Investigate plow blade optimization.

Details

• Creators:
  Schneider, William ; Crow, Mallory ; Holik, William A.
• Corporate Creators:
  University of Akron
• Corporate Contributors:
  United States. Federal Highway Administration
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  • Snowplows
  • Blades (Machinery)
  • Winter maintenance
  • Cost effectiveness
  • Field tests
  • Snow and ice control
  • Level of service
  • Optimization
• Publication/ Report Number:
  FHWA/OH ¿ 2015/24
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  Ohio
• Corporate Publisher:
  Ohio. Dept. of Transportation. Office of Statewide Planning and Research
• Abstract:
  The main technique for removing accumulated snow from roadways is through the use of snow plows and snow plow ; blades (blades), or cutting edges. The blade is bolted to the snow plow, and it is the component of the plowing system that ; makes contact with the roadway surface. Multiple blades are currently on the market that may last longer than the standard ; ODOT steel blades, which encouraged ODOT to pursue further research to compare the cost-effectiveness of using the ; specialty blades compared to the costs for using ODOT’s current flame-hardened steel blade (standard blade) and ; procedures for replacing these standard blades. As with any new equipment, a thorough assessment of the various specialty ; blades is needed in order to determine which, if any, are prudent to implement. The blades tested during this study included ; standard flame hardened steel in various configurations, carbide tipped, JOMA, PolarFlex, and BlockBuster XL Classic. ; During field research activities, data must be collected at multiple locations throughout the entire winter season, at any ; time of day, and for any length of time. The optimal way to collect such a large amount of data is through video recording. ; For this purpose, the research team acquired a digital video recorder (DVR) equipped with a global positioning system ; (GPS) and an infrared vision camera for each truck in the study. Blade measurements are taken periodically to track the ; wear of each blade. When analyzing the data from first year, the results indicated implementing the carbide and XL Classic ; blades will result in a cost savings. The remaining blades would cost more to utilize than the equivalent number of standard ; blades. The second year data results in a savings from the all blades test except the single stacked carbide tipped blade and ; the truck with a standard blade but no counterbalance. When reviewing two years of data an average savings of $778 per ; PolarFlex blade and $426 per XL Classic blade implemented in place of a standard blade.
  More +
• Format:
  PDF
• Funding:
  SJN 134817
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/29364/dot_29364_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 3.44 MB]
• Collection(s):
  US Transportation Collection
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:78be55cf5ac61bbc71e0db4e835f081f7b564916c9a5f177a0cc252b9ee4935a