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Aggregate breakage in unbound pavement layers can lead to pavement distresses that affect their functionality and service life. Thus understanding the mechanics and clarifying the factors affecting materials breakage resistance are important for ensuring adequate performance of these layers. In this study, aggregate breakage in unbound granular materials (UGM) is investigated experimentally and numerically. Experimentally, aggregate breakage under uniaxial compression is examined for two UGMs prepared with the same aggregate type but different gradations. To capture the experimentally observed influence of gradation and load magnitude on aggregate breakage, a Discrete Element Method (DEM) model was developed, based on granular mechanics particle contact and failure laws. A simple procedure to identify the contact and failure law parameters from experiments is proposed. With those parameters, the model’s capability of capturing the effect of gradation and loading on the aggregate breakage in UGM is evaluated. Based on comparison with experimental findings, it is shown that the model can capture macro-scale properties of UGM, such as its deformation response under uniaxial compression, as well as the amount of aggregate breakage in the material., Validerad;2024;Nivå 2;2024-03-28 (signyg);Full text license: CC BY

The phenomenon of hydroplaning poses a risk when landing an aircraft on a wet runway. This study developed a finite element (FE) framework comprising a dual-tyre model, water film models, a runway model, and an interaction model to investigate wet runway landings. The dual-tyre model was created with a geometric description and material properties. Water film models for even and uneven water depths were constructed based on a coupled Eulerian-Lagrangian algorithm. The runway model was obtained through surface scanning and 3D reconstruction. The interaction model was calculated using the power spectrum density and viscoelastic property of rubber. Based on the FE approach, the effect of the slip ratio on the hydroplaning phenomenon was discussed. The results indicated that hydroplaning speed generally increases with the slip ratio. Furthermore, single- and dual-tyre wet runway landings with an even water film depth were simulated, and the results revealed similar accuracy between the two landing types. Next, the study of dual-tyre landings indicated that landings in varying depths of water face the risks of hydroplaning and veering off simultaneously. The FE approach was further used to analyse dual-tyre landings on runways with a yaw angle., QC 20231002

Interlayers in asphalt pavements are potential structural damage initiators. In order to better understand the quantitative role of interlayer parameters, such as surface roughness, binder type, binder content and loading type on interlayer shear strength, this paper focuses on the effects of particle interlock and contact conditions on interlayer strength through experimental and numerical modelling. Experimentally, interlayer shear box strength tests on a model material consisting of stiff binder blended with steel balls are performed with and without normal force confinement. A Discrete Element method model of the test is developed using measurements of the model material for calibrating the contact law and for validating the model. It is shown that this model captures adequately the measured force-displacement response of the specimens. It is thus a feasible starting point for numerically and experimentally studying the role of binder and tack coat regarding interlayer shear strength of real asphalt layers., Validerad;2023;Nivå 2;2023-07-17 (sofila)

The performance of asphalt mixtures is significantly affected by the viscoelastic properties of their mastic phase. The analytical approaches used to predict the properties of mastics from their constituents’ properties are limited in their accuracy and potential to handle non-linear material behaviour. An alternative micromechanical finite element modelling approach to calculate the master curves of mastics from the binder and filler phase properties is presented, where the representative volume elements of mastics consist of linear-viscoelastic bitumen matrices and elastic spherical filler particles. For validation, shear relaxation moduli of bitumen and bitumen-filler mastics are measured at (Formula presented.) °C (Formula presented.) °C. Additionally, the model is evaluated and compared with the existing analytical solutions. The results indicate that the proposed approach is advantageous as compared to the analytical solutions, as it allows predicting the mastics’ properties over wider temperature, frequency and material ranges at better agreement with the measurements while giving insight into the micromechanical behaviour., QC 20220809

