December 2015
Problems
Asphalt mixture is a composite material of graded aggregates combined with asphalt binder and a certain amount of air voids. This multiphase material can be modeled with three phases: sand mastic, coarse aggregate, and air void phases. The mastic phase (sand mastic) includes fine aggregate, sand, and fines which are embedded in a matrix of asphalt binder. In the past decades, researchers have used various methods such as finite element models and discrete element models to study the complex behavior of asphalt mixtures. One example is the study of the modulus prediction of asphalt concrete with different sizes and shapes of aggregates bonded with time and temperaturedependent asphalt. However, recent studies have shown that the 2D models do not adequately describe the complex microstructure of asphalt mixtures. These models predict over or under the modulus of asphalt mixtures due to the inability to incorporate the aggregate interlock's contribution to the overall response of the mixture. The 3D models are expected to have a better capability to predict the mixture's aggregate interlock and improve the predictions. Therefore, 3D microstructure based modeling techniques for asphalt mixture materials are needed to improve the understanding of the fundamental properties of asphalt mixtures and pavements.
Approach
The 3D models of the materials microstructure shall be developed to study the various viscoelastic or viscoplastic properties. In the developed models, the aggregate interlock, aggregate-aggregate interlock, adhesion and cohesion in the asphalt mixture shall be modeled. The fracture, large deformation, cracking due to load and low temperature events shall also be modeled for various purposes. In addition, the models shall be validated with comprehensive experimental work.
Findings
It was found that the 3D discrete element (DE) models were able to predict the mixture moduli across a range of temperatures and loading frequencies. The 3D model prediction was found to be better than that of the 2D model. The simulation speed of using discrete element models can be improved significantly by using some technologies such as a special designed frequency-temperature superposition algorithm in the models. The 3D DE model can also simulate the fracture behavior of asphalt mixture
Impact
Microstructure-based modeling techniques are recognized as important research areas in engineering and materials science. We believe as the advances of computing technology and improvement computer power, the research work will significantly advance the understanding of asphalt materials, resulting in safer, more secure, and more durable asphalt pavement structures.
Selected Publications
Fundamental Study on Pavement-Wheel Interaction Forces through Discrete Element
Simulation, by Y. Liu, Z. You,
International Journal of Pavement Research & Technology
6 (6), 2013
Three-dimensional discrete element modeling of asphalt concrete: Size effects of
elements, by Y. Liu, Z. You, Y. Zhao,
Construction and Building Materials
37, 775-782, 2012
Accelerated discrete-element modeling of asphalt-based materials with the frequencytemperature
superposition principle, by Y. Liu, Z. You,
Journal of Engineering Mechanics
137 (5),
355-365, 2010
Three-dimensional microstructural-based discrete element viscoelastic modeling of
creep compliance tests for asphalt mixtures, by Z. You, Y. Liu, Q. Dai,
Journal of Materials in
Civil Engineering
23 (1), 79-87, 2010
Three-dimensional discrete element simulation of asphalt concrete subjected to
haversine loading: An application of the frequency-temperature superposition
technique, by Z. You, Y. Liu,
Road Materials and Pavement Design
11 (2), 273-290, 2009
Viscoelastic model for discrete element simulation of asphalt mixtures, by Y. Liu, Q. Dai, Z.
You,
Journal of Engineering Mechanics
135 (4), 324-333, 2009
Three-dimensional discrete element models for asphalt mixtures, by Z. You, S. Adhikari, Q.
Dai,
Journal of Engineering Mechanics
134 (12), 1053-1063, 2008
More can be
found on Google Scholar