Asphalt mixture compaction is an important procedure of asphalt mixture construction and can significantly affect the performance of asphalt pavement. Many laboratory compaction methods (or devices), have been developed to study the asphalt mixture compaction. Nevertheless, the whole process from the selection of aggregate to laboratory compaction is still time-consuming and requires significant human and material resources. In order to better understand asphalt mixture compaction, some researchers began to use finite element method (FEM) to study and analyze mixture compaction. However, FEM is a continuum approach and lacks the ability to take into account the slippage and interlocking of aggregates during compaction. Discrete Element Method (DEM) is a discontinuum analysis method, which can simulate the deformation process of joint systems or discrete particle assembly under quasi-static and dynamic condition. Therefore, it can overcome the shortcomings of FEM and is a more effective tool than FEM to simulate asphalt mixture compaction. In this study, an open source 3D DEM code implemented with the C++ programming language was modified and applied to simulate the compaction of hot-mix asphalt (HMA). A viscoelastic contact model was developed in the DEM code and was verified through comparison with well established analytical solutions. The input parameters of the newly developed contact model were obtained through nonlinear regression analysis of dynamic modulus test results. Two commonly used compaction methods (Superpave gyratory compaction and asphalt vibratory compaction) and one linear kneading compaction based on APA machine were simulated using the DEM code, and the DEM compaction models were verified through the comparison between the DEM predicted results and the laboratory measured test results. The air voids distribution within the asphalt specimens was also analyzed by post processing virtual DEM compaction digital specimens and the level of heterogeneity of the air void distribution within the specimens in the vertical and lateral directions was studied. The DEM simulation results in this study were in a relatively good agreement with the experimental data and previous research results, which demonstrates that the DEM is a feasible method to simulate asphalt mixture compaction under different loading conditions and, with further research, it could be a potentially helpful tool for asphalt mix design by reducing the number of physical compactions in the laboratory.

Esta pesquisa tem como objetivo estudar a relação entre parâmetros de compactação e de deformação permanente à luz dos ensaios de compactação giratória Superpave ® e de ensaios de compressão uniaxial estática e dinâmica. Foram estudadas 8 misturas asfálticas com a mesma granulometria (Faixa C) e tipo de agregado mineral (granito) porém variou-se o ligante asfáltico (CAP 50/70 e CAP 50/70+SBS), o volume de vazios (4% e 7%) e a adição de cal hidratada. A partir dos resultados do ensaio de compactação observou-se que a inclinação das curvas de compactação das misturas compactadas a 7% foram mais acentuadas do que as de 4% e os parâmetros incidentais deste ensaio foram sensíveis à presença de cal e à variação do asfalto das misturas testadas. Quanto aos resultados dos ensaios de creep estático e dinâmico, notou-se que as misturas com Vv de 4% e as com asfalto modificado apresentam menor suscetibilidade à deformação permanente, no entanto, essas vantagens do asfalto modificado foram observadas somente nos ensaios de creep dinâmico. No que se refere às relações entre os parâmetros de compactação e de deformação permanente, os ajuste não se mostraram promissores como verificado pela qualidade dos ajustes (R2) exceto para algumas relações com CDI e TDIm. / This research aims to study relations between compaction and permanent deformation by means of Superpave® gyratory compaction and static and dynamic creep tests. Thus, eight asphalt mixtures were evaluated which were composed by same type (granite) and gradation (dense) of mineral aggregate but two types of asphalt binder (Pen 50/70 AC and Pen 50/70+SBS AC), two different levels of air voids (4% and 7%) and the addition of hydrated lime. Compaction results indicated that curve slopes of 7% air void asphalt mixtures were stronger than the 4% ones, and compaction parameters were sensitive to lime addition and asphalt type change. Static and dynamic creep test results indicated that 4% air void and modified asphalt mixtures presented lower susceptibility to rutting, but, these modified asphalt advantages were observed only in dynamic creep tests. In regard to relation between compaction and rutting parameters, linear models did not fit accurately, excepting some CDI and TDIm ones.

Esta pesquisa tem como objetivo estudar a relação entre parâmetros de compactação e de deformação permanente à luz dos ensaios de compactação giratória Superpave ® e de ensaios de compressão uniaxial estática e dinâmica. Foram estudadas 8 misturas asfálticas com a mesma granulometria (Faixa C) e tipo de agregado mineral (granito) porém variou-se o ligante asfáltico (CAP 50/70 e CAP 50/70+SBS), o volume de vazios (4% e 7%) e a adição de cal hidratada. A partir dos resultados do ensaio de compactação observou-se que a inclinação das curvas de compactação das misturas compactadas a 7% foram mais acentuadas do que as de 4% e os parâmetros incidentais deste ensaio foram sensíveis à presença de cal e à variação do asfalto das misturas testadas. Quanto aos resultados dos ensaios de creep estático e dinâmico, notou-se que as misturas com Vv de 4% e as com asfalto modificado apresentam menor suscetibilidade à deformação permanente, no entanto, essas vantagens do asfalto modificado foram observadas somente nos ensaios de creep dinâmico. No que se refere às relações entre os parâmetros de compactação e de deformação permanente, os ajuste não se mostraram promissores como verificado pela qualidade dos ajustes (R2) exceto para algumas relações com CDI e TDIm. / This research aims to study relations between compaction and permanent deformation by means of Superpave® gyratory compaction and static and dynamic creep tests. Thus, eight asphalt mixtures were evaluated which were composed by same type (granite) and gradation (dense) of mineral aggregate but two types of asphalt binder (Pen 50/70 AC and Pen 50/70+SBS AC), two different levels of air voids (4% and 7%) and the addition of hydrated lime. Compaction results indicated that curve slopes of 7% air void asphalt mixtures were stronger than the 4% ones, and compaction parameters were sensitive to lime addition and asphalt type change. Static and dynamic creep test results indicated that 4% air void and modified asphalt mixtures presented lower susceptibility to rutting, but, these modified asphalt advantages were observed only in dynamic creep tests. In regard to relation between compaction and rutting parameters, linear models did not fit accurately, excepting some CDI and TDIm ones.