Investigation of Low Temperature Cracking in Asphalt Pavements - National Pooled Fund Study 776
Principal Investigator:
Mihai Marasteanu, Associate Professor, Civil Engineering
Co-Investigator:
- Joseph Labuz, Professor, Civil Engineering
Project Summary:
The current Superpave specifications, based on linear viscoelastic analysis of creep and strength data at low temperatures on both asphalt binders and mixtures, represented a major step forward in the selection of asphalt materials with improved low-temperature performance. However, this approach is limited to a single event and cannot provide the tools to predict the evolution of cracks in time; also, it does not consider the effects of traffic loading, variable aging through the asphalt layer, and the influence of the pavement system on the thermal behavior of the pavement. This type of analysis can be performed only based on fracture mechanics concepts, which have been successfully used to predict the fracture behavior of metal structures, rocks and concrete. Presently, there is no agreement with respect to what experimental methods and analytical approaches should be used to investigate the fracture resistance of asphalt materials and the fracture performance of asphalt pavements. This comprehensive research effort brings under one umbrella the different experimental protocols and analyses, and compares them based on a common set of asphalt materials and on well documented field performance data, in order to determine how to improve the low-temperature fracture resistance of asphalt pavements.
Sponsors:
Project Details:
- Start date: 08/2004
- Project Status: Completed
- Research Area: Infrastructure
- Topics: Pavements
Reports or Products:
- "Investigation of Low Temperature Cracking in Asphalt Pavements National pooled Fund Study 776" (2007)