Evaluation of the Results of Indirect Tensile Tests of Warm Mix Asphalts Using ABAQUS Software

The results of indirect tensile strength tests may provide good information about the performance of asphalt mixtures. This performance can be analyzed using finite element software, as well.In the present study, the indirect tensile test on specimens of asphalt mixtures with viscoelastic properties were modeled using ABAQUS software and the results of modeling were compared with the laboratory results. For experimental modeling, seven asphalt mixtures samples were modeled in the bold and deformable form. Loading strips with regard to the fact that they have a higher hardness than the asphalt mixtures samples were modeled as steel material in the rigid form. Applied load was transferred in an interaction manner between the surface of loaded bars and the samples. The values of resilient modulus were obtained by testing of asphalt mixtures in an indirect tensile strength test apparatus. Prony series coefficients were selected to define the viscoelastic behavior of asphalt mixtures and they were determined using Design Expert software and RSM method. Then, the vertical deformation results from modeling were compared with experimental results. The comparison showed that there was a significant relationship between the experimental results and modeling results.