Determination of Creep Compliance of Asphalt Concrete from Notched Semi-Circular Bend (SCB) Test

The feasibility of determining the creep compliance of asphalt concrete from a notched Semi-Circular Bend (SCB) test specimen was investigated. The objective of this study was to propose a combined test methodology that can provide both viscoelastic and fracture properties of asphalt concrete mixtures tested at low temperatures. Finite element (FE) analyses were performed to understand the stress state in the SCB, and an optimal load range producing appreciable displacement measurements while preserving the linear viscoelastic conditions was identified. Expressions that relate displacement measurements, from particular regions of the SCB specimen, to creep function were derived. The validity of the proposed SCB creep method was tested both by numerical simulations and experimental testing. Good agreement was found between the creep function obtained from SCB and those obtained from the Three-Point Bending Beam (3PBB) and the Indirect Tensile (IDT) creep test.