Fine　aggregate　matrix　(FAM),　as　the　matrix　phase　in　asphalt　concrete　(AC),　significantly　affects　the　fatigue　behavior　of　AC.　To　accurately　assess　the　mechanical　properties　of　FAM,　a　newly　designed　experimental　strategy　for　FAM　testing　was　developed,　and　the　viscoelastic　continuum　damage　theory　(VECD)　theory　was　applied　to　analyze　FAM＇s　fatigue　cracking　characteristics.　In　this　study,　a　dumbbell-shaped　geometry　for　dynamic　shear　rheometer　testing　was　designed　and　verified　through　the　FE-aided　method.　Subsequently,　three　AC　mixtures＇　FAM　specimens　with　this　special　geometry　were　fabricated　for　the　frequency　sweep　and　linear　amplitude　sweep　tests.　Results　showed　that　the　specially　designed　specimens　effectively　capture　the　viscoelastic　and　fatigue　properties　of　FAM　with　high　replicability.　Analyses　based　on　the　VECD　theory　indicated　that　FAM　of　porous　asphalt　(FAM(PA13)),　featuring　a　higher　asphalt　content,　exhibits　a　significant　reduction　in　pseudo　stiffness　with　increasing　damage　at　the　initial　stage,　but　the　reduction　rate　diminishes　as　damage　progresses　when　compared　to　the　other　two　FAMs.　It　was　speculated　that　the　higher　aggregate　content　in　FAM　of　dense-graded　AC　mixture　(FAM(AC20)　induces　stress　concentrations　in　the　asphalt　mastic　near　the　protrusion　areas　of　aggregates,　thereby　rendering　the　sample　more　susceptible　to　damage.　The　proposed　methods　will　be　readily　extended　to　characterize　other　mechanical　properties　of　FAM.