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Highlights: [•] Two tests were applied to evaluate fracture properties of asphalt mixtures. [•] Fénix test and semi-circular bending test. [•] The loading rate and the temperature influence on mixtures were analyzed. [•] The Fénix test is more adequate for high temperatures while the SCB is better at low temperatures. [•] At low temperatures asphalt mixture present an extremely stiff behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the basic assumptions of analytical dimensioning models of asphalt pavements is failure due to fatigue cracking of the bituminous layers. Furthermore, it is considered that the damaging effects of different traffic loads are linear and cumulative, per Miner's law. However, the analysis carried out on the effect of temperature, rest periods, and ageing of the bituminous materials questions considering fatigue failure as the only and main assumption for the calculation of the pavement life. Ageing of the pavement asphalt layers results in stiffening and transverse cracking. Consequently, these asphalt layers are no longer of infinite extent in the horizontal direction and their response resembles that of a slab. The application of this last calculation assumption provides pavement sections more in line with those used in Spain in the Catalogue of Structural Sections, which is based on experience gained from the real behavior of those sections. The calculation based on the fatigue laws results in undersized structures. This paper shows the results of a strain sweep test implemented at the UPC Roads Laboratory, which was used to analyse all the aforementioned effects and to propose a calculation procedure for heavy traffic pavements considering transverse cracking of the asphalt layers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Fénix is a new monotonic test to assess fracture energy during cracking of bituminous mixtures. [•] EBADE is a new strain sweep test to evaluate fatigue resistance of bituminous mixes. [•] Failure Strain is defined from dissipated energy density obtained through EBADE test. [•] Variation of mechanical behaviour with temperature has been analyzed. [•] Master curve that provides information about mixture response has been defined. [•] Mixture properties at low temperatures must be considered during design phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of the filler in asphalt mixtures is particularly important because of its influence on mastic behaviour. The filler improves the resistance properties of bitumen against the action of traffic loads and temperature. However, the filler can also adversely affect bitumen in mastics excessively brittle and stiff due to inappropriate design. For these reasons, it is interesting to investigate the effect of filler type and content on mastic composition. This paper presents results from a strain sweep test applied to bituminous mastics prepared with different filler types and contents at several temperatures. The obtained stiffness modulus and failure strain results provide information to assess the fatigue behaviour of the analysed mastics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Fénix test allows assessing fracture energy during cracking of bituminous mixtures. [•] Variation of mechanical behavior with temperature has been analyzed. [•] Several types of bituminous mixtures with a wide stiffness range were studied. [•] Mixture with high performance polymer modified bitumen showed the best response to cracking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]