Numerical simulation of the compaction process and the layer bonding with the multiscale modeling

• Applicant: Professor Dr.-Ing. Markus Oeser
• Subject Area: City Planning, Spatial Planning, Transportation and Infrastructure Planning, Landscape Planning ; Applied Mechanics, Statics and Dynamics ; Construction Material Sciences, Chemistry, Building Physics
• Term: from 2014 to 2018
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 239224712

Heavy duty transportation infrastructure requires optimal material compositions, precise construction processes and the best possible compaction to ensure sufficient durability. In the scope of the first application period for subproject 2 micro mechanical finite elements formulations for asphalt were developed to describe the material composition and the interactions between the respective material components. A fundamental understanding of mechanisms during construction and compaction processes has yet to be determined.The bonding between layers in asphalts is another prerequisite for the durability of asphalt pavements. In the first application period subprojects 1 and 4 developed the required theoretical and experimental fundamentals based on macroscopic, phenomenological formulations. The underlying mechanism of bonding due to adhesion, friction and interlocking between respective components of the material shall be investigated under application of micromechanical approaches.The results from the first application period offer all necessary prerequisites, that fundamental knowledge about the underlying mechanisms of asphalt compaction and layer bonding, that is not currently available, can be determined on a microstructure scale. In particular, this refers to results on the analysis of the microstructure of various asphalts from subprojects 2 and 3. The generated data represents the basis for micromechanical models. These models were used in subproject 2 to determine the relation between the microstructure of asphalt and the resistance against fatigue and deformation. The experimental base was established in subprojects 4 and 3. The micro-model was integrated into the macroscopic continuum mechanical FE-model of subproject 1 to allow for the analysis of entire pavement superstructures. Traffic induced loading was determined with the aid of approaches from subprojects 1, 3 and 5 under consideration of surface characteristics and chassis parameters.Precise calculations of mechanical loading in asphalt pavements and joints due to traffic can be conducted with the results from the first application period. At this point, the relationship between loading and damaging processes can be described with micromechanical processes. In the scope of the second application phase, micro- and meso-mechanical models are to be developed in subproject 2 to enhance the understanding of underlying processes during construction and compaction to ultimately allow for an optimisation of these processes by precisely influencing the asphalt microstructure and the bonding between asphalt layers in the future. Another objective in the second application phase is establishing an experimental base for a large-scale validation of the coupled models as well as transferring the uncertain material parameters from the micro into the macro scale.

• DFG Programme: Research Units
• Subproject of: FOR 2089: Durable Pavement Constructions for Future Traffic Loads Coupled System Pavement-Tyre-Vehicle