ABSTRACT
A number of criteria and associated statistical analysis procedures are presented for relating the dynamic wheel forces generated by heavy vehicles to road surface damage. Apart from one case, the criteria must be evaluated in the time domain from time histories of the dynamic forces generated by all axles of a vehicle. Calculation of the transient stresses and strains in the road structure during the passage of a vehicle is also required for some of the criteria. The criteria may be used for evaluating the road damaging effects of measured or simulated wheel forces.
In this paper, the wheel forces generated by three popular articulated commercial vehicles are simulated and an examination is made of the effects of vehicle configuration, vehicle speed and road surface roughness on simulated road damage. Conclusions are drawn about the likely increase in road damage caused by the dynamic component of wheel forces and the ways that various modes of vehicle vibration contribute to road damage.
