Aashto T322 - 07
Aashto T322 - 07
Aashto T322 - 07
1. SCOPE
1.1. This standard provides procedures for determining the tensile creep compliance at different
loading times, tensile strength, and Poisson’s ratio of hot mix asphalt (HMA) using indirect
loading techniques.
1.2. The procedures described in this standard provide the data required to conduct the
thermal cracking analysis. These procedures apply to test specimens having a maximum aggregate
size of 38 mm or less. Specimens shall be 38 to 50 mm high and 150 ± 9 mm in diameter.
1.3. This test may involve hazardous materials, operations, and equipment. This standard does not
purport to address all of the safety concerns associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the
user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the
applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
2. REFERENCED DOCUMENTS
3. TERMINOLOGY
3.1. Definitions:
3.4. tensile strength—the strength shown by a specimen subjected to tension, as distinct from torsion,
compression, or shear.
3.5. Poisson’s ratio (ν)—the absolute value of the ratio of transverse strain to the corresponding axial
strain resulting from uniformly distributed axial stress below the proportional limit of the material.
4. SUMMARY OF METHOD
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4.1. This standard describes the procedure for determining the tensile creep and tensile strength to be
determined on the same specimen for thermal cracking analyses.
4.2. The tensile creep is determined by applying a static load of fixed magnitude along the diametral
axis of a specimen. The horizontal and vertical deformations measured near the center of the
specimen are used to calculate a tensile creep compliance as a function of time. Loads are selected
to keep horizontal strains in the linear viscoelastic range (typically below a horizontal strain of
500 × 10–6 mm/mm) during the creep test. By measuring both horizontal and vertical deformations
in regions where the stresses are relatively constant and away from the localized nonlinear effects
induced by the steel loading strips, Poisson’s ratio can be more accurately determined. Creep
compliance is sensitive to Poisson’s ratio measurements.
4.3. The tensile strength is determined immediately after determining the tensile creep or separately by
applying a constant rate of vertical deformation (or ram movement) to failure.
5.1. Tensile creep and tensile strength test data are required for Superpave mixtures to determine the
master relaxation modulus curve and fracture parameters. This information is used to calculate the
thermal cracking of HMA. The master relaxation modulus curve controls thermal crack
development, while the fracture parameter defines a mixture’s resistance to fracture.
5.2. The values of creep compliance, tensile strength, and Poisson’s ratio determined with this method
can be used in linear viscoelastic analysis to calculate the low temperature thermal cracking
potential of asphalt concrete.
5.3. Tensile creep data may be used to evaluate the relative quality of materials.
5.5. This procedure is applicable for mixtures with a maximum aggregate size of 38 mm or less.
6. APPARATUS
6.1. Indirect Tensile Test System—The indirect tensile test system shall consist of an axial loading
device, a load measuring device, specimen deformation measurement devices, an environmental
chamber, and a control and data acquisition system.
6.1.1. Axial Loading Device—The loading device shall be capable of providing a fixed or constant load
of 100 kN with a resolution of at least 20 N and constant rate of ram displacement of at least
12 mm/minute.
6.1.2. Load Measuring Device—The load measuring device shall consist of an electronic load cell,
designed for placement between the loading platen and piston, with a sensitivity of 20 N, and a
minimum capacity of 100 kN.
6.1.5. Control and Data Acquisition System—Specimen behavior in the creep compliance test is
evaluated from time records of applied load and specimen deformation. These parameters shall be
recorded on an analog to digital data acquisition device.
6.1.5.1. When determining the 100-second tensile creep for Superpave, digital data acquisition devices
shall provide a sampling frequency of 10 Hz for the first 10 seconds and 1 Hz for the next 90
seconds. When determining the 1000-second tensile creep, digital data acquisition devices shall
provide a sampling frequency of 10 Hz for the first 10 seconds, 1 Hz for the next 90 seconds, and
0.1 Hz for the rest of 900 seconds. When determining the tensile strength test, digital data
acquisition devices shall provide a sampling frequency of 20 Hz through the entire test. A 16-bit
A/D board is normally required to obtain the resolution needed when determining the tensile creep
and the range needed when determining the tensile strength.
