Influence of Mechanical Properties of Temperature on Fatigue

Tanja Hoffmann
Faculty of Civil Engineering, Pavement Research Centre, University of Wuppertal
Wuppertal, Germany
thoffman@uni-wuppertal.de

The asphalt base layer is one of the most important structural layers of flexible pavements and
mainly fails by fatigue. In this work the influences of temperature between 10 °C and 30 °C on
stiffness and fatigue of asphalt mixtures have been determined. The influence of temperature has
been determined for the asphalt mixes by means of indirect tensile tests at different temperatures.
A conventional (50/70), a polymer modified (PmB 45A) and a high polymer modified bitumen
(PmB 25H) were used as binders.

The temperature dependent resilient modules were investigated at temperatures of 10 °C, 15 °C,
20 °C, 25 °C, 30 °C and 35 °C according to the European Standards DIN EN 12697–26 [1] and
displayed in Figure1.

25000
(1) y = 51835e-0,1339x R2 = 0,99
Resilient modulus [MPa]

20000
(2) y = 43401e-0,1201x R2 = 0,99
15000
(3) y = 49074e-0,0793x R2 = 0,99
10000

5000

0
5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
Tem perature [°C]
50/70 (1) PmB 45A (2) PmB 25H (3)

Figure 1: Temperature dependent Resilient Modulus

The fatigue tests have been carried out after DIN EN 12697-24 [2] at the corresponding
temperatures, where the resilient modulus tests had been conducted. The resilient modules (E) are
required to calculate the initial strains (εx,max ) generated at the centre of the cores during the
fatigue tests (Eq. 1). The specimens were loaded with constant stress pulses (σx,max) between 200
kPa and 700 kPa until failure. The load cycles to failure Nf of each single test are plotted versus
the corresponding initial strain on a log-log scale and a fatigue line (Woehler line) have been
produced (Fig. 2 to 5).
σ ⋅ (1 + 3µ )
ε x ,max = x ,max ⋅ 1000 [‰] [Eq. 1]
E
In the Figures 2 to 4 Woehler lines are generated for following temperatures 30 °C (1), 25 °C (2),
20 °C (3), 15 °C (4) and 10 °C (5). With respect to Eq. 1 the good correlations (R² ≥ 0.9) of
Woehler lines (1-5) show, that the load cycles until failure of each binder correspond very well
with the temperature dependent resilient modules. Due to for each asphalt mix type the Woehler
lines of all temperatures can be summarised to a unique Woehler line with a good correlation
coefficient (Figure 5).

1000
(1) y = 2888,4x-0,3204 R2 = 0,94

(2) y = 1618,6x-0,2737 R2 = 0,97

Initial Strain [Microns]

(3) y = 1618,6x-0,2737 R2 = 0,97

100

(4) y = 1140,4x-0,2342 R2 = 0,95

10
1,0E+02 1,0E+03 1,0E+04 1,0E+05 1,0E+06 1,0E+07
Load Cycle N
30 °C (1) 25 °C (2) 20 °C (3) 15 °C (4)

Figure 2: Woehler-line (50/70)

1000
(1) y = 26118x-0,613 R2 = 0,95
Initial Strain [Microns]

(2) y = 2220,2x-0,279 R2 = 0,95

(3) y = 1206,2x-0,221 R2 = 0,93

100

(4) y = 748,57x-0,172 R2 = 0,97

(5) y = 1918,2x-0,260 R2 = 0,79

10
1,0E+02 1,0E+03 1,0E+04 1,0E+05 1,0E+06 1,0E+07
Load Cycle N
30 °C (1) 25 °C (2) 20 °C (3) 15 °C (4) 10 °C (5)

Figure 3: Woehler-line (PmB 45A)

A comparison of the different asphalt mixes due to fatigue results show a significant effect with
respect to the binders used (Figure 5). The asphalt mix (PmB 25H) has a flatter slope, more over,
it will show a lower strain at the bottom of asphalt base layer because of its high resilient
modulus. Although the soft asphalt PmB 45A has a similar initial strain at 106 load cycles, this
asphalt will reach this strain much earlier and will fail much earlier than the asphalt PmB 25H,
because of its low stiffness.
 1000
(1) y = 956,11x-0,209 R2 = 0,93
Initial Strain [Microns]
(2) y = 624,0x-0,1647 R2 = 0,90

(3) y = 649,47x-0,176 R2 = 0,94

100

(4) y = 682,87x-0,171 R2 = 0,91

10
1,0E+02 1,0E+03 1,0E+04 1,0E+05 1,0E+06 1,0E+07
Load Cycle N
30 °C (1) 25 °C (2) 20 °C (3) 15 °C (4)

Figure 4: Woehler-line (PmB 25H)

The mean in-service temperature has a huge influence on fatigue behaviour. Fatigue resistance
decreases with increasing temperature (decreasing resilient modulus). Hence the fatigue
behaviour of asphalt corresponds very well with the temperature dependent mechanical properties
of asphalt used. Due to this behaviour the fatigue test of asphalt can be accelerated with variation
of temperature without to influence the trend of Woehler line. This experience will give a high
economic advantage at fatigue tests with high fatigue resistance asphalt.

1000
(1) y = 1922,2x-0,2893 R2 = 0,93
Initial Strain [Microns]

(2) y = 1313,3x-0,2274 R2 = 0,92

(3) y = 735,35x-0,1842 R2 = 0,93

100

10
1,0E+02 1,0E+03 1,0E+04 1,0E+05 1,0E+06 1,0E+07
Load Cycle N
50/70 (1) PmB 45A (2) PmB 25H (3)

Figure 5: Woehler-line ( 50/70, PmB 45A, PmB 25H)

References
1. European Committee for Standardization, European Standard: Test methods for hot mix
asphalt – Part 26: Stiffness (DIN EN 12697–26), Berlin 1999.
2 European Committee for Standardization, European Standard: Test methods for hot mix
asphalt – Part 24: Resistance to fatigue (DIN EN 12697–24), Berlin 1999.