Journal of South China University of Technology(Natural Science) >

2025 , Vol. 53 >Issue 12: 140 - 152

DOI: https://doi.org/10.12141/j.issn.1000-565X.250121

Materials Science & Technology

Influence Mechanism of Coarse Aggregate Morphology on Meso-Mechanical Behavior of Asphalt Mixtures

  • HE Jun ,
  • YU Jiangmiao ,
  • LI Weixiong ,
  • CHEN Bo ,
  • SHI Liwan ,
  • ZHANG Xiaoning
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  • 1.School of Civil Engineering and Transportation，South China University of Technology，Guangzhou 510640，Guangdong，China
    2.Guangzhou Xiaoning Road Engineering Technology Research Institute Co. ，Ltd. ，Guangzhou 510640，Guangdong，China
    3.School of Civil Engineering and Transportation，Foshan University，Foshan 528000，Guangdong，China
贺军（1984—），男，博士生，主要从事道路工程结构与材料研究。E-mail： cthejuntyr@mail.scut.edu.cn

Received date: 2025-04-23

  Online published: 2025-06-06

Supported by

the National Natural Science Foundation of China(52178426)

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Abstract

To reveal the influence mechanism of coarse aggregate profile characteristics on the meso-mechanical properties of asphalt mixtures, this study employed digital image processing technology to obtain the profile characteristics of coarse aggregates and constructed discrete element models of coarse aggregates with multiple morphological features. Combined with a virtual uniaxial penetration test system, the impact of aggregate geometry on the meso-mechanical response of asphalt mixtures was investigated. The results indicate that a mixed tensile-compressive stress mode exists at aggregate contact points, with compressive stress accounting for 40%~50%, tensile stress for 10%~20%, and mixed stresses for 30%~40% of the total. The application of uniaxial penetration load leads to rapid growth in microcrack numbers. In mixtures with higher elongated and flat aggregate content, microcracks at the aggregate-asphalt interface connect more readily to form through cracks, whereas mixtures with higher cubical aggregate content exhibit smaller microcrack distribution areas and lower stress levels. Microcracks are mainly induced by shear stress, accounting for about 90% of total microcracks; the number of microcracks caused by tensile stress is relatively small, accounting for about 10%. The maximum microcrack length reaches 10 mm, while the minimum is approximately 0.2 mm. For mixtures rich in cubical coarse aggregates, skeleton interlocking effectively resists loading. These findings provide theoretical support for coarse aggregate selection in asphalt pavement construction and quality improvement in aggregate processing.

Key words： asphalt mixture; coarse aggregate morphology; Discrete Element Method（DEM）; compaction state; meso-mechanical performance

Cite this article

HE Jun , YU Jiangmiao , LI Weixiong , CHEN Bo , SHI Liwan , ZHANG Xiaoning . Influence Mechanism of Coarse Aggregate Morphology on Meso-Mechanical Behavior of Asphalt Mixtures[J]. Journal of South China University of Technology(Natural Science), 2025 , 53(12) : 140 -152 . DOI: 10.12141/j.issn.1000-565X.250121

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