Simulation of damage and creep processes in asphalt

There is an increasing need for the use of numerical methods in road design. Here, the main difficulty lies in modeling the highly complex, nonlinear material behaviour of asphalt. The present paper deals with this problem and proposes a continuum mechanics model serving to simulate the main nonlinear mechanical processes taking place in asphalt. Plastic deformation, damage and crack development as well as viscous processes are treated. The model is implemented into the finite element program Abaqus and is used to simulate tests on asphalt specimens.