Multiscale fracture simulation of three-point bending asphalt mixture beam considering material heterogeneity

A multiscale modeling frame combining macroscale and mesoscale is proposed in basis of the aggregate generation and packing algorithm so that the heterogeneity feature of asphalt mixture can be involved in the computational model. In this frame, the mesoscopic scale is used in some concerned local regions and the macroscopic scale is used in the other regions. As examples, a series of two-dimensional multiscale models of cracked three-point bending asphalt mixture beam are created and then the effects of crack location and aggregate distribution near the crack on cracking behaviors are evaluated. Finally, some important conclusions are concluded.