ABSTRACT
The time and temperature dependent dynamic modulus of asphalt concrete is a key parameter to modern pavement design and to pavement quality. However, accurate measurements of the complex modulus through conventional cyclic testing are expensive regarding both time and costs. Novel test methods based on modal analysis facilitate economic, accurate and faster determination of linear viscoelastic material properties of asphalt concrete. The modal analysis is performed by using an impact hammer and an accelerometer to measure frequency response functions of asphalt concrete specimens with free boundary conditions. The complex modulus and complex Poisson’s ratio are determined by matching finite element computed frequency response functions to the measurements. This paper presents one software application to perform the modal testing and one application to compute and optimize frequency response functions to determine the complex modulus and complex Poisson’s ratio. The software applications greatly simplifies the methodology to determine material properties through modal analysis of asphalt concrete specimens.
