An alternate analysis of the S-VECD fatigue test for asphalt concrete

The S-VECD platform is a simplified analysis method based on viscoelasticity and continuum damage theories. The paper presents a brief description of the approach with emphasis on the unproven simplification made in the derivation of the damage parameter C. In view of the above, the paper proposes an alternate, simplified, and theoretically rigorous analysis approach for obtaining the parameter C. It is based on (a) decomposing the haversine strain loading history into a sine and step loading functions; (b) integrating the first few hundred cycles numerically; and (c) analysing the remaining cycles by simple equations of the sine and step loadings. The paper presents a simulated test and a real fatigue test to illustrate the proposed approach. The results of the new simplified analysis are closer to those of the rigorous one, compared with those of the S-VECD one.