Abstract:The relationship between the rutting life of asphalt pavement and its average temperature, temperature gradient were analyzed. The distribution of compression stresses for asphalt surface layer was discussed. Based on the pavement temperature field data collected at 90 areas in China over the years, the corresponding rutting equivalent temperatures were calculated and analyzed, the correlation between the standard rutting equivalent temperature and annual average temperature and difference of the highest and lowest monthly average temperature were summarized. Hence, the standard rutting equivalent temperatures for asphalt pavement at 738 areas in China were calculated, for design purpose, a contour map of the standard rutting equivalent temperatures was initially proposed. Moreover, the influences of various factors in the non standard conditions on the rutting equivalent temperature for asphalt pavement were analyzed, and a set of approximate formulas were given accordingly. At last, through a comparative study, the reliability of the calculation method and corresponding results were validated.