Fatigue performance predication model based on dissipated energy criteria using DSR under controlled-strain mode

Abstract

Fatigue cracking is one of the primary modes of distress in flexible pavements that has an important economic impact. This paper describes the use of a dynamic shear rheometer (DSR) for fatigue performance testing of hot asphalt mixture under controlled-strain mode. 150 mm-diameter and 50 mm-height HMA finger samples used for the fatigue sequence procedure were developed and adopted to prepare the DSR samples. This paper reports the evaluation of fatigue resistance of asphalt mixture finger sample cores that were recovered from the field sections from Samawah–Nasiriyah City atrial road (97 km in the middle region of Iraq) using different continuum damage mechanics approach. The analysis has focused on comparing the dissipated pseudo strain energy (DPSE), energy ratio (ER) and energy stiffness ratio (ESR) in addition to the traditional approach under the controlled-strain mode. The results are used to develop guidelines for the design of fatigue-resistant mixtures in Iraq and to relate the mixture design to the structural design to optimize performance.