Capturing mixed-mode cracking of asphalt concrete using the Arcan test

Abstract

Reflective cracking of asphalt concrete has been shown to be a combination of both opening (Mode I) and sliding (Mode II) cracking. The Arcan test configuration was developed at Southeast University to test Mode I, Mode II and three levels of mixed mode. This research used two asphalt concrete mixtures with the same asphalt cement but with two gradations: AC-20 and AC-10; four loading rates: 0.1, 0.5, 1.0 and 10 mm/min; and three testing temperatures: − 10, 0, +10°C, to explore the use of the Arcan test. Overall, it was found that the Arcan test is able to capture mixed-mode characteristics of asphalt concrete, but these characteristics can change significantly over a relatively small range of temperatures. Although Mode II fracture energy was highest at − 10°C, with a steadily declining fracture energy as the level of Mode I increased, there were no clear trends at 0 or +10°C.

Keywords::

• asphalt concrete
• reflective cracking
• fracture
• mixed-mode
• Arcan

Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge financial support provided from the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the China Post-Doctoral Science Foundation, and Southeast University. Without their generous funding, this research would not have been possible. In addition, the authors thank Jian Li for his help with the mix designs.

Notes

^1. Email: [email protected]

^2. Email: [email protected]

^3. Email: [email protected]