The objective of this paper is to investigate the effect of air voids on the fracture properties of asphalt mixtures using SCB test in Discrete Element Method (DEM). Superpave and Coarse Matrix High Binder (CMHB) mixtures gradation were used to generate the percentages of aggregate, mastic, and air voids within the specimens. Aggregates and air voids were randomly generated for each asphalt mixture case. Model results illustrate that the crack initiation and propagation is controlled by the location of the aggregate particles and air voids in the mixture. Additionally, the absence of air voids above the tip of the notch increases the stiffness of the sample and increase its resistance to failure. The novelty of using DEM and the random generation technique for generating numerical specimens proved to be a useful approach in investigating the properties of the mastic, aggregate and interface as they relate to fracture of asphalt mixtures.
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