Estimating Cumulative Traffic Loads, Final Report for Phase 1

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FOREWORD

Pavement performance analysis encompasses a variety of applications, including the prediction of individual distresses, pavement design and rehabilitation, and pavement management. In all ofthese applications, knowledge ofthe cumulative trafflc loads imposed on the pavement is a crucial element ofthe analysis process, especially in developing load-related distress prediction models. Because ofthe expensive and massive nature of the trafflc data collection process in the field, it has been the responsibility ofthe participating agencies since the inception ofthe Long Term Pavement Performance (LTPP) program. The result has been considerable variation in the quality and quantity of the historical and monitoring traffic data, creating a need to estimate cumulative traffic loads for the entire pavement lifespan using the available fragmented data.

This report provides a methodology for obtaining cumulative traffic load spectra applicable for all LTPP sites, and demonstrates this methodology using 12 case studies. This report will be of interest to engineers involved in pavement design, pavement performance evaluation and prediction, and pavement maintenance and rehabilitation.

T. Paul Teng, Director

Office of Infrastructure, Research and Development