Issues in the Constitutive Modeling of Asphalt Concrete (original) (raw)

Several aspect of the development and implementation of a three dimensional, inelastic constitutive model for asphalt concrete are presented. Attention is focussed on the inherent differences between tension and compression damage and the way this is accounted for in the model. On the basis of laboratory tension tests it is shown that also in tension non-linear response can be observed prior to the peak. A complete overview of the model relations is presented and examples of model verification are included. Finally, the indirect tension test is modelled and the predicted response is compared to laboratory results. It is concluded that for the specific laboratory tests that were simulated, a significant amount of energy is expended in the loading regions.