01519364

Component

https://doi.org/10.3141/2433-07

The physical properties of the aggregate base of a pavement system have a significant influence on the bulk mechanical properties of that system. Simulations based on the discrete element method provide a powerful method to investigate the mechanics of granular materials, but they are limited, particularly when it comes to representing moisture and finer particles. Established discrete element method simulations were adapted with additional terms to account for moisture and finer particles to model established tests of the aggregate base of a pavement system. The presence of moisture in unsaturated granular material was modeled by using published experimental work with consideration of the form of the standard liquid bridge model, and the finer particle content was modeled through an effective friction coefficient. This combined model was used to simulate the lightweight deflectometer test, an established in situ test for a measure of the modulus of an aggregate base, and the results were compared with estimated target values of aggregate bases for Minnesota roads. When either the model moisture content or model fines content was increased systematically, there was a decrease in the elastic modulus computed from the simulations, similar to trends seen in existing experimental data.

01552761

14-4095

English

pp 58–67

2014

Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board

9780309295215

Print

Figures (8) ; References (20) ; Tables (3)

Aggregates; Discrete element method; Fines (Materials); Granular materials; Mechanical properties; Modulus of elasticity; Moisture content; Pavements

Minnesota

Geotechnology; Highways; Materials; Pavements; I30: Materials

TRIS, TRB, ATRI

Jan 27 2014 3:25PM

• Assessing Transferability of Highway Safety Manual Crash Prediction Models to Data from Italy
• Cold Region Applications for In-Place Inclinometers Based on Microelectromechanical Systems Technology: Four Evaluation Case Studies
• Collecting Decision Support System Data Through Remote Sensing of Unpaved Roads
• Economic Impact of Closing Structurally Deficient or Functionally Obsolete Bridges on Very Low-Volume Roads
• Effect of Matric Suction on Resilient Modulus for Compacted Recycled Base Course in Postcompaction State
• Evaluation of Bearing Capacity of Low-Volume Roads in Minnesota
• Evaluation of Unknown Foundations of Bridges Subjected to Scour: Physically Driven Artificial Neural Network Approach
• Generating Hourly Climatic Data for Pavement Design from Available Weather Information
• Investigating Safety Impact of Edgelines on Narrow, Rural Two-Lane Highways by Empirical Bayes Method
• Model for Schedule Risk Evaluation in Subsurface Explorations
• New Procedure for Selecting Chemical Treatments for Unpaved Roads
• Relationship Between Traffic Loading and Environmental Factors and Low-Volume Road Deterioration
• Seismic Waveform Tomography at Test Site with Open Chimneys
• Using Field Data to Evaluate Bottom Ash as Pavement Insulation Layer