AASHTO TP 90-10 (2015)

The blister test is used to determine the interfacial fracture energy (IFE) of hot-poured crack sealant at the application temperatures.

The blister test is a test of fracture. The object of the test is to apply tensile forces using hydrostatic pressure at the interface between sealant and aluminum. Sealant is molded on top of an aluminum disk. The applied hydrostatic pressure and displacement can be recorded as functions of time. Interfacial fracture energy required to break the bond can be calculated using the load-displacement curve through the fracture energy concept. This energy can be considered a measure of bonding.