Time-temperature superposition for asphalt concrete at large compressive strains

CW Schwartz, N Gibson… - Transportation Research …, 2002 - journals.sagepub.com
CW Schwartz, N Gibson, RA Schapery
Transportation Research Record, 2002journals.sagepub.com
A study was performed to evaluate whether time-temperature superposition principles would
continue to apply to the behavior of asphalt concrete beyond the commonly assumed small
strain (< 100 με) limits. A series of unconfined uniaxial compression constant crosshead
displacement rate tests were performed to large-strain values. The measured axial stress
versus axial strain data were cross-plotted to produce stress versus reduced time master
curves and corresponding temperature shift functions at various strain levels to determine …
A study was performed to evaluate whether time-temperature superposition principles would continue to apply to the behavior of asphalt concrete beyond the commonly assumed small strain (<100 με) limits. A series of unconfined uniaxial compression constant crosshead displacement rate tests were performed to large-strain values. The measured axial stress versus axial strain data were cross-plotted to produce stress versus reduced time master curves and corresponding temperature shift functions at various strain levels to determine the maximum strain level at which time-temperature superposition remains valid. The results suggest that asphalt concrete remains a thermorheologically simple material well into the postpeak region (i.e., that time-temperature superposition is valid throughout the useful stress-strain response). The results further suggest that the temperature shift function aT may be only a weak function of strain level. For many practical engineering purposes, however, the differences between the small-strain and large-strain temperature shift relations may be of negligible importance.
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