Defining　failure　and　developing　a　unified　failure　criterion　for　the　fatigue　testing　of　asphalt　materials　remain　a　challenge.　This　study　seeks　to　develop　a　failure　criterion　for　the　fatigue　testing　of　asphalt　binders　under　cyclic　loading　in　the　dynamic　shear　rheometer.　Newly　developed　pseudo-strain　energy　(PSE)-based　failure　analysis　is　introduced　for　both　the　time　sweep　fatigue　test　and　the　accelerated　linear　amplitude　sweep　(LAS)　test　(AASHTO　TP101).　The　presented　methodology　builds　upon　recent　advances　in　the　simplified　viscoelastic　continuum　damage　(S-VECD)　modelling　of　asphalt　mixtures.　Trends　in　stored　PSE　have　been　proven　to　be　effective　in　defining　failure　for　the　LAS　tests　of　asphalt　binders.　This　new　proposed　failure　definition　is　material-dependent　and,　thus,　is　effective　in　capturing　the　benefits　of　asphalt　modification　for　binder　fatigue　resistance.　In　addition,　it　is　found　that　a　unique　relationship　that　is　independent　of　loading　history　exists　between　the　PSE　release　rate　and　fatigue　life.　The　fatigue　life　predictions　using　this　relationship　and　the　S-VECD　model　are　in　reasonable　agreement　with　the　laboratory-measured　fatigue　life　data　and　also　generally　relate　well　with　the　field　fatigue　performance　measured　in　the　FHWA-ALF　(Federal　Highway　Administration　-Accelerated　Loading　Facility)　pooled　fund　study.