Modelling sand–asphalt mixtures within a thermodynamic framework: theory and application to torsion experiments

Abstract

Sand–asphalt mixtures are difficult to model, partly due to their composition and partly due to the complex interplay among their constituents. This work is concerned with the development of an anisotropic model to describe the nonlinear behaviour of sand–asphalt mixtures. A general thermodynamic framework is used, which allows for the material to have multiple natural configurations corresponding to its underlying structure. The evolution of the natural configuration takes place in a thermodynamically consistent manner. The model developed is corroborated using experimental results published by Ravindran et al. (2007a,b) on torsion tests of sand–asphalt specimens over a range of conditions.

Keywords:

• sand–asphalt
• normal stress
• torsion
• multiple natural configurations
• viscoelasticity

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Prof D.N. Little for valuable dicussions during the course of this work. Prof K.R. Rajagopal thanks the National Science Foundation for its support.

Notes

^1. Email: [email protected]

^2. Email: [email protected]

^3. Email: [email protected]

Additional information

Notes on contributors

P. Ravindran

1. 1. Email: [email protected]

E. Masad

2. 2. Email: [email protected]

K.R. Rajagopal

3. 3. Email: [email protected]