Rate of Deterioration of Bridges and Pavements as Affected by Trucks

The largest loads on public road systems disproportionately inflict the greatest damage to highway infrastructure. Simultaneously facing both increasing demand for overweight loads and deteriorating pavement and bridges, the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) commissioned this study to investigate the impact of heavy vehicle traffic on pavements and bridges in South Carolina and to develop policy recommendations based on technical analysis and the modern institutional environment in South Carolina. To conduct this study, Clemson University estimated pavement and bridge deterioration, investigated the adequacy of standard practices in state agencies for dealing with this deterioration, and characterized how stakeholders in South Carolina’s trucking industry perceive those practices. The pavement models revealed that overweight trucks reduce pavement service life significantly beyond design standards. Results from the bridge model indicated that bridge damage increased exponentially with an increase in truck weight. Recovering damage for South Carolina’s highways will require a flat fee of $65 per trip, but traditional flat fees for overweight loads fail to charge fairly according to the differing level of damage from distributions of vehicle weights, axle configurations, and trip length. Several alternative fee structures are presented, such as an axle-based system in which permits will cost between $24 and $175 per trip according to load, vehicle configuration, and trip distance. Stakeholder interviews indicated differing opinions on the objectives of user fees for permitting overweight loads; however, many stakeholders indicated a need to address illegal loads and establish consistent fee structures across the Southeastern mega-region. SCDOT and trucking industry representatives should work together in an ongoing focus group to develop common understanding of issues, consensus around objectives, and provisions for fairness that will address industry concerns.

[1]  C. Michael Walton,et al.  EFFECTS OF TRUCK SIZE AND WEIGHTS ON HIGHWAY INFRASTRUCTURE AND OPERATIONS: A SYNTHESIS REPORT , 2001 .

[2]  Kaisa Miettinen,et al.  Nonlinear multiobjective optimization , 1998, International series in operations research and management science.

[3]  Alison Conway,et al.  Analysis and Cost-Recovery Optimization Methodology for a Fixed-Class Truck Tolling Structure , 2008 .

[4]  Daniel J. Graham,et al.  Road Traffic Demand Elasticity Estimates: A Review , 2004 .

[5]  Karl H. Frank,et al.  FATIGUE BEHAVIOR OF PRETENSIONED CONCRETE GIRDERS , 1984 .

[6]  Karl H. Frank,et al.  A Fatigue Study of Prestressing Strand , 1983 .

[7]  Mashrur Chowdhury,et al.  MULTIOBJECTIVE METHODOLOGY FOR HIGHWAY SAFETY RESOURCE ALLOCATION , 2000 .

[8]  Weng Tat Chan,et al.  Multiobjective Optimization for Pavement Maintenance Programming , 2000 .

[9]  H.M.A. Salem.  EFFECT OF EXCESS AXLE WEIGHTS ON PAVEMENT LIFE , 2008 .

[10]  Xiaowei Xu,et al.  Multi-criteria decision making approaches for supplier evaluation and selection: A literature review , 2010, Eur. J. Oper. Res..

[11]  C. Winston,et al.  Road Work: A New Highway Pricing and Investment Policy , 1989 .

[12]  David J. Cole,et al.  Truck Suspension Design to Minimize Road Damage , 1996 .

[13]  M A Chowdhury,et al.  An interactive multiobjective decision support framework for transportation investment , 2002 .

[14]  Susan L. Tighe,et al.  Allocation of Pavement Damage Due to Trucks Using a Marginal Cost Method , 1998 .

[15]  Sherif Ishak,et al.  Freeway Truck Lane Restriction and Differential Speed Limits , 2010 .

[16]  Chunxiao Liu.  ANALYZING HIGHWAY DAMAGE COSTS ATTRIBUTED TO TRUCK TRAFFIC OF PROCESSED MEAT AND RELATED INDUSTRIES IN SOUTHWEST KANSAS , 2007 .

[17]  Carolyn M. Hansson,et al.  Chloride-induced corrosion products of steel in cracked-concrete subjected to different loading conditions , 2009 .

[18]  G. Hardin,et al.  The Tragedy of the Commons , 1968, Green Planet Blues.

[19]  Jolanda Prozzi,et al.  Characterizing Truck Traffic in the U.S.-Mexico Highway Trade Corridor and the Load Associated Pavement Damage , 2007 .

[20]  R K Whitford,et al.  DEVELOPMENT OF ANNUAL PERMIT PROCEDURE FOR OVERWEIGHT TRUCKS ON INDIANA HIGHWAYS , 1995 .

[21]  Hark-Chin Hwang.  Inventory Replenishment and Inbound Shipment Scheduling Under a Minimum Replenishment Policy , 2009, Transp. Sci..

[22]  Michael Watts.  Improving Efficiency and Equity in Transportation Finance , 2006 .

[23]  Robert Harrison,et al.  ALTERNATIVES TO WEIGHT TOLERANCE PERMITS , 2000 .

[24]  Wilbur Smith,et al.  South Carolina State Ports Authority economic impact study , 2008 .

[25]  Karim Chatti,et al.  Effect of heavy trucks with large axle groups on asphalt pavement damage , 2004 .

[26]  M. Wachs,et al.  Local Transportation Sales Taxes: California's Experiment in Transportation Finance , 2002 .

[27]  Javad Sadeghi,et al.  Deterioration Analysis of Flexible Pavements under Overweight Vehicles , 2007 .

[28]  J. March.  FEDERAL HIGHWAY COST ALLOCATION STUDY , 1998 .

[29]  Catherine E French,et al.  EFFECTS OF INCREASING TRUCK WEIGHT ON STEEL AND PRESTRESSED BRIDGES , 2003 .

[30]  Paul C. Paris,et al.  Gigacycle fatigue in mechanical practice , 2004 .

[31]  Karim Chatti,et al.  Effect of Heavy Multiple Axle Trucks on Flexible Pavement Damage Using In-Service Pavement Performance Data , 2006 .

[32]  Yacov Y. Haimes,et al.  Multiobjective Decision Making: Theory and Methodology , 1983 .

[33]  J M Hanson,et al.  FATIGUE STRENGTH OF HIGH-YIELD REINFORCING BARS , 1971 .

[34]  Mark D. Bowman,et al.  Fatigue of Older Bridges in Northern Indiana due to Overweight and Oversized Loads, Volume 2: Analysis Methods and Fatigue Evaluation , 2006 .

[35]  Roberto Pietroforte,et al.  Procurement methods for US infrastructure: historical perspectives and recent trends , 2002 .

[36]  John Semmens,et al.  Estimating the Cost of Overweight Vehicle Travel on Arizona Highways , 2006 .

[37]  Benita M. Beamon,et al.  A multi-objective approach to simultaneous strategic and operational planning in supply chain design , 2000 .