ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT: In present research, two-dimensional boundary coordinates of 99 irregular aggregates were extracted after digital process of X-ray CT Images of asphalt concrete specimen. The modified Fast Fourier Transformation method (FFT) is used to obtain the fitting functions of those coordinates. With the boundary database from the functions, a method for developing two-dimensional asphalt concrete virtual model with irregular aggregates form is presented. Using the method, virtual models with different aggregate grading are generated. Brazil split tests of asphalt concrete are simulated with the samples by taking into account the actual inhomogeneities and microstructures, especially voids distributions, as the viscoelastic properties of the sand mastic and elastic properties of the aggregates are inputted into the FEM model. The test results show that the presented method can generate 2-D virtual mechanical simulation model of asphalt concrete automatically and the generated micromechanical models are capable of predicting the mixture behavior based on ingredient properties. It is believed that the proposed method can be extended to predict the mixture behavior based on ingredient properties.
