DEM Simulation of Laboratory Compaction of Asphalt Mixtures Using an Open Source Code
Publication: Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 27, Issue 3
Abstract
Asphalt mixture compaction is an important procedure of asphalt pavement construction and can significantly affect the performance of pavement. In recent years, the finite element method (FEM) has been utilized by researchers to study asphalt mixture compaction. However, FEM is a continuum approach and unable to take into account the slippage and interlock of aggregates during the compaction process. With its inherent advantages, the discrete element method (DEM) is a more suitable tool than FEM to simulate asphalt mixture compaction. In this study, an open source DEM code was applied to simulate three types of hot-mix asphalt (HMA) compaction for the first time: superpave gyratory compaction, vibration compaction, and kneading compaction. A viscoelastic contact law was used for the simulation and the parameters were obtained through nonlinear regression analysis of dynamic modulus test results. The DEM simulation results show good agreement with lab compaction test results, which indicates that DEM is a reasonable tool to simulate asphalt mixture compaction and has tremendous potential to help guide asphalt mixture compaction.
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.
Abbas, A., Masad, E., Papagiannakis, T., and Harman, T. (2007). “Micromechanical modeling of the viscoelastic behavior of asphalt mixtures using the discrete-element method.” Int. J. Geomech., 131–139.
Adhikari, S., and You, Z. (2011). “Investigating the sensitivity of aggregate size within sand mastic by modeling the microstructure of an asphalt mixture.” J. Mater. Civ. Eng., 580–586.
Adhikari, S, You, Z, and Kutay, M. E. (2008). “Prediction of dynamic modulus of asphalt concrete using two-dimensional and three-dimensional discrete element modeling approach.” GeoCongress 2008: Characterization, Monitoring, and Modeling of GeoSystems, A. N. Alshawabkeh, K. R. Reddy and M. V. Khire, eds., ASCE, Reston, VA, 1020–1027.
Buttlar, W. G., and You, Z. (2001). “Discrete element modeling of asphalt concrete: A micro-fabric approach.” Transportation Research Record 1757, Transportation Research Board, Washington, DC, 111–118.
Chen, F., Drumm, E., and Guiochon, G. (2007). “Prediction/verification of particle motion in one dimension with the discrete-element method.” Int. J. Geomech., 344–352.
Chen, F., Drumm, E. C., Guiochon, G., and Suzuki, K (2008). “Discrete element simulation of 1D upward seepage flow with particle-fluid interaction using coupled open source software.” Proc., 12th Int. Conf. of the Int. Association for Computer Methods and Advances in Geomechanics (IACMAG), Goa, India, 2483–2489.
Chen, J., Huang, B., Chen, F., and Shu, X. (2012). “Application of discrete element method to superpave gyratory compaction.” Road Mater. Pavement Des., 13(13), 480–500.
Chen, J., Huang, B., and Shu, X. (2013). “Air-void distribution analysis of asphalt mixture utilizing discrete element method.” J. Mater. Civ. Eng., 1375–1385.
Cooley, L. A., Jr., and Kandhal, P. S. (1999). “Evaluation of density gradients in APA samples.” National Center for Asphalt Technology, Auburn, AL.
Collop, A. C., McDowell, G. R., and Lee, Y. W. (2004). “Use of the distinct element method to model the deformation behavior of an idealized asphalt mixture.” Int. J. Pavement Eng., 5(1), 1–7.
Collop, A. C., McDowell, G. R., and Lee, Y. W. (2006). “Modelling dilation in an idealised asphalt mixture using discrete element modeling.” Granular Matter, 8(3–4), 175–184.
Cundall, P. A., and Strack, O. D. L. (1979). “A discrete numerical model for granular assemblies.” Geotechnique, 29(1), 47–65.
Dai, Q., and You, Z. (2007). “Prediction of creep stiffness of asphalt mixture with micromechanical finite-element and discrete-element models.” J. Eng. Mech., 163–173.
Donzé, F. V. (2008). “Impacts on cohesive frictional geomaterials: A DEM analysis applied to concrete.” Eur. J. Environ. Civ. Eng., 12(7–8), 967–985.
Ford, M. C. (1988). “Pavement densification related to asphalt mix characteristics.” Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board, Transportation Research Board, Washington, DC.
Han, J., Zhang, Y.-Z., and Parsons, R. L. (2008). “Development of a performance-based laboratory test method for evaluating geosynthetic-soil confinement.” Transportation Research Board 87th Annual Meeting, Transportation Research Board, Washington, DC.
