Scholarly record

STUDYING THE IMPACT OF HEAVY VEHICLES FOR TIMBER TRANSPORTATION ON THE ROAD WITH THE USE OF THE TOTAL LOAD EQUIVALENCY FACTOR

Н. П. Савенкова

Abstract

Carrying capacity of heavy vehicles used for timber transportation tends to increase in the modern world. This tendency brings to an accelerated damage of the roads. The fleet of trucks used for timber transportation has become quite diverse. Modern vehicles differ from standard trucks in a number of characteristics, for example, weight. New vehicle features affect the strain-stress state of the road structure. This influence is taken into account in the process of calculation of total load equivalency factor. Load equivalency factor is an essential parameter for the assessment of the effect of heavy vehicles on the roads. Research conducted previously concluded that forest roads with ground and gravel surfaces are not suitable for overloads of 110?150 kN per axle. Therefore, it is necessary to calculate the load equivalency factor for the vehicles heavier than traditional ones. The aim of this research is to study the impact of heavy vehicles on the roads with the use of total load equivalency factor. Our calculation process includes the