In order to characterize the impacts of key factors on the low-temperature fracture performance of dense-graded asphalt concrete, the virtual bending fracture test is simulated by using the discrete element method( DEM) and emulation software PFC3D( particle flowcode in three-dimension). A virtual specimen generation procedure consisting of aggregate gradation, irregular clumps, asphalt mortar and air void content is performed based on the random generation algorithm and irregular coarse aggregates library. Then, the virtual fracture test is conducted after adding the micro mechanical contact models to the specimen, and the validity of virtual modeling is verified by the comparison of simulation test data and lab test data. Additionally, an orthogonal test is designed to investigate the impacts of the volume fraction of coarse aggregates and air voids, stiffness of coarse aggregates and asphalt mortar, internal bond strength of asphalt mortar and distribution of coarse aggregates and air voids on low-temperature fracture performance based on virtual simulation.The results showthat all the factors have effects on fracture performance to various degrees, while the value of the bond strength of asphalt mortar is found to be the most important determinant of tensile strength and strain-energy density. The volume fraction of coarse aggregates is considered to be the most important determinant of tensile strain. Therefore, to obtain a high low-temperature fracture performance of densegraded asphalt concrete, it is important to consider the microstructure and properties of asphalt mortar and aggregates.
Based on laboratory tests and field materials evaluation, the inner frictional resistance of SMA skeleton was investigated and then the degradation behaviour of SMA skeleton was characterized for recycling purpose. Inner frictional resistance test was designed to investigate the skeleton characteristics of SMA aggregate mixture. The experimental results indicate that SMA skeleton has much stronger inner frictional resistance than AC skeleton, and coarse aggregates provide main contributions to the inner frictional resistance of SMA skeleton. Crushing test and superpave gyratory compactor （SGC） test were designed to reveal the degradation behaviour of SMA skeleton. To verify the laboratory characterization, field materials were also evaluated. The results indicate that the degradation of SMA skeleton is not random but has fixed internal trend, especially the 4.75mm aggregate plays a key role in the graded aggregates. Based on the testing results, it can be concluded that long-term repeated loading can cause degradation of SMA skeleton. However, the gradation does not keep deteriorating under repeated loading. When the inner frictional resistance is small enough, outside pressure will cause flow deformation of skeleton instead of degradation. Thus, well-designed SMA aggregate mixture is valuable for recycling after long-term in service. And it is important to restore the skeleton, especially the coarse aggregate part.
This study investigated the temperature field and thawing depth of wide embankment for expressway in permafrost regions based on numerical analysis by using finite element method(FEM).According to specific embankment section of Qinghai-Tibet highway,computational region for numerical analysis was defined.And numerical model was developed through FEM software named as ABAQUS and was verified by field observed data.The effects by width and height of embankment on the thermal regime of computational region were analyzed based on FEM modeling.Numerical analysis showed that embankment construction has serious disturbance on the thermal stability of ground permafrost showing as annual average ground temperature and the maximum thawing depth keeps increasing with service time increasing.And larger embankment width leads to poorer thermal stability and more serious uneven temperature field of embankment.Raising embankment height can improve the thermal stability; however,the improvement is restricted for wide embankment and it cannot change the degradation trend of thermal stability with service life increasing.Thus,to construct expressway with wide embankment in permafrost regions of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau,effective measures need to be considered to improve the thermal stability of underlying permafrost.
The objective of this work is to model the microstructure of asphalt mixture and build virtual test for asphalt mixture by using Particle Flow Code in three dimensions(PFC^(3D))based on three-dimensional discrete element method.A randomly generating algorithm was proposed to capture the three-dimensional irregular shape of coarse aggregate.And then,modeling algorithm and method for graded aggregates were built.Based on the combination of modeling of coarse aggregates,asphalt mastic and air voids,three-dimensional virtual sample of asphalt mixture was modeled by using PFC^(3D).Virtual tests for penetration test of aggregate and uniaxial creep test of asphalt mixture were built and conducted by using PFC^(3D).By comparison of the testing results between virtual tests and actual laboratory tests,the validity of the microstructure modeling and virtual test built in this study was verified.Additionally,compared with laboratory test,the virtual test is easier to conduct and has less variability.It is proved that microstructure modeling and virtual test based on three-dimensional discrete element method is a promising way to conduct research of asphalt mixture.
The high-temperature creep behavior of asphalt mixture was investigated based on micromechanical modeling and virtual test by using three-dimensional discrete element method（DEM）. A user-defined micromechanical model of asphalt mixture was established after analyzing the irregular shape and gradation of coarse aggregates, the viscoelastic property of asphalt mastic, and the random distribution of air voids within the asphalt mixture. Virtual uniaxial static creep test at 60 ℃ was conducted by using Particle Flow Code in three dimensions（PFC3D） and was validated by laboratory test. Based on virtual creep test, the micromechanical characteristics between aggregates, within asphalt mastic, and between aggregate and asphalt mastic were analyzed for the asphalt mixture. It is proved that the virtual test based on the micromechanical model can efficiently predict the creep deformation of asphalt mixture. And the high-temperature behavior of asphalt mixture was characterized from micromechanical perspective.
