Effect of filler on performance of porous asphalt pavement using multiscale finite element method

ABSTRACT

Porous asphalt (PA) pavements are widely employed in areas with wet climates. As particle enhancement inclusions in asphalt mastic, mineral fillers play essential roles in improving the performance of PA pavements. This study developed a coupled multiscale finite element (FE) model, involving the mesostructure of PA mixture and PA pavement. Four types of mastic properties were employed with four mineral fillers (Granodiorite, Limestone, Dolomite, and Rhyolite) in the mesoscale portion of the pavement model to analyse the effects of filler types on the performance of pavements. The performances (load-bearing capacity, rutting resistance, and ravelling resistance) of pavements with different fillers were identified and ranked, and their correlations with the chemical components of the four fillers were analysed. The computational results showed that pavements with Rhyolite and Granodiorite fillers have higher load-bearing capacities and rutting resistance, while the Limestone and Dolomite fillers can improve the ravelling resistance of the PA pavements. In the correlation analysis, the chemical components Al₂O₃ and SiO₂ play dominant roles in improving the load-bearing capacities and rutting resistance of the PA pavements, and the fillers with high percentages of CaO can improve the ravelling resistance of the PA pavements.

Highlights

• A coupled multiscale finite element model of porous asphalt pavement is established.

• The performances of PA pavements with four mineral fillers are simulated and ranked.

• The correlations between pavement performances and filler types are identified.

KEYWORDS:

• Porous asphalt pavement
• multiscale finite element model
• mineral filler
• correlation analysis
• chemical components

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft: [Grant Number FOR 2089/2 (OE514/1-2, WE 1642/1-2 and LE 3649/1-2,OE514/4-2]; Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst: [Grant Number 57446137].