Huang, B., Chen, X., Shu, X., Masad, E., and Mahmoud, E. (2009). “Effects of coarse aggregate angularity and asphalt binder on laboratory measured permanent deformation properties of HMA.” Int. J. Pavement Eng., 10(1), 19–28.
Huber, G. A., and Heiman, G. H. (1987). “Effect of asphalt concrete parameter on rutting performance: A field investigation.” Assoc. Asphalt Paving Technol., 56, 33–61.
Itasca Consulting Group. (2004). “PFC2D manual Ver.3.1.” Minneapolis.
Kim, H., and Buttlar, W. G. (2005). “Micro mechanical fracture modeling of asphalt mixture using the discrete element method.” Geotech. Spec. Publ., 130–142, 209–223.
Kim, H., Wagoner, M., and Buttlar, W. (2008). “Simulation of fracture behavior in asphalt concrete using a heterogeneous cohesive zone discrete element model.” J. Mater. Civ. Eng., 552–563.
Koneru, S. (2008). “A thermomechanical framework for modeling the compaction of asphalt mixes.” Mech. Mater., 40(10), 846–864.
Kozicki, J., and Donzé, F. V. (2008). “A new open-source software developed for numerical simulations using discrete modeling methods.” Comput. Methods Appl. Mech. Eng., 197(49), 4429–4443.
Liu, Y., Dai, Q., and You, Z. (2009). “Viscoelastic model for discrete element simulation of asphalt mixtures.” J. Eng. Mech., 324–333.
Pan, T., Tutumluer, E., and Carpenter, S. H. (2005). “Effect of coarse aggregate morphology on the resilient modulus of hot-mix asphalt.” Transportation Research Record 1929, Transportation Research Board, Washington, DC, 1–9.
Roberts, F. L., Kandhal, P. S., Brown, E. R., Lee, D. Y., and Kennedy, T. W. (1996). “Hot mix asphalt materials, mixture design, and construction.” 2nd Ed., NAPA Research and Education Foundation, Lanham, MD.
Santucci, L. E., Allen, D. D., and Coats, R. L. (1985). “The effects of moisture and compaction on the quality of asphalt pavements.” Assoc. Asphalt Paving Technol., 54, 168–208.
Shiu, W., Donzé, F. V., and Daudeville, L. (2008). “Compaction process in concrete during missile impact: A DEM analysis.” Comput. Concr., 5(4), 329–342.
Simpson, B., and Tatsuoka, F. (2008). “Geotechnics: The next 60 years.” Geotechnique, 58(5), 357–368.
Wang, C., Tannant, D. D., and Lilly, P. A. (2003). “Numerical analysis of the stability of heavily jointed rock slopes using PFC2D.” Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci., 40(3), 415–424.
Wang, L. B., Zhang, B., Wang, D., and Yue, Z. (2007). “Fundamental mechanics of asphalt compaction through FEM and DEM modeling.”, American Society of Civil Engineers, Reston, VA, 45–63.
Wu, H., Huang, B., and Shu, X. (2012). “Characterizing viscoelastic properties of asphalt mixtures utilizing loaded wheel tester (LWT).” Road Mater. Pavement Des., 13(S1), 38–55.
Wu, H., Huang, B., and Shu, X. (2014). “Characterizing fatigue behavior of asphalt mixtures utilizing loaded wheel tester.” J. Mater. Civ. Eng., 26(1), 152–159.
Wu, H., Huang, B., Shu, X., and Dong, Q. (2011). “Laboratory evaluation of abrasion resistance of portland cement pervious concrete.” J. Mater. Civ. Eng., 23(5), 697–702.
You, Z., Adhikari, S., and Kutay, M. E. (2009). “Dynamic modulus simulation of the asphalt concrete using the X-ray computed tomography images.” Mater. Struct., 42(5), 617–630.
You, Z., and Buttlar, W. G. (2004). “Discrete element modeling to predict the modulus of asphalt concrete mixtures.” J. Mater. Civ. Eng., 140–146.
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.” Transportation Research Record 1929, Transportation Research Board, Washington, DC, 218–226.
Zheng, J. L., Chen, X., Li, Q. R., and Ying, R. H. (2008). “ANSYS research on vibratory compacting process of hot asphalt mixture pavement.” Eng. Mech., 25(10), 200–206.
Zube, E. (1962). “Compaction studies of asphalt concrete pavement as related to the water permeability test.” 41st Annual Meeting of the Highway Research Board, Transportation Research Board, Washington, DC.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Copyright
© 2014 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jul 12, 2013
Accepted: Feb 21, 2014
Published online: Jul 18, 2014
Discussion open until: Dec 18, 2014
Published in print: Mar 1, 2015
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.