ISSN: 1945-7553
CODEN: JTEVAB
Published Online: 10 November 2006
Page Count: 7

Development of Double Edge Notched Tension (DENT) Test for Asphalt Binders

Zofka, Adam
Research Assistant and Associate Professor, University of Minnesota, Civil Engineering Department, Minneapolis, MN

Marasteanu, Mihai
Research Assistant and Associate Professor, University of Minnesota, Civil Engineering Department, Minneapolis, MN

(Received 2 June 2006; accepted 24 October 2006)

Abstract

This paper presents the experimental details of performing double edge notched tension (DENT) fracture tests on asphalt binders. The testing is performed using an existing direct tension (DT) test device and modificed molds for preparing the test specimens. The fracture toughness values obtained from DENT tests perfomed on nine different asphalt binders are in the reasonable agreement with the values published by other researchers. Further evaluation of the DENT and DT test results indicate that both produce similar trends in terms of failure strains. The K_IC DENT results, however, have better repeatability compared to the DT results. The use of DENT test results to determine the critical cracking temperature in M 320-05 (former MP1a) AASHTO specification is discussed.

Keywords:
asphalt binder, fracture test, fracture toughness

Paper ID: JTE100678
DOI: 10.1520/JTE100678
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