Characterization of Bitumen Micro-Mechanical Behaviors Using AFM, Phase Dynamics Theory and MD Simulation

Fundamental understanding of micro-mechanical behaviors in bitumen, including phase separation, micro-friction, micro-abrasion, etc., can help the pavement engineers better understand the bitumen mechanical performances at macroscale. Recent researches show that the microstructure evolution in bitum...

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Main Authors: Yue Hou, Linbing Wang, Dawei Wang, Meng Guo, Pengfei Liu, Jianxin Yu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2017-02-01
Series:Materials
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/10/2/208
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spelling doaj-242e4d9a8455410b8d989520b5bf75032020-11-25T00:24:12ZengMDPI AGMaterials1996-19442017-02-0110220810.3390/ma10020208ma10020208Characterization of Bitumen Micro-Mechanical Behaviors Using AFM, Phase Dynamics Theory and MD SimulationYue Hou0Linbing Wang1Dawei Wang2Meng Guo3Pengfei Liu4Jianxin Yu5National Center for Materials Service Safety, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, ChinaJoint USTB-Virginia Tech Lab on Multifunctional Materials, USTB, Beijing, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USAInstitute of Highway Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, Mies-van-der-Rohe-Street 1, D52074 Aachen, GermanyNational Center for Materials Service Safety, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, ChinaInstitute of Highway Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, Mies-van-der-Rohe-Street 1, D52074 Aachen, GermanyCenter of Analysis and Measurement, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, ChinaFundamental understanding of micro-mechanical behaviors in bitumen, including phase separation, micro-friction, micro-abrasion, etc., can help the pavement engineers better understand the bitumen mechanical performances at macroscale. Recent researches show that the microstructure evolution in bitumen will directly affect its surface structure and micro-mechanical performance. In this study, the bitumen microstructure and micro-mechanical behaviors are studied using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) experiments, Phase Dynamics Theory and Molecular Dynamics (MD) Simulation. The AFM experiment results show that different phase-structure will occur at the surface of the bitumen samples under certain thermodynamic conditions at microscale. The phenomenon can be explained using the phase dynamics theory, where the effects of stability parameter and temperature on bitumen microstructure and micro-mechanical behavior are studied combined with MD Simulation. Simulation results show that the saturates phase, in contrast to the naphthene aromatics phase, plays a major role in bitumen micro-mechanical behavior. A high stress zone occurs at the interface between the saturates phase and the naphthene aromatics phase, which may form discontinuities that further affect the bitumen frictional performance.http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/10/2/208Atomic Force Microscopybitumenmicro-mechanical behaviorsPhase Dynamics TheoryMD simulation
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Yue Hou
Linbing Wang
Dawei Wang
Meng Guo
Pengfei Liu
Jianxin Yu
spellingShingle Yue Hou
Linbing Wang
Dawei Wang
Meng Guo
Pengfei Liu
Jianxin Yu
Characterization of Bitumen Micro-Mechanical Behaviors Using AFM, Phase Dynamics Theory and MD Simulation
Materials
Atomic Force Microscopy
bitumen
micro-mechanical behaviors
Phase Dynamics Theory
MD simulation
author_facet Yue Hou
Linbing Wang
Dawei Wang
Meng Guo
Pengfei Liu
Jianxin Yu
author_sort Yue Hou
title Characterization of Bitumen Micro-Mechanical Behaviors Using AFM, Phase Dynamics Theory and MD Simulation
title_short Characterization of Bitumen Micro-Mechanical Behaviors Using AFM, Phase Dynamics Theory and MD Simulation
title_full Characterization of Bitumen Micro-Mechanical Behaviors Using AFM, Phase Dynamics Theory and MD Simulation
title_fullStr Characterization of Bitumen Micro-Mechanical Behaviors Using AFM, Phase Dynamics Theory and MD Simulation
title_full_unstemmed Characterization of Bitumen Micro-Mechanical Behaviors Using AFM, Phase Dynamics Theory and MD Simulation
title_sort characterization of bitumen micro-mechanical behaviors using afm, phase dynamics theory and md simulation
publisher MDPI AG
series Materials
issn 1996-1944
publishDate 2017-02-01
description Fundamental understanding of micro-mechanical behaviors in bitumen, including phase separation, micro-friction, micro-abrasion, etc., can help the pavement engineers better understand the bitumen mechanical performances at macroscale. Recent researches show that the microstructure evolution in bitumen will directly affect its surface structure and micro-mechanical performance. In this study, the bitumen microstructure and micro-mechanical behaviors are studied using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) experiments, Phase Dynamics Theory and Molecular Dynamics (MD) Simulation. The AFM experiment results show that different phase-structure will occur at the surface of the bitumen samples under certain thermodynamic conditions at microscale. The phenomenon can be explained using the phase dynamics theory, where the effects of stability parameter and temperature on bitumen microstructure and micro-mechanical behavior are studied combined with MD Simulation. Simulation results show that the saturates phase, in contrast to the naphthene aromatics phase, plays a major role in bitumen micro-mechanical behavior. A high stress zone occurs at the interface between the saturates phase and the naphthene aromatics phase, which may form discontinuities that further affect the bitumen frictional performance.
topic Atomic Force Microscopy
bitumen
micro-mechanical behaviors
Phase Dynamics Theory
MD simulation
url http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/10/2/208
work_keys_str_mv AT yuehou characterizationofbitumenmicromechanicalbehaviorsusingafmphasedynamicstheoryandmdsimulation
AT linbingwang characterizationofbitumenmicromechanicalbehaviorsusingafmphasedynamicstheoryandmdsimulation
AT daweiwang characterizationofbitumenmicromechanicalbehaviorsusingafmphasedynamicstheoryandmdsimulation
AT mengguo characterizationofbitumenmicromechanicalbehaviorsusingafmphasedynamicstheoryandmdsimulation
AT pengfeiliu characterizationofbitumenmicromechanicalbehaviorsusingafmphasedynamicstheoryandmdsimulation
AT jianxinyu characterizationofbitumenmicromechanicalbehaviorsusingafmphasedynamicstheoryandmdsimulation
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