Cracking in the asphaltic layer of pavement has been shown to be a major source of distress in roadways. Previous studies in asphaltic mixture cracking have typically not considered the material heterogeneity. A numerical method of analysis is presented that is based on the theory of fracture mechanics, in which the binder and the aggregates are treated as distinct materials. The simulations performed are verified and calibrated from simple and conventional laboratory tests. The study investigates crack evolution under monotonic loading, even though the method outlined can be further developed for the investigation of asphalt mixture fatigue. The approach discussed is part of a multiscale framework for pavement analysis, in which the damage due to cracking at the local scale can be considered in a global analysis at the actual pavement scale.
