ENERGY DISSIPATION: THE LEADING FACTOR OF FATIGUE. THE UNITED STATES STRATEGIC HIGHWAY RESEARCH PROGRAM. SHARING THE BENEFITS. CONFERENCE ORGANIZED BY THE INSTITUTION OF CIVIL ENGINEERS IN COOPERATION WITH U.S. STRATEGIC HIGHWAY RESEARCH PROGRAM, 29TH-31ST OCTOBER 1990, TARA HOTEL, KENSINGTON, LONDON

Abstract

By dynamic 4 point bending tests under controlled strain with a non-sinusoidal, composite signal, it is shown that the fatigue life of asphalt beams is not only determined by the height of the strain amplitudes, but that the average energy, dissipated per load cycle describes the fatigue tests much better. With the dissipated energy a predictive model for the fatigue life has been composed, enabling calculation of the fatigue damages for all types of load signals.