Mechanistic–Empirical Study of Effects of Truck Tire Pressure on Pavement: Measured Tire–Pavement Contact Stress Data

Truck tire pressure plays an important role in the tire–pavement interaction process. As a traditional approximation method in many pavement studies, tire–pavement contact stress is frequently assumed to be uniformly distributed over a circular contact area and simply equal to the tire pressure. However, recent studies have demonstrated that the tire–pavement contact stress is far from uniformly distributed. In this study, measured tire–pavement contact stress data were input to a finite element program to compute pavement immediate responses for three tire configurations: single tires, dual tires, and dual-tire tandem axles. Computed critical pavement responses were input to pavement distress transfer functions to analyze further the effects of tire inflation pressure on pavement performance. Two asphalt concrete pavement structures—a thick pavement and a thin pavement—were investigated. Pavement responses at selected locations in the pavement structures were computed by the finite element program using the measured tire–pavement contact stress data and compared with the results predicted by a multilayer program using the traditional uniform contact stress method. The computation results showed that the multilayer program and the traditional tire model tend to overestimate the horizontal tensile strains at the bottom of the asphalt concrete and underestimate the vertical compressive strains at the top of the subgrade. Prediction of effects of tire pressure on pavement performance shows that increased tire pressure results in increased pavement distress due to both cracking and rutting and that tire inflation pressure is also related to the shape of pavement ruts.

• Record URL:
  • https://doi.org/10.3141/1947-13
• 
• Summary URL:
  • http://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=Mechanistic%e2%ac%1cEmpirical+Study+of+Effects+of+Truck+Tire+Pressure+on+Pavement%3a+%0aMeasured+Tire%e2%ac%1cPavement+Contact+Stress+Data&author=F.+Wang&author=R.+Machemehl&publication_year=2006
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309099552
• Authors:
  • Wang, Feng
  • Machemehl, Randy B
• Publication Date: 2006

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 136-145
• Monograph Title: Rigid and Flexible Pavement Design 2006
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board
  • Issue Number: 1947
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Asphalt concrete pavements; Finite element method; Pavement cracking; Pavement distress; Pavement performance; Rolling contact; Rutting; Tandem axle loads; Thickness; Tire pressure; Trucks
• Identifier Terms: Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide
• Uncontrolled Terms: Dual tires
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Motor Carriers; Pavements; I22: Design of Pavements, Railways and Guideways; I23: Properties of Road Surfaces;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01024509
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309099552
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: May 25 2006 7:31AM