How to Achieve Efficiency and Accuracy in Discrete Element Simulation of Asphalt Mixture: A DRF-Based Equivalent Model for Asphalt Sand Mortar

The clump-based discrete element model is one of the asphalt mixture simulation methods, which has the potential to not only predict mixture performance but also simulate particle movement during compaction, transporting, and other situations. However, modelling of asphalt sand mortar in this method...

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Main Authors: Yu Liu, Peifeng Su, Miaomiao Li, Hui Yao, Junfu Liu, Mei Xu, Xiaodong Zhou, Zhanping You
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2020-01-01
Series:Advances in Civil Engineering
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/8855409
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author Yu Liu
Peifeng Su
Miaomiao Li
Hui Yao
Junfu Liu
Mei Xu
Xiaodong Zhou
Zhanping You
author_facet Yu Liu
Peifeng Su
Miaomiao Li
Hui Yao
Junfu Liu
Mei Xu
Xiaodong Zhou
Zhanping You
author_sort Yu Liu
collection DOAJ
description The clump-based discrete element model is one of the asphalt mixture simulation methods, which has the potential to not only predict mixture performance but also simulate particle movement during compaction, transporting, and other situations. However, modelling of asphalt sand mortar in this method remains to be a problem due to computing capacity. Larger-sized balls (generally 2.0–2.36 mm) were usually used to model the smaller particles and asphalt binder, but this replacement may result in the mixture’s unrealistic volumetric features. More specifically, replacing original elements with equal volume but larger size particles will increase in buck volume and then different particle contacting states. The major objective of this research is to provide a solution to the dilemma situation through an improved equivalent model of the smaller particles and asphalt binders. The key parameter of the equivalent model is the diameter reduction factor (DRF), which was proposed in this research to minimize the effects of asphalt mortar’s particle replacement modelling. To determine DRF, the DEM-based analysis was conducted to evaluate several mixture features, including element overlap ratio, ball-wall contact number, and the average wall stress. Through this study, it was observed that when the original glued ball diameters are ranging from 2.00 mm and 2.36 mm, the diameter reduction factor changes from 0.82 to 0.86 for AC mixtures and 0.80 to 0.84 for SMA mixtures. The modelling method presented in this research is suitable not only for asphalt mixtures but also for the other particulate mix with multisize particles.
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institution Kabale University
issn 1687-8086
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language English
publishDate 2020-01-01
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spelling doaj-art-4ca61cf8c29744449a53b871aed3580d2025-02-03T01:04:30ZengWileyAdvances in Civil Engineering1687-80861687-80942020-01-01202010.1155/2020/88554098855409How to Achieve Efficiency and Accuracy in Discrete Element Simulation of Asphalt Mixture: A DRF-Based Equivalent Model for Asphalt Sand MortarYu Liu0Peifeng Su1Miaomiao Li2Hui Yao3Junfu Liu4Mei Xu5Xiaodong Zhou6Zhanping You7Highway School, Chang’an University, South Erhuan Middle Section, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710064, ChinaHighway School, Chang’an University, South Erhuan Middle Section, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710064, ChinaHighway School, Chang’an University, South Erhuan Middle Section, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710064, ChinaBeijing Key Laboratory of Traffic Engineering, College of Metropolitan Transportation, Beijing University of Technology, No. 100, Pingleyuan, Chaoyang, Beijing 100124, ChinaBeijing Key Laboratory of Traffic Engineering, College of Metropolitan Transportation, Beijing University of Technology, No. 100, Pingleyuan, Chaoyang, Beijing 100124, ChinaBeijing Key Laboratory of Traffic Engineering, College of Metropolitan Transportation, Beijing University of Technology, No. 100, Pingleyuan, Chaoyang, Beijing 100124, ChinaDepartment of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Michigan Technological University, 1400 Townsend Drive, Houghton, MI 49931, USADepartment of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Michigan Technological University, 1400 Townsend Drive, Houghton, MI 49931, USAThe clump-based discrete element model is one of the asphalt mixture simulation methods, which has the potential to not only predict mixture performance but also simulate particle movement during compaction, transporting, and other situations. However, modelling of asphalt sand mortar in this method remains to be a problem due to computing capacity. Larger-sized balls (generally 2.0–2.36 mm) were usually used to model the smaller particles and asphalt binder, but this replacement may result in the mixture’s unrealistic volumetric features. More specifically, replacing original elements with equal volume but larger size particles will increase in buck volume and then different particle contacting states. The major objective of this research is to provide a solution to the dilemma situation through an improved equivalent model of the smaller particles and asphalt binders. The key parameter of the equivalent model is the diameter reduction factor (DRF), which was proposed in this research to minimize the effects of asphalt mortar’s particle replacement modelling. To determine DRF, the DEM-based analysis was conducted to evaluate several mixture features, including element overlap ratio, ball-wall contact number, and the average wall stress. Through this study, it was observed that when the original glued ball diameters are ranging from 2.00 mm and 2.36 mm, the diameter reduction factor changes from 0.82 to 0.86 for AC mixtures and 0.80 to 0.84 for SMA mixtures. The modelling method presented in this research is suitable not only for asphalt mixtures but also for the other particulate mix with multisize particles.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/8855409
spellingShingle Yu Liu
Peifeng Su
Miaomiao Li
Hui Yao
Junfu Liu
Mei Xu
Xiaodong Zhou
Zhanping You
How to Achieve Efficiency and Accuracy in Discrete Element Simulation of Asphalt Mixture: A DRF-Based Equivalent Model for Asphalt Sand Mortar
Advances in Civil Engineering
title How to Achieve Efficiency and Accuracy in Discrete Element Simulation of Asphalt Mixture: A DRF-Based Equivalent Model for Asphalt Sand Mortar
title_full How to Achieve Efficiency and Accuracy in Discrete Element Simulation of Asphalt Mixture: A DRF-Based Equivalent Model for Asphalt Sand Mortar
title_fullStr How to Achieve Efficiency and Accuracy in Discrete Element Simulation of Asphalt Mixture: A DRF-Based Equivalent Model for Asphalt Sand Mortar
title_full_unstemmed How to Achieve Efficiency and Accuracy in Discrete Element Simulation of Asphalt Mixture: A DRF-Based Equivalent Model for Asphalt Sand Mortar
title_short How to Achieve Efficiency and Accuracy in Discrete Element Simulation of Asphalt Mixture: A DRF-Based Equivalent Model for Asphalt Sand Mortar
title_sort how to achieve efficiency and accuracy in discrete element simulation of asphalt mixture a drf based equivalent model for asphalt sand mortar
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/8855409
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