Finite-element analysis of hot mix asphalt microstructure using effective local material properties and strain gradient elasticity

This paper presents the development of a methodology for microstructure analysis and modeling of hot mix asphalt (HMA). This methodology relies on using effective local material properties and strain gradient theory in the finite element analysis of HMA microstructure. The effective local properties are calculated using an analytical micromechanical model that captures the influence of percent of particles on the microscopic response of HMA. Strain gradient elasticity is used in order to account for the effect of particle size in the finite element analysis. The autocorrelation function and the moving window technique are used to determine the microstructure characteristic length scales that are used in strain gradient elasticity. A number of asphalt mixes with different aggregate types and size distributions are analyzed in this paper.