Fatigue behaviour of rock asphalt concrete considering moisture, high-temperature, and stress level

ABSTRACT

Rock asphalt has been widely used to improve the performance of asphalt concrete, owing to its cost efficiency and beneficial modification effect. However, the moisture and high-temperature effects interdependently determine the degradation of fatigue resistance of rock asphalt concrete, owing to the unique climatic summer conditions in most high-temperature regions of China (e.g. southeastern coastal and south regions). Accordingly, the water absorption characteristics of rock asphalt concrete at different temperatures were analysed. Based on this analysis, 75 groups of modified three-point bending fatigue tests were implemented to investigate the combined effect of moisture, high-temperature, and stress level on the fatigue life of rock asphalt concrete. The moisture, temperature, and stress level conditions significantly influence the fatigue resistance of rock asphalt concrete. Finally, fatigue equations considering moisture and stress level were established to predict the fatigue life of rock asphalt concrete at different temperatures.

KEYWORDS:

• Asphalt concrete
• rock asphalt modifier
• fatigue resistance
• fatigue prediction
• moisture
• combined effect

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China [grant number 51808326]; Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province [grant number LQY19E080002]; Highway Technology Projects of Zhejiang Province [grant number 2018H38].