ABSTRACT
The objective of this paper is to simulate the unconfined cyclic Asphalt Mixture Performance Test (AMPT) and focus on the estimated Flow Number (FN) of ACs using the DEM method in two-dimensions (2D). The number of load cycles corresponding to the minimum rate of change of permanent axial strain during a repeated load test defines FN (AASHTO TP 79). The microstructure of the AC mixtures was captured using X-Ray Computed Tomography (CT) and advanced digital image processing techniques were utilized to process the microstructure and input into the 2D DEM model. Moreover, the viscoelastic mastic rheological properties were captured using Burger models fitted to Dynamic Shear Rheometer (DSR) frequency sweep data.
