Characteristics of Moduli Decay for the Asphalt Mixture under Different Loading Conditions

In order to explore the moduli decay patterns of asphalt mixtures under different loading conditions, the nonlinear fatigue damage model was implemented in order to simulate the moduli decay patterns. Then, the direct tensile, indirect tensile, and uniaxial compression fatigue tests were employed under four kinds of stress levels with four parallel tests. The specimens of AC-13C Styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) modified mixtures were manufactured. Based on the test results, the decay patterns of the moduli during fatigue tests under different stress states were revealed, and the parameters of the damage model under different test conditions were obtained. By changing the values of the model parameters under a certain loading condition, fatigue curves were obtained. Then, the fatigue properties of asphalt mixtures under different stress states could be compared and analyzed directly. The result indicated that the evolution curves of fatigue damage for the direct tensile test, the indirect tensile test, and the uniaxial compression test all experienced three stages, which indicates that the fatigue damage characteristic of asphalt mixtures is non-linear. The decay patterns of the direct tensile moduli and the tensile moduli measured by the indirect tensile test are similar. The decay patterns of the uniaxial compression and the compression moduli measured by indirect tensile test are similar. The decay patterns of tensile and compressive moduli are obviously different. At the same cycle ratio state, the position of the decay curve for the compression moduli is higher than that of the tensile moduli. It indicates that the tensile failure is the main reason of the fatigue damage for asphalt mixture. The new analysis method of fatigue damage was proposed, which provides a possibility to compare the fatigue results that were obtained from different loading conditions and different specimen sizes.