Truck Instrumentation for Dynamic Load Measurement (0-4863-1)

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is implementing a ride specification that uses profile data collected with inertial profilers for acceptance testing of the finished surface. This specification is based primarily on ride quality criteria. The objective of the present project is to establish whether gaps exist in the current specification that permit frequency components of surface profile to pass that are potentially detrimental to pavement life based on the induced dynamic loading. To carry out this objective, the work plan includes tests to measure surface profiles and vehicle dynamic loads on in-service pavement sections. This interim report documents the research efforts conducted to provide an instrumented tractor-semi trailer combination for measurement of dynamic loads and high-speed inertial profiler for measurement of surface profiles. These test vehicles were used in this project to collect data for evaluating TxDOT's Item 585 ride specification.