Fracture Resistance Characterization of Superpave Mixtures Using the Semi-Circular Bending Test

Wu, Z
Louisiana Transportation Research Center and Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA

Mohammad, LN
Louisiana Transportation Research Center and Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA

Wang, LB
Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA

Mull, MA
Technology Resources, Inc., Auburn, AL

(Received 6 January 2004; accepted 29 July 2004)
JOURNAL JAI
Abstract
The fracture resistance of asphalt mixture is an important property directly related to pavement distresses, such as cracking. This paper reports the investigation of a newly-developed semi-circular bending (SCB) test as a candidate test for the fracture resistance characterization of asphalt mixtures. Thirteen Superpave mixtures, designed with four different binder types (AC-30, PAC-40, PG70-22M, and PG76-22M) and four different compaction levels (N_design=75, 97, 109, and 125), were considered in this study. The SCB t1ests were conducted at 25°C using a three-point bending fixture in a MTS testing system. The fracture resistance was analyzed based on an elasto-plastic fracture mechanics concept of critical strain energy release rate, also called the critical value of J-integral (J_C). Preliminary results indicate that the J_C values were fairly sensitive to changes in binder type and nominal maximum aggregate size (NMAS) used in Superpave mixtures. This study suggests that the SCB test could be a valuable correlative tool in the evaluation of fracture resistance of asphalt mixtures.

Keywords:
energy release rate, fracture resistance, fracture testing, semi-circular bending, Superpave mixture

Paper ID: JAI12264
DOI: 10.1520/JAI12264

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Author Wu, Z Affiliation Louisiana Transportation Research Center and Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA Author Mohammad, LN Affiliation Louisiana Transportation Research Center and Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA Author Wang, LB Affiliation Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA Author Mull, MA Affiliation Technology Resources, Inc., Auburn, AL Title: Fracture Resistance Characterization of Superpave Mixtures Using the Semi-Circular Bending Test Symposium: Performance of Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA), including Fundamental and Empirical Procedures, 2003-12-9
Committee: D04 on Road and Paving Materials