Particle breakage in two-dimensional angular rockfill material is simulated using a combined DEM and XFEM approach. In this approach, the interaction of particles is simulated by DEM and breakage analysis is carried out on each particle using XFEM. Simplifying assumptions for the breakage path are eliminated in this approach and the history of cracking is considered for each particle in the breakage analysis. Simulation of various laboratory tests on rock samples and biaxial tests on rockfill assemblies show the ability of the proposed model to capture different aspects of particle breakage and the behavior of granular materials. (C) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.