Different strain distributions of cement-emulsified asphalt concrete pavement between the macro- and meso-scale

The purpose of this paper is to study the different strain distributions of CEAC (cement-emulsified asphalt concrete) pavement between the macro- and meso-scale, using a three-dimensional macroscopic finite element ANSYS model of pavement composed of hot mix asphalt (HMA), CEAC, and stone mastic asphalt (SMA). Applying digital image processing technology, the composition of the CEAC material at the meso-scale is identified as a three-phase material that includes cement-emulsified asphalt mastics, aggregates, and air voids. A two-dimensional mesoscopic finite element submodel measuring 80 × 80 mm was identified in a local region and built. Boundary conditions from the global CEAC pavement model were applied to the submodel. Eight control points in the CEAC submodel were selected for analysis. A comparison of the calculated strains of the CEAC local region at the macro- and meso-scales shows that the strain distributions at the meso-scale are not as uniform as those at the macro-scale. The extreme strain at the meso-scale is larger than that at the macro- scale. The reserve strength factors of mastic and aggregates of CEAC at the meso-scale are 31.82% and 49.07%, respectively, compared with 93.2% at the macro-scale. These values indicate that analyses at the macro- and meso-scales yield results that are not only different but can also have a significant effect on the potential failure mechanism of the CEAC component in the pavement.