Interlaboratory Test to Characterize the Cyclic Behavior of Bituminous Interlayers: An Overview of Testing Equipment and Protocols

The performance assessment of multi-layered pavements strongly depends on the mechanical behavior of the interface between bituminous layers. So far, comprehensive studies have been carried out mainly using quasi-static laboratory tests focusing on the interlayer shear strength at failure. However, it is generally recognized that cyclic shear testing will lead to the determination of parameters which are more closely linked to the performance of pavements under traffic loading than the quasi-static shear tests. This paper outlines the research work that has been carried out within the Task Group 3 “Pavement multilayer system” of the RILEM TC 272-PIM. The activities focused on cyclic shear testing of interfaces in bituminous pavements involve an interlaboratory test with nine participating laboratories. The interface behavior was investigated through both direct shear and torque tests on double-layered specimens extracted from lab compacted slabs prepared by one of the laboratories. The different testing equipment and protocols used by the participating laboratories are presented, highlighting the variety of geometries, loading modes, and testing parameters.