There have been multiple standards and tests conducted to ensure that asphalt concrete mixtures can withstand traffic loads. The Semi-Circular Bending (SCB) test is a standardized test accredited by ASTM to compare the cracking resistance of asphalt mixtures prepared with different binder grades and aggregate types.

The SCB test has plenty of parameters that affect its results. In this study, some of these parameters are examined to ascertain the impact of each of these parameters on SCB test results. Examining all these parameters would be cumbersome using traditional statistical techniques, as they require a significant number of samples. The Plackett-Burman (PB) technique was used to perform a sensitivity analysis. The PB method relies on a limited number of scenarios to study the effects of multiple parameters. Even with the usage of the PB technique, there have been 16 scenarios that need to be tested for each of the three notch depths; whereby the process requires plenty of time and material. In order to solve this problem, Discrete Element Method (DEM) is used to develop a model that will replace the need for an actual lab test.

Results from the SCB test showed that the most positively significant parameters were intermediate notch and notch location, while the highest negative impact parameters were loading rates and air voids.