Abstract
The skeleton of aggregate is a determining factor for the road performance of asphalt concrete. However, the mechanical roles for different-sized particles in the compacted aggregate structure have not been clearly revealed due to the limitations of physical techniques. This paper investigates the mechanical functions of different-sized particles by developing a user-defined three-dimensional (3D) discrete element method (DEM). 3D aggregate particles with irregular shapes are modeled using clumps of spheres within Particle Flow Code in 3-Demensions (PFC3D). Digital aggregates with different gradations are constructed based on a sequential packing procedure. The air voids, mean contact number, and force proportion taken by different-sized aggregate particles are investigated for the digital aggregate mixtures. In addition, to determine the dominant particle size in the aggregate structure, a series of aggregate crushing tests are conducted in the laboratory and the particle size of crushed aggregates are analyzed. The results of this research can be applied to optimize the proportion of asphalt concrete and to develop more specific guidelines for the selection of aggregate structure.
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