Internal erosion induces alterations in the initial microstructure of soils, simultaneously affecting physical, hydraulic, and mechanical properties. The initial soil composition plays a crucial role in governing the initiation and progression of seepage-induced suffusion. This study employs the controlled variable method to develop granular soil models with varying particle size ratios, initial fine particle contents, and coarse particle shapes. Seepage suffusion simulations coupled with microstructural analyses are conducted using the CFD-DEM approach. Results demonstrate that particle size ratio, fine particle content, and coarse particle shape exert distinct influences on cumulative erosion mass, fine particle distribution, contact fabric, and mechanical redundancy at both macroscopic and microscopic scales. This numerical investigation advances the fundamental understanding of internal erosion mechanisms and informs the development of micro-mechanical constitutive models. Furthermore, for binary granular media composed of coarse and fine particles, careful control of the particle size ratio and fine content is recommended when utilizing gap-graded soils in embankment and dam construction to improve structural resilience and resistance to internal erosion.

In the process of using transportation infrastructure, contact erosion between different particle sizes soil layers can easily occur under complex hydro-mechanical coupling, leading to deformation and damage of structures. To investigate indirect erosion between soil layers under cyclical load effects from a microscopic perspective, a volume of fluid-discrete element method (VOF-DEM) coupled method was adopted in this study. The influence of different water table levels and particle size ratios (PSR) was considered. The study found that: (1) The compressive effect of coarse particles during loading and the stress relaxation effect during unloading can both cause migration of fine particles within one loading-unloading cycle; (2) Immersion of the contact surface between coarse and fine particles is a key factor in inducing particle migration, with the interaction between particles being the most intense at the contact surface; (3) Fully saturated soil experiences the most severe particle erosion and macroscopic deformation; (4) Reducing PSR can effectively improve the integrity of soil structure and suppress erosion of fine particles; (5) Particle migration inevitably leads to axial deformation of the soil, resulting in reduced stiffness and increased energy dissipation during loading-unloading cycles. This study provides new insights into contact erosion under complex hydraulic coupling from a microscopic perspective.

Transportation infrastructure, being exposed to natural environments for a prolonged period, is susceptible to contact erosion between different particle size soil layers due to complex water-force interactions such as cyclical loading and water infiltration. The significant loss of particles leads to uneven deformation and decreased stability of the soil mass, and in severe cases, it can even result in the overall collapse of structures. To reveal the mechanism of contact erosion, a coupled solid-liquid-gas contact erosion model based on the VOF-DEM method was established. The study investigates the particle migration process, macroscopic deformation response, and evolution of contact forces under different particle size ratios (PSR) and seepage path influences. The following conclusions were drawn: (1) Significant particle migration between coarse and fine particles occurs only after being subjected to the effects of seepage. The particle erosion rate reaches its maximum after the soil mass becomes saturated. Cyclic loading intensifies the severity of particle erosion under seepage conditions. (2) Particle erosion mainly occurs at the contact surface, and the squeezing action of coarse particles and stress relaxation during unloading contribute to particle migration and loss. (3) Particle migration induces significant axial deformation in the soil mass and increases energy dissipation during loading and unloading processes. (4) Reducing the PSR effectively suppresses particle loss in the contact erosion process. (5) Seepage perpendicular to the contact surface results in more severe particle loss and soil deformation.

Spherical glass beads weaken the influences of particle morphology, surface properties, and microscopic fabric on shear strength, which is significant for revealing the relationship between macroscopic particle friction mechanisms and the particle size distribution of sand. This paper explores the shear mechanical properties of glass beads with different particle size ratios under different confining pressures. It obtains the particle size ratio and fractal dimension D through an optimal mechanical response. Simultaneously, we explore the range of the fractal dimension D under well-graded conditions. The test results show that the strain-softening degree of R-s is more obvious under a highly effective confining pressure, and the strain-softening degree of R-s can reach 0.669 when the average particle size (d) over bar is 0.5 mm. The changes in the normalized modulus ratio E-u/E-u50 indicate that the particle ratio and arrangement are the fundamental reasons for the different macroscopic shear behaviors of particles. The range of the peak effective internal friction angle phi is 23 degrees similar to 35 degrees, and it first increases and then decreases with the increase in the effective confining pressure. As the average particle size increases, the peak stress ratio M-FL and the peak effective internal friction angle phi first increase and then decrease, and both can be expressed using the Gaussian function. The range of the fractal dimension D for well-graded particles is 1.873 to 2.612, and the corresponding average particle size (d) over bar ranges from 0.433 to 0.598. Under the optimal mechanical properties of glass beads, the particle size ratio of 0.25 mm to 0.75 mm is 23:27, and the fractal dimension D is 2.368. The study results provide a reference for exploring friction mechanics mechanisms and the optimal particle size distributions of isotropic sand.