6.1.6. Gauge Points—Eight brass gauge points having a diameter of 8 mm and a height of 3.2 mm are
required per specimen.
6.1.7. Mounting Template—A mounting template that has been used successfully for placing and
mounting the brass gauge points to each side of the test specimen (four per side) is illustrated in
Figure 1, which shows an example of a template for use with 150-mm diameter specimens. Other
similar and comparable systems such as those used in T 320 can be used.
7. HAZARDS
7.1. Observe standard laboratory safety precautions when preparing and testing HMA specimens.
8. STANDARDIZATION
8.1. Calibrate the testing system prior to initial use and at least once a year thereafter.
8.1.1. Calibrate the environmental control component to maintain the required temperature within the
accuracy specified.
8.1.2. Calibrate all measurement components (such as load cells and displacement transducers) of the
testing system.
9. SAMPLING
9.2. Roadway Specimens—Obtain roadway specimens from the pavement in accordance with
ASTM D 5361. Prepare cores with smooth and parallel surfaces that conform to the height
and diameter requirements specified in Section 10.2. Prepare a minimum of three replicate cores.
10.1. Saw at least 6 mm from both sides of each test specimen to provide smooth, parallel (saw-cut)
surfaces for mounting the measurement gauges.
Note 1—Measurements taken on cut faces yield more consistent results, and gauge points can be
attached with much greater bonding strength.
10.2. Specimen Size—Prepare specimens with a height of 38 to 50 mm and a diameter of 150 ± 9 mm.
10.3. Determining Specimen Height and Diameter—Determine and record the diameter and height
(thickness) of each specimen in accordance with ASTM D 3549, to the nearest 1 mm.
10.4. Determining the Bulk Specific Gravity—Determine the specific gravity of each specimen in
accordance with T 166, except that if the water absorbed by the specimen exceeds 2 percent,
substitute a thin, adherent plastic wrap membrane that is water-resistant instead of the
paraffin coating.
10.5. Specimen Drying—If specimens were immersed directly into the water, after determining the bulk
specific gravity, allow each specimen to dry at room temperature to a constant mass.
10.6. Mounting Displacement Transducers—Attach four brass gauge points with epoxy to each flat face
of the specimen (four per face). On each flat face of the specimen, two gauge points shall be
placed along the vertical and two along the horizontal axes with a center to center spacing of
38.0 ± 0.2 mm for a specimen diameter of 150 ± 9 mm. The placement and location of the gauge
points on each face shall produce a mirror image of each other. Mount the displacement
transducers on the gauge points such that the transducer’s center line is 6.4 mm above the
specimen’s surface. Figure 3 shows a system for mounting linear variable transducers that has
been successfully used for IDT creep measurements at low temperature.
11.1. Determine the tensile creep compliance of each of the three specimens at three measurements at
10°C intervals. The following test temperatures are recommended:
For mixtures made using binder grades PG XX-34 or softer: −30, −20, and −10°C
For mixtures made using binder grades PG XX-28 and PG XX-22, or mixtures for which
binder grade is unknown: −20, −10, and 0°C
11.2. Lower the temperature of the environmental chamber to the test temperature and, once the test
temperature ±0.5°C is achieved, allow each specimen to remain at the test temperature from
3 ± 1 hours prior to testing. Under no circumstances shall the specimen be kept at 0°C or less for
more than 24 hours.
11.3. Zero or rebalance the electronic measuring system and apply a static load of fixed magnitude
(±2 percent) without impact to the specimen for 100 ± 2 seconds. If a complete analysis is
required, a period of 1000 ± 20.5 seconds has been found suitable. Use a fixed load that produces
a horizontal deformation of 0.00125 mm to 0.0190 mm for 150-mm diameter specimens. If either
limit is violated, stop the test and allow a recovery time of 5 minutes before restarting with an
adjusted load. Comply strictly with these limits to prevent both nonlinear response, characterized
by exceeding the upper limit, and significant problems associated with noise and drift inherent in
sensors, when violating the lower deformation limit.
11.4. After the creep tests have been completed at each temperature, determine the tensile strength by
applying a load to the specimen at a rate of 12.5 mm of ram (vertical) movement per minute.
