Impact of lateral load transfer in heavy road vehicles at horizontal curves on the distress of asphalt pavements

Abstract

The distress of asphalt pavements on horizontal curves can be relatively higher because of the lateral load transfer and the increase in lateral forces on vehicles during their cornering manoeuvre. In this study, the lateral load transfer in horizontal curves and its effect on pavement disstress is evaluated using a commercial vehicle dynamics software, IPG TruckMaker®. Road profiles were generated with a straight section followed by a horizontal curve. A sensitivity analysis was conducted by varying the radii of horizontal curves, road-surface roughnesses, vehicle speed, and its laden weight. The results were compared with results from static analysis and an analytical model. The curved section was found to sustain about two to six times more damage. Further, layered elastic analysis of the curved section showed higher shear stresses at the layer interface. This emphasises the need for a separate design of pavements on a horizontal curve.