Abstract:

Applying the discrete element method(DEM), combined with the software PFC2D, the evaluation of the porous asphalt concrete(PAC) was performed. An intuitive DEM on the microscopic scale was built and a 2-D model was established for the porous asphalt concrete PAC-13 framework structure with coarse or fine gradation. The virtual tests on the structure stability were done. The simulation results showed that, with the same void ratio, PAC-13 with coarse gradation is characterized by a better framework structure stability, a better load capacity, and a better resistance to local deformation than those of the fine gradation. The simulation results were validated by the laboratory experiments, implicating the DEM provides a technique for further study of PAC design and comparison.

Key words: road engineering, comparison and selection of gradation, discrete element method(DEM), porous asphalt concrete(PAC), virtual test