Skip navigation
View Cart

Pavement

Cover of Laboratory Fatigue Characterisation of Foamed Bitumen Stabilised Materials
Laboratory Fatigue Characterisation of Foamed Bitumen Stabilised Materials
  • Publication no: AP-R666-22
  • ISBN: 978-1-922700-23-0
  • Published: 2 February 2022

This report documents a project to develop a new laboratory fatigue relationship to predict the performance of foamed bitumen stabilised (FBS) materials.

The project focused on extensive laboratory experiments including indirect tensile testing and flexural testing to determine the modulus, strength, and fatigue characteristics of FBS samples prepared and cured in the laboratory (cylinders and beams). A comprehensive testing program and procedures to measure and analyse the fatigue life of FBS materials were developed. Five different host materials were selected for the laboratory investigation including three crushed rocks and two recycled blends (i.e. reclaimed asphalt pavement and previously cement-treated material).

The fatigue relationships were derived for each individual mix using strain‑based and stress-based analyses. The results showed that the average strain damage exponent of the tested mixes is 7.8 and suggested that a combination of different properties that were found to be correlated to fatigue performance can provide a means of predicting the fatigue life for different FBS mixes.

New laboratory fatigue relationships were developed for the FBS materials using regression analysis of a wide range of data obtained from different phases of the laboratory testing. The fatigue lives of the mixes were then predicted using the developed models. The predictions using the strain-based relationship showed a generally acceptable conformity with the laboratory-measured data. A slightly lower prediction quality was found for the stress-based relationship. However, the predicted life from the stress-based analysis was still in reasonable agreement with the FBS measured fatigue life with limited exceptions.

Watch a webinar with Dr Negin Zhalehjoo, Andrew Papacostas and Dr Didier Bodin.

