Traditional and Dissipated Energy approaches to compare the 2PB and 4PB flexural methodologies on a Warm Mix Asphalt

Two and four point bending tests are among the most common methodologies adopted for the fatigue characterization of asphalt mixes. Constraints and volumes of material are the main differences between these two testing procedures. This work presents the fatigue results from a warm asphalt mixture obtained with an innovative two point bending (2PB) apparatus and a traditional four point bending (4PB) one. The Dissipated Energy approach, based on the energy balance theory, as well as the traditional approach were chosen for the analysis. Finally, the influence of specimen volume on fatigue was assessed performing tests on specimens of different thicknesses. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.