Compaction of asphalt mixtures is a critical component of the construction process of asphalt pavements. The quality of compaction has a significant consequence for the durability of asphalt pavements. Compaction of asphalt mixtures is a complex physical process, which has not been fully understood. In this study, we investigate the physical mechanisms of compaction, based on which we propose a new method to evaluate the compactability of asphalt mixtures. Two mesoscopic physical mechanisms are introduced. One is related to the jamming of aggregates, which governs the densification process of the mixture. The other is related to the binder-aggregate interaction, which is responsible for the change of shear resistance of mixtures during compaction. Based on these mechanisms, different indices are proposed to characterise the compactability of asphalt mixtures. The model is applied to analyse seven asphalt mixtures that were used to construct test sections at MnROAD research facility. Statistical analysis is performed to identify correlations between the compactability indices and material compositions, such as gradation and binder content. Based on the most significant correlations, multiple linear regression models are developed, which can be used to design more compactable mixtures.

沥青混合料的压实是沥青路面施工过程的关键组成部分。压实质量对于沥青路面的耐久性具有重要意义。沥青混合料的压实是一个复杂的物理过程，尚未完全了解。在这项研究中，我们研究了压实的物理机理，在此基础上，我们提出了一种评估沥青混合料可压实性的新方法。介绍了两种介观的物理机制。一种与聚集体的堵塞有关，后者控制混合物的致密化过程。另一个与粘结剂-骨料的相互作用有关，后者负责压实过程中混合物的抗剪强度的变化。基于这些机制，提出了不同的指标来表征沥青混合料的可压实性。该模型用于分析MnROAD研究设施用于构造测试段的七种沥青混合料。进行统计分析以识别可压实性指数与材料组成之间的相关性，例如级配和粘合剂含量。基于最重要的相关性，开发了多个线性回归模型，这些模型可用于设计更紧凑的混合物。