Cracking simulation of asphalt concrete beam specimen using cohesive zone model

Bending beam test is widely used for evaluating the tensile strength of asphalt concrete (AC). The test results are strongly influenced by the types of raw materials and their characteristics. Cohesive Zone Model (CZM) provides a new available approach for the cracking simulation of this test. After the parameters of materials were measured by adjusted Indirect Tensile Test (1DT) and Single-Edge notched Beam (SEB) test, CZM model was used to simulate the beginning and propagation of cracking through asphalt concrete beam. 2D and 3D digital specimen were generated from the digital picture and mathematical software separately. Under the same loading speed, actual test and digital simulations were accomplished and compared. Fracture energy, displacement at mid-span and maximum load during the test were recorded or computed. Through the comparability of the data above, it can be concluded that the cracking propagation path of the simulation result was very similar to the actual one. The fracture energies of 2D and 3D models were 21.00% and 7.68% lower than the measured result separately. The method using in this paper provides a new digital test approach to simulate the fracture of AC specimen. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.