Experimental and numerical analysis of three-point bending fracture of pre-notched asphalt mixture beam

Abstract

The experiments are combined with the discrete element simulations to investigate the three-point bending fracture of pre-notched asphalt mixture and evaluate the effects of aggregate distribution and pre-notch dislocation on fracture. Compared with aggregate distribution, pre-notch location is a more important effect factor for the crack path. The crack-path deviation angle, the critical fracture load, and the critical fracture displacement generally increase with the increasing pre-notch offset. The three-point bending fracture of asphalt mixture is of Mode I and induced by high normal contact force concentration. Due to some random factors and the narrow limitation of 2D simulations, two discrepancies are also found in the crack-path deviation angle and the critical fracture load.