An Investigation of Road Damage Due to Measured Dynamic Tyre Forces

A portable mat for measuring the dynamic tyre forces of commercial vehicles is described. The mat is 56 m long, 13 mm thick, and has 141 capacitative strip sensors, spaced at 0.4 m intervals. The accuracy of the mat for measuring dynamic tyre forces generated by heavy commercial vehicles is assessed using an instrumented vehicle. The measured dynamic wheel loads generated by 14 articulated vehicle configurations (three tractors with five trailers) are assessed in terms of a variety of road damage criteria. The results are used to investigate the effects of vehicle configuration, vehicle dynamics, speed, road strength, and road damage criteria on the relative theoretical road damage caused by the vehicles. Conclusions are drawn about tests for measuring and assessing the road-damaging potential of heavy lorries.