The objective of this study was to qualitatively measure the cracking mechanism of asphalt-rubber gap-graded (AR-Gap) mixtures and compare the methodical approach proposed in this research with the conventional fatigue process. As part of experimentation plan, dynamic a semi-circular bending (SCB) test was conducted on 27 AR-Gap mixtures with varying mix parameters, including, binder type, binder content, and aggregate gradation. Fatigue life (Nf) obtained from the dynamic SCB test was analyzed from a statistical viewpoint, and key relationships that potentially contribute to fatigue performance were identified. Later, crack mouth opening displacement (CMOD) was used to study the cracking mechanism of AR-Gap mixtures. CMOD data were analyzed using the Francken model that theorizes the accumulated damage as a three-stage failure. Further, fatigue tertiary life (Nft) was determined on the premise of structural deterioration obtained from the three-stage failure process. The fatigue disparity factor (ξ), the ratio of Nf to Nft for each asphalt mix was estimated to compare fatigue performance indices. The score of ξ for all the mixtures exceeded 50%, which was indicative of longer crack initiation and crack propagation phase over the third stage of the fatigue cracking mechanism. Overall, the fatigue mechanism was explained through the conceptualization of the three-stage fatigue process through various intrinsic properties of AR-Gap mixtures.
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