Single-Event Cracking Temperature of Asphalt Pavements Directly from Bending Beam Rheometer Data

Abstract

Asphalt pavements under low temperature conditions develop transverse cracks as a result of one or a combination of three distress mechanisms: (1) single-event thermal cracking; (2) thermal fatigue; and (3) load-associated thermal cracking. The cracking temperature of asphalt pavements based on the single-event thermal cracking mechanism of the asphalt binder has been suggested as a good measure of the low temperature criterion for use as a binder purchase specification. The determination of the single-event cracking temperature