Effect of loading rate and temperature on the indirect tensile strength of asphalt concrete

This study evaluates the effects of loading rate and temperature on the Indirect Tensile Strength (ITS) of dense-graded asphalt concrete with a nominal maximum aggregate size of 16 mm (BTNC 16). Asphalt concrete specimens were tested at three temperatures (10°C, 20°C, 30°C) and three loading rates (0,5 mm/min, 5 mm/min, 50 mm/min). The test results show that ITS increased from 481 kPa to 1,804 kPa as the loading rate increased from 0.5 mm/min to 50 mm/min at 10°C, with a similar trend observed at 20°C and 30°C. Conversely, when the temperature increased from 10°C to 30°C, ITS significantly decreased at all loading rates. At 50 mm/min, ITS dropped from 1,804 kPa (10°C) to 481 kPa (30°C), highlighting the significant influence of temperature. This study highlights the importance of traffic velocity and ambient temperature, which have a significant influence on the cracking resistance of asphalt pavements under field conditions.