EXPERIMENTAL CHARACTERIZATION AND MODELING OF FATIGUE AND CRACK PROPAGATION IN ASPHALT CONCRETE LAYERS

Fatigue tests on full-depth asphalt concrete slabs were conducted to investigate the crack initiation and propagation parameters. The crack propagation parameters A and n estimated by using Paris' law are different from that recommended by previous researchers, and by consequence, the observed fatigue life during the crack propagation is greater. Shear and stresses and displacement curves obtained in the direct shear tests with normal load on asphalt to asphalt interfaces were used to derive the mechanical model for the interface. For the covering abstract see ITRD E119486.