Improved Research on Two-Step Thermal Stress Calculation Method for Asphalt Mixture: Extended Creep Compliance Test

The two-step thermal stress calculation method (TTSCM) is commonly used to predict the cracking temperature of asphalt mixture. The aim of this study is to improve TTSCM's mathematical model so as to enhance its prediction accuracy. First, this study evaluated the errors of predicted cracking temperatures of original TTSCM for AC-16 and AC-25 asphalt mixtures by thermal stress-restrained specimen test (TSRST). Then, an improved method called the extended creep compliance test (ECCT) was developed to modify the TTSCM. The test results show that the cracking predictions of the original TTSCM are not always accurate. Particularly for AC-16 asphalt mixture, the predicted cracking temperature is 2.9 °C (-10.6%) higher than the measured value by the TSRST. The ECCT method has been proven to be an effective way to enhance the prediction accuracy of the TTSCM. The predicted cracking temperatures modified by the ECCT method for both asphalt mixtures are relatively accurate, having an error within ±2%. The ECCT method changed the calculated thermal stress values at different temperatures of the TTSCM; however, they still conformed to a basic changing trend with respect to the initial temperature and cooling rate. Finally, a recommendation regarding the ECCT method was presented.