Performance Evaluation of Pavement Quality Concrete with Wood Powder: A Finite Element Modelling and Economic Exploration

Abstract

Nowadays, research has increasingly focused on alternative additives that enhance the sustainable performance of Pavement Quality Concrete (PQC), enhanced by the growing demand for eco-friendly pavement materials. This study explores the viability of using wood powder as an Internal Curing (IC) agent in PQC through FEM modelling by using the experimental results obtained. From the laboratory experimental results, only the optimum replacement level of wood powder (9.6%) in IC concrete mixes (i.e., IC-9.6% and IC-9.6% ALC 20%) as a partial replacement of fine aggregate is considered and compared with conventionally cured concrete mixes. Fresh properties such as slump, mechanical properties including compressive strength and flexural strength, and durability properties such as density and sorptivity of these mixes are discussed, along with correlation graphs of the results. The micro investigation, such as FESEM, is also discussed to verify the results obtained. These results are then used for pavement modelling (FEM Modelling) for single axle load (i.e., 10.2 tons) to forecast structural reactions and service life enhancements with the amended concrete mix. Fatigue life of pavement on the basis of stress ratio was calculated, and an economic analysis is also done to estimate the life cycle cost of wood powder-modified PQC with those of traditional mixes. The study’s conclusions show that employing wood powder as an IC agent in pavement construction offers an economical and eco-friendly way to improve infrastructure performance. It also has the added advantage of lowering water waste through ready-made curing processes in the world of water scarcity.