ABSTRACT
The major distresses are considered in the mix and structural design of asphalt mixes. Assuming a standard, one can determine the tensile stress/strain at the bottom of the asphalt mix layer of an assumed pavement structure, using layered elastic analysis. Center-point loading is used for tests with a rubber pad underneath the beam to simulate an elastic foundation, while third-point loading is generally used in tests without an elastic foundation. The Semicircular bending (SCB) test has become popular in the last few years as a test method for the evaluation of fracture properties of mixes containing high amounts of RAP to prevent fatigue cracking potential at intermediate temperatures. The thermal cracking prediction models are based on the approach of predicting a critical temperature below which an asphalt mix layer is expected to crack, and most methodologies combine the effect of low temperature and thermal fatigue cracking.
