Effects of mixture design variables on low-temperature cracking and thermal fatigue resistance of asphalt mixtures

Date

2026-10-10

Author

KARAKAYA, YALÇIN
Qadir, Adnan
Arabzadeh, Ali
Güler, Ali Murat

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This study evaluated the effects of aggregate type, aggregate gradation, binder modification, binder grade, and binder content on the temperature-induced cracking responses of asphalt mixtures using a Thermal Stress Restrainemd Specimen Test (TSRST) framework. Three distinct response modes were investigated: restrained-cooling low-temperature cracking (LTC), strain-controlled thermal fatigue (TF), and monotonic direct tension testing (DTT) at+5 °C. The experimental datasets were incomplete and unbalanced relative to the 48-condition factorial framework; therefore, the results were interpreted as associations within the represented mixture combinations. Aggregate-related variables were significantly associated with several LTC and DTT responses. Within the investigated material systems, limestone mixtures generally exhibited higher fracture strength, lower fracture temperature, higher DTT peak stress, and greater toughness than basalt mixtures. Coarse gradation was also associated with higher fracture strength, higher DTT peak stress, and greater toughness within the selected Type 1 and Type 2 gradation limits. TF exhibited a different factor-sensitivity pattern. Binder content significantly affected fatigue life, whereas aggregate type significantly affected the power-law damage-rate parameter but did not significantly affect fatigue life, despite a relatively large estimated effect size. Binder grade significantly affected fracture temperature and DTT peak stress, while the independent main effect of styrene–butadiene–styrene modification was not statistically significant for the evaluated responses. Overall, LTC and DTT showed more similar factor-sensitivity patterns, particularly for aggregate-related variables, whereas TF responded differently, with binder content exerting the strongest estimated effect on fatigue life. These similarities reflect response patterns and do not imply equivalence among the test temperatures, loading histories, or failure mechanisms.

Subject Keywords

Asphalt mixtures, Direct tension test, Mixture design variables, Thermal cracking, Thermal fatigue, TSRST

URI

https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?partnerID=HzOxMe3b&scp=105049658152&origin=inward
https://hdl.handle.net/11511/120952

Collections

Department of Physics, Article