THE SIMULATION OF VEHICLE DYNAMIC EFFECTS ON ROAD PAVEMENTS. FINAL REPORT

The effect of traffic loads on pavement performance is a fundamental concern of highway engineering. The mechanisms by which moving loads interact with pavements take on an added significance today, with the growing concern to preserve our Nation's infrastructure. This research develops a methodology to investigate the accelerating process by which variations in pavement condition and vehicle loads reinforce each other through time and that leads to significant pavement deterioration. Heavy truck dynamic modelling fundamentals were developed and utilized to simulate a broad variety of truck configurations and suspension types. In addition pavement models for both flexible and rigid pavements were described and utilized in connection with the truck dynamic models to parametrically study the interaction between vehicle suspensions, highway roughness and pavement primary and ultimate response. These parametric studies show that consideration of dynamic loading is necessary and that there is considerable variation of dynamic loads produced by alternative tandem axle configurations.