EFFECT OF TRUCK TIRE INFLATION PRESSURE AND AXLE LOAD ON FLEXIBLE AND RIGID PAVEMENT PERFORMANCE

Abstract

Results are presented of an investigation into the effect of truck tire inflation pressure and axle load on flexible and rigid pavement performance as determined by using computer analysis programs. The flexible and rigid pavement analyses were conducted with both an experimental nonuniform contact pressure distribution and a uniform circular contact pressure distribution as input to the computer programs. The results indicated for the flexible pavement analysis that high inflation pressures and heavy axle loads cause higher tensile strains at the bottom of the surface course, but that only heavy axle loads and not increased inflation pressures are responsible for higher compressive strains at the top of the subgrade course. The rigid pavement analysis indicated an insignificant difference between results obtained by using an experimental and a uniform contact pressure distribution model.