Identification　of　fatigue　failure　of　asphalt　binder　in　time　sweep　test　results　remains　a　question　crucial　to　asphalt　binder　fatigue　performance　evaluation　and　prediction.　This　paper　presents　a　comparison　of　different　analysis　approaches　for　defining　the　occurrence　of　fatigue　failure　during　time　sweep　fatigue　tests　conducted　in　both　control-displacement　and　control-stress　loading　modes.　The　candidate　failure　definitions　evaluated　include　the　traditional　50%　reduction　in　stiffness　parameter　(S-0.5),　dissipated　energy　indicators　including　the　dissipated　energy　ratio　(DER)　and　the　ratio　of　dissipated　energy　change　(RDEC),　as　well　as　two　phenomenological　parameters　corresponding　to　the　peak　in　S　x　N　and　peak　in　phase　angle.　Both　phenomenological　parameters　and　dissipated　energy　based　indicators　were　found　to　be　effective　in　defining　fatigue　failure.　Statistical　analysis　results　further　indicate　that　maximum　S　x　N,　maximum　phase　angle　and　RDEC　approach　provide　equivalent　fatigue　life　results,　however,　peak　in　S　x　N　is　strongly　recommended　for　detecting　fatigue　failure　of　asphalt　binder　in　time　sweep　tests　because　it　is　easy　to　calculate　and　well　defined.　(C)　2016　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.