International Journal of Pavement Engineering · 2020 · 46 citations · 26 references
EngineeringCivil EngineeringMaterials EngineeringComputational Materials ScienceMaterials CharacterizationPavement EngineeringAsphalt MaterialsPavement DesignPavement MaterialsPavement Performance AnalysisPavement Structural AnalysisPaving MaterialsAggregate GradationAggregate Gradation OptimizationAggregate PropertiesAggregate StructureDiscrete Element ModelingPavement Performance EvaluationPavement Performance PredictionPavement Structural Performance
Aggregate structure critically influences pavement performance, yet fundamental mechanical and evolution characteristics remain poorly understood. The study used laboratory tests and discrete element method simulations to investigate macroscopic mechanical properties and microscopic contact forces of aggregate structure, aiming to reveal the mechanical role of each size aggregate and its evolution. Based on these insights, the authors optimized road material gradations to construct a stronger aggregate structure. Laboratory tests and field application demonstrate that road materials with the optimized gradation exhibit improved pavement performance and engineering effects.
Aggregate structure plays a significant role in the pavement performance of road materials. However, there is a lack of fundamental understanding of mechanical characteristics and evolution characteristics of the aggregate structure in the existing research. To understand this complex structure, laboratory tests and numerical simulations using the discrete element method were used to investigate macroscopic mechanical properties of aggregate structure and microscopic aggregate contact forces, thus revealing the mechanical role of each size aggregate and evolution characteristics of the aggregate structure. Based on this, the specification gradations of road materials were optimised to build a strong aggregate structure. Laboratory tests and engineering application show that road materials using the proposed gradation can exhibit improved pavement performance and engineering effects.
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