Cracking and rutting of asphalt concrete: experimental and micromechanics-based numerical investigation

This thesis studies the cracking and rutting behaviour of asphalt concrete (tarmac) using experimental and numerical methods. The thesis proposes a new viscoelastic-plastic damage model for the discrete element method (DEM). This research into the cracking behaviour of asphalt concrete using the semi-circular bending test was proposed for international standards group ASTM International, and was accepted for developing into a new ASTM testing method. This new modelling approach can advance our understanding of the micromechanics of the cracking and rutting behaviour of asphalt concrete, support the modification and improvement of current testing methods, and help make our roads last longer.