Development of the blast-resistant pavement structure through numerical simulation

Pavement structures are threatened by accidental blast events during the transportation of flammable and explosive materials. On the basis of the proposed blast-resistant design principle—which directs damage responses upward while shielding underlying layers—a series of alternative anti-blasting pavement structures have been investigated through a validated numerical simulation method. A quantitatively comparative analysis is first conducted, based on the proposed performance function, Q(t), to identify the most promising blast-resistant pavement structure design. Then a parametric study is performed to investigate the effects of key construction materials on blast-resistant performance. Based on these results, the final optimal design is determined and validated by a comparative case study. The results indicate that incorporating engineered-cementitious-composite (ECC) material effectively mitigates substructure damage and improves overall blast-resistant performance. The combination of asphalt-concrete (AC) + ECC + reinforced-concrete (RC) + semi-rigid base pavement structure is the most potential design. Increasing the thickness and strength of the ECC and RC layers, along with upgrading the subgrade soil, further enhances blast resistance. The final optimal design shields substructures from blast impact and improves blast resistance by 36% compared to conventional asphalt pavement. This study will provide a reference for the further development of blast-resistant pavement structures.