Modelling of asphalt mixes based on X-ray computed tomography and random heterogeneous generation

ABSTRACT

This paper presents numerical investigations into the mechanical behaviour of hot mix asphalt (HMA) through the use of finite element modelling simulations. HMA is a well-known composite medium containing a highly complex microstructure. The X-ray computed tomography images (CTI) method can lead to a numerical model that closely represents the actual internal HMA microstructure. Unfortunately, this technology is not available to most researchers in the field of composite materials. It is therefore preferable to seek other techniques that enable researchers to simulate the actual internal microstructure. The aim of this study is to examine a heterogeneous generation (HG) method capable of generating an artificial microstructure of complex materials, as opposed to the X-ray CTI method. Several numerical HMA models are derived based on both these methods. A comparison of the mechanical behaviour output at the global and local scales from the X-ray CTI and HG digital models shows good agreement, thus indicating that the HG method has proven its effectiveness in reproducing the actual internal HMA microstructure and in predicting the material mechanical properties at these two scales.

KEYWORDS:

• Hot mix asphalt
• mortar
• X-ray computed tomography images method
• heterogeneous generation method
• dynamic modulus
• global scale
• local scale

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.