Cracking is an important potential failure mechanism for pavement structures. By combining a strain energy-based fracture criterion with conventional fracture mechanics based on the Energy Ratio (ER) concept, crack growth in asphalt can be investigated, and a low temperature Thermal Cracking model (TCMODEL) can be introduced. This thesis presents the implementation of the Florida cracking model into a Mechanistic-Empirical (ME) flexible pavement design framework. An improved analysis procedure for better converting raw data from the Superpave Indirect Tensile Test (IDT) into fundamental viscoelastic properties of the asphalt mixture allows for calibration of the TCMODEL. This thesis involves a detailed review of Florida cracking model and TCMODEL. Finally, a MATLAB tool is prepared for the thermal cracking model to investigate the cause and effect of the problems.

Cracking is one of the most severe distress modes of asphaltpavements. Thus characterising the fracture resistance properties of asphaltmixtures is the key issue for improving the performance relatedmixture design. The present master thesis project addresses the implementationof the theoretical framework, which is used to characterise thefracture resistance of mixtures based on the SuperPave indirect tensiletest (IDT). An open source Matlab-based software for analysing resilientmodulus, Poisson’s ratio, creep parameters and fracture resistance parametershas been developed. The software analyses the the IDT results, toestimate mixture’s fracture resistance based on hot mix asphalt FractureMechanics. Predictions form the field specimens concerning the fractureresistance obtained from IDT are compared with observed field performance.