IMPACT OF ASSUMED VERSUS MEASURED VEHICLE DISTRIBUTIONS ON COUNTY ROAD FLEXIBLE PAVEMENT DESIGN

Accurate characterization of traffic is critical to the design of pavement structures. At the low-volume road level, a common practice is to use assumed vehicle type distributions based on statewide or regional studies instead of measuring the traffic for a particular location. The impact of this practice was investigated, and equivalent single-axle loads determined from measured vehicle distributions on 29 county roads in Minnesota were compared with those calculated from assumed distributions. It was found that significant differences exist between the assumed distribution and the measured distribution. Additionally, the impact of using assumed distributions on the structural design of flexible pavements was investigated. With data collected from 21 different county roads in Minnesota, it was found that using assumed distributions can result in over- or underdesigned pavements, with asphalt concrete thicknesses often deviating by more than 50 mm (2 in.). Based on the results, it was recommended that Minnesota counties begin to evaluate when more detailed traffic studies are warranted to improve their designs and use of resources.

• Record URL:
  • https://doi.org/10.3141/1819b-31
• Summary URL:
  • http://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=IMPACT+OF+ASSUMED+VERSUS+MEASURED+VEHICLE+DISTRIBUTIONS+ON+COUNTY+ROAD+FLEXIBLE+PAVEMENT+DESIGN&author=D.+Timm&author=E.+Skok&publication_year=2003
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309077486
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper appears in Transportation Research Record No. 1819, Volume 2, Eighth International Conference on Low-Volume Roads 2003.
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Timm, D H
  • Skok, E L
• Conference:
  • Eighth International Conference on Low-Volume Roads
  • Location: Reno, Nevada
  • Date: 2003-6-22 to 2003-6-25
• Publication Date: 2003

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 244-250
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 1819
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Asphalt concrete; County roads; Equivalent single axle loads; Flexible pavements; Low volume roads; Pavement design; Structural design; Thickness
• Uncontrolled Terms: Assumed distributions; Measured distributions; Vehicle distributions
• Geographic Terms: Minnesota
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Pavements; I22: Design of Pavements, Railways and Guideways; I23: Properties of Road Surfaces;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00942542
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309077486
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: May 14 2003 12:00AM