A comparison between beam and semi-circular bending fracture tests for asphalt

Mode I and mixed-mode I-II fracture properties of two bituminous mixtures, a Stone Mastic Asphalt and a Dense Bitumen Macadam, have been determined by means of three-point bending tests on notched specimens. Two specimen geometries, namely single-edge notched beam and semi-circular bending, have been used in the study. Comparisons have been made based on two fracture parameters, the stress intensity factor and the fracture energy. Experimental results have shown that for mode I there is good agreement between the stress intensity factors obtained from the two specimen geometries. Moreover, both geometries have been found suitable to study mixed-mode fracture of bituminous materials.