Determination of the Visco-Elastic Properties of Asphaltic Mixtures for Finite Element Modeling In ABAQUS

Asphaltic mixtures show viscoelastic behavior under most conditions in their service life in pavements. A finite element modeling is widely used for predicting the viscoelastic responses of asphaltic mixtures. The general purpose ABAQUS software is a commonly used for finite element modeling analysis of different structures, which has the capability for modeling and analysis of structures contains viscoelastic materials. A common method of simulating the viscoelastic behavior in ABAQUS is the use of Prony series. To use this method, the required parameters, including the Prony constants, instantaneous elastic modulus and Poison's ratio must need to be determined. Determination of this parameters using laboratory tests is time consuming and costly and needs sophisticated equipment. Therefore, in this research, it has been attempted to determine the parameters using theoretical models without conducting laboratory tests. To this end, using the Witczak model for prediction of dynamic modulus of asphaltic mixtures and extending the algorithm proposed by Schapery and Park, the parameters of the typical asphaltic concrete mixes in Iran have been determined. The parameters have been determined using the volumetric properties of the mixtures. The results of this research can be used for modeling the time-dependent viscoelastic behavior of asphaltic concrete mixtures in ABAQUS and determination of their responses at a reference temperature of 21.1 ºC.