Development of a Methodology for Posting Load Limits on Load-Zoned Pavements: Interim Report

Details

• Creators:
  Park, Seong-wan ; Fernando, Emmanuel G.
• Corporate Creators:
  Texas Transportation Institute. Texas A&M University
• Corporate Contributors:
  Texas Department of Transportation. Research and Technology Implementation Office ; United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  • Axle loads
  • Flexible pavements
  • Pavement distress
  • Load limits
  • Rutting
  • Vehicle weight
  • Zoning
  • Deformation
  • Permanent Deformation
• Publication/ Report Number:
  FHWA/TX-98/1701-1
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  Texas ; United States
• Edition:
  Interim: September 1996 - August 1997
• Corporate Publisher:
  Texas Transportation Institute. Texas A&M University
• Description:
  Load-zoned pavements in Texas are presently posted using gross vehicle weight (GVW) limits to prevent or minimize the development of permanent deformation due to excessive truck loads. In reality, pavement damage is more related to axle loads and axle configuration rather than GVW. Thus, load restrictions need to be related to axle loads, axle type, pavement structure, and material characteristics. To address this need, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) initiated a study with the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) to develop a procedure for posting or removing load limits based on predicted pavement performance. For this purpose, non-linear elastic and nonlinear elasto-plastic programs were developed to predict the structural adequacy of pavements using the Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion. The stress-dependent behavior of pavement materials is considered based on the Universal Soil Model. This research report presents the results of the work conducted during the first year of the study. Initially, researchers undertook a review of the current practice in Texas to identify the needs that should be addressed in this development work. In addition, a review of load-zoning practices in other agencies was conducted. Findings from the literature survey are summarized herein. Using the programs developed and existing performance models, researchers conducted a sensitivity analysis to identify the factors that significantly influence predicted pavement response and performance. By evaluating the changes in the predicted plastic strains, yield function, and service life with changes in the factors considered, their influence on predicted pavement response and performance was established.
• Format:
  PDF
• Funding:
  0-1701
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/86032/dot_86032_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 6.23 MB]
• Collection(s):
  US Transportation Collection
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:adeef3d379e222a24c3adc0bdb32937c6776b70a628bacf05b556cf5ac2ba6d6507e4fab9d672360fbd6f1969e5f2e01728fddb036ce4c8330ca7356d0188079