OVERLOADED VEHICLES BREAK UP SA'S ROADS

The reasons for introducing limits on the axle mass of vehicles in South Africa are explained. Overload vehicles have led to damage of the road structure. The process of road failure and the use of a Benkelman Beam are outlined and the relative damage caused by different loads is shown graphically, 50% and 100% overloading of vehicles traveling on a road structure, designed to carry legally loaded vehicles for 20 years, will shorten the life of that road to 4 years and 1 year respectively. A large load can be carried without causing road damage by distributing the load over a sufficient number of axles. The maximum single-axle mass of a heavy vehicle allowed by law is 8200 kg and a table of further restrictions on the total mass on the number of axles to protect bridge structures is given. It is important that this law be enforced. /TRRL/

• Corporate Authors:

  National Institute for Road Research, South Africa

  P.O. Box 395
  Pretoria, Transvaal,   South Africa 
• Authors:
  • Vuuren, D P
• Publication Date: 1974-4

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos; Tables;
• Pagination: 3 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Axle load force; Benkelman beam; Bridges; Defects; Heavy vehicles; Laws; Load limits; Load transfer; Oversize loads; Pavement distress; Pavements; Trucks
• Uncontrolled Terms: Overloads
• Old TRIS Terms: Truck effects (Bridges); Truck pavement damage
• ITRD Terms: 8001: Africa; 6105: Benkelman beam; 3455: Bridge; 2992: Carriageway; 1614: Damage; 5520: Failure; 1088: Inland waterway; 1556: Legislation; 6452: Limit; 8103: South Africa
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Highways; Law; Motor Carriers; Pavements;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00080856
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL)
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: May 29 1975 12:00AM