IMPROVED TECHNIQUES FOR PREDICTION OF FATIGUE LIFE FOR ASPHALT CONCRETE PAVEMENTS

Predictions for traffic-induced fatigue damage with time for asphalt concrete pavements are usually based on Miner's hypothesis and fatigue characterization of materials obtained from laboratory fatigue tests. In general, considerably greater damage is predicted than actually occurs in the field. This is partly due to inequities between the meaning of fatigue failure in laboratory testing and in a pavement layer in service, differences in stress states between laboratory specimens under test conditions and a pavement layer under wheel loads, and variability in strain and material characteristics in the field. Wheel tracking tests as developed by Shell Laboratories and analytical developments based indirectly on American Association of State Highway Officials (now American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials) experimental data may be used for establishing much more rational fatigue relationships for asphalt concrete materials than those obtained from standard laboratory fatigue tests. Means for rationally revising the fatigue relationships to consider the effects of changes in temperature on fatigue life are presented. These two improvements allow considerably improved predictions for fatigue damage. Promising concepts for calculating an expected damage index to consider materials variability are discussed. Apparent shortcomings in the current stochastic formulations in VESYS IIM are described along with recommendations for further development. /Author/

Media Info

  • Media Type: Print
  • Features: Figures; References;
  • Pagination: pp 27-32
  • Monograph Title: Pavement design, evaluation and performance
  • Serial:

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00155998
  • Record Type: Publication
  • ISBN: 0309220710
  • Files: TRIS, TRB
  • Created Date: Aug 15 1977 12:00AM