Using atomic force microscopy and molecular dynamics simulation to investigate the asphalt micro properties

In this study, the asphalt microstructure and micro mechanical properties are first investigated using atomic force microscopy (AFM) experiments. The AFM experiment results show that the asphalt samples have very complex microstructure morphology. The molecular dynamics (MD) simulation is then conducted to model the asphalt molecular structure. A tension loading is applied on the asphalt structure. It is discovered that the structure will be gradually stretched and the potential energy for van der Waals interactions takes a major part in the total energy. The effect of molecules number on the MD results was analyzed. The phase field method was also used to simulate the micro mechanical properties considering the material viscoelasticity.