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Degradation of a Granular Base under a Flexible Pavement: DEM Simulation |
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| Authors: | Luis E. Vallejo Sebastian Lobo-Guerrero Kevin Hammer |
| Affiliation: | 1Professor, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 949 Benedum Hall, Univ. of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh PA 15261 (corresponding author). E-mail: vallejo@civ.pitt.edu 2Geotechnical Specialist, American Geotechnical and Environmental Services, Inc., Canonsburg, PA 15317; formerly, Ph.D. Candidate, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Univ. of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261. E-mail: sel2@pitt.edu 3Graduate Student, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Univ. of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261. E-mail: kph5@pitt.edu |
| Abstract: | Flexible pavements are composed by an asphalt concrete layer, granular base and subbase layers, and a natural subgrade. The granular materials forming part of the granular layers are subjected to static and dynamic loads during their engineering life. As a result of these loads particle crushing may occur depending on the strength of the particles forming the granular layers. Particle crushing is important since it is associated with several detrimental effects such as settlements and a reduction in hydraulic conductivity. A computer simulation using the discrete element method (DEM) is presented in order to understand and visualize how crushing initiates and develops inside a simulated pavement structure. |
| Keywords: | Base course Granular materials Numerical analysis Discrete elements Degradation Flexible pavements Simulation |