Relationships Among Rate-Dependent Stiffnesses of Asphalt Concrete Using Laboratory and Field Test Methods

Abstract

As the application of nondestructive testing on pavements in service becomes more frequent, it is increasingly important to relate the resulting stiffnesses to those from laboratory test methods. The relationship among stiffnesses measured from five test methods currently used for asphalt concrete is addressed: creep compliance, complex modulus, impact resonance, falling weight deflectometer, and surface wave. Established relationships from linear viscoelastic theory are used to relate stiffnesses, including a comparison of creep stiffness, S(t), and relaxation modulus, E(t), calculated from creep compliance, D(t). Using laboratory and field measured stiffnesses, a linear relationship was discovered between stiffness and frequency on a log-log scale.