ABSTRACT
Precise and fast simulations of asphalt concrete are essential to obtain asphalt’s properties quickly and precisely, instead of doing several laboratory experiments. This kind of simulation is what we propose in this paper. The first step to achieve this method is to create realistic virtual aggregates. Using procedural generation algorithms, we generated virtual aggregates with convexities and concavities, using original aggregate morphologies as inputs. After inputting the gradations of asphalt concretes, hundreds of virtual aggregates were generated and compacted in a physics engine to create realistic asphalt concrete skeletons. We found that the most influential factors influencing asphalt concrete compaction are the number of aggregate particles and volume of mastic (aggregates smaller than 2mm, bitumen and filler). An equation was deduced based on the Weibull distribution function, which used the volume of mastic and the number of aggregates as inputs. This Equation was used to control the compaction level of aggregates in the physics engine.
