You are not logged in You are not logged in to this journal. Log In

LOG IN or SELECT A PURCHASE OPTION:

Development and Implementation of a Finite Element Model for Asphalt Mixture to Predict Compressive Complex Moduli at Low and Intermediate Temperatures

Asphalt Concrete: Simulation, Modeling, and Experimental Characterization (GSP 144)
Proceedings of the R. Lytton Symposium on Mechanics of Flexible Pavements
Zhanping You1, Qingli Dai2, and Bardan Gurung3

1Assistant Professor, Ph.D., P.E., Dept. of Environmental and Civil Engineering, Texas A&M University‐ Kingsville, Kingsville, TX 78363, zyou@tamuk.edu
2Research Associate, Ph.D., Dept. of Environmental and Civil Engineering, Texas A&M University‐ Kingsville, Kingsville, TX 78363, qingli.dai@tamuk.edu
3Graduate student, Dept. of Environmental and Civil Engineering, Texas A&M University‐ Kingsville, Kingsville, TX 78363

  • Abstract
Many researchers recognized that micromechanical models have tremendous potential in the field of asphalt technology, for reducing or eliminating costly tests to characterize asphalt‐aggregate mixtures for the design and control of flexible pavement structures and materials. The objective of this study is to develop micromechanical based finite element (FE) model to capture the microstructure of asphalt mixture and to predict mixture properties. In this approach, various material phases (aggregates and mastic) are modeled with a number of fine finite elements. Aggregate geometry, shape, orientation, and gradation are considered in the modeling. Furthermore, high‐resolution images are used to study the microstructure of asphalt mixture and to prepare geometry input for the FE model. In addition, the complex modulus (E∗) of the sand mastic (asphalt plus fine aggregate) are measured by an experimental program and used to compare the prediction of FE model. The E∗ of the asphalt mixture are measured and used to compare the prediction of FE model. The developed FE approach has the ability to predict asphalt mixture complex moduli in compression across a range of loading frequencies at low and intermediate temperatures (−20, −10, and 0°C).

© 2006 ASCE

ARTICLE DATA

PUBLICATION DATA

ISBN:

0-7844-0825-4

Publisher


Close

close