Multi-scale Fatigue Cracking Characteristics of Epoxy Asphalt Concrete under Salt Freeze-Thaw Conditions
YAN Jingchen
MA Miaomiao
ZHANG Wei
GAO Hongbin
Abstract：To investigate the fatigue cracking characteristics of epoxy asphalt concrete(EAC)in snowy and frozen regions,EAC and a control group,SBS modified asphalt concrete(SBSMAC),were subjected to testing.Using the small beam three-point bending repeated loading test,digital image correlation(DIC),and scanning electron microscopy(SEM),the initiation,propagation,and accelerated failure of cracks in EAC and SBSMAC specimens were analyzed during their entire fatigue life cycles under freeze-thaw cycles and salt-freeze-thaw cycles from macro,meso,and micro scales.The results indicate that determining the fatigue damage stages of asphalt concrete based on the cut-off points obtained from the derivative curves of the fitting functions for the damage factors of EAC and SBSMAC is a correct and feasible new method.Both the macroscopic crack initiation point and the microcrack propagation point of EAC are superior to those of SBSMAC,suggesting that EAC has better resistance to material damage compared to SBSMAC.The use of potassium acetate(CH3COOK)as an alternative to commonly used chloride-based deicing agents in snowy and frozen regions can reduce the degree of pavement fatigue damage.Additionally,the microscopic morphology at the fracture surface of EAC is better than that of SBSMAC.
Keywords：epoxy asphalt concrete(EAC)freeze-thaw cyclesalt freeze-thaw cyclethree-point bending repeated load testdigital image correlation
Publication Date：2025-03-31
Online Publishing Date：2025-08-15(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：8( 283-290 )