DigiRoad Simulation of handling and compaction of unbound aggregates in road construction
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | Stiftelsen Fraunhofer-Chalmers Centrum För Industrimatematik |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 4 376 894 |
| Project duration | May 2018 - October 2021 |
| Status | Completed |
| Venture | The strategic innovation program InfraSweden |
Purpose and goal
The stated objective has been to increase quality through simulation of unbound rock materials and the interaction with machines in the entire process chain from quarrying to compacted road bodies, reducing variation in degree of compaction, and increasing bearing capacity and service life. A simulation solution has been developed and validated at the targeted TRL. In addition, essential handling steps for unbound materials have been studied, and new insights gained regarding segregation and its negative impact on the stiffness of unbound layers and thus the road service life.
Expected results and effects
The stated objective has been to increase quality through simulation of unbound rock materials and the interaction with machines in the entire process chain from quarrying to compacted road bodies, reducing variation in degree of compaction, and increasing bearing capacity and service life. A simulation solution has been developed and validated at the targeted TRL. In addition, essential handling steps for unbound materials have been studied, and new insights gained regarding segregation and its negative impact on the stiffness of unbound layers and thus the road service life.
Planned approach and implementation
Development has been conducted through six work packages, of which WP2 and WP4 focused on modeling and simulation and WP3 and WP5 on laboratory and field trials. It has been a successful concept to iteratively develop models and algorithms in parallel with experiments and laboratory tests. In the project´s final phase, two of the industrial partners have tested and integrated the simulation solution for virtual product development of wheel loaders and compaction machines. The pandemic created challenges regarding experiments that were overcome through joint efforts.