An extensive research program on asphalt mix fatigue was conducted
jointly by the LCPC (French transportation research laboratories)
and Scetauroute (French highway engineering agency) between 1990
and 1994. The program included tests on the LCPC circular fatigue
test track and a theoretical analysis of the hehavior of structures.
This article looks into the parts of the program dealing with
the fatigue tests and modeling. The aim of this program was to
clarify the behavior in the laboratory and on pavements of asphalt
mixes differing only in the type of asphalt. Additionally, it
involved adding constituents to improve the design method in the
case of high-modulus asphalts. On the fatigue test track more
than 7 IO^6 load sequences were applied to twelve structures over
the course of three experiments. The experimental pavements revealed
similar behavior in asphalt concrete of the same thickness, and
the good performance of high-modulus materials whenever proper
thicknesses were used. The model made it possible to determine
a correlection coefficient in connection with rigid materials
for the French pavement design method and brought out the value
of controlled-force tests.