Micromechanical Discrete Element Modeling of Asphalt Mixture Shear Fatigue Performance
Publication: Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 32, Issue 7
Abstract
This study aims to investigate the shear fatigue performance of asphalt mixture and factors influencing performance using a three-dimensional (3D) discrete element method (DEM) incorporated with the Burgers model. The repeated uniaxial penetration test (RUPT), which is a shear fatigue test method for asphalt mixtures, was succinctly described. A 3D micromechanical model for the prediction of asphalt mixture’s shear fatigue life was built using particle flow code in three dimensions. The influence of aggregate size, temperature, binder content, air void, and loading/penetration frequency on the shear fatigue life were simulated based on this model. Simulation results were validated by performing a laboratory RUPT. Research results revealed that an asphalt mixture’s shear fatigue life could be simulated well using a 3D DEM. Aggregate size, temperature, binder content, air void, and loading frequency considerably affected the asphalt mixture’s shear fatigue life. Shear fatigue life increased with the nominal maximum aggregate size or loading frequency and decreased with the increasing temperature or air void. At 60°C, shear fatigue life was the largest with optimal binder content.
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Data Availability Statement
All test data and models that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
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Published In
Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 32 • Issue 7 • July 2020
Copyright
©2020 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Aug 4, 2019
Accepted: Dec 27, 2019
Published online: Apr 28, 2020
Published in print: Jul 1, 2020
Discussion open until: Sep 28, 2020
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