Fatigue Performance Prediction of Asphalt Composites Subjected to Cyclic Loading with Intermittent Rest Periods

Abstract

This study investigated the use of a unified method to predict the fatigue cracking and self-healing characteristics of asphalt composites subjected to cyclic loading and intermittent rest periods. Displacement-controlled uniaxial tests were performed on cylindrical specimens of two asphalt composites with intermittent rest periods. Fatigue damage and healing behavior were modeled with their stress–strain history with viscoelastic continuum damage mechanics. An integrated method to predict the number of cycles required to degrade the materials by a certain amount with and without rest periods was devised and verified with actual cyclic test results in the tension–compression mode of loading.