Investigation of a surrogate fatigue test protocol for asphalt mix-design and mixture screening
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Currently in Texas, there is no standardized test protocol for rapidly characterizing hot-mix asphalt concrete (HMAC) mixture fatigue resistance. In this study, a rational, simple, and rapid test methodology for asphalt mix-design and HMAC mixture screening for fatigue resistance was investigated. The test methodology was developed based on the Calibrated Mechanistic fatigue analysis approach with Surface Energy (CMSE) measurements that utilizes continuum fracture-damage micromechanics, Schapery's work potential theory, Paris' Law of fracture mechanics, and energy concepts to characterize HMAC mixture fatigue resistance in terms of fatigue life (N f). Three CMSE laboratory tests (tensile strength [TS], relaxation modulus [RM], and uniaxial repeated-direct tension [RDT]) were evaluated as surrogate fatigue tests through testing of various Texas HMAC mixtures with different mix-design parameters and material characteristics. Although, the RDT test protocol provided the best correlation with the CMSE Nf predictions in terms of identifying fatigue resistant mixtures relative to the anticipated traffic loading, the TS test was proposed as the surrogate fatigue test protocol based on practicality and simplicity. However, further research with additional HMAC mixtures is strongly recommended to validate these results, both in the laboratory and field. 2007 Taylor & Francis Group, London.