On the bulk compaction of brittle granular materials, Part II: Representing interparticle comminution by K_COMP^*

An applied and empirical compaction fracture resistance parameter, K_COMP, was developed to represent the compression-induced interparticle-comminution response of granular brittle materials (e.g., ceramic or glass particles). The development of K_COMP is an outcome from Part I of this three-paper series. The K_COMP represents a continuum response of compaction fracture resistance and was adapted from established Griffith linear elastic fracture mechanics theory. From that, the K_COMP relates macroscopically applied compressive stress to a corresponding inverse-square-root representative particle size, where the latter is estimated from an entire particle size distribution or specific surface area measurement. The K_COMP value was not constant over a wide range of stresses for all examined brittle granular materials, and this is indicative of a change in the dominant mode of permanent deformation at higher compaction stresses.