Methodology to Determine a Field Calibration Coefficient (k_c) of a High Modulus Asphalt Concrete (HMAC) for Cold Regions

摘要

Only Mechanistic-Empirical (M-E) pavement design methods such as the French Pavement Design Method-FPDM (Alizé: SETRA-LCPC) effectively utilize the mechanistic properties of a new mix. In doing so, these methods promote research and development of innovative products. Nevertheless, establishing the added value of a new product via a M-E design method comes with its load of work. In fact, to use these methods, empirical calibration coefficients are used to link the laboratory and the field behaviour of the mix. The main goal of this paper is to present a method leading to the determination of the field calibration coefficient of a new and innovative mix: a High Modulus Asphalt Concrete (HMAC) for cold regions. This paper focuses only on the field calibration coefficient regarding the fatigue cracking resistance performance, also known as bottom-up fatigue cracking. This method is also applicable to any type of mix. The sequence for determining the field calibration coefficient (k_c) is vastly inspired by the one used at IFSTTAR-Nantes for their fatigue test track.