller compaction test of rockfill. Firstly, a PFC model composed of random polygonal clusters is established. By considering the grading, meso-structure and breakage phenomenon of rockfill particularly, the model can simulate the macro and meso mechanical responses of rockfill during rolling compaction progress. Then, a new technology is developed to simulate rolling compaction load and rolling compaction progress, and adopted for simulating the in-situ compaction test. At last, the roller compaction test of rockfill in Shuibuya project is simulated. The results of numerical model and physical sample are compared qualitatively and analyzed in detail, which validates this numerical method. This new numerical method will play an important role in simulating the rolling compaction of rockfill quantitatively and studying the roller compaction effect on rockfill.

Key words: random shaped polygon, particle flow code (PFC), rockfill compaction, numerical simulation