FATIGUE CHARACTERISTICS OF ASPHALT CONCRETE FROM ASPHALT SLAB TESTS

It is widely known that pavement fatigue life is often greater than that predicted based on lab bending beam or indirect tensile fatigue tests. Among many factors contributing to this difference is that the effect of sample dimensions on fatigue life can be significant due to the multiphase nature of asphalt concrete. In this research, fatigue tests were conducted on asphalt slabs, which realistically simulate the fatigue cracks in pavements, to investigate crack initiation and propagation. The fatigue crack at the underside of asphalt slabs was identified as a semielliptical surface crack, which is the same type of fatigue crack found in pavements. A 3-D finite-element analysis was conducted to evaluate the stress intensity factor. Paris's law was used to characterize the crack propagation rate. The fatigue crack initiation life and propagation life determined from this research were compared with those calculated using the Strategic Highway Research Program existing parameters and equation. It was found that the 2 results are significantly different. The factors that may contribute to this difference were discussed.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/08991561
• Corporate Authors:

  American Society of Civil Engineers

  1801 Alexander Bell Drive
  Reston, VA  United States  20191-4400
• Authors:
  • Li, Yixuan
  • Metcalf, J B
• Publication Date: 2004-7

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 306-314
• Serial:
  • Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
  • Volume: 16
  • Issue Number: 4
  • Publisher: American Society of Civil Engineers
  • ISSN: 0899-1561
  • EISSN: 1943-5533
  • Serial URL: http://ascelibrary.org/journal/jmcee7

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Asphalt concrete; Asphalt pavements; Fatigue (Mechanics); Fatigue tests; Pavement cracking; Pavement distress; Pavement performance; Slabs
• Identifier Terms: Strategic Highway Research Program
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Pavements; I22: Design of Pavements, Railways and Guideways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00977801
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 15 2004 12:00AM