Simulation study on load-bearing capacity and broken characteristics of the loose gangue based on Talbot theory

In order to investigate the axial compression failure characteristics of gangue with varying particle sizes under the Talbot distribution, the Talbot gradation coefficient is constrained within the range of 0.3–0.7, the loading strain rate is set to 1kN / s, and different colors are employed to differentiate the particle sizes within the mixed gangue during the loading process. The test results demonstrate that the selected gangue materials have an elastic modulus of 13.62 GPa and a compressive strength of 73.25 MPa. Furthermore, the changes in gradation between different particle sizes are visually expressed and analyzed using the gangue breakage rate. It is concluded that the ‘large sized particle’ gangue tends to be broken locally, while the ‘small sized particle’ gangue tends to be broken as a whole. The initial porosity distribution of the mixed gangue is calculated to establish the initial model of the gangue sample using the Particle Flow Code program. Numerical simulation experiments related to uniaxial compression were implemented. The strain change characteristics observed in the actual uniaxial compression test are further validated. Analyzing the simulation results, it was observed that the force chain propagates from the top to the bottom, causing cracks to form in the same direction. Moreover, the transmission area of force chain gradually decreases, resulting in the highest compaction degree at the top and the loosest at the bottom of the compressed model. [Display omitted] •Large sized gangue is more consistent with ‘local fracture’ and ‘surface grinding’.•Small and medium sized gangue is more prone to ‘overall fracture’.•Force chain propagates from the top to the bottom, the area gradually decreases.•Bottom of the sample has the most voids and the loosest particle distribution.•Crushing of the gangue mainly occurs in the upper part of the sample model.