Effect of load application rate and temperature on the fracture energy of asphalt mixtures. Fénix and semi-circular bending tests

Significant progress to address the effect of load application time and temperature on the fracture energy of asphalt mixtures was made in a comprehensive research effort as part of two national pooled-fund studies addressing low-temperature cracking in the US. Two fracture methods were thoroughly investigated and were proposed for standardization: the Disc-Shaped Compact Tension DC(T) test and the Semi Circular Bending (SCB) test. Recently, a simpler test that combines the advantages of both DC(T) and SCB configurations has been developed and successfully used in Spain, the Fénix test. This paper presents the results from the application of SCB and Fénix tests in the assessment of fracture behavior of different types of mixtures and the effect of both loading rate and temperature on the results obtained. The main conclusion is that both SCB and Fénix tests give similar information when comparing two types of mixtures or selecting mixtures resistant tocracking.