Numerical Evaluation of Semicircular Bending Test Variability
Publication: Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 30, Issue 6
Abstract
The semicircular bending (SCB) test has received significant attention as a fracture test for asphalt concrete (AC) mixtures. This study focuses on the variability of the SCB test, considering several factors, including mix gradation (Superpave and coarse matrix high binder), aggregate shape, air voids, aggregate type (granite, hard limestone, and soft limestone), and interface properties. The SCB test was modeled using a discrete element method approach to analyze the fracture behavior of the AC mixture. A total of 100 cases were produced for each mix combination, for which the interface property was set the same as that of the mastic. The effect of the interface was studied by generating 50 cases for each mix with some specific aggregate types. The generation of aggregates and air voids within the internal structure was done randomly. The simulation results suggested that the initiation of cracks and their propagation through the sample are related to the location of aggregate and air voids within the specimen. Furthermore, the aggregate-mastic contact bond increased the strength of the AC mixtures and reduced the coefficient of variation for several cases.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
Abbas, A. (2004). “Simulation of the micromechanical behavior of asphalt mixtures using the discrete element method.” Ph.D. dissertation, Washington State Univ., Pullman, WA.
Alvarado, C., et al. (2007). “Feasibility of quantifying the role of coarse aggregate strength on resistance to load in HMA.”, Texas Dept. of Transportation, Austin, TX.
AutoCAD [Computer software]. Autodesk, San Rafael, CA.
Bennert, T., Cooley, L. A., Jr., Ericson, C., and Zavery, Z. (2011). “Coarse aggregate angularity and its relationship to permanent deformation of gravel-aggregate hot-mix asphalt in New York State.” Transp. Res. Rec., 2207, 25–33.
Braham, A. F., Buttlar, W. G., and Marasteanu, M. O. (2007). “Effect of binder type, aggregate, and mixture composition on the fracture energy of hot-mix asphalt in cold climates.” Transp. Res. Rec., 2001, 102–109.
Dondi, G., Vignali, V., Pettinari, M., Mazzotta, F., Simone, A., and Sangirorgi, C. (2014). “Modeling the DSR complex shear modulus of asphalt binder using 3D discrete element approach.” Constr. Build. Mater., 54(2014), 236–246.
Khattak, M. J., and Roussel, C. (2009). “Micromechanical modeling of hot-mix asphalt mixtures by imaging and discrete element methods.” Transp. Res. Rec., 2127, 98–106.
Khorasani, S., Masad, E., Kassem, E., and Abu Al-Rub, R. K. (2013). “Nano-mechanical characterization of mastic aggregate, and interfacial zone in asphalt composites.” J. Test. Eval., 41(6), 924–932.
Kim, H., Wagoner, M. P., and Buttlar, W. G. (2008). “Simulation of fracture behavior in asphalt concrete using a heterogeneous cohesive zone discrete element model.” J. Mater. Civ. Eng., 552–563.
Kuai, H. D., Lee, H. J., Lee, J. H., and Mun, S. (2010). “Fatigue crack propagation model of asphalt concrete based on viscoelastic fracture mechanics.” Transp. Res. Rec., 2181, 11–18.
Li, X. J., and Marasteanu, M. O. (2010). “Using semi circular bending test to evaluate low temperature fracture resistance for asphalt concrete.” Exp. Mech., 50(7), 867–876.
Luo, R., and Lytton, R. L. (2011). “Determination of crack size distribution in asphalt mixtures.” Transp. Res. Rec., 2210, 113–121.
Ma, T., Zhang, D., Zhang, Y., Zhao, Y., and Huang, X. (2016). “Effect of air voids on the high-temperature creep behavior of asphalt mixture based on three-dimensional discrete element modeling.” Mater. Des., 89, 304–313.
PFC2D (Particle Flow Code) version 3.10 [Computer software]. Itasca Consulting Group, Inc., Minneapolis.
Pirmohammad, S., and Ayatollahi, M. R. (2013). “Fracture resistance of asphalt concrete under different loading modes and temperature conditions.” Constr. Build. Mater., 53, 235–242.
Saha, G., and Biligiri, K. P. (2015). “Fracture properties of asphalt mixtures using semi-circular bending test: A state-of-the-art review and future research.” Constr. Build. Mater., 105, 103–112.
Walubita, L. F., Faruk, A. N., Das, G., Tanvir, H. A., Zhang, J., and Scullion, T. (2012). “The overlay tester: A sensitivity study to improve repeatability and minimize variability in the test results.”, Federal Highway Administration, Washington, DC.
Walubita, L. F., Faruk, A. N. M., Alvarez, A. E., Izzo, R., Haggerty, B., and Scullion, T. (2013). “Laboratory HMA cracking testing: Evaluation of three repeated loading crack tests.” Transportation Research Board, Washington, DC.
Walubita, L. F., Jamison, B. P., Das, G., Scullion, T., Martin, A. E., Rand, D., and Mikhail, M. (2011). “Search for a laboratory test to evaluate crack resistance of hot-mix asphalt.” Transp. Res. Rec., 2210, 73–80.
You, Z., and Buttlar, W. G. (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, 218–226.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Copyright
©2018 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jun 5, 2017
Accepted: Oct 31, 2017
Published online: Mar 21, 2018
Published in print: Jun 1, 2018
Discussion open until: Aug 21, 2018
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.