Analytical Evaluation of Ride Comfort on Asphalt Concrete Pavements

Abstract

Ride comfort is very important in the performance evaluation of highway concrete pavements. In this paper, three indices were integrated and used for the evaluation of ride comfort on asphalt concrete pavements: (1) weighted root mean square of the acceleration, (2) root mean square of the squared differences (a measure of heart rate variability), and (3) weighted value of subjective ride comfort. The study involved collection of comprehensive experimental data for 89 highway sections in China that included pavement roughness, ride speed, acceleration, dynamic friction, psychological and physiological data, pavement condition, and questionnaires. Indices and thresholds for acceleration, heart rate variability, and subjective evaluation of ride comfort were developed. In addition, quantitative relations between ride comfort and both pavement roughness and ride speed were established for two specific ranges of dynamic friction. Graphical relations among ride comfort, pavement roughness, and ride speed were established. These relations provide useful guidelines for ride comfort evaluation and highway maintenance management.

Estimating PCI Using Vibration Data for Asphalt Concrete Pavements

“…Besides, the most appropriate point to the description of the measurement point accepted in the standard is the measurement made on driver's seat. In particular, the mechanical structure of the vehicle and the surface distress on the road on which the vehicle is travelling were determined as the main causes of vertical axis vibration [18].…”

“…There are several studies in literature aimed at determining pavement roughness through an analysis of the relationship between the current performance of a pavement and the vibrations recorded using accelerometers [18][19][20]. It has been observed in these publications mostly on the vehicle dynamics that the researchers have used acceleration data as an independent variable in vehicle dynamics modelling or in researching the correlations with pavement roughness data.…”

“…It was seen as the ultimate point reached in the PMS engineering on the evaluation of vibrations is the generation of the simulation models and the real-time test mechanisms. In other words, when all the PMS studies are evaluated, it can clearly be seen that, pavement serviceability can be determined even before the road is constructed due to the deteriorations in the pavement, which will be produced following its design by using the latest technology, that will occur in time and the impact of these deteriorations on the drivers [18,[21][22][23][24][25][26].…”

Determining Travel Conditions on Motorways for Automobile Trasport Based on the Case Study for Lithuanian Highways

“…The effectiveness of transportation is also influenced by the environmental and social factors, depending on the quality of services provided in travel (Han, Do 2016). A trip is comfortable, when roads and their surroundings are attractive and there are RSAs on the roadside (Wang, Easa 2016). In defining the conditions of the vehicle's movement along the road, the largest admissible distances between these areas are specified.…”

Pavement performance levels causing human health risks

“…Some studies presented in literature have attempted to explain the concept of WBV based on relative personal perceptions and interpretations. For this purpose, there are noteworthy studies that have measured heart rate and evaluated human response to exposure to various vibrations, via vehicle suspension systems created in the laboratory [16,17]. Likewise, there are also studies that have investigated ergonomic structure of the driver seat and suspension systems of construction equipment (trucks, tractors, rollers, etc.)…”