Record the vertical and horizontal deformations on both ends of the specimen and the load until
the load starts to decrease. The tensile strength should normally be determined at the middle
temperature used for the creep tests.
Note 3—In some cases, it is acceptable to unload the specimen between the creep compliance
and strength tests. This will facilitate control on certain testing machines.
12. CALCULATIONS
12.1. Calculate the air voids for each test specimen in accordance with T 269.
12.2.1. The three reference specimens are analyzed simultaneously to reduce variability in determining
Poisson’s ratio and, therefore, creep compliance.
12.2.2. Obtain average thickness and diameter in mm and creep load in kN for the three replicates:
3
∑b
n =1
n
D avg = (1)
3
3
∑D
n =1
n
D avg = (2)
3
3
∑P
n =1
n
Pavg = (3)
3
12.2.3. Compute normalized horizontal and vertical deformation arrays for each of the six specimen faces
(three specimens, two faces per specimen).
bn D Pavg
ΔX n,i ,t = ΔX i ,t × × n × (4)
bavg D avg Pn
bn D Pavg
ΔYn,i,t = ΔYi ,t × × n × (5)
bavg D avg Pn
where:
ΔXn,i,t = normalized horizontal deformation for face i (i = 1 to 6) at time t (t = 0 to tfinal,
where tfinal is the total creep time);
ΔYn,i,t = normalized vertical deformation for face i at time t;
ΔXi,t = measured horizontal deformation for face i at time t; and
ΔYi,t = measured vertical deformation for face i at time t.
12.2.4. Obtain the average horizontal and vertical deformations ΔXa,i and ΔYa,i at a time corresponding to
one half the total creep test time for each of the six specimen faces. Thus, for a 100-second creep
test, obtain the deformations corresponding to t = 50 seconds.
ΔX a,i = ΔX n,i ,tmid (6)
12.2.5. Obtain the trimmed mean of the deflections ΔXt and ΔYt. This is accomplished by numerically
ranking the six ΔXa,i and ΔYa,i values and averaging the four middle values. Thus, the highest and
lowest values of horizontal and vertical deformation are not included in the trimmed mean.
Compute:
5
∑ ΔX r , j
j =2
ΔX t = (8)
4
5
∑ ΔYr , j
j =2
ΔYt = (9)
4
where:
ΔXr,j = ΔXa,i values sorted in ascending order;
ΔYr,j = ΔYa,i values sorted in ascending order;
ΔXt = trimmed mean of horizontal deformations; and
ΔYt = trimmed mean of vertical deformations.
12.2.7. Compute the trimmed mean, ΔXtm,t, of the six horizontal deformation arrays.
5
∑ ΔX r , j , t
j =2
ΔX tm, t = (11)
4
where:
ΔXr,j,t = ΔXi,t arrays sorted, where the i = 6 arrays are sorted according to the sorting
order already established in Section 13.3.5 for ΔXr,j; and
ΔXtm,t = Trimmed mean of the ΔXi,t arrays.
St , n = (15)
∂ × bn × Dn
where:
Pf,n = maximum load observed for specimen, n;
St,n = tensile strength of specimen, n.
∑S
n =1
t,n
St = (16)
3
where:
St = average tensile strength of mixture.
13. REPORT
13.1.1. Bulk specific gravity of each specimen tested to the nearest 0.001;
13.1.2. Maximum specific gravity of the asphalt concrete mixture to the nearest 0.001;
13.1.4. Height and diameter of all test specimens to the nearest millimeter;
13.1.5. Test temperature to the nearest 0.5°C, and for creep testing the load levels used during the test to
the nearest 5 N;
13.1.7. Tensile strength (σt) of the mixture to the nearest pascal as computed.
14.1. Precision—The research required to develop precision estimates has not been conducted.
14.2. Bias—The research required to establish the bias of this method has not been conducted.
15. KEYWORDS
15.1. Creep compliance; diametral creep compliance; linear variable differential transducer; tensile
creep test; tensile failure test; tensile strength.
1
PP 3-94 (1996) was last printed in the May 2002 edition of the AASHTO Provisional Standards.