Comprehensive Truck Size and Weight Limits Study: Pavement Comparative Analysis Technical Report

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Contact Information: FreightFeedback@dot.gov

June 2015

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Table of Contents

• Executive Summary
• Chapter 1. Pavement Comparative Analysis
  • 1.1 Background
  • 1.2 Introduction
  • 1.3 Key Assumptions
• Chapter 2. Selection of Pavement Sections
  • 2.1.1 Key Data and Models Used in the Analysis
  • 2.2 Summary and Conclusions
  • 2.3 References
• Chapter 3. Results of Pavement Analysis To Predict Impact of Scenario Traffic
  • 3.1 Impacts of Scenarios on Pavement Performance
  • 3.2 References
• Chapter 4. Scenario Impacts
  • 4.1 Impacts of Scenarios on Pavement Costs
  • 4.2 Impacts on Local Roads
  • 4.3 References
• Chapter 5. Current Impacts of Overweight Vehicles
  • 5.1 Impacts of Overweight Vehicles on Pavement Costs
• Appendix A. Revised Pavement Desk Scan Report
• Appendix B. Project Plan/Schedule
• Appendix C. Climate Analysis Summary Data
• Appendix D. Identification of Common Soil Types for Analysis
• Appendix E. Climate Analysis Input Data Summary
• Appendix F. Preliminary Flexible and Rigid Pavement Performance Analysis
• Appendix G. Summary of ADTT for Various Interstate Volumes and Other NHS Arterial from FHWA VMT Data
• Appendix H. Pavement Thickness and Type Groupings from HPMS 2012 Data
• Appendix I. Sample Flexible Pavement Sections
• Appendix J. Sample Rigid Pavement Sections
• Appendix K. Compilation of Base Case Pavement Analysis Tables
• Appendix L. Compilation of Comparison (Base Case to Scenarios) Pavement Analysis Tables
• Appendix M. Impacts of Scenarios on Predicted Life Factors
• Appendix N. Predicted Pavement Life Cycle Costs for Flexible and Rigid Pavements
• Appendix O. Impacts of Overweight Axles on Initial Pavement Service Intervals

List of Tables

• ES-1. Truck Configuration and Weight Scenarios Analyzed in the 2014 CTSW Study
• ES-2. Impacts of Study Scenario (Compared to Base Case) on Pavement Performance and Costs
• Table 1. Summary of Distress Type Target Values
• Table 2. Sample Flexible and Rigid Pavement Sections from LTPP Database
• Table 3. Truck Traffic Levels (Average Daily Truck Travel) by  Geographic Grouping and Pavement Section
• Table 4. Summary of Distress Prediction Levels Identified in Study  for the Triggering of Pavement Repairs
• Table 5. List of Assumptions for Expanding Pavement Structural Analysis
• Table 6. New Flexible Pavement Structure Characteristics
• Table 7. Rigid Pavement Structure Characteristics
• Table 8. Truck Configuration and Weight Scenarios Analyzed in the 2014 CTSW Study
• Table 9. Asphalt Overlay Thickness to be Applied for Existing Pavement Repairs
• Table 10. Rehabilitation Treatment Type and Frequency over 50-Year Pavement Performance Period
• Table 11. Pavement Cost Comparison of Base and Scenarios 3 and 4 for High Volume Flexible Pavement in Geographic Location #1
• Table 12. Service Interval and Life Cycle Cost Percent Changes by Scenario

List of Figures

• Figure 1. Overview of Sample Pavement Section Selection Approach
• Figure 2. Scenario 1 Changes in Interstate Tandem Axle Loads
• Figure 3. Scenario 2 Changes in Interstate Tandem Axle Loads
• Figure 4. Scenario 2 Changes in Interstate Tridem Axle Loads
• Figure 5. Scenario 3 Changes in Interstate Tandem Axle Loads
• Figure 6. Scenario 3 Changes in Interstate Tridem Axle Loads
• Figure 7. Scenario 4 Changes in Interstate Tandem Axle Loads
• Figure 8. Scenario 4 Changes in Interstate Single Axle Loads
• Figure 9. Scenario 5 Changes in Interstate Tandem Axle Loads
• Figure 10. Scenario 5 Changes in Interstate Single Axle Loads
• Figure 11. Scenario 5 Changes in Other NHS Single Axle Loads
• Figure 12. Scenario 6 Interstate Tandem Axle Weight Loads
• Figure 13. Scenario 6 Interstate Single Axle Weight Loads
• Figure 14. Scenario 6 Changes in Other NHS Single Axle Loads

