Investigation into three-layered HMA mixtures

Hot-mix asphalt (HMA) mixtures consist of three phases: aggregate, asphalt binder (mastic) and air voids, of which the first two (aggregate and asphalt binder) provide the structure that withstands various kinds of loading.

Due to the nature of high inhomogeneity between aggregate and asphalt binder, significant stress and strain concentration occurs at the interface between the two phases, which causes adverse effect to HMA mixtures and potentially contributes to pavement distresses/failure.

This paper presents a novel idea to mitigate the stress and strain concentration by introducing an intermediate layer between aggregate and asphalt binder in HMA mixture. Microstructural analyses of layered system indicated that the three-layered composite HMA mixture would greatly improve the performance of asphalt mixture. The composite mixture showed more than 10% reduction in internal stress and strain and consequently its performance could be potentially improved. To validate the theoretical analyses, a laboratory experiment was conducted to compare the performance of a conventional mixture to that of a conceptual three-layered composite HMA mixture, which was formed by incorporating a stiff natural asphalt (gilsonite) as the intermediate layer. The results of the limited laboratory experiment confirmed the findings from the theoretical analyses.     

Micromechanical finite element framework for predicting viscoelastic properties of asphalt mixtures

A micromechanical finite element (FE) framework was developed to predict the viscoelastic properties (complex modulus and creep stiffness) of the asphalt mixtures. The two-dimensional (2D) microstructure of an asphalt mixture was obtained from the scanned image. In the mixture microstructure, irregular aggregates and sand mastic were divided into different subdomains. The FE mesh was generated within each aggregate and mastic subdomain. The aggregate and mastic elements share nodes on the aggregate boundaries for deformation connectivity. Then the viscoelastic mastic with specified properties was incorporated with elastic aggregates to predict the viscoelastic properties of asphalt mixtures. The viscoelastic sand mastic and elastic aggregate properties were inputted into micromechanical FE models. The FE simulation was conducted on a computational sample to predict complex (dynamic) modulus and creep stiffness. The complex modulus predictions have good correlations with laboratory uniaxial compression test under a range of loading frequencies. The creep stiffness prediction over a period of reduced time yields favorable comparison with specimen test data. These comparison results indicate that this micromechanical model is capable of predicting the viscoelastic mixture behavior based on ingredient properties.     

Heterogeneity effects on mixed‐mode I/II stress intensity factors and fracture path of laboratory asphalt mixtures in the shape of SCB specimen

Edge cracked semi‐circular shape specimen subjected to three point bend loading is a favourite test specimen for determining fracture toughness of asphalt mixtures. However, in the vast majority of previous experimental works, the homogeneous medium assumption has been considered for determining the stress intensity factor and geometry factors of asphalt mixtures tested with this test configuration. As a more realistic model and in order to consider the effects of heterogeneity on corresponding values of stress intensity factors, the asphalt mixture was modelled as a two‐phase aggregate/mastic heterogeneous mixture and its fracture behaviour was investigated using numerical models of asymmetric semi‐circular bend (ASCB) specimens. The generation and packing algorithm was employed to randomly distribute the aggregates with different shapes and sizes inside the mastic part. The effect of the mechanical properties of asphalt mixture (elastic modulus and the Poisson's ratios of aggregates and mastic), coarse aggregates distribution and crack length were studied on modes I and II geometry factors by means of extensive two‐dimensional finite element analyses. Moreover, the effect of the elastic modulus of asphalt mixture components was evaluated on the fracture path using the maximum tangential stress criterion. It was shown that crack tip location, elastic modulus of aggregates and mastic are the most important affecting parameters on the magnitude of modes I and II geometry factors. It was also shown that the geometry factors are not sensitive to the Poisson's ratios of aggregates and mastic. In addition, fracture cracking path is affected by the elastic modulus of the asphalt mixture components such that, depending on the difference between the stiffness of stiffer coarse aggregates and softer mastic part, the crack may propagate either through the aggregates, mastic or interface of aggregate/mastic.     

Quantification of movements of flat and elongated particles in hot mix asphalt subject to wheel load test

The objective of this study is to theoretically and experimentally characterize the internal structure in hot mix asphalt (HMA) mixtures. This is important to evaluate how the internal structures made of four different percentages of flat and elongated (F&;E) aggregate change HMA's enginering properties in terms of rut depth, particle movement and orientation, and strain. A micromechanical model is developed to explain the behavior of the internal structure in an HMA mix. The experimental procedure relies on capturing images of the surface of an HMA specimen subject to wheel loading. The results demonstrate that the internal structure adjusts itself in the primary zone, reaches a preferred position in the secondary, but becomes stabilized in the tertiary zone. Low percentages of F&;E aggregates result in a stable internal structure that could develop stone-on-stone contact and provide a better interlocking mechanism. The strain distribution within an HMA mix is influenced by particle configuration and mastic behavior, and is very localized.     

Estimating the moisture damage of asphalt mixture modified with nano zinc oxide

One of the main distresses of hot mix asphalt (HMA) is moisture damage. The most common method for decreasing this type of distress is using antistrip additives. In this study, the effect of nanoparticles was evaluated as an antistrip agent on the moisture damage of HMA. Two types of aggregates were evaluated in this study with different sensitivities against moisture damage (limestone and granite aggregate) and the asphalt binder with 60/70 penetration grade and nano zinc oxide (ZnO) in two different percentages by weight of the asphalt binder. The tests employed to evaluate the effects of modifying asphalt binder by nanomaterials on the moisture damage of asphalt mixture were surface free energy (SFE) and AASHTO T283. The results showed that the ratio of wet/dry values of indirect tensile strength for the mixtures containing nano ZnO for two types of aggregate were higher than the control mixtures. In addition, the results of the SFE method showed that adding nano ZnO increased the total SFE of the asphalt binder, which led to better coating of the aggregate with asphalt binder. Nano ZnO decreased the acid to base ratio of SFE of asphalt binder, while it led to improving adhesion between the asphalt binder and acidic aggregate that are prone to moisture damage.     

基于细观力学的沥青混合料动态模量预测

为了建立能够表征组分材料性能及细观结构特征的沥青混合料动态模量预测模型, 根据复合材料细观力学理论, 将沥青混合料视为由沥青胶浆包裹的集料颗粒嵌入于有效沥青混合料介质中的复合材料, 考虑集料尺寸、级配组成和空隙的影响, 建立了沥青混合料动态模量三相细观力学预测模型。结合组分材料性能研究, 应用该预测模型求解得到了动态模量, 其与试验值比较结果表明, 预测值较试验值小, 产生此差异的原因可归结为模型的适用条件与真实细观结构的差别;据此对预测模型进行了修正, 提出了考虑沥青膜厚度的动态模量细观力学分析方法;鉴于集料与沥青胶浆之间的力学特性差异, 简化了预测模型求解参数, 给出了参数值的范围。     

Use of fine aggregate matrix for computational modeling of low temperature fracture of asphalt concrete

In this study, a discrete element computational model is applied to simulate the fracture behavior of asphalt mixtures at low temperatures. In this model, coarse aggregates are explicitly represented by rigid spherical particles. The bonds that connect these particles represent the fine aggregate matrix (FAM), which is defined as the combination of asphalt binder and fine aggregates. The bending beam rheometer (BBR) tests are performed to determine the strength and Young’s modulus of FAM at low temperatures. The model is then used to simulate the semi-circular bend (SCB) tests on the mixtures. The model is verified by a series of BBR and SCB tests on both conventional and graphite nano-platelet modified asphalt materials. The comparison between the experimental and simulated results indicates that the peak load capacity of the SCB specimens is primarily governed by the tensile strength of the FAM. However, in order to capture the entire load–displacement curve of the SCB specimens, one needs to employ a softening constitutive model of the FAM, which requires the information on its fracture energy. Several experimental methods for measuring the fracture energy of FAM are discussed for future prediction of the complete load–displacement response of asphalt mixtures at low temperatures.     

Dynamic modulus simulation of the asphalt concrete using the X-ray computed tomography images

The objective of this study is to predict the dynamic modulus of asphalt mixture using both two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) Distinct Element Method (DEM) generated from the X-ray computed tomography (X-ray CT) images. The 3D internal microstructure of the asphalt mixtures (i.e., spatial distribution of aggregate, sand mastic and air voids) was obtained using the X-ray CT. The X-ray CT images provided exact locations of aggregate, sand mastic and air voids to develop 2D and 3D models. An experimental program was developed with a uniaxial compression test to measure the dynamic modulus of sand mastic and asphalt mixtures at different temperatures and loading frequencies. In the DEM simulation, the mastic dynamic modulus and aggregate elastic modulus were used as input parameters to predict the asphalt mixture dynamic modulus. Three replicates of a 3D DEM and six replicates of a 2D DEM were used in the simulation. The strain response of the asphalt concrete under a compressive load was monitored, and the dynamic modulus was computed. The moduli of the 3D DEM and 2D DEM were then compared with both the experimental measurements results. It was revealed that the 3D discrete element models successfully predicted the asphalt mixture dynamic modulus over a range of temperatures and loading frequencies. It was found that 2D discrete element models under predicted the asphalt mixture dynamic modulus.     

Introducing a new specimen shape to assess the fatigue performance of asphalt mastic by dynamic shear rheometer testing

Early failure of asphalt pavements is a common issue all around the world. Damages are caused by various reasons like insufficient binder or aggregate quality, an inadequate mix design or improper handling in the production/construction process. The effects of binder, aggregates and mix design have been widely studied and state-of-the-art testing methods are available for both, hot-mix asphalt (HMA) and for each component. An important part in HMA belongs to the asphalt mastic, where no standardized method is available to allow a quality control. Asphalt mastic is the mix of bitumen with aggregates smaller than 63 (125) µm and covers the coarse aggregates as the actual binding component in the mix. This research aims at developing a testing method for asphalt mastic based on fatigue tests. The dynamic shear rheometer (DSR) was found as a suitable device for this purpose. The DSR fatigue test consists of the 8 mm parallel-plate geometry widely used for binder performance grading with a sample height of 3 mm. Instead of a cylindrical specimen shape, a hyperboloid of one sheet is applied. This shape predetermines the point of failure and prevents adhesion/interface failures between the mastic specimen and the upper or lower DSR stainless steel plate. The specimens are prepared directly in the DSR employing a silicone mould to ensure an exact specimen shape. This test can be applied to all DSR devices without costly changes or additional equipment as long as sufficient cooling capacity and torque can be provided from the DSR. This fatigue test makes it possible to assess the fatigue performance of binders and mastic samples.     

Interaction mechanism of cement and asphalt emulsion in asphalt emulsion mixtures

The interaction characteristics of cement asphalt composite mastic (CAM) and performance properties of cement asphalt emulsion mixtures (CAEM) were evaluated in this work using chemical and mechanical test methods to investigate the effect of the presence of cement on asphalt emulsion mixtures (AEM). The chemical composition of the CAM was obtained through use of X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) as a means to describe the interactions between the cement and asphalt in the composite materials. Test results demonstrated that cement can hydrate with the water phase of the asphalt emulsion. Asphalt droplets can simultaneously enclose cement particles and delay the hydration reaction process of cement. The interaction mechanism of cement particles or hydration products and residual asphalt is a physical compound process. The influence of these findings on asphalt emulsion mixture design and performance properties was assessed using varying mix design components and conducting laboratory-based mechanical test methods for rutting resistance and moisture susceptibility. Mix design components varied including added water content, emulsion content, and cement dosage levels. The optimum fluids content was determined based on the dry indirect tensile strength. It was found that the cement content significantly impacts the optimum fluids content for both added water and emulsion. Furthermore, the presence of cement improves the dry tensile strength, rutting resistance, and moisture susceptibility. Based on microstructural analysis of CAM and CAEM, the mechanism by which cement improves the performance of AEM is attributed to the ability of hydration products to increase both the stiffness of the asphalt binder and the adhesion at the mastic–aggregate interface. In practical applications, this study recommends a mix design method for cement-modified asphalt emulsion mixes (CAEM) based on selection of optimum cement and emulsion contents using indirect tensile strength and verification of the design through evaluation of the moisture susceptibility and rutting resistance of the CAEM mix. Threshold values of CAEM mix mechanical properties to determine the quality of the design are proposed.     

Performance comparative analysis of stone mastic asphalts with electric arc furnace steel slag: a laboratory evaluation

The paper presents the results of a laboratory study, aimed at verifying the possibility to use two particular typologies of electric arc furnace (EAF) steel slags, in substitution of the natural aggregates, in the composition of stone mastic asphalt (SMA) for flexible pavements. The research has been articulated in a preliminary study of the chemical, leaching, physical, and mechanical properties of the EAF steel slag, and in the following mix design and performance characterization of the bituminous concretes, through gyratory compaction tests, permanent deformations tests, stiffness modulus tests at various temperatures, fatigue tests and indirect tensile strength tests. All the mixtures with EAF slag have satisfied the requisites for acceptance in the road sector technical standards, thus resulting as suitable for use in the construction of road infrastructures, moreover presenting higher mechanical characteristics than those of the corresponding asphalts with full natural aggregate.     

Micromechanical modelling of bituminous materials’ complex modulus at different length scales

The aim of this work is to establish a multi-scale modelling technique usable in the study of the complex viscoelastic properties of asphalt mixes. This technique is based on a biphasic approach. At each scale, the heterogeneous media is considered as a two-phase material composed of granular inclusions with linear elastic properties and a matrix of bituminous materials exhibiting linear viscoelastic behaviour at small strain values. In this approach, the homogeneous equivalent properties of biphasic composites are transferred from one scale of observation to the next, higher scale of observation. The viscoelastic properties of the matrix and the elastic properties of the aggregates serve as the input parameters for the numerical models. The generalised Maxwell rheological model is used to describe the viscoelastic behaviour of the matrix. Thanks to the rheological properties of bitumen and the elastic properties of the aggregates, the viscoelastic properties of mastic, mortar and hot mix asphalt (HMA) as bituminous composites can be, respectively, estimated using a micromechanical finite element model. Random inclusions of varying sizes and shapes are generated in order to construct the granular skeleton. A cyclic loading was imposed on the top layer of the digital model. The dynamic modulus of the pre-cited bituminous composites, obtained from the presented multi-scale modelling process while passing from the bitumen to the HMA scale, is validated by comparison with experimental measurements when possible. Concerning our results, we have found that at low temperature (?10 °C), the predicted dynamic modulus is satisfactorily comparable to the experimental measurements. On the other hand, an acceptable gap between predicted numerical results and experimental data takes place when the temperature increases.     

沥青混合料抗剪性能研究综述

总结并评价了沥青混合料抗剪试验方法、抗剪机理及抗剪设计研究现状,对9种剪切试验方法的分析和评价有助于设计、施工和科研人员正确选用这些试验方法。混合料剪切强度由沥青胶泥的性质、集料和沥青界面的剪切强度和集料之间的嵌挤情况共同决定,为提高混合料抗剪性能指出了方向。抗剪设计在应用于工程前尚需深入研究容许剪应力法中相关系数的确定、基于抗剪性能的车辙预估模型的标定等问题。     

Pre- and post-peak toughening behaviours of fibre-reinforced hot-mix asphalt mixtures

Recycled plastic fibre-reinforced hot-mix asphalt (HMA) mixtures have better fatigue resistance than plain HMA. The toughening effects of recycled plastic fibre-reinforced HMA were characterised using direct tensile loading tests. Adding a small quantity of recycled plastic fibres to HMA was found to significantly increase the mixture's fracture energy and toughness, which were calculated using the pre- and post-peak stages of tensile force–displacement curves. A theoretical model representing the pre-peak behaviour of fibre-reinforced HMA with direct tension-softening curves for various fibre contents is presented here. The enhanced toughness through post-peak analysis was also observed using toughness indices associated with fibre-bridging effect after the pre-peak composite stress. The pre-peak fracture energy model and post-peak toughness indices appeared to be governed by the direct tensile toughening of fibre-reinforced HMA's enhanced fibre-bridging effects. The pre-peak fracture energy model demonstrates the effect of fibre content on the strain energy density during the pull-out process within the pre-peak composite stress region. The maximum pre-peak fracture energy of a coarse-graded HMA mixed with recycled plastic fibres is achieved at a fibre content of 0.4% of the total weight of the HMA. The increases in the toughness indices within the post-peak composite stress region indicate that the fatigue resistance of fibre-reinforced HMA is at least 30% greater than that of control HMA.     

Determining effects of moisture in mastic materials using nanoindentation

Asphalt concrete consists of coarse aggregates coated with asphalt binder, matrix, which is a mixture of binder and fine aggregates, and mastic, which is a mixture of asphalt binder and fines passing number 200 sieve (0.075 mm). In this study, nanoindentation tests were conducted on dry and wet mastic materials to determine the contact creep compliance, which is used to examine the effects of moisture in the mastic materials. Indentation creep data were fitted using viscoelastic mechanical models. Results show that the dry mastic materials exhibits viscoelastic behavior, while the wet mastic materials shows less viscoelastic behavior compared to the dry mastic materials. Moisture reduces retardation time significantly in the wet mastic materials. The dry mastic materials follow the linear Burgers viscoelastic model and the wet mastic materials follow the Maxwell viscoelastic model. Stiffness measured on the surface of the wet mastic materials is higher than that of the dry mastic materials. Due to moisture conditioning, mastic sample surface might have eroded that makes it less viscous or become exposed to mastic aggregate, and therefore exhibits high stiffness. Indentation results reveal that the wet mastic is softer below a certain depth from the surface. This study projects that the indenter needs to penetrate more than 4000 nm to reach softer wet mastic materials. Also indentation creep holding time needs be more than 1200 s to reach that target depth in wet mastic materials.     

Fatigue resistance investigation of warm‐mix recycled asphalt binder,mastic, and fine aggregate matrix

Fatigue cracking is one of the primary distresses in warm‐mix recycled asphalt pavements. This paper evaluates the fatigue resistance evolution of warm‐mix recycled asphalt materials in different scales during the service period. The strain sweep test and time sweep test were performed, respectively, by dynamic shear rheometer to determine the linear viscoelastic limits and to characterize the fatigue behavior of warm‐mix recycled asphalt binder, mastic, and fine aggregate matrix with different ageing levels and recycling plans. The dissipated energy method was used to define the failure criterion and to construct the fatigue model. Effects of ageing levels and recycling plans on stiffness and fatigue resistance were investigated. Performance correlations among warm‐mix recycled asphalt binder, mastic, and fine aggregate matrix were developed, respectively, by the statistical method to determine the critical material scale for stiffness and fatigue resistance.     

Microstructure and fracture morphology of carbon nano-fiber modified asphalt and hot mix asphalt mixtures

This paper focuses on the microstructure and fracture surface morphology of neat and carbon nanofibers (CNF) modified asphalts and hot mix asphalt (HMA) mixtures using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Asphalt binder was modified with 1.5 % of CNF by weight of binder. The modified asphalt was used to construct HMA mixtures at various CNF dosages, mixed with aggregate, using the Superpave Gyratory compactor. Small rectangular specimens extracted from the center of large HMA samples were tested under direct tension and the fracture surface was examined under SEM. The SEM analysis developed a fundamental understanding of the role that the CNF modification plays in the performance enhancement of asphalt and HMA mixtures. It was found that CNF not only possess good adhesion characteristics but also exhibits high connectivity and were evenly distribution throughout the binder. The fracture surface morphology also revealed that CNF exhibited crack bridging at micro/nano scale which may enhance the resistance to cracking due to repeated traffic loads.     

Development of a stress-mode sensitive viscoelastic constitutive relationship for asphalt concrete: experimental and numerical modeling

Asphalt binder is responsible for the thermo-viscoelastic mechanical behavior of asphalt concrete. Upon application of pure compressive stress to an asphalt concrete specimen, the stress is transferred by mechanisms such as aggregate interlock and the adhesion/cohesion properties of asphalt mastic. In the pure tensile stress mode, aggregate interlock plays a limited role in stress transfer, and the mastic phase plays the dominant role through its adhesive/cohesive and viscoelastic properties. Under actual combined loading patterns, any coordinate direction may experience different stress modes; therefore, the mechanical behavior is not the same in the different directions and the asphalt specimen behaves as an anisotropic material. The present study developed an anisotropic nonlinear viscoelastic constitutive relationship that is sensitive to the tension/compression stress mode by extending Schapery’s nonlinear viscoelastic model. The proposed constitutive relationship was implemented in Abaqus using a user material (UMAT) subroutine in an implicit scheme. Uniaxial compression and indirect tension (IDT) testing were used to characterize the viscoelastic properties of the bituminous materials and to calibrate and validate the proposed constitutive relationship. Compressive and tensile creep compliances were calculated using uniaxial compression, as well as IDT test results, for different creep-recovery loading patterns at intermediate temperature. The results showed that both tensile creep compliance and its rate were greater than those of compression. The calculated deflections based on these IDT test simulations were compared with experimental measurements and were deemed acceptable. This suggests that the proposed viscoelastic constitutive relationship correctly demonstrates the viscoelastic response and is more accurate for analysis of asphalt concrete in the laboratory or in situ.     

Investigating the effect of filler types on thermodynamic parameters and their relationship with moisture sensitivity of asphalt mixes

Filler plays a significant role in mastic cohesion and adhesion between aggregate–asphalt binder in asphalt mixes. In the majority of research on investigating moisture damage based on thermodynamic concepts, little attention has been given to the role of filler. In the present study, 20 different combinations of asphalt mixes made with 4 filler types (stone powder, hydrated lime, calcium carbonate and portland cement), with two types of asphalt binder (60–70 and 85–100), and two types of aggregate (limestone and granite) were used. Then thermodynamic parameters (with and without considering the effect of filler) were calculated and the relationship between these parameters and test results of moisture sensitivity of asphalt mixes was investigated using statistical analyses. Results obtained by thermodynamic parameters show that only stone powder filler caused an increase in free energy of adhesion between base asphalt binder and aggregates, and other fillers reduced free energy of adhesion. The maximum amount of debonding energy in samples made by asphalt binder 60–70, was related to mastics containing calcium carbonate and hydrated lime fillers, and in asphalt binder 85–100, mastics containing portland cement and calcium carbonate had the maximum amount of debonding energy. However, the minimum amount of debonding energy was related to the mastic containing stone powder. In addition, the results of moisture sensitivity mechanical tests show that samples containing calcium carbonate and hydrated lime fillers had the maximum amount of tensile strength ratio. Finally, the amount of adjusted coefficient of correlation between debonding energy and modified Lottman test results increased from 0.553 in 4 base compounds (without filler) to 0.701 in 16 compounds with filler. The difference in correlation coefficients show the necessity to use the effect of filler on calculating thermodynamic parameters in investigating moisture sensitivity of various asphalt mixes.     

Failure Mechanism of Concrete: Combined Effects of Coarse Aggregates and Strength Level

Concrete is a composite, and its properties depend on the properties of the component phases and the interaction between them. It is known that the interfaces are the weakest link in concrete, playing a very important role in the process of failure. This process is strongly related with the characteristics of the aggregates (especially coarse aggregates) and with the relative differences in strength between matrix and inclusions. This paper analyzes the mechanical behavior of high strength and conventional concretes prepared with coarse aggregates having significant differences in strength, shape and surface texture, porosity and absorption, and interface bond strength. Two different gravels and two different crushed stones were used. Concrete mixtures with water/cement ratios of 0.30 and 0.50 were designed. The effects of aggregate type and strength level on concrete failure mechanism, including tensile and compressive strength, stiffness, energy of fracture, and crack pattern, are discussed.