Fracture toughness and fracture energy of bituminous binders at low temperatures

Title: Fracture toughness and fracture energy of bituminous binders at low temperatures
Author(s): F. Olard, H. Di Benedetto
Paper category : conference
Book title: Fifth International RILEM Conference on Reflective Cracking in Pavements
Editor(s): C. Petit, I.L. Al-Qadi and A. Millien
Print-ISBN: 2-912143-47-0
e-ISBN: 2912143764
Publisher: RILEM Publications SARL
Publication year: 2004
Pages: 359 - 366
Total Pages: 8
Nb references: 9
Language: English

Abstract: Within the framework of a partnership between the "Département Génie Civil et Bâtiment" of the "Ecole Nationale des TPE", Appia and Eurovia, a three point bending test on pre-notched bitumen beams has been developed at the ENTPE. The fracture properties of five pure and polymer-modified bitumens were studied at constant and low temperatures and constant crosshead speeds considering the Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics (LEFM) assumptions. The validity of this assumption is checked. Thereby, the influence of both temperature and crosshead speed has been evaluated. Different pre-notch lengths were used so the influence of crack length was checked to be negligible. The aims of this study were first to develop a new testing protocol for bituminous materials and second to find out some pertinent characteristics of the fracture behavior of bituminous binders. From our results on five very different binders, both fracture toughness (KIc) and fracture energy (GIc) appear as very discriminating values. Moreover, at low temperatures and high crosshead speeds, the fracture energy GIc of the five studied binders seems to tends to an asymptotic value which corresponds to their "glassy" state. The results herein presented are very encouraging. Similar researches in the mechanisms of fracture phenomena for assessment and development of fracture-resistant materials need to be investigated further.

Online publication: 2004-04-15
Publication type : full_text
Public price (Euros): 0.00