Abstract: Particle shapes have great influence on strength and deformation of rockfill material. Particles with same volume and different shapes are made by cement paste pouring to simulate the rockfill material. The effect of particle shape on strength and deformation of artificial rockfill materials are investigated under different confining pressures in a series of triaxial shear tests. Test results show that the particle shape influences strength and dilatation of artificial rockfill material. As the particle roundness increases, the peak strength of artificial rockfill material increases. The rockfill material presents high dilatancy under a low confining pressure. As the particle roundness increases, ultimate stress ratio decreases, and initial tangent modulus and tangent bulk modulus increase. Initial internal friction angle is trivially affected by the particle roundness, and increment of internal friction angle is influenced by the particle sphericity. Larger particle sphericity leads to a less increment in internal friction angle.

Key words: particle shape, artificial rockfill materials, shear dilatation, triaxial shear test