Mechanistic performance prediction of asphalt concrete pavements has been a goal for the pavement industry for some time. A comprehensive material model is essential for such predictions. This dissertation illustrates the development, calibration and validation of a comprehensive constitutive material model for asphalt concrete in unconfined and confined compression.

A continuum damage-based viscoelastic model is extended with viscoplasticity. Thermodynamic principles, an elastic-viscoelastic correspondence principle and internal state variables quantify degradation by accounting for linear viscoelasticity and any nonlinear viscoelasticity with cumulative damage. Viscoplastic effects are addressed separately. Two distinctly different strain-hardening viscoplastic models were investigated. A more capable multiaxial model with primary-secondary hardening improved upon the original uniaxial. These characteristics enable the whole model to decompose total strain into individual response components of viscoelasticity, viscoplasticity and damage.

Separate laboratory tests were required to measure and calibrate the individual response components. The calibration tests include small strain dynamic modulus tests for undamaged viscoelastic properties, cyclic creep and recovery tests for viscoplastic properties, and constant rate of strain tests for damage properties. All tests were performed at appropriate temperatures and loading rates.

An extensive set of validation tests was used to confirm each model, which were very different from the calibration conditions to evaluate the models' capabilities. The predictions at these different conditions indicate that the comprehensive model can realistically simulate a wide range of asphalt concrete behavior. Recommendations are given based on lessons learned in the laboratory experiments and analyses of the data generated.