Selection of a performance test to assess the cracking resistance of asphalt concrete materials

Abstract

Cracking is a common failure mechanism in asphalt concrete pavement structures. It is one of the main reasons for large road maintenance and rehabilitation expenditures, as well as reduced user comfort and increased fuel consumption due to high road roughness. The resistance of the pavement to this distress mechanism is dependent upon the ductility of the asphalt pavement mixture. The use of recycled asphalt materials in asphalt mixtures are also becoming increasingly common. A drawback of this practice is a reduction in ductility of the asphalt mixture, which causes a significant reduction in the fatigue life of the pavement in many cases. In Oregon, asphalt pavements are commonly failing prematurely due to cracking-related distresses, necessitating costly rehabilitation and maintenance at intervals of less than half of the intended design lives in some cases. For this reason, it is necessary to accurately quantify the impact of increasing the recycled asphalt content in asphalt pavement on the structural cracking resistance of the pavement through the use of low-cost and efficient testing procedures that can be implemented easily. This study focuses on characterizing the cracking performance of asphalt pavements in Oregon by considering four tests commonly used to evaluate fatigue cracking resistance and proposing the implementation of the most cost-effective and efficient test procedure for agencies and contractors.