Fatigue and Low Temperature Fracture in Bitumen Mastic

摘要

The authors investigate the effect of filler particle size on the fatigue and low-temperature toughening mechanisms in bitumen mastics and polymer modified bitumen by using glass spheres and limestone filler with sufficiently different gradations. The fatigue performance of the mastics is investigated under constant torsional strain. Interfacial adhesion between polymer-modified bitumen and filler particles increases fatigue life. Crack healing was examined during prolonged rest periods following fatigue damage. Thermal stress restrained specimen tests on bitumen mastics indicate that particle size does not influence the failure stress or failure temperature.