Flexible pavement rutting due to permanent deformation accumulation in asphalt layers is one of the most common modes of road failures. In addition to high maintenance costs, rutting is a major concern for traffic safety, as the rut growth increases the risk for hydroplaning and difficulties in vehicle steering. In this context, accurate methodologies for pavement rutting performance prediction are crucial for decision support in pavement design and rehabilitation. More rational rutting performance models are needed to enable the implementation of new and more sustainable and environmentally friendly asphalt materials as well as to evaluate the impact of high capacity traffic (HCT) vehicle types on bituminous layers. The main goal of this work is to implement and disseminate an asphalt rutting performance prediction tool called PEDRO (PErmanent Deformation of asphalt concrete layers for ROads). It focuses solely on the permanent deformation of asphalt concrete materials in the pavement structure. The PEDRO tool is a viscoelastic model for the calculation of permanent vertical strain under moving wheel loads over a viscoelastic half-space. The analysis is performed for the entire rutting zone and the permanent deformation of each layer or sub-layer, depending on its location in the pavement structure, is then integrated over the whole asphalt concrete depth., Spårbildning i bitumenbundna beläggningar är en av de vanligaste vägskadorna. Utöver de höga underhållskostnaderna orsakar detta ett stort problem för trafiksäkerheten, eftersom risken för vattenplaning ökar och fordonsstyrningen försvåras. Noggranna och praktiska metoder för prediktering av spårutveckling är avgörande för beslutsstöd i dimensionering och rehabilitering av vägar. Bättre spårmodeller behövs också för att utvärdera nya massabeläggningar samt för att kunna utvärdera effekterna av olika fordonstyper på vägarnas livslängd med avseende på spårbildning. Huvudsyftet med detta arbete är att implementera och sprida ut ett praktiskt verktyg, kallat PEDRO (PErmanent Deformation of asphalt concrete layers for ROads) för prediktering av spårtillväxt hos bituminösa beläggningar. Modellen fokuserar enbart på permanenta deformationer hos asfaltbeläggningar och är en viskoelastisk modell för beräkning av permanent vertikal töjning under inverkan av ett rullande hjul över ett viskoelastiskt material. Analys av påkänningar utförs över hela det deformationspåverkande området (inte enbart i en punkt) per varje skikt och deformationen summeras över skiktets tjocklek.

Flexible pavement rutting due to permanent deformation accumulation in asphalt layers is one of the most common modes of road failures. In addition to high maintenance costs, rutting is a major concern for traffic safety, as the rut growth increases the risk for hydroplaning and difficulties in vehicle steering. In this context, accurate methodologies for pavement rutting performance prediction are crucial for decision support in pavement design and rehabilitation. More rational rutting performance models are needed to enable the implementation of new and more sustainable and environmentally friendly asphalt materials as well as to evaluate the impact of high capacity traffic (HCT) vehicle types on bituminous layers. The main goal of this work is to implement and disseminate an asphalt rutting performance prediction tool called PEDRO (PErmanent Deformation of asphalt concrete layers for ROads). It focuses solely on the permanent deformation of asphalt concrete materials in the pavement structure. The PEDRO tool is a viscoelastic model for the calculation of permanent vertical strain under moving wheel loads over a viscoelastic half-space. The analysis is performed for the entire rutting zone and the permanent deformation of each layer or sub-layer, depending on its location in the pavement structure, is then integrated over the whole asphalt concrete depth., Spårbildning i bitumenbundna beläggningar är en av de vanligaste vägskadorna. Utöver de höga underhållskostnaderna orsakar detta ett stort problem för trafiksäkerheten, eftersom risken för vattenplaning ökar och fordonsstyrningen försvåras. Noggranna och praktiska metoder för prediktering av spårutveckling är avgörande för beslutsstöd i dimensionering och rehabilitering av vägar. Bättre spårmodeller behövs också för att utvärdera nya massabeläggningar samt för att kunna utvärdera effekterna av olika fordonstyper på vägarnas livslängd med avseende på spårbildning. Huvudsyftet med detta arbete är att implementera och sprida ut ett praktiskt verktyg, kallat PEDRO (PErmanent Deformation of asphalt concrete layers for ROads) för prediktering av spårtillväxt hos bituminösa beläggningar. Modellen fokuserar enbart på permanenta deformationer hos asfaltbeläggningar och är en viskoelastisk modell för beräkning av permanent vertikal töjning under inverkan av ett rullande hjul över ett viskoelastiskt material. Analys av påkänningar utförs över hela det deformationspåverkande området (inte enbart i en punkt) per varje skikt och deformationen summeras över skiktets tjocklek., BVFF Spårmodell PEDRO - implementering och demonstration

