Virtual rutting test of asphalt mixture using discrete element method

In order to investigate the permanent deformation behavior of asphalt mixtures from discontinuity, the virtual rutting test of asphalt mixtures is developed by the discrete element method （DEM）. A digital specimen generation procedure considering aggregate gradation and irregular shape is developed based on the probability theory and the Monte Carlo method. The virtual rutting test is then conducted based on the generated digital specimen. In addition, on the basis of the time-temperature superposition （TTS） principle, a calculation method is used to reduce the computation time of the virtual rutting test. The simulation results are compared with the laboratory measurements. The results show that the calculation method based on the TFS principle in the discrete element （DE） viscoelastic model can significantly reduce the computation time. The deformation law of asphalt mixtures in the virtual rutting test is similar to the laboratory measurements, and the deformation and the dynamic stability of the virtual rutting test are slightly greater than the laboratory measurements. The two-dimensional virtual rutting test can predict the permanent deformation performance of asphalt mixtures.