ABSTRACT
Abstract One of the best known testing methods to determine the bond strength of bituminous layers are the pull-off test and the shear test. Both testing procedures, however, yield strength values (adhesive tensile strength or shear strength), which do not allow predic tions on the fracture behaviour of an actual bond of bitumen layers and are not sufficient to numerically calculate and simulate the deformation and fracture behaviour of road con structions. Therefore a new fracture testing procedure has been developed, which allows to use cores from road constructions. In addition it yields fracture mechanical character istic values besides the usual mechanical values. First experimental results, which have been obtained with laboratory specimens as well as with specimens from road pave ments, are reported and the resulting new understanding of bond strength and fracture behaviour of bituminous layers is discussed. Keywords: Bond strength, interface cracks, mode I fracture behaviour, specific fracture energy, temperature dependence of fracture mechanical values, splitting test.
