Title:
Discrete Element Modeling of Pervious Concrete Compressive Strength to Optimize Mixture Composition
Author(s):
Othman AlShareedah and Somayeh Nassiri
Publication:
Materials Journal
Volume:
120
Issue:
6
Appears on pages(s):
5-18
Keywords:
compressive strength; discrete element method (DEM); mixture composition; pervious concrete; sustainable pavement
DOI:
10.14359/51739157
Date:
12/1/2023
Abstract:
Pervious concrete is a stormwater management practice used in the
United States, Europe, China, Japan, and many other countries. Yet
the design of pervious concrete mixtures to balance strength and
permeability requires more research. Sphere packing models of
pervious concrete were used in compressive strength testing simulations using the discrete element method with a cohesive contact law. First, three mixtures with varied water-cement ratios (w/c) and porosities were used for model development and validation. Next, an extensive database of simulated compressive strength and tested permeability was created, including 21 porosities at three w/c. Analysis of the database showed that for pavement applications where high permeability and strength are required, the advised porosity is 0.26 to 0.30, producing average strengths of 14.4, 11.1, and 7.7 MPa for w/c of 0.25, 0.30, and 0.35. The model can guide the mixture design to meet target performance metrics, save materials and maintenance costs, and extend the pavement life.