This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles

for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

Designation: D8044 − 16

Standard Test Method for

Evaluation of Asphalt Mixture Cracking Resistance using
the Semi-Circular Bend Test (SCB) at Intermediate
Temperatures1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D8044; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

1. Scope 2. Referenced Documents

1.1 This test method covers the procedures for preparation, 2.1 ASTM Standards:2
testing, and measurement of asphalt mixture cracking resis- D979/D979M Practice for Sampling Bituminous Paving
tance at Long Term Pavement Performance (LTPP) database Mixtures
intermediate temperatures using semi-circular bend (SCB) D2041/D2041M Test Method for Theoretical Maximum
geometry laboratory prepared or pavement core asphalt mix Specific Gravity and Density of Bituminous Paving Mix-
samples tested monotonically. The SCB sample is a half-disk tures
with a notch cut parallel to the loading and vertical axis. The D2726/D2726M Test Method for Bulk Specific Gravity and
test method describes the determination of the critical strain Density of Non-Absorptive Compacted Bituminous Mix-
energy release rate, Jc, and other parameters determined from tures
the load-displacement curve. These parameters can be used to D3203/D3203M Test Method for Percent Air Voids in Com-
rank the resistance of asphalt mixtures to cracking. pacted Asphalt Mixtures
1.2 The text of this standard references notes and footnotes D3666 Specification for Minimum Requirements for Agen-
which provide explanatory material. These notes and footnotes cies Testing and Inspecting Road and Paving Materials
(excluding those in tables and figures) shall not be considered D5361/D5361M Practice for Sampling Compacted Asphalt
as requirements of the standard. Mixtures for Laboratory Testing
D6373 Specification for Performance Graded Asphalt
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as Binder
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this D6857/D6857M Test Method for Maximum Specific Grav-
standard. ity and Density of Bituminous Paving Mixtures Using
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the Automatic Vacuum Sealing Method
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the D6925 Test Method for Preparation and Determination of
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- the Relative Density of Asphalt Mix Specimens by Means
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- of the Superpave Gyratory Compactor
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. E4 Practices for Force Verification of Testing Machines
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor- E29 Practice for Using Significant Digits in Test Data to
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard- Determine Conformance with Specifications
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the E178 Practice for Dealing With Outlying Observations
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom- E399 Test Method for Linear-Elastic Plane-Strain Fracture
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Toughness KIc of Metallic Materials
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee. E2309/E2309M Practices for Verification of Displacement
Measuring Systems and Devices Used in Material Testing
Machines
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D04 on Road
2
and Paving Materials and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D04.26 on For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Fundamental/Mechanistic Tests. contact ASTM Customer Service at [email protected]. For Annual Book of ASTM
Current edition approved July 1, 2016. Published August 2016. DOI: 10.1520/ Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
D8044-16. the ASTM website.

Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States

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 D8044 − 16
E3029 Practice for Determining Relative Spectral Correc- 6. Apparatus
tion Factors for Emission Signal of Fluorescence Spec- 6.1 Load Test System—A load test system consisting of an
trometers axial loading device, environmental chamber, and control and
2.2 AASHTO Standards:3 data acquisition system. The test system shall meet the mini-
R30 Practice for Mixture Conditioning of Hot Mix Asphalt mum requirements specified in Table 1. (See Practices E2309/
(HMA) E2309M.)
M320 Standard Specification for Performance-Graded As- 6.1.1 Axial Loading Device—The load apparatus shall be
phalt Binder capable of maintaining a constant deformation rate of 0.5
M332 Standard Specification for Performance-Graded Using mm/min.
Multiple Stress Creep Recovery (MSCR) Test 6.1.2 Environmental Chamber—A chamber capable of
maintaining 60.3 °C of the climatic intermediate temperature
3. Terminology calculated in 8.4.
3.1 Definitions: 6.1.3 Control and Data Acquisition System—The system
3.1.1 Jc—critical strain energy release rate (kJ/m2), value shall include a data acquisition system comprising analog to
used to evaluate mixture resistance to cracking. digital conversion or digital input, or both, for storage and
analysis on a computer. The system shall be capable of
3.1.2 U—strain energy to failure (kJ) is the area under the
measuring and recording three signals during the test including
loading portion of the load versus deflection curves, up to the
load, displacement, and chamber temperature at a sampling
maximum load measured for each notch depth.
rate of 10 Hz. The minimum resolution of the measurements is
provided in Table 1.
4. Summary of Test Method
6.2 Measurement Devices:
4.1 A semi-circular specimen is loaded monotonically until
6.2.1 Load Measuring Device—The load measuring device
fracture failure occurs under a constant rate of deformation in
shall consist of an electronic load cell, designed for placement
a three-point bending load configuration. The load and defor-
between the load platen and piston, with the minimum capacity
mation are continuously recorded and are used to compute the
and sensitivity stated in Table 1. The load cell shall be
strain energy for a given notch depth. The test is repeated at
calibrated in accordance with Practices E4.
multiple notch depths to compute the critical strain energy
6.2.2 Axial Deformations—Axial deformations shall be
release rate, Jc. High Jc values are desirable for fracture-
measured with linear variable differential transformers (LVDT)
resistant mixtures. A Jc value ranging from 0.5 to 0.60 kJ/m2 is
or other devices capable of measuring displacement within the
typically recommended to ensure adequate fracture resistance
range and tolerance provided in Table 1. The LVDT shall be
of the mixture.
calibrated in accordance with Practice E3029, Class B.
4.2 This test procedure considers the elasto-plastic/visco- 6.2.3 Temperature—Chamber temperature shall be mea-
elastic relationship of asphalt mixtures and fracture mechanics sured with Resistance Temperature Detectors (RTD) or other
(Mull, et al., 2006, Anderson 2005 and suggested by Wu et al., suitable devices accurate to within 6 0.3°C.
2005).
6.3 Gyratory Compactor—A gyratory compactor and asso-
ciated equipment for preparing laboratory specimens in accor-
5. Significance and Use
dance with Test Method D6925 shall be used.
5.1 The critical strain energy release rate, Jc, is used to
6.4 Saw—The saw shall be capable of producing three
compare the cracking resistance of asphalt mixtures prepared
different notch sizes ranging from 0 to 50 mm. The width of the
with different binder and aggregate types prepared to meet the
saw blade shall be <3.5mm.
volumetric requirements of differing traffic levels tested at
intermediate temperatures. 6.5 Test Fixture—The loading frame shall consist of a
loading rod and two sample support rods. The schematic of the
5.2 This engineering property is a performance indicator of
test apparatus is shown in Fig. 1. The diameters of the loading
intermediate temperature cracking.
and supports rods shall be 25 mm and the anvil span shall be
NOTE 1—The quality of the results produced by this standard are 127 mm.
dependent on the competence of the personnel performing the procedure
and the capability, calibration, and maintenance of the equipment used. 6.6 Reaction Surface Treatment—Polytetrafluoroethylene
Agencies that meet the criteria of Specification D3666 are generally (PTFE) strips are used to reduce friction between the specimen
considered capable of competent and objective testing/sampling/ and the lower two support rollers.
inspection/etc. Users of this standard are cautioned that compliance with
Specification D3666 alone does not completely assure reliable results.
Reliable results depend on many factors; following the suggestions of TABLE 1 Test System Minimum Requirements
Specification D3666 or some similar acceptable guideline provides a
Measurement Range Accuracy
means of evaluating and controlling some of those factors. Load Measurement 0 to 10 kN ±1%
and Control
Displacement Measurement 0 to 30 mm ± 0.5 %
and Control
3
Available from American Association of State Highway and Transportation Temperature Measurement 5 to 35 °C ± 0.3 °C
Officials (AASHTO), 444 N. Capitol St., NW, Suite 249, Washington, DC 20001, and Control Range
http://www.transportation.org.

