The accelerated loading facility and the ARRB pavement technology research programme

A strategy plan has been developed to ensure that the accelerated loading facility (alf) program of loading trials is integrated with related components of pavement research at ARRB. The primary areas of concern for ARRB pavement technology research are considered to be layer equivalency, load equivalency and, criteria for overlay design. It is proposed that these problems be addressed by a four pronged integrated strategy combining structural analysis of pavements, materials characterisation, accelerated loading tests, and monitoring of pavements subjected to the overall program. An outline strategy is proposed for coordination of pavement research at a broader level, based on a national pavement and materials performance data bank. The development of the alf, up to and including the commission trials, and the program for the first full trial are briefly described (a).