  • Summary
  • 1. Introduction
    • 1.1 Background
    • 1.2 Purpose
    • 1.3 Scope
    • 1.4 Methodology
    • 1.5 Report Structure
  • 2. Austroads FBS Mix Design Method
    • 2.1 Foamed Bitumen Stabilisation
    • 2.2 Mix Design Method for FBS
      • 2.2.1 Foaming Characteristics of Bitumen
      • 2.2.2 Mix Design Requirements
  • 3. Selection of Materials and Binder Contents
    • 3.1 Host Materials
    • 3.2 Binder Content Combinations
  • 4. Indirect Tensile Modulus and Strength Testing
    • 4.1 Material Preparation and Mixing
    • 4.2 Compaction of Test Cylinders
    • 4.3 Test Cylinders Curing and Mechanical Testing
    • 4.4 ITM Testing
      • 4.4.1 Testing Procedure
      • 4.4.2 Mix Design Results
      • 4.4.3 Effect of Binder Contents on ITM
      • 4.4.4 Effect of Curing on ITM
      • 4.4.5 Effect of Density on ITM
    • 4.5 ITS Testing
      • 4.5.1 Testing Procedure
      • 4.5.2 Effect of Binder Contents on ITS
      • 4.5.3 Effect of Curing on ITS
    • 4.6 Effect of Host Materials on ITM and ITS
    • 4.7 Summary of Findings
  • 5. Flexural Testing Program
    • 5.1 Introduction
    • 5.2 Selection of Mixes
    • 5.3 Test Beam Manufacture
      • 5.3.1 Mixing
      • 5.3.2 Compaction
      • 5.3.3 Curing
    • 5.4 Flexural Modulus Testing Procedure
    • 5.5 Flexural Strength Testing Procedure
    • 5.6 Flexural Fatigue
      • 5.6.1 Fatigue Test Principles
      • 5.6.2 Test Procedure
  • 6. Flexural Modulus and Strength Test Results
    • 6.1 Flexural Modulus Results
      • 6.1.1 Effect of Density on FM
      • 6.1.2 Correlation between FM and ITM
    • 6.2 Flexural Strength Results
      • 6.2.1 Correlation between FS and FM
      • 6.2.2 Correlation between FS and ITS
  • 7. Fatigue Life Results and Analysis
    • 7.1 Introduction
    • 7.2 Mix-specific Fatigue Results
      • 7.2.1 Fatigue Test Results
      • 7.2.2 Mix-specific Fatigue Relationships
      • 7.2.3 Ranking of FBS Mixes in Terms of Laboratory Fatigue Performance
    • 7.3 Mix Properties Influencing Fatigue Life
      • 7.3.1 Strain-based Analysis
      • 7.3.2 Stress-based Analysis
    • 7.4 Development of Presumptive Laboratory Fatigue Relationship
      • 7.4.1 Strain-based Approach
      • 7.4.2 Stress-based Approach
    • 7.5 Comparison between the Presumptive FBS Fatigue Relationship and the Asphalt Fatigue Relationship
    • 7.6 Impact of Findings on Current Mix Design Method
    • 7.7 Impact of Findings on Calculation of FBS Design Modulus
  • 8. Conclusions and Recommendations
    • 8.1 Conclusions
    • 8.2 Recommendations
  • References
  • Appendix A PSD of Selected ALF Materials
  • Appendix B Mix Design Data
  • Appendix C Indirect Tensile Modulus Data at Different Binder Contents and Curing Times
    • C.1 ITM Data at Different Binder Contents
    • C.2 ITM Data at Different Curing Times
  • Appendix D Indirect Tensile Strength Data at Different Binder Contents and Curing Times
    • D.1 ITS Data at Different Binder Contents
    • D.2 ITS Data at Different Curing Times
  • Appendix E ITM and ITS Data for the Selection of Mixes for Flexural Testing
  • Appendix F Flexural Modulus Test Data and Results for Beam Specimens
    • F.1 FM Data for FBS 100% Granite
    • F.2 FM Data for FBS 50% RAP 50% Granite Blend
    • F.3 FM Data for FBS 80% CT 20% Granite Blend
    • F.4 FM Data for FBS Hornfels
    • F.5 FM Data for Granite and Argillite Material (3%B 2%L)
    • F.6 FM Data for Granite and Argillite Material (2%B 2%L)
    • F.7 FM Data for Granite and Argillite Material (3%B 1%L)
    • F.8 FM Data for Granite and Argillite Material (4%B 1%L)
  • Appendix G Flexural Strength Test Data and Results for Beam Specimens
    • G.1 FS Data for FBS 100% Granite
    • G.2 FS Data for FBS 50% RAP 50% Granite Blend
    • G.3 FS Data for FBS 80% CT 20% Granite Blend
    • G.4 FS Data for FBS Hornfels
    • G.5 FS Data for Granite and Argillite material (G&A, 3%B 2%L)
    • G.6 FS Data for Granite and Argillite material (G&A, 2%B 2%L)
    • G.7 FS Data for Granite and Argillite material (G&A, 3%B 1%L)
    • G.8 FS Data for Granite and Argillite material (G&A, 4%B 1%L)
  • Appendix H Flexural Fatigue Test Data and Results for Beam Specimens
    • H.1 Flexural Fatigue Data for FBS 100% Granite
    • H.2 Flexural Fatigue Data for FBS 50% RAP 50% Granite Blend
    • H.3 Flexural Fatigue Data for FBS 80% CT 20% Granite Blend
    • H.4 Flexural Fatigue Data for FBS Hornfels
    • H.5 Flexural Fatigue Data for Granite and Argillite Material (G&A, 3%B 2%L)
    • H.6 Flexural Fatigue Data for Granite and Argillite Material (G&A, 2%B 2%L)
    • H.7 Flexural Fatigue Data for Granite and Argillite Material (G&A, 3%B 1%L)
    • H.8 Flexural Fatigue Data for Granite and Argillite Material (G&A, 4%B 1%L)
  • Appendix I Data for the Tested FBS Mixes Used for Regression Analysis
  • Appendix J Development of Additional Laboratory FBS Fatigue Relationship
    • J.1 Predictions of Fatigue Life, Strain-based and Stress-based Approaches
Related publications
Guide to Pavement Technology Part 4D: Stabilised Materials
AGPT04D-19
Deformation Performance of Foamed Bitumen Stabilised Pavements Under Full-scale Accelerated Loading
AP-T343-19
Design and Performance of Foamed Bitumen Stabilised Pavements
AP-T336-18
View all related publications
Latest Pavement News
7 Feb 2025
Decarbonising Road Freight: Balancing Infrastructure, Environment, and Economy

Australia’s freight industry is at a turning point. The transition to low and zero-emission heavy vehicles (ZEHVs) is critical to achieving net zero targets, but it presents significant challenges for road infrastructure.
19 Dec 2024
Austroads report highlights path to lower-emission road seals

A new Austroads report outlines key strategies for reducing the environmental footprint of sprayed seals, a vital component of road infrastructure across Australia and New Zealand.
View all news