PRACTICAL FATIGUE CHARACTERIZATION OF BITUMINOUS PAVING MIXTURE

This paper details the development and subsequent use of the Indirect Tensile Fatigue Test (ITFT) as a routine practical method for evaluating the life to crack initiation of bituminous paving mixtures. Although this test has been in use for many years, a recent project involving close collaboration between industry, highway authorities and the University of Nottingham has led to significant practical improvements. The ITFT has a biaxial state of stress that, although more representative of field conditions than a uniaxial stress state, complicates the calculations of stress and strain. However, the use of linear elastic theory is shown to be suitable for this purpose provided the test temperature does not exceed 30 deg C. The data also confirm the use of tensile strain as the principal criterion for fatigue crack initiation. A high degree of correlation was demonstrated between results for the ITFT and two more fundamental test methods, the trapezoidal cantilever and the uniaxial tension-compression test. The ITFT method can be used to characterize a material in as little as two hours, and as a result of this research it has been extensively used both in the UK and in Europe. The repeatability and the reproducibility of the test showed that when comparing results from nine laboratories, the scatter in the data was small. The test method is regarded as suitable for a British Standard and is a serious candidate for adoption within Europe. The final section of the paper describes on-going research being carried out at Nottingham into the application of Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics (LEFM) to characterize crack propagation using a slightly modified form of the ITFT test geometry.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/02702932
• Corporate Authors:

  Association of Asphalt Paving Technologists (AAPT)

  400 Selby Avenue, Suite I
  St Paul, MN  United States  55102
• Authors:
  • READ, J M
  • Collop, A C
• Conference:
  • Asphalt Paving Technology 1997
  • Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
  • Date: 1997-3-17 to 1997-3-19
• Publication Date: 1997

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 74-108
• Serial:
  • Journal of the Association of Asphalt Paving Technologists
  • Volume: 66
  • Publisher: Association of Asphalt Paving Technologists (AAPT)
  • ISSN: 0270-2932
  • Serial URL: https://www.asphalttechnology.org/site_page.cfm?pk_association_webpage_menu=9169&pk_association_webpage=19109

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bituminous mixtures; Cracking; Fatigue (Mechanics); Fracture mechanics; Linear elasticity; Tension; Tension tests; Test procedures; Validation
• Uncontrolled Terms: Crack initiation; Crack propagation; Indirect tensile test; Repeatability; Reproducibility
• Geographic Terms: Europe; United Kingdom
• Subject Areas: Highways; Materials; I31: Bituminous Binders and Materials;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00752115
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 7 1998 12:00AM