Energy-Based Approach to Predict Fatigue Life of Asphalt Mixture Using Three-Point Bending Fatigue Test

The three-point bending fatigue tests were carried out in order to accurately predict the fatigue life of an asphalt mixture based on the plateau value (PV) of the dissipated strain energy ratio (DSER). The relations of the dissipated strain energy (DSE) to the stress-strength ratio, temperature and loading rate were studied, and the constructions of the mathematical models of DSE and DSER were completed based on the change laws of the DSE. The relation of the fatigue life to the PV was determined based on the analysis of damage evolution, based on which the fatigue equation was established and used to predict the fatigue life. The results show that the change laws of DSE and DSER can be well described by the proposed mathematical models. The PV is defined as the average value of the DSER in the second stage and the fatigue life decreases in power function with the increase of PV, based on which the fatigue equation of Nf = A(PV)B was established, and the established fatigue equation is very close to that is used in the MEPDG. The fatigue equation can well predict the fatigue life asphalt mixture.