Field Validation of Laboratory Tests to Assess Cracking Resistance of Asphalt Mixtures: An Experimental Design

TRB’s National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Research Results Digest 399: Field Validation of Laboratory Tests to Assess Cracking Resistance of Asphalt Mixtures: An Experimental Design develops an experimental design, including a proposed schedule and budget, for the field validation of laboratory tests selected under this study to assess the potential for the four types of cracking of asphalt mixtures—thermal, reflection, bottom-up fatigue, and top-down.

In the past, volumetric mixture design gave a reasonable level of comfort for potential performance since materials were relatively consistent within a given jurisdiction. However, asphalt mix designs are becoming more and more complex with the increasing use of recycled materials, recycling agents, binder additives and modifiers, and warm-mix asphalt (WMA) technologies. This digest briefly describes the selected cracking tests, proposed refinements, the field validation plan for the selected tests, and associated time and cost estimates.