The semi-circular bend (SCB) test has been widely used to evaluate the cracking resistance of asphalt mixtures. However, uncertainty has arisen with respect to the accuracy of the test method in cold regions where thermo-reversible aging of the asphalt binder plays a significant role in determining the cracking resistance of asphalt pavement. This study aimed to optimize the current SCB protocol by including an evaluation of thermo-reversible aging phenomena. Asphalt mixtures were collected from different regions in North America. Two groups of SCB samples were prepared, with one tested at 0°C after 2 h of conditioning at the test temperature, and the other tested at the same temperature after 72 h of conditioning at −20°C. The SCB tests were conducted at 50 mm/min and the force was recorded versus both the vertical load line displacement and horizontal crack mouth opening displacement (CMOD). To quantify the effects of thermo-reversible aging on cracking resistance, indicators including the flexibility index (FI), fracture energy (FE), cracking resistance index (CRI), balanced cracking index (BCI), and cracking initiation index (CII) were calculated. The results show that the FI and BCI are greatly affected by cold conditioning, decreasing by 34.6 % and 22.3 %, respectively. The post-peak slope of the force–CMOD curve deteriorates to varying degrees, which provides guidance for optimizing the current SCB protocol to better rank the low-temperature cracking resistance of asphalt mixtures. In contrast, the CII is affected to only a minor degree by thermo-reversible aging and is also a preferred indicator from a repeatability perspective. Important variations in stress relaxation ability (e.g., m-value, phase angle), and how these respond to cold conditioning, are missed in rapid SCB mixture tests and therefore best determined on recovered asphalt binder.


    Access

    Download

    Check availability in my library

    Order at Subito €


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Effects of Thermo-Reversible Aging on the Cracking Resistance of Asphalt Mixtures in the Semi-Circular Bend Test


    Additional title:

    Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board


    Contributors:


    Publication date :

    2024-01-01




    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English



    Effects of Aggregate/Filler Characteristics on Semi-Circular Bend Fracture Parameters of Asphalt Concrete Mixtures Subject to Moisture Damage

    Frossard, Rodolpho Medeiros / Teixeira, Jamilla Emi Sudo Lutif / Kim, Yong-Rak | Transportation Research Record | 2022


    Mode-Dependent Fracture Behavior of Asphalt Mixtures with Semicircular Bend Test

    Im, Soohyok / Ban, Hoki / Kim, Yong-Rak | Transportation Research Record | 2014


    Low Temperature Cracking Resistance of Asphalt Concrete Mixtures

    Jung, D. / Vinson, T. S. | British Library Online Contents | 1993