Reliable determination of material properties is a key component for modelling and performance prediction of asphalt pavements. This paper deals with the potential use of instrumented indentation tests for viscoelastic characterisation of asphalt mortar as a new alternative to existing techniques. The main focus lies on the potential of indentation tests for multi-scale measurement of the shear relaxation modulus. A three-dimensional finite element model of a rigid spherical indenter penetrating an asphalt mortar sample is developed and used to model indentation tests performed at different material scales. The asphalt mortar is modelled as an idealised fine aggregate composite with elastic spheres, suspended within a viscoelastic bitumen mastic matrix. Based on the obtained numerical results the scale-dependency of the shear relaxation modulus measured with the indentation test is investigated. It is shown that the measurement scale is effectively controlled by the size of the indenter-specimen contact area, while the effect of indentation depth is minimal. The minimum contact area size required for obtaining representative properties, measured at the mortar scale, is determined. The viscoelastic parameters obtained from the indentation model are compared to those obtained using a representative volume element (RVE) for the asphalt mortar. In this way, the paper provides a new impulse for linking the mortar and asphalt scales in the multiscale modelling of asphalt mixtures. Feasibility of the proposed testing technique is further evaluated experimentally. Viscoelastic indentation tests are performed on asphalt mastics and mortar at two different sizes of contact areas. Experimental results indicate that indentation tests allow reliable characterisation of mortars relaxation modulus on both macro-scale as well as on individual component level., QC 20190815

During asphalt mixture compaction, loads in the material are mainly transferred through contact between the stones and the interaction between the stones and the binder. The behaviour of such materials is suitable to model using the Discrete Element Method (DEM). In this study, a new DEM modelling approach has been developed for studying the asphalt compaction process, incorporating contact and damage laws based on granular mechanics. In the simulations, aggregate fracture is handled by a recently developed method of incorporating particle fracture in DEM, based on previously performed fracture experiments on granite specimens. The binder phase is modelled by adding a viscoelastic film around each DEM particle. This surface layer has a thickness that obtains the correct volume of the binder phase and has mechanical properties representative for the binder at different temperatures. The ability of the model to capture the influence of mixture parameters on the compactability and the eventual stone damage during compaction is examined for the cases of compaction flow test and gyratory compaction. Explicitly, the influence of different aggregate gradations, mixture temperatures and binder properties are studied. The results show that the proposed DEM approach is able to capture qualitatively and quantitatively responses in both cases and also provide predictions of aggregate damage. One large benefit with the developed modelling approach is that the influence of different asphalt mixture parameters could be studied without re-calibration of model parameters. Furthermore, based on comparative DEM simulations, it is shown that the proposed approach provides more realistic force distribution networks in the material., QC 20190814

The mechanical behaviour of uncompacted asphalt mixtures is still not well understood,threatening directly to the pavement practices such as control of mixture’s workability andsegregation. This situation may become even worse due to the gradually increasing complexityand advances in paving materials and technologies. This study adopts a slump flow testbased on concrete technology and a Discrete Element (DE)-based numerical tool to investigatethe mechanical behaviour of uncompacted asphalt mixture from a microstructural point ofview, particularly focusing on the bituminous binder effects. The combined experimental andnumerical analysis indicates that bitumen distinctly influences the contact interactions withinthe mixture and thus its macroscopic flow, which can be physically interpreted as a combinedeffect of lubricated friction and bonding force. Additional case studies demonstrate that the DEmodel is capable of simulating the flow response of asphalt mixtures under changed particlecontact conditions and driven force., QC 20190319

DEM modeling of granular materials composed of viscoelastic particles can provide valuable insights into the mechanical behavior of a wide range of engineering materials. In this paper, a new model for calculating the normal contact force between visoelastic spheres is presented based on contact mechanics that takes the mechanical behavior of the DEM particles into account. The model relies on an application of the viscoelastic correspondence principle to elastic Hertz contact. A viscoelastic relaxation function for the contact is defined and a generalized Maxwell material is used for describing this function. An analytical expression for the increment in contact force given an increment in overlap is derived leading to a computationally efficient model. The proposed model provides the analytical small deformation solution upon loading but provides an approximate solution at unloading. Comparisons are made with FEM simulations of contact between spheres of different sizes of equal and dissimilar materials. An excellent agreement is found between the model and the FEM simulations for almost all cases except at cyclic loading where the characteristic times of the viscoelastic behavior and the loading are similar., QC 20190121