The truck escape ramp is a type of traffic safety facility for out-of-control trucks to slow down, for rescue, and to pull off. It is a clump of pebbles that is located alongside the main road. As the pebbles are randomly shaped in arrester beds, few studies were conducted on the property of the pebbles. In this paper, a two-dimensional discrete element pebble shape construction method was built, and parameters of the built pebble DEM model were calibrated using compression tests. Next, simulations of different pebble shapes were conducted, and signals of the pressing plate displacement and contacting forces were recorded. The results indicate that the built two-dimensional DEM model well monitors the real pebble shapes, and repetition simulations verified the built pebble DEM model micro-scope parameters. The pebble shape is a critical factor that affects the bearing capability of pebble beds. With different pebble shapes, the results of the contacting forces varied greatly. The built pebble DEM model could be further used in the simulation of truck tires rolling into the arrester beds and the design of truck escape ramps.

CICTP