Driving Comfort Evaluation for Manhole Covers and Pavement around Manholes

Abstract

In order to study the driving comfort and influencing factors when vehicles pass over manholes and pavement around manholes on an urban road, the deformation and vibration of the manhole cover were considered, a multidegree of freedom vibration model of the human-vehicle-manhole cover was established, and the variation characteristics of driving acceleration was analyzed. The root mean square of weighted acceleration was taken as the basic index, and driving comfort was evaluated based on ISO 2631-1-1997 standard. After that, 9 influencing factors were analyzed, such as driving speed, subsidence of manhole, manhole cover stiffness, and longitudinal slope. Then, grey correlation entropy analysis was used to evaluate the influencing factors, and the main factors were determined. The results showed that the maximum acceleration was 3.6 m/s2 when a vehicle was passing over a manhole cover under the basic parameters. At the same time, the root mean square of weighted acceleration was 0.975 m/s2 and driving comfort degree was “uncomfortable.” Driving direction and vibration of the manhole cover had little influence on driving comfort, while the remaining influencing factors had significant influence on that. The ranking of key influence factors on driving comfort was longitudinal slope, driving speed, height difference caused by pavement damage, height difference caused by manhole cover subsidence, tire stiffness, manhole stiffness, and tire damping. Therefore, in order to ensure driving comfort and safety, damage to pavement around manholes and manhole cover subsidence should be repaired in a timely manner.