{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,16]],"date-time":"2026-04-16T03:19:30Z","timestamp":1776309570829,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":48,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"12","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,6,12]],"date-time":"2024-06-12T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1718150400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"National Natural Science Foundation of China","award":["52308440"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["52308440"]}]},{"name":"National Natural Science Foundation of China","award":["23NSFSC5888"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["23NSFSC5888"]}]},{"name":"Natural Science Foundation of Sichuan Province","award":["52308440"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["52308440"]}]},{"name":"Natural Science Foundation of Sichuan Province","award":["23NSFSC5888"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["23NSFSC5888"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Materials"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Aggregates\u2019 configurations result in different stress fields, which change the fracture mode and mechanical properties of an asphalt mixture. To reveal the enhancing effect of aggregates with different particle sizes on the low-temperature cracking resistance of an asphalt mixture, an indirect tensile (IDT) test was carried out to analyze the aggregates\u2019 influence on crack propagation and low-temperature cracking resistance from a macroscopic perspective. And combined with the test results, mesostructure models of an asphalt mixture with different aggregates\u2019 spatial distributions were established through the extended finite element method (XFEM) to analyze changes in the crack propagation path and crack tip configuration force from a mesoscopic perspective. The main results showed that the crack tip configurational force was reduced due to the aggregate size increasing, demonstrating the inhibitory effect of aggregates on crack propagation. This contributes to enhancing asphalt mixtures\u2019 low-temperature cracking resistance. Compared to single-grain aggregates, multi-grain aggregates exhibit a greater inhibitory effect on crack propagation. Nonetheless, an excessive disparity in particle sizes compromises particle continuity, leading to the formation of more branching cracks. Meanwhile, the aggregates\u2019 inhibitory effect on crack propagation is influenced by the crack deflection angle. In particular, when the crack deflection angle, \u03b2, equals 45\u00b0, the crack tip\u2019s configurational force is notably larger, leading the crack to enter an unstable state conducive to the expansion and formation of macrocracks. The research results reveal aggregates\u2019 inhibitory effect on crack propagation from a macro- and microperspective and reveal the relationship between aggregate configurations and the low-temperature cracking resistance of asphalt mixtures.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ma17122865","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,6,12]],"date-time":"2024-06-12T04:15:27Z","timestamp":1718165727000},"page":"2865","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":4,"title":["Enhancement Effect of Aggregates on the Low-Temperature Cracking Resistance of Asphalt Mixtures"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"17","author":[{"given":"Jianhuan","family":"Du","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengluo Avenue No. 2025, Chengdu 610106, China"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Zhu","family":"Fu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengluo Avenue No. 2025, Chengdu 610106, China"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,6,12]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","first-page":"37","article-title":"Mechanical behavior and reinforcement of mineral filler-asphalt mixtures","volume":"42","author":"Anderson","year":"1973","journal-title":"Miner. 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