Using the Three-Stage Weibull Equation and Tree-Based Model to Characterize the Mix Fatigue Damage Process

Abstract

The primary purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the applicability of the three-stage Weibull equation to describe the fatigue damage process using flexural controlled deformation fatigue tests. A data set of 179 beam fatigue tests originally designed for exploring the fatigue performance of conventional dense graded asphalt concrete (DGAC) and asphalt–rubber hot-mix gap-graded (ARHM-GG) mixes was used to inspect the three-stage Weibull parameters that were estimated using a genetic algorithm. The tree-based regression–category models were then used to uncover the data structure of the estimated parameters as a function of material properties, conditioning methods, temperatures, compaction methods, and strain levels. In general, the three-stage Weibull equation provides satisfactory fitting results for the three-stage fatigue damage process occurring in a beam test. It was found that the tree-based models of three-stage Weibull parameters associated with the crack initiation stage were statistically adequate and reliable compared with the models of parameters related to the warm-up stage and the crack propagation stage. It might suggest that these crack initiation parameters are better indexes to assess the fatigue performance.