AN EVALUATION OF DAMAGE CAUSED BY HEAVY LOADS IN OHIO

The effect of heavy trucks on the performance of pavements located in northern Ohio was evaluated to develop and implement more realistic damage factors caused by heavily loaded trucks. Detailed traffic measurements were made twice a year using weigh-in-motion equipment. Distress measurements consisting of cracking, faulting, Mays roughness, and PSI (Present Serviceability Index) for rigid pavements and cracking, rutting, Mays roughness, and PSI for flexible and composite pavements were made at the same time. The analysis showed that for rigid pavements heavy axle loads contribute more toward cracking and faulting development than to PSI loss whereas rutting is most influenced by heavy axle loads (followed by PSI and cracking, in that order) for flexible and composite pavements. (A) For the covering abstract of the conference see IRRD 852196.