Preliminary Study on Multi-Scale Modeling of Asphalt Materials: Evaluation of Material Behavior through an RVE-Based...

Area of Science:

• Civil Engineering
• Materials Science
• Computational Mechanics

Background:

• Understanding asphalt mixture mechanical behavior is crucial for pavement performance.
• Multi-scale modeling is essential for high-fidelity fracture analysis of heterogeneous asphalt.
• Representative Volume Element (RVE) size selection is a key challenge in asphalt modeling.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a multi-scale finite element modeling approach for asphalt mixtures.
• To determine the optimal RVE size for accurate fracture modeling of asphalt.
• To enhance the understanding of asphalt pavement composition-performance relationships.

Main Methods:

• Microstructure-based finite element modeling was employed.
• Convergence analysis of homogenized elastic properties determined optimal RVE sizes.
• Heterogeneous models incorporated viscoelastic mastic, linear elastic aggregates, and cohesive zone modeling.

Main Results:

• Optimal RVE lengths were identified as 32-34 mm for a 12.5 mm Nominal Maximum Aggregate Size (NMAS).
• Computational models accurately replicated experimental data from Indirect Tensile Asphalt Cracking Tests.
• Micro- and macro-level analyses provided insights into material behavior and failure evolution.

Conclusions:

• The proposed method identifies optimal RVE sizes for computational efficiency without sacrificing accuracy.
• This approach enhances the understanding of asphalt pavement material behavior under operational conditions.
• The study provides a validated framework for multi-scale modeling of asphalt mixtures.