Novel procedural pragmatics of dynamic Semi-Circular Bending test for fatigue evaluation of asphalt mixtures

Abstract

This paper proposed novel load-level selection pragmatics of Semi-Circular Bending (SCB) test that could practically be utilised to characterise fatigue performance of asphalt mixtures. A strain-controlled technique was devised and illustrated to determine the load input as a prerequisite to run dynamic SCB test. Three initial strains were selected as target criteria to determine the loads. The key features of the proposed approach were discussed with test results on 216 specimens. It was concluded that the formulated system rationally determined the load levels of dynamic SCB test to obtain response parameters, and is envisioned to replace the current conventional trial-and-error method.

Keywords:

• asphalt mixture
• Semi-Circular Bending test
• fatigue cracking
• dynamic test
• CMOD

Acknowledgements

The authors are also thankful to Mr. Alan Feeley, Technical Director of Pavetest Pty Ltd of Australia for his support in developing the computer program module to run the dynamic SCB test.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

ORCID

Gourab Saha http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8007-2159

Krishna Prapoorna Biligiri http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2313-0815

Additional information

Funding

The authors gratefully acknowledge the Government of India Ministry of Human Resource Development Department of Higher Education [grant number IIT/SRIC/CE/CAM/2014-15/36], dated 22 April 2014.