List of Acronyms

Acronym	Definition
AASHO	American Association of State Highway Officials
AASHTO	Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
ABrR	AASHTOWare Bridge Rating®
ABS	anti-lock braking system
AC	asphalt concrete
ADT	average daily traffic
AADTT	annual average daily truck traffic
ADTT	average daily truck traffic
AF	axle factors
AGM	average gross mass
ALF	axle load factors
ARA	Applied Research Associates
ASLRRA	American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association
ASR	allowable stress rating
BTS	Bureau of Transportation Statistics
CAFT	constant-amplitude fatigue threshold
CARB	California Air Resources Board
CBO	Congressional Budget Office
CMV	commercial motor vehicle
CRCP	Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavement
CRF	Code of Federal Regulations
CTSLW	Comprehensive Truck Size and Weight Limits Study
CTSW	Comprehensive Truck Size and Weight Limits
CVSA	Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance
DA	data agreement
DOT	Department of Transportation
EDFs	equivalent damage factors
ESALs	equivalent single axle loads
ESAR	equivalent single-axle radius
ESWL	equivalent single-wheel load
FAF	Freight Analysis Framework
FEA	finite element analysis
FHWA	Federal Highway Administration
FMIS	Financial Management Information System
FMVSS	Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard
FRA	Federal Railroad Administration
GCW	gross combined weight
GEF	Group Equivalency Factor
GVW	gross vehicle weight
HCA	highway cost allocation
HCAS	Federal Highway Cost Allocation Study
HERS	Highway Economic Requirements Systems
HMA	hot mix asphalt
HPMS	Highway Performance Monitoring System
HV	High-volume
HIS	Interstate Highway System
ITIC	Intermodal Transportation and Inventory Cost Model
IRI	International Roughness Index
IS	Interstate System
ISTEA	Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act
JPCP	jointed plain concrete pavement
LCC	life cycle cost
LCV	longer combination vehicles
LEF	load equivalence factors
LFR	load factor rating
LRFD	load and resistance factor design
LRFR	load resistance factor rating
LTBP	Long-Term Bridge Performance Program
LTL	less than truckload
LTPP	Long-Term Pavement Performance
LV	Low-volume
MARAD	Maritime Administration
MATLAB	Matrix Laboratory
MCMIS	Motor Carrier Management Information System
MDDs	multidepth deflectometers
MEPDG	Mechanistic Empirical Pavement Design Guide
MV	Medium-volume
NAPCOM	National Pavement Cost Model
NAS	National Academy of Sciences
NATS	National Truck Stop Survey
NBI	National Bridge Inventory
NBMD	National Bridge Management Database
NCHRP	National Cooperative Highway Research Program
NDA	non-disclosure agreement
NESCCAF	Northeast States Center for a Clean Air Future
NHS	National Highway System
NHTSA	National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
NN	National Network
NREL	National Renewable Energy Lab
NSIs	normalized sensitivity indices
OMB	Office of Management and Budget
OGW	operating gross weight
ORNL	Oak Ridge National Laboratories
OOS	out-of-service
OS/OW	oversize/overweight
PBBT	Performance Based Brake Tests
PAS	Pavement Analysis Software
PBS	Performance-based standards
PCC	Portland Cement Concrete
PCE	passenger car equivalents
PCU	passenger car units
POG	Policy Oversight Group
PSI	Pounds per square inch
RC	reinforced concrete
RF	rating factor
SISSI	Superpave Instrumented Stress-Strain Investigation
SPS	Special Pavement Sections
STAA	Surface Transportation Authorization Act
STB	Surface Transportation Board
STCC	Standard Transportation Commodity Code
SwRI	Southwest Research Institute
TF	truck factor
TMG	Traffic Monitoring Guidelines
TOC	Technical Oversight Committee
TRB	Transportation Research Board
TSW	truck size and weight
TTCGS	truck traffic classification groups
USC	United States Code
USDOT	US Department of Transportation
VMT	vehicle miles traveled
VIUS	Vehicle Inventory and Use Survey
VSC	vehicle stability and control
WHVC	World Harmonized Vehicle Cycle
WIM	weigh-in-motion
WIMPI	Weigh-in-Motion Pavement Investigation

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