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 D8044 − 16

FIG. 1 Shop Drawing of SCB Test Fixture

7. Sampling, Test Specimens, and Test Units pave Gyratory Compactor (SGC) according to Test Method
7.1 Semi-circular bend testing may be performed on field D6925 at the target air void content 6 0.5%. The typical air
cores or laboratory prepared test specimens. (See Practices void target for the test specimens is 7.0 %.
D5361/D5361M and D979/D979M.) NOTE 2—The specimen air voids are calculated using Test Methods
7.2 Laboratory-compacted asphalt mixture samples: D2041/D2041M, D2726/D2726M, D3203/D3203M, and D6857/
D6857M.
7.2.1 Specimen Size—The specimens shall be 150 mm in
diameter by 120 mm thick. 7.2.3 The semi-circular shaped specimens are prepared by
7.2.2 Air Void Content—Prepare a minimum of three gyra- first cutting a 150 mm diameter by 120 mm thick specimen into
tory specimens at the target air void content using the Super- two equal circular test samples 57 mm thick. These samples are

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 D8044 − 16
cut along its central axis into two equal semi-circular samples. friction caused by interactions between the specimen and
The height (radius) of the two samples shall be within 1 mm of testing fixture during loading. The PTFE pads can be placed
each other. between the specimen and the bottom support rollers.
NOTE 3—Some practitioners believe that the test should be conducted 8.2 Load the specimen in the fixture, ensuring the specimen
on specimens with two cut faces. If this approach is used, increase the is centered and making uniform contact (level) on the support
compacted sample height by approximately 15 6 5 mm such that the rollers (as shown in Fig. 2).
semi-circular shaped specimens with two cut faces have a final thickness
of 57 6 1 mm. 8.3 Set the environmental chamber temperature and allow it
7.3 Samples Cored from Asphalt Pavement: to stabilize to the test temperature 60.3°C. A dummy specimen
7.3.1 Roadway cores can be used if pavement layer thick- with a temperature sensor mounted to its center can be
ness is between 38 and 60 mm. Cores shall be taken full depth monitored to determine when the specimen reaches the test
so that no prying action is needed to extract the cores from the temperature 60.3°C. In the absence of a dummy specimen, the
pavement. Care shall be taken to avoid stress or damage to the specimens should be placed in the environmental chamber set
interface during coring, handling, and transportation. The cores at the test temperature for a minimum of 2 6 0.5 h to reach the
shall be trimmed such that only a single layer is tested. required temperature equilibrium.
7.3.2 Roadway core specimens shall be approximately NOTE 6—Dummy specimens are typically the same material as the test
150 mm diameter with all surface of the perimeter perpendicu- specimens.
lar to the surface of the core within 6 mm. If the thickness of 8.4 Select test temperature based on the climatic intermedi-
the core being tested is greater than 57 mm, it shall be trimmed ate temperature performance grade temperature as defined in
with a wet masonry saw to a height of 57 mm. Specification D6373, AASHTO M320, or M332 and provided
7.3.3 The semi-circular shaped specimens are prepared by below in Eq 1:
slicing the 150 mm diameter specimen prepared in 7.2.3 along
PG HT1PG LT
its central axis into two equal semi-circular samples. The PG IT 5 14 (1)
2
height (radius) of the two halves shall be within 1 mm of each
other. where:
7.4 Notching—A straight vertical notch is cut along the PG IT = Intermediate performance grade temperature (°C),
symmetrical axis of each semi-circular specimen. The location PG HT = Climatic high performance grade temperature, and
of the notch shall be in the center of the specimen within PG LT = Climatic low performance grade temperature.
0.3 mm. The three nominal notch depths are 25 mm, 32 mm, 8.5 After temperature equilibrium is reached, apply a pre-
and 38 mm. The notch depth tolerance is 6 1.0 mm. The width load of 45 6 10 N for a maximum duration of 30 s to specimen
of the notch shall be <3.5 mm. to ensure the sample is seated properly. After ensuring the
NOTE 4—Ruggedness testing between four laboratories has shown the
sample is level, release the load.
Jc for split samples to have a within laboratory COV of 9.9 % for 8.6 Begin to apply load to specimen in displacement control
specimens with notch widths between 1.3 mm and 3.4 mm. The specimens at a rate of 0.5 mm/min ensuring that time, force, and
should be symmetrical about the cut notch.
displacement are measured and recorded at a sampling rate of
7.5 Aging—Laboratory-prepared test specimens shall be 10 Hz. Test may be terminated when the applied load decreases
long term temperature-conditioned in according to AASHTO to 25 % of the peak load.
R30. Roadway cores need not be aged prior to testing.
9. Calculation or Interpretation of Results
7.6 A minimum of four semi-circular specimens shall be
tested at each of the following notch depths: 25 mm, 32 mm, 9.1 The critical value of J-integral (Jc) is determined using
and 38 mm. Eq 2:
NOTE 5—A loose mix aging method is under development that may be
able to achieve the AASHTO R30 level of aging in 12 to 24 h, NCHRP
Jc 5 S D
21 dU
b da
(2)

9-54 Long Term Aging of Asphalt Mixtures for Performance Testing and
Prediction. The long term temperature aging is needed to account for
where:
binder source, RAP, RAS and rejuvenators on mix performance (Reinke, Jc = critical strain energy release rate (kJ/m2),
et al., 2009, 2015, Cooper, et al. 2014, 2015). b = sample thickness (m),
a = notch depth (m),
8. Procedure U = strain energy to failure (kJ), and
8.1 Inspect the fixture to ensure all contact surfaces are dU/da = change of strain energy with notch depth (kJ/m).
clean and free of debris. Place the PTFE tape or pads to reduce

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FIG. 2 Examples of SCB Test Fixtures for a Universal Testing Machine (a and b) and a Marshall Press (c) or AMPT (d)

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 D8044 − 16
9.1.1 Strain energy to failure, U, is the area under the shown in Fig. 4. The slope of the linear regression line
loading portion of the load versus deflection curves, up to the represents the change of strain energy with notch depth
maximum load measured for each notch depth (shown in Fig. (dU/da). Determine the coefficient of determination (R2) for the
3). Calculate the strain energy using the quadrangle rule regression line. The coefficient of determination (R2) is ex-
provided in Eq 3: pected to be equal or greater than 90 % for asphalt mixture
1 tested.
n
U 5Σ i51 ~ u i11 2 u i ! 3 P i 1 2 3 ~ u i11 2 u i ! 3 ~ P i11 2 P i !
9.6 Divide the slope of the linear regression line by the
(3) average sample thickness to calculate the critical strain energy
where: release rate, Jc.
Pi = applied load (kN) at the i load step application, NOTE 8—A reference for the test procedure and analysis is Test Method
Pi+1 = applied load (kN) at the i+1 load step application, E399.
ui = crosshead displacement (m) at the i step, and
ui+1 = crosshead displacement (m) at the i+1 step. 10. Report
NOTE 7—An alternative analysis method is to fit the load versus
displacement curve for each notch depth with a sixth order polynomial and 10.1 The report shall include the following parameters:
integrate from the origin to the displacement that corresponds to the 10.1.1 Asphalt mixture type,
maximum load. Report the test results according to Practice E29.
10.1.2 Test temperature, °C,
9.2 Examine the load versus displacement curves for each
10.1.3 Specimen air voids, %,
specimen to verify that the linear region of the data trace is
consistent. Inconsistencies can be caused by machine 10.1.4 Specimen thickness, mm,
compliance, sample seating, sample preparation, or other 10.1.5 Notch depth per sample, mm,
factors. 10.1.6 Strain energy (U) to failure per notch depth, kJ.
9.3 Calculate the strain energy, U (kJ) for each sample using 10.1.7 Average strain energy (U) per notch depth, kJ,
Eq 3 or instructions in Note 7. 10.1.8 Standard deviation of strain energy (U) per notch
9.4 Apply Practice E178 to test replicates at each notch depth, kJ,
depth to identify the presence of outliers in the data set at a 10.1.9 Coefficient of variation of strain energy (U) per notch
confidence level of 90 %. Remove any outliers from the data depth, %,
set. 10.1.10 Coefficient of determination of standard deviation
9.5 For all observations plot U versus notch depth and of U versus notch depth, %, and
model the data with a linear regression line, an example is 10.1.11 Jc, value, kJ/m2.

FIG. 3 Load Versus Displacement Plots for Each Notch Depth

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FIG. 4 Example of Notch Depth Versus Strain Energy Plot Used to Determine (dU/da)

11. Precision and Bias 12. Keywords

11.1 The within-laboratory COV repeatability has been 12.1 asphalt intermediate temperature performance grade;
estimated to be 9.9 %, based on 2 labs, 27 test replicates, and asphalt mixture cracking resistance; semi-circular bend test
2 different samples. The between-laboratory COV reproduc-
ibility of this test method is being determined and will be
available on or before June 2020. Therefore, this Test Method
should not be used for acceptance or rejection of a material for
purchasing purposes.

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