In order to obtain more accurate parameters required for the simulation of asphalt mixtures in the discrete element method (DEM), this study carried out a series of cross-functional asphalt mixture experiments to obtain the DEM simulation meso-parameters. By comparing the results of simulation and actual experiments, a method to obtain the meso-parameters of the DEM simulation was proposed. In this method, the numerical aggregate profile was obtained by X-ray CT scanning and the 3D aggregate model was reconstructed in MIMICS. The linear contact parameters of the aggregate and the Burgers model parameters of the asphalt mastic were obtained by nanoindentation technology. The parameters of the parallel bonding model between the aggregate and mastic were determined by the macroscopic tensile adhesion test and shear bond test. The results showed that the meso-parameters obtained by the macroscopic experiment provide a basis for the calibration of DEM parameters to a certain extent. The trends in simulation results are similar to the macro test results. Therefore, the newly proposed method is feasible.
Keywords: asphalt mixture; discrete element method (DEM); dynamic modulus; meso-parameters; nanoindentation tests.