Aggregate Representation Approach in 3D Discrete-Element Modeling Supporting Adaptive Shape and Mass Property Fitting of Realistic Aggregates
Publication: Journal of Engineering Mechanics
Volume 146, Issue 6
Abstract
Accurate representations of aggregates in stone-based materials are crucial to conducting reliable discrete-element (DE) simulations based on the microstructure of such materials. The objective of this study was to develop an adaptive representation method for aggregates to obtain corresponding clumps of spheres that closely fit realistic shapes and the inertia of the aggregates. Based on the developed three-dimensional (3D) solid model of each aggregate, the methodology consisted of three main steps, as follows: (1) the aggregate contour was displaced with surface spheres of different sizes in predefined fitting accuracy; (2) consequently, the internal space of the model was filled with inner spheres; and (3) eight spheres for inertia calibration were incorporated, with the sphere clump consisting of surface and inner spheres to generate the DE representation of the aggregate. DE representations of 11 aggregate particles were developed using the proposed method. Results imply that the obtained DE representation can occupy the volume of the aggregate more than 99.5% with a properly defined fitting accuracy and fit the aggregate in inertia very well. A numerical simulation of asphalt mixture compaction was conducted using the aggregate models generated in this study. The numerical simulation indicates that the aggregate models generated using the proposed method can be successfully used to generate stone-based materials such as asphalt mixtures.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Data Availability Statement
All data and models used in this study are available from the corresponding author by request.
Acknowledgments
The research reported in this paper is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 51978228, 51508147, and 51708114), which is greatly appreciated.
References
Abdulghany, A. 2017. “Generalization of parallel axis theorem for rotational inertia.” Am. J. Phys. 85 (10): 791–795. https://doi.org/10.1119/1.4994835.
Bentz, D. 1997. “Three-dimensional computer simulation of portland cement hydration and microstructure development.” J. Am. Ceram. Soc. 80 (1): 3–21. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1151-2916.1997.tb02785.x.
Buttlar, W., M. Wagoner, Z. You, and S. Brovold. 2004. “Simplifying the hollow cylinder tensile test procedure through volume-based strain.” In Proc., Conf. on Technical Sessions of the Association-of-Asphalt-Paving-Technologists. Baton Rouge, LA: Asphalt Paving Technologists.
Ding, X., T. Ma, and X. Huang. 2019. “Disrete-element contour-filling modeling method for micromechanical and macromechanical analysis of aggregate skeleton of asphalt mixture.” J. Transp. Eng. Pavement 145 (1): 04018056. https://doi.org/10.1061/JPEODX.0000083.
Ferellec, J., and G. McDowel. 2010a. “A method to model realistic particle shape and inertia in DEM.” Granular Matter 12 (5): 459–467. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10035-010-0205-8.
Ferellec, J., and G. McDowell. 2010b. “Modelling realistic shape and particle inertia in DEM.” Géotechnique 60 (3): 227–232. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.9.T.015.
Garcia, X., J. Latham, J. Xiang, and J. Harrison. 2009. “A clustered overlapping sphere algorithm to represent real particles in discrete element modelling.” Géotechnique 59 (9): 779–784. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.8.T.037.
Gong, F., X. Zhou, Z. You, Y. Liu, and S. Chen. 2018. “Using discrete element models to track movement of coarse aggregates during compaction of asphalt mixture.” Constr. Build. Mater. 189 (Nov): 338–351. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2018.08.133.
Indraratna, B., P. Thakur, and J. Vinod. 2009. “Experimental and numerical study of railway ballast behavior under cyclic loading.” Int. J. Geomech. 10 (4): 136–144. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0000055.
Jin, C., X. Yang, and Z. You. 2017. “Automated real aggregate modelling approach in discrete element method based on X-ray computed tomography images.” Int. J. Pavement Eng. 18 (9): 837–850. https://doi.org/10.1080/10298436.2015.1066006.
Jin, C., X. Yang, Z. You, and K. Liu. 2018. “Aggregate shape characterization using virtual measurement of three-dimensional solid models constructed from X-ray CT images of aggregates.” J. Mater. Civ. Eng. 30 (3): 04018026. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)MT.1943-5533.0002210.
Jin, C., Z. You, W. Zhang, and K. Liu. 2016. “Microstructural modeling method for asphalt specimens supporting 3D adaptive and automatic mesh generation.” J. Comput. Civ. Eng. 30 (2): 04015013. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CP.1943-5487.0000478.
Jin, C., F. Zou, X. Yang, and Z. You. 2019. “3D quantification for aggregate morphology using surface discretization based on solid modeling.” J. Mater. Civ. Eng. 31 (7): 04019123. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)MT.1943-5533.0002766.
Kremmer, M., and J. F. Favier. 2000. “Calculating rotational motion in discrete element modelling of arbitrary shaped model objects.” Eng. Comput. 17 (6): 703–714. https://doi.org/10.1108/02644400010340633.
Latham, J., and A. Munjiza. 2004. “The modelling of particle systems with real shapes.” Philos. Trans. 362 (1822): 1953. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2004.1425.
Liu, Y., Q. Dai, and Z. You. 2009. “Viscoelastic model for discrete element simulation of asphalt mixtures.” J. Eng. Mech. 135 (4): 324–333. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9399(2009)135:4(324).
Liu, Y., and Z. You. 2009. “Visualization and simulation of asphalt concrete with randomly generated three-dimensional models.” J. Comput. Civ. Eng. 23 (6): 340–347. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0887-3801(2009)23:6(340).
Liu, Y., X. Zhou, Z. You, S. Yao, F. Gong, and H. Wang. 2017. “Discrete element modeling of realistic particle shapes in stone-based mixtures through MATLAB-based imaging process.” Constr. Build. Mater. 143 (Jul): 169–178. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2017.03.037.
Liudas, T., K. Rimantas, N. Arnoldas, and Z. Daiva. 2012. “Comparison study of spherical and multi-spherical particles under cyclic uniaxial compression.” J. Civ. Eng. Manage. 18 (4): 537–545. https://doi.org/10.3846/13923730.2012.702127.
Lu, G., J. Third, and C. Müller. 2015. “Discrete element models for non-spherical particle systems: From theoretical developments to applications.” Chem. Eng. Sci. 127 (May): 425–465. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ces.2014.11.050.
Masad, E. 2004. “X-ray computed tomography of aggregates and asphalt mixes.” Mater. Eval. 62 (7): 775–783.
Qian, Z., J. Wang, and L. Wang. 2014. “Three-dimensional fracture modeling of epoxy asphalt concrete using a heterogeneous discrete element model.” In Design, analysis, and asphalt material characterization for road and airfield pavements, 83–90. Reston, VA: ASCE.
Wang, L., J. Park, and Y. Fu. 2007. “Representation of real particles for DEM simulation using X-ray tomography.” Constr. Build. Mater. 21 (2): 338–346. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2005.08.013.
Yang, X., Q. Dai, Z. You, and Z. Wang. 2015. “Integrated experimental-numerical approach for estimating asphalt mixture induction healing level through discrete element modeling of a single-edge notched beam test.” J. Mater. Civ. Eng. 27 (9): 04014259. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)MT.1943-5533.0001231.
Yang, X., Z. You, C. Jin, A. Diab, and M. Hasan. 2018. “Aggregate morphology and internal structure for asphalt concrete: Prestep of computer-generated microstructural models.” Int. J. Geomech. 18 (10): 06018024. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0001243.
Yang, X., Z. You, C. Jin, and H. Wang. 2016a. “Aggregate representation for mesostructure of stone based materials using a sphere growth model based on realistic aggregate shapes.” Mater. Struct. 49 (6): 2493–2508. https://doi.org/10.1617/s11527-015-0662-y.
Yang, X., Z. You, Z. Wang, and Q. Dai. 2016b. “Review on heterogeneous model reconstruction of stone-based composites in numerical simulation.” Constr. Build. Mater. 117 (1): 229–243. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2016.04.135.
You, Z., S. Adhikari, and Q. Dai. 2008. “Three-dimensional discrete element models for asphalt mixtures.” J. Eng. Mech. 134 (12): 1053–1063. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9399(2008)134:12(1053).
You, Z., and W. Buttlar. 2005. “Application of discrete element modeling techniques to predict the complex modulus of asphalt-aggregate hollow cylinders subjected to internal pressure.” Transp. Res. Rec. 1929 (1): 218–226. https://doi.org/10.1177/0361198105192900126.
Zelelew, H., and A. Papagiannakis. 2010. “Micromechanical modeling of asphalt concrete uniaxial creep using the discrete element method.” Road Mater. Pavement Des. 11 (3): 613–632. https://doi.org/10.1080/14680629.2010.9690296.
Zhang, D., X. Huang, and Y. Zhao. 2012. “Algorithms for generating three-dimensional aggregates and asphalt mixture samples by the discrete-element method.” J. Comput. Civ. Eng. 27 (2): 111–117. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CP.1943-5487.0000210.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Copyright
©2020 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jan 30, 2019
Accepted: Oct 1, 2019
Published online: Mar 27, 2020
Published in print: Jun 1, 2020
Discussion open until: Aug 27, 2020
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.