Asset Management

This report explores the dynamic forces that heavy vehicles apply to road pavements and the effects that these forces have on pavement performance. The research focussed on identification of accurate and cost effective means to quantify dynamic forces applied by current and new generation heavy vehicle trailers. The traditional method of using axle mounted strain gauges with accelerometers was found to be more cost effective, accurate and practical compared to the alternative measurement methods trialled.

Data collected during the field trials is available and may be suitable for further analysis to continue investigations into the relationships between dynamic wheel loads and vehicle or road characteristics. However, for most of the relationships of interest, a wider sample of vehicles and roads is required to establish sufficient evidence of the nature of the relationships. In particular, it may be of interest to further investigate differences between mechanical- and air-suspended combinations.