Highways Agency Reports

The effects on pavement wear of changing the trafficking line on a DBM pavement were estimated using elastic theory. This was followed by an accelerated trafficking test on a DBM pavement at the Pavement Test Facility, to allow the theoretical estimates to be tested. Pavement wear in the trafficking test was assessed in terms of cracking measured at the pavement surface and permanent deformation. The rate of cracking was substantially reduced following the change of the trafficking line and final deformation was uniform over a wide part of the trafficked area. Both results were broadly in line with theoretical predictions. However, only quite small amounts of deformation were produced in the test, due to the strong foundation. The results may not, therefore, necessarily apply to major structural rutting; a weaker foundation would probably have to be used in the PTF to simulate the development of major ruts under traffic.