Abstract

MACEA-MERCADO, Luis Fernando; FUENTES-PUMAREJO, Luis Guillermo  and  MARQUEZ-DIAZ, Luis Gabriel. Characterization and development of closed-form solutions for axle load spectra associated with trucks circulating the highways of Colombia. Rev.fac.ing.univ. Antioquia [online]. 2015, n.77, pp.32-40. ISSN 0120-6230.  https://doi.org/10.17533/udea.redin.n77a05.

An appropriate design of pavement structures requires estimation of the effects produced by traffic loads. For this reason, it is necessary to predict the number of vehicles traveling on road surfaces, identifying the axle configurations and the magnitude of the load. Thirty-eight (38) mobile weigh stations were positioned on different strategic points of the Colombian national road network to characterize the traffic condition of the country, 59.622 trucks were observed. This paper presents Axle Load Spectra that could be used to characterize the traffic condition of the Colombian's highway network. Data showed that the different axle configurations (Single, Tandem and Tridem) exhibit two peaks, associated with loaded and unloaded truck conditions. It was noted that a significant number of axles exceeds the permitted load limit, which could explain the critical state of the road network in Colombia. Finally, a mixture of three (3) theoretical distributions was used to characterize the overall axle load distributions. The proposed model presents acceptable predictive capabilities; therefore, it has potential to be used as a tool in the design process of the pavement.

Keywords : Axle load spectra; Equivalent axes; Load distribution; Traffic projection.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in English     · English ( pdf )