Load distribution performance of fiber reinforced polymer reinforced pavement crushed stone layer

To improve the contact state between layers of crushed stones and enhance their stability and load dispersion effect, this paper employs fiber-reinforced composite material cells to reinforce crushed stone layers. Taking an inverted pavement structure as an example, the cells are designed based on the elastic layered system theory. The load dispersion effect of the crushed stone layers before and after reinforcement is analyzed through a combination of indoor bearing plate tests and a coupled finite difference method (FDM) and discrete element method (DEM) numerical simulation. The results show that the designed cells meet the stability and deformation requirements. Compared with the unreinforced crushed stone layer, the reinforced layer exhibites increased elastic and deformation modulus, as well as reduced plastic deformation. The average load transfer coefficient is lower than that of the unreinforced layer, and the diffusion range of the strength chain with the highest power is doubled. Additionally, the degree of anisotropy is lower than that of the unreinforced layer, indicating a significant improvement in the load dispersion effect.