Prediction of Creep Stiffness of Asphalt Mixture with Micromechanical Finite-Element and Discrete-Element Models
Publication: Journal of Engineering Mechanics
Volume 133, Issue 2
Abstract
This study presents micromechanical finite-element (FE) and discrete-element (DE) models for the prediction of viscoelastic creep stiffness of asphalt mixture. Asphalt mixture is composed of graded aggregates bound with mastic (asphalt mixed with fines and fine aggregates) and air voids. The two-dimensional (2D) microstructure of asphalt mixture was obtained by optically scanning the smoothly sawn surface of superpave gyratory compacted asphalt mixture specimens. For the FE method, the micromechanical model of asphalt mixture uses an equivalent lattice network structure whereby interparticle load transfer is simulated through an effective asphalt mastic zone. The ABAQUS FE model integrates a user material subroutine that combines continuum elements with viscoelastic properties for the effective asphalt mastic and rigid body elements for each aggregate. An incremental FE algorithm was employed in an ABAQUS user material model for the asphalt mastic to predict global viscoelastic behavior of asphalt mixture. In regard to the DE model, the outlines of aggregates were converted into polygons based on a 2D scanned mixture microstructure. The polygons were then mapped onto a sheet of uniformly sized disks, and the intrinsic and interface properties of the aggregates and mastic were assigned for the simulation. An experimental program was developed to measure the properties of sand mastic for simulation inputs. The laboratory measurements of the mixture creep stiffness were compared with FE and DE model predictions over a reduced time. The results indicated both methods were applicable for mixture creep stiffness prediction.
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Acknowledgments
The writers acknowledge the discussions with Dr. William G. Buttlar at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. The writers also acknowledge the efforts and help of Dr. Buttlar and Mr. Minkyum Kim in the preparation of the lab test at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Engineering Mechanics
Volume 133 • Issue 2 • February 2007
Pages: 163 - 173
Copyright
© 2007 ASCE.
History
Received: Jun 1, 2005
Accepted: Sep 13, 2006
Published online: Feb 1, 2007
Published in print: Feb 2007
Notes
Note. Associate Editor: Ching S. Chang
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