An Investigation of Asphalt Self-healing Mechanism Using Phase-field Model

The self-healing mechanism of asphalt has always been a challenging issue for pavement engineers; up to now there is no general agreement on the fundamental mechanism. In this paper, combined with Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) technology, the self-healing mechanism of asphalt is simulated by using the Phase-field Model in two ways: thermodynamic approach and mechanical approach. In the thermodynamic approach, self-healing is considered as a material-phase-rearrangement process based on the Cahn-Hilliard dynamics. Micro-cracks will form and disappear in the stress concentration zone near the phase interfaces because of phase separation that is demonstrated by AFM results; in the mechanical approach, the micro structure is described using a phase-field variable which assumes positive one in the intact solid and negative one in the existing crack void. Allen-Cahn dynamics is adopted to evolve the phase-field variable that the surface energy will result in the “wetting” of two surfaces and finally leads to self-healing. By using both approaches, pavement engineers are able to better understand the asphalt self-healing mechanism.

• Record URL:
  https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)MT.1943-5533.0001047
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/08991561
• Supplemental Notes:
  • © 2014 American Society of Civil Engineers.
• Authors:
  • Hou, Yue
  • Wang, Linbing
  • Pauli, Troy
  • Sun, Wenjuan
• Publication Date: 2015-3

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Features: References;
• Serial:
  • Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
  • Volume: 27
  • Issue Number: 3
  • Publisher: American Society of Civil Engineers
  • ISSN: 0899-1561
  • EISSN: 1943-5533
  • Serial URL: http://ascelibrary.org/journal/jmcee7

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Asphalt pavements; Microcracking; Simulation; Stress cracking; Thermodynamics; Void ratios; Wetting
• Uncontrolled Terms: Atomic force microscopy; Self healing cracks
• Subject Areas: Highways; Materials; Pavements; I30: Materials;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01514882
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, ASCE
• Created Date: Feb 21 2014 3:16PM