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Detecting the Failure Stages in Asphalt Concrete Through the Fatigue Life

  1. Saad Issa Sarsam Sarsam and Associates Consult Bureau (SACB), Baghdad-IRAQ., Formerly at Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Baghdad, Iraq

Abstract

The signs of failure initiation in asphalt concrete through its service life may appear as cracking, rutting, or other types of distress after practicing dynamic stresses from vehicular loading. This work is concerned with detecting the failure initiation in asphalt concrete in the laboratory, and the role of binder content and constant strain level through a comprehensive testing program. Asphalt concrete mixtures were formulated with the optimal binder content, as well as with binder content adjusted by ±0.5%. These mixtures were then compacted into slab molds using a laboratory roller. From the slab samples, beam specimens were extracted and subjected to fatigue life testing under dynamic flexural stresses in a controlled 20°C environment. The testing program encompassed three constant strain levels: 750, 400, and 250 microstrain. It was observed that the failure occurs in three stages after practicing the dynamic loading. The binder content exhibits a significant influence on the starting point of such stages. However, the impact of constant strain level is more pronounced as the binder content increases. The binder content exhibits a significant influence on extending the fatigue life and controlling the stages of failure.

Keywords

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