The Impact of Specialized Hauling Vehicles on Pavement and Bridge Deterioration
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2017-12-01
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Abstract:This research study was performed to ensure that Texas complies with a Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) memo dated November 15, 2013, which requires each state to certify that it either does not permit operation of specialized hauling vehicles (SHV), or if so, it has conducted bridge load rating analyses. The research team developed and implemented a comprehensive data collection effort to characterize SHV operation in Texas. More than 53,500 trucks were visually identified and recorded in spreadsheet databases, according to type, configuration, number of axles and liftable axles (if any), route, and date of sighting. Based on the collected information, in addition to Department of Public Safety weight enforcement data and TxDOT weigh-in-motion data, the average and standard deviation gross vehicle weight (GVW), axle and axle group weights, number of axles, axle loads, axle types (fixed or liftable), and axle spacing were determined. Then, the research team developed representative SHV configurations, which were used to quantify SHV deterioration impacts to pavements in Texas compared to standard truck configurations with legal axle load limits and GVW and for trucks operating on roadways that are currently load posted. In addition, the SHV configurations were used to quantify impacts to bridges in Texas compared to HS20 or HL93 load configurations. Further, the researchers analyzed SHV safety performance in terms of crash history and operational characteristics; conducted an economic analysis of SHV operations in Texas; and prepared draft policy regarding SHV operations in Texas to minimize impacts on bridge and pavement load posting needs. Finally, load posting sign message designs were developed for potential use in the Texas Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
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