CHARACTERIZATION OF ASPHALT PAVEMENT MATERIALS USING FRACTURE MECHANICS APPROACH

Abstract

In order to improve the efficiency o_f road maintenance activities, type, cause, and mechanism of pavement distresses should be investigated. Various material characterization approaches have been applied to understand, predict, and minimize pavement distresses. In addition, innovative materials such as polymers, reinforcement, and stone mastic asphalt have been introduced into the asphalt construction industry. However, many asphalt pavements still suffer from major distresses such as fatigue cracking, reflection cracking, low temperature cracking, and rutting. This research will provide a ftrst step towards understanding the mechanisms of crack propagation and behavior of cracked asphalt pavements. It is expected that the finding of this research will contribute to a better understanding for the behavior of the cracked asphalt concrete mixes. Rate of pavement deterioration may be understood and hence could be modeled in order to provide a reliable pavement performance prediction. The growth of an existing crack and the rate of propagation of such a crack can be characterized by applying the fracture mechanics approach.