Micro-damage characteristics of cold recycled mixture under freeze-thaw cycles based on discrete-element modeling

Cold recycled mixture with bitumen emulsion (CRME) is an energy-saving and environmentally friendly material. However, the micro-scale damage characteristics under the coupling of water temperature are still unknown and need to be investigated. In this paper, based on the X-ray CT section, the two-dimensional discrete element method (DEM) was used to precise reconstruct the CRME under different freeze-thaw (F-T) cycles. Simultaneously, the fracture behavior, strength, and structural damage characteristics of CRME under F-T cycles were studied by DEM and digital image correlation technology. The results show that F-T cycle significantly damage the formation of strength force chain in CRME. After undergoing 20F-T cycles, the specimen exhibited tensile failure without any obvious crack penetration. The cracks required of the specimen after the F-T cycles to reach the peak load were less than the non-F-T. The stress-strain concentrations were reinforced, making the specimen more susceptible to unloading during the later stages of testing after F-T cycles. The repeated F-T cycles damaged the overall microstructure of the mixture, resulting in less noticeable tensile effects during the splitting test. Utilizing a precise DEM modeling method proved to be practical and effective in investigating the micro-damage characteristics of cold recycled mixture.