Multi-scale analysis of asphalt pavement on curved concrete bridge deck considering effect of mesoscopic structure characteristics

Abstract

• A two-dimensional (2D) random aggregate generation method was adopted to develop mesoscale models with different mesostructure characteristics. • A three-dimensional (3D) macroscopic model of the bridge deck pavement including two structural layers was established. • A multiscale coupling algorithm was used to establish the relationship between models at different scales. • Damage density is used to evaluate the damage possibility of asphalt mixture. • The influence factors of mesostructure damage are graded. Mesostructure characteristics of asphalt mixture, as essential factors, affect the mechanical response and mesoscopic damage of bridge deck pavement. This study explored the effect of different mesostructure characteristics on the mechanical properties and damage behavior of asphalt pavement on a curved concrete deck using a mesostructure-based multiscale method. A two-dimensional (2D) random aggregate generation method was adopted to develop mesoscale models with different aggregate volume fractions (30%, 40% and 50%), aggregate size ranges (4.75mm-2.36mm, 9.5mm-2.36mm, 13mm-2.36mm and 16mm-2.36mm) and aggregate shapes (quadrangle, hexagon, octagon and random). A three-dimensional (3D) macroscopic model of the bridge deck pavement including two structural layers was established. A multiscale algorithm was used to establish the relationship between models at different scales. In addition, the angle index (AI) was used as an evaluation index of coarse aggregates in irregular shapes, and the damage density was used to evaluate the damage possibility of mesostructure. The results showed that the damage density of asphalt mixture mesostructure had a linear relationship with AI, and the damage density became bigger as the AI decreased. Besides, increasing the range of aggregate size and the volume fraction of aggregate could reduce the damage density of asphalt mixture mesostructure, and ultimately improve the comprehensive performance of bridge deck pavement. For the damage density of bridge deck pavement, the angle index of aggregate was the most important factor, followed by the volume fraction and size range of aggregate.