A Framework to Quantify the Effect of Healing in Bituminous Materials using Material Properties

ABSTRACT Significant evidence exists in the literature that healing has a substantial effect on the performance of asphalt mixtures and therefore asphalt pavements. The incorporation of the healing mechanism in tandem with the crack growth mechanism is necessary for comprehensive modeling of the fatigue or fracture processes in asphalt mixtures. This paper presents a new framework that combines material and mechanical properties of the bitumen to predict the effect of healing on mechanical properties and performance of the asphalt mixture. This framework is based on an analytical approach that will allow it to be incorporated with future analytical models of crack growth and damage. The paper also presents a new test method using the dynamic shear rheometer to obtain some of the material properties related to the healing mechanism that are required in the proposed framework. Results from preliminary tests conducted on selected materials support the hypothesis used in the development of the framework and t...