A Study of Influence of Temperature on Crack Propagation Behavior of Asphalt Concrete

The fracture resistance of asphalt materials significantly influences the service life of asphalt pavements and consequently affects the maintenance and rehabilitation costs of the pavement network. Therefore, there is significant interest in understanding the mechanism of fracture in asphalt pavements and in developing analysis tools that would lead to the selection of asphalt materials with increased fracture resistance. Study of cracking behavior of asphalt mixtures should be conducted in a micro-scale level to have a real simulation of crack propagation. Using SIEMENS SOMATOM plus X-ray CT (computerized tomography) and multi-functional testing rig, a dynamic observation of cracking propagation of hot mix asphalt was conducted in this research. Failure process under compressive pressure was recorded using CT images and CT numbers. The direct responses in density change of Marshall Samples under a CT-compressive process are change of CT numbers. Cracking propagation in the samples can be clearly observed and failure mode and stress-strain behavior can then be simulated. The tests reported provide important theoretical fundamentals to study the cracking behavior and failure mechanism of asphalt mixtures under the influence of temperature.