Management Techniques to reduce damage from overweight vehicles
Roadways at all levels of use are often confronted with the issue of overweight traffic loads. These are loads that may involve axle loads well in excess of a typical 18-kip single-axle or 34-kip tandem load associated with a commercial truck trailer. Management techniques that account for such loads are difficult to draft given that they include the consideration of: 1) possible instantaneous failure in the pavement ...more »
Roadways at all levels of use are often confronted with the issue of overweight traffic loads. These are loads that may involve axle loads well in excess of a typical 18-kip single-axle or 34-kip tandem load associated with a commercial truck trailer. Management techniques that account for such loads are difficult to draft given that they include the consideration of: 1) possible instantaneous failure in the pavement system due to the one-time application of the overload on the pavement system; 2) the anticipated damage caused by the application of the overload; and 3) the anticipated costs to adequately restore the roadway to its pre-overloaded condition. State and local engineers may benefit from research that reviews current pavement management techniques in light of Minnesota’s concerns for its roadways. Such research could also develop a process to help engineers assess and repair or bolster roadways that are particularly vulnerable to instantaneous failure if left neglected.
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