Experimental investigation of the particle breakage of coarse-grained materials under impact loading

•Evolution of particle size distribution of CGMs was systematically investigated.•Impact loading tests were conducted with different influencing factors.•Particle breakage under impact loading was found to be non-negligible. Particle breakage is commonly observed in coarse-grained materials (CGMs) when subjected to external loads. In this study, the evolution of the particle size distribution of CGMs was systematically investigated by conducting a series of impact loading tests with respect to different influencing factors: initial grading, water content, and compaction coefficient. The extents of particle breakage based on the gradings before and after the tests were analysed. Particle breakage under impact loading was found to be non-negligible. The gradings after tests were observed to shift away from the initial gradings. Coarse-grained materials with less water content were subject to more particle breakage. In addition, irrespective of the initial gradings and water content, an increase in the extent of particle breakage with an increase in the compaction coefficient was observed under impact loading.