A LABORATORY INVESTIGATION OF THE INFLUENCE OF REST PERIODS ON THE FATIGUE CHARACTERISTICS OF BITUMINOUS MIXES (WITH DISCUSSION)

The stiffness modulus of asphalt mixes and their resistance to fatigue are important parameters influencing structural design of asphalt pavements. The stiffness modulus contributes to the distribution of stresses and strains through the road structure. The resistance to fatigue determines the moment at which cracking failure occurs. Such cracking may start at the bottom or at the top of the asphalt layer. The fatigue life of bituminous mixes is known to depend on stress and strain levels applied during a loading cycle. The fatigue characteristics of bituminous mixes are determined in continuous loading tests. However, conditions of these tests do not resemble loading conditions prevailing in practice. Under traffic, asphalt is loaded in a discontinuous manner, as the passage of front and rear axles is interrupted by rest periods. The influence of rest periods in lab fatigue has been studied by several researchers, who all found that rest periods lead to longer fatigue lives of the bituminous mixes studied. In view of differences in mix compositions and loading conditions, their results cannot be directly compared. In order to obtain a more complete insight into the effect of rest periods on fatigue life of bituminous mixes, a systematic investigation of mixes was conducted under a wide range of loading conditions. This paper presents and discusses the results of this study.

• Corporate Authors:

  Association of Asphalt Paving Technologists (AAPT)

  400 Selby Avenue, Suite I
  St Paul, MN  United States  55102
• Authors:
  • Bonnaure, F P
  • Huibers, AHJJ
  • Boonders, A
• Conference:
  • Association of Asphalt Paving Technologists Proceedings
• Publication Date: 1982

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 104-128
• Serial:
  • Volume: 51

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Asphalt mixtures; Asphalt pavements; Bituminous mixtures; Bituminous pavements; Fatigue (Mechanics); Highway engineering; Highway transportation; Pavement distress; Pavement layers; Traffic loads
• Subject Areas: Freight Transportation; Highways; Materials; I31: Bituminous Binders and Materials;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00930922
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Sep 23 2002 12:00AM