A dimensional analysis of scaling viscosity and velocity in DEM of constant strain rate tests on asphalt

Abstract

This paper presents the results from discrete element modelling (DEM) of an idealised (sand) asphalt mixture under constant strain rate (velocity) compressive loading using the Burgers viscoelastic model. Using dimensional analysis it is shown that the effect of scaling applied velocity is the same as that of scaling both viscosities in the Burgers model by the same factor. This has been shown to be the case for a bonded aggregate, and it also has been shown to be applicable even when bond breakage occurs within the sample. This scaling method will be of great benefit in modelling tests on asphalt under different constant strain rates, simply by scaling both viscosities to minimise computational time.