Characterization of Three-Dimensional Particle Shape for Rock Fragments in Embankment DAMS

Abstract This study proposes a particle geometric morphology reconstruction method based on the theory of 3D vision measurement, specifically Structure from Motion-Multi-View Stereo (SfM-MVS), and has measured nearly 200 particles at a rockfill dam construction site. The analysis results show that both particles exhibit a pronounced size effect on the ratio of intermediate to longest axes ( I/L ), with smaller particles tending to adopt a narrower and more elongated shape. The change in sphericity for sand and gravel is more distinct compared to that of rockfill; smaller particles display lower average sphericity and more irregular shapes. However, the flatness ( S/I ) and angularity of the particles do not demonstrate significant size effects in the large-scale dam construction particles analyzed in this study.