Numerical simulation on the processing of crumb rubber modified asphalt by ultrasound and mechanical stirring

Based on the existing modified asphalt production equipment, the power ultrasonic is integrated into the existing stirring dispersion technology, and the FLUENT fluid simulation is used to combine ultrasonic and stirring. Stirring and ultrasonic two motion forms were realized step by step, and the movement states of crumb rubber modified asphalt were simulated under the interaction of ultrasonic and stirring, which provide a new method for the research of crumb rubber modified asphalt production equipment. The results show that under the action of ultrasound, only positive pressure exists in the modified asphalt flow field after adding the cavitation model, and the maximum absolute pressure can reach about 1200kPa. With the increase of ultrasonic time, the air content rate under the tool head is periodic and regular changed and will gradually increase, the number of cavitation bubbles will continue to increase, and the cavitation intensity will increase. The influence of asphalt viscosity on the volume fraction of cavitation bubbles was studied, when the viscosity of the system is 0.8 Pa?s, it is more conducive to the occurrence of cavitation, The process of ultrasonic synergistic stirring is conducive to inhibiting the segregation phenomenon of crumb rubber modified asphalt.