During its 91st Annual Meeting in 2016, the Association of Asphalt Paving Technologists (AAPT) held a successful Leading Edge Workshop on fatigue cracking performance methods for asphalt mixtures. AAPT is looking to build off of this workshop by partnering with Asphalt Institute to host a three-part webinar series that will provide a foundational understanding of the techniques that have been developed for quantifying fatigue cracking and a comprehensive review of the laboratory and evaluation methods for capturing and describing fatigue cracking. Techniques covered will include energy-inspired, continuum damage, fracture, and healing methods. Tests will include bulk material testing and notch-based testing.

Part 1 of the webinar series will cover baseline information, including the context and influence of cracking and the increased relevancy of cracking on asphalt pavements. Next, an overview of basic theories on crack process, damage growth, and macrocracking will be discussed. In addition, information regarding the general approaches of fracture mechanics, energy methods, continuum damage methods, and healing will be provided. This will involve a broad discussion on general issues that need to be faced in each area. Part 1 will finish with brief information on the topics to be covered in Part 2 of the series.