Abstract: In this study, the influence of temperature variations on mechanical properties of asphalt concrete is explored through triaxial tests on the asphalt concrete under four conditions of test temperatures. The results show a significant influence of temperature on the mechanical properties. Under the same confining pressure and the same loading rate, deviator stress decreases with the rising temperature; Under the condition of low confining pressure and low temperature, or high confining pressure and medium temperature, variations in test temperature produce a significant effect on the maximum deviator stress. Under the same loading rate and same temperature, deviator stress increases with confining pressure, and its maximum value increases linearly with the increase in confining pressure. Duncan-Chang model gives effective simulations of the stress-strain variation until deviator stress reaches its peak, but is no longer valid after the peak. And the model’s parameters k, n, c and φ are very sensitive to test temperature.

Key words: temperature, asphalt concrete, triaxial test, confining pressure, Duncan-Chang model