Evaluation of the Performance of Warm and Hot Mix Asphalt in Cold Regions Using the Principles of Fracture Mechanics

In this study, the strength of hot and warm asphalt mixtures containing 3% Sasobite in cold regions has been investigated using the principles of fracture mechanics. The effect of temperature and loading modes (tensile and shear) on the fracture toughness of the mixture was investigated using a semicircular samples with an edge crack under three-point bending. The coefficient of critical stress intensity was determined from the results of the fracture test and the shape coefficients were determined from finite element analysis in ABACUS software. In hot and warm asphalt mixtures containing 3% Sasobite, with decreasing temperature, the critical stress intensity coefficient increased in tensile and shear modes. The results showed that the hot asphalt mixture at temperatures of 0, -10 and -20 °C presents significant fracture resistance compared to the warm asphalt mixture in all loading modes. As the temperature decreases, the fracture toughness of both types of both asphalt mixtures increases.