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Comparison of Fracture Test Methods for Evaluating the Crack Resistance of Asphalt Mixture

  • Research Article-Civil Engineering
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Abstract

For the better understanding of fracture test method to evaluate the crack resistance of asphalt mixtures, the current test methods and evaluation indexes were theoretically and experimentally compared, including the indirect tensile test, single edge notch beam test, semicircular bending test (SCB) and disk-shaped compact tension test. The stress intensity factors for different tests were compared, and the appropriate range of notch depth was determined. The SCB was finally selected as the test method for evaluating the crack resistance of the asphalt mixtures. According to the relationship between the fracture energy and notch depths, the essential fracture energy of asphalt mixtures was calculated, and it was recommended as the evaluation index of asphalt mixtures for crack resistance. Furthermore, the failure process of the SCB was analyzed, and the contraflexure point on the load–displacement curve was found and defined. The fracture energy at the contraflexure point could be used to evaluate the ultimate crack resistance of the asphalt mixtures. The application of the essential fracture energy and the contraflexure point can correspond to the actuality of the asphalt pavement, which provides a reference for the crack resistance research of asphalt mixtures in the future.

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Abbreviations

IDT test:

Indirect tensile test

SENB test:

Single edge notch beam test

SCB test:

Semicircular bending test

DCT test:

Disk-shaped compact tension test

ENDB test:

Edge notched disk bend test

ENDC test:

Edge notched diametrically compressed test

SHRP:

Strategic highway research program

LEFM:

Linear elastic fracture mechanics

EPFM:

Elastic plastic fracture mechanics

CZM:

Cohesive zone model

CMOD:

Crack mouth opening displacement

J C :

Critical energy rate

R T :

Split tensile strength

P T :

Maximum value of the test load

σ t :

Tensile stress at the bottom of specimen

F :

Vertical load

K :

Stress intensity factor

K C :

Critical stress intensity factor

U :

The work of load

t :

Cohesion

δ :

The relative displacement of the fracture surface

T :

Mechanical strength, the maximum value of cohesion

δ f :

Failure displacement, the maximum displacement of the fracture surface

G c :

The fracture energy

U fr :

The breaking energy

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Key R&D Program of China (Nos. 2018YFE0103800), the Department of Science & Technology of Shaanxi Province (Nos. 2017KCT-13), China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (Nos. 2017M620434), Shaanxi Postdoctoral Grant Program (No. 2017BSHYDZZ17), and the Special Fund for Basic Scientific Research of Central College of Chang’an University (Nos. 310821153502 and 310821173501). The authors gratefully acknowledge their financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory for Special Area Highway Engineering of Ministry of Education, Chang’an University, Xi’an, 710064, Shaanxi, China

    Bochao Zhou, Jianzhong Pei, Jiupeng Zhang, Fucheng Guo & Yong Wen

  2. Zhejiang Zhonglu Traffic Design Co., Ltd., Jiaxing, 314000, Zhejiang, China

    Peifeng Luo

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  1. Bochao Zhou
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Correspondence to Jiupeng Zhang.

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Zhou, B., Pei, J., Zhang, J. et al. Comparison of Fracture Test Methods for Evaluating the Crack Resistance of Asphalt Mixture. Arab J Sci Eng 45, 8745–8758 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-020-04838-3

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