Evaluate Methodology to Determine Localized Roughness

The Texas Department of Transportation implements a smoothness specification based on inertial profile measurements. This specification includes a localized roughness provision to locate defects on the final surface based on measured surface profiles. To identify defects, the existing methodology uses the deviations between the average of the left and right wheel path profiles, and its moving average as determined using a 25-ft base length. Stations where the deviations exceed 150 mils in magnitude are considered defect locations. While this methodology provides an objective approach for evaluating localized roughness based on profile data, some districts have introduced an additional step to determine the need for corrective work. Specifically, these districts have used a bump rating panel to select, from among the defects identified using the existing procedure, those bumps and dips that will require correction based on the panel’s opinion of the severity of the defects from a ride quality point of view. Clearly, a standard methodology needs to be developed so that consistency in ride quality assurance testing can be maintained. Otherwise, differences in results of quality assurance tests between projects within a district and between districts can easily arise because of differences in road user perception of ride quality. Consequently, this project examined the existing methodology for evaluating localized roughness to develop recommendations for an improved methodology that engineers can use to objectively decide where corrective work is necessary so as to maintain consistency in quality assurance testing of pavement smoothness.

• Record URL:
  http://tti.tamu.edu/documents/0-6610-2.pdf
• Summary URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/30767
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Project Title: Impact of Changes in Profile Measurement Technology on QA Testing of Pavement Smoothness.
• Corporate Authors:

  Texas A&M Transportation Institute

  Texas A&M University System
  3135 TAMU
  College Station, TX  United States  77843-3135

  University of Texas, Arlington

  Arlington, TX  United States  76010

  Texas Department of Transportation

  Research and Technology Implementation Office, P.O. Box 5080
  Austin, TX  United States  78763-5080

  Federal Highway Administration

  Washington, DC  United States 
• Authors:
  • Fernando, Emmanuel G
  • Walker, Roger S
• Publication Date: 2016-3

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Edition: Technical Report
• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 68p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Evaluation; Methodology; Pavement performance; Quality assurance; Recommendations; Ride quality; Roughness; Smoothness
• Identifier Terms: Texas Department of Transportation
• Subject Areas: Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Pavements;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01596756
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA/TX-14/0-6610-2, 0-6610-2
• Contract Numbers: 0-6610
• Files: NTL, TRIS, ATRI, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Apr 22 2016 10:45AM