Fatigue resistance potential for hot mix asphalt using viscoelastic continuum damage analysis

This paper describes testing and evaluation of the fatigue resistance potential of hot-mix asphalt mixtures using viscoelastic continuum damage analysis, which is based on dynamic modulus determination, a state-variable approach and damage calculation. The dynamic modulus test for stiffness characterization and the direct tension test for fatigue resistance characterization were used in the testing procedure. The state-variable approach can be used for numerical computation of a viscoelastic convolution integral. A Nelder-Mead simplex search was used in this study to determine the damage parameter of a stiffness reduction function. The fatigue resistance was evaluated as a function of loading rate, asphalt binder content, modifier (e.g. usage of hydrated lime), and temperature, and was found experimentally to have a strong dependence on these factors.