The displacement discontinuity method for predicting HMA fracture energy in the bending beam test Conference Paper uri icon

abstract

  • The displacement discontinuity method has been used previously to assess the mechanics of fracture in the SuperPave Indirect Tension Test and in the Semi-Circular Bending Test. In order to further verify the independence of the test method from the test configuration, this paper investigates the possibility of using the same method (i.e. the displacement discontinuity method) to predict hot mix asphalt fracture energy density in a Bending Beam Test. The predicted stress-strain curves were shown to compare well to the experimental results. The predicted crack initiation and propagation patterns are also consistent with observed cracking behavior. The results show that the displacement discontinuity method is capable of characterizing the fracture behavior of asphalt mixtures at intermediate to low temperatures, regardless of the particular testing setup used in the investigation and that it consistently provides reasonable predictions of HMA Fracture Energy Density. 2007 Taylor & Francis Group, London.

published proceedings

  • ADVANCED CHARACTERISATION OF PAVEMENT SOIL ENGINEERING MATERIALS, VOLS 1 AND 2

author list (cited authors)

  • Birgisson, B., Montepara, A., Romeo, E., Roque, R., & Tebaldi, G.

complete list of authors

  • Birgisson, B||Montepara, A||Romeo, E||Roque, R||Tebaldi, G

publication date

  • December 2007