Fatigue behaviour of rock asphalt concrete considering moisture, high-temperature, and stress level
Jiaolong Ren, Di Li, Yinshan Xu, Jiandong Huang, Wei Liu
Abstract
Rock asphalt has been widely used to improve the performance of asphalt concrete, owing to its cost efficiency and beneficial modification effect. However, the moisture and high-temperature effects interdependently determine the degradation of fatigue resistance of rock asphalt concrete, owing to the unique climatic summer conditions in most high-temperature regions of China (e.g. southeastern coastal and south regions). Accordingly, the water absorption characteristics of rock asphalt concrete at different temperatures were analysed. Based on this analysis, 75 groups of modified three-point bending fatigue tests were implemented to investigate the combined effect of moisture, high-temperature, and stress level on the fatigue life of rock asphalt concrete. The moisture, temperature, and stress level conditions significantly influence the fatigue resistance of rock asphalt concrete. Finally, fatigue equations considering moisture and stress level were established to predict the fatigue life of rock asphalt concrete at different temperatures.