Assessment of the relationship between the international roughness index and dynamic loading of heavy vehicles

What is it about?

This article presents the impact that heavy vehicles in movement have on the service life of a road. The vehicle's vertical oscillations cause dynamic loads which are themselves caused by the poor state of a road. A computer model was used to measure this impact and correlate it with the traditional metrics used to assess road quality: the International Roughness Index. Finally, the impact on the road service life is given in terms of equivalent standard axle load cycles.

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Why is it important?

With the impressive quantity of roads and bridges which were built in the second half of the 20th century and now require maintenance, this article shows convincing evidence that the service life of an uneven road suffers greatly from the passage of heavy vehicles. The data presented thus allows to plan concrete traffic control and maintenance strategy.