Abstract
In this paper, a simple method is introduced for the computational modelling of multiphase materials, and for the approximation of their mechanical response. The two-dimensional microstructures of six asphalt concrete specimens are selected; three of the specimens have ‘low’-, and three have ‘high’ aggregate fraction. A grid is used to divide the surface of each microstructure into square cells. The procedure of grid division is applied from 1 up to 100 divisions per side (i.e., up to 10,000 cells in the grid-divided specimen). To obtain an approximation of the mechanical response of the microstructure, the properties of the cells are estimated using three simple interpolation rules between the properties of the two phases, i.e. asphalt matrix and rock aggregates. It is found that the interpolation rules can yield reasonably representative results depending on the aggregate fraction of the microstructures and the number of divisions/cells in the grid. The grid-divided specimens allow approximating the overall mechanical response of the microstructures, and characteristics such as strain concentrations, overall deformations, and resulting force.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1012-1023 |
Number of pages | 12 |
Journal | International Journal of Pavement Engineering |
Volume | 21 |
Issue number | 8 |
Early online date | 13 Aug 2019 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2 Jul 2020 |
MoE publication type | A1 Journal article-refereed |
Keywords
- multiphase material
- modelling
- grid division
- finite elements