A Study on the Design Depth of Permeable Road Pavement through Dynamic Load Experiment

Area of Science:

• Civil Engineering
• Materials Science
• Geotechnical Engineering

Background:

• Permeable pavements offer environmental benefits but require careful design under traffic loads.
• Understanding the mechanical behavior of permeable pavements is crucial for their long-term performance.
• Dynamic load experiments provide valuable data on pavement response to traffic.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate vertical strain and stress in permeable road pavement under dynamic heavy load conditions.
• To analyze the influence of traffic speed and axle configuration on pavement mechanics.
• To propose a design thickness for permeable pavements based on experimental data and regression modeling.

Main Methods:

• Dynamic load experiments were conducted using a 35-ton truck at varying speeds (40, 60, 80 km/h).
• Vertical strain and stress were measured at the Ke-Da Road testing area in Pingtung, Taiwan.
• Regression analysis was used to model pavement strain and stress with respect to depth.

Main Results:

• Permeable pavement strain and stress curves exhibited asymmetry due to the viscoelastic properties of the open-grade friction course.
• Vertical strains and stresses were significantly affected by axle configuration and traffic speed.
• Regression models indicated a recommended design depth of 30 cm for permeable pavements.

Conclusions:

• The study provides critical data for designing permeable pavements subjected to heavy traffic loads.
• A material combination of open-graded friction concrete, porous asphalt concrete, and permeable cement concrete is suggested.
• The findings support the determination of optimal permeable pavement depths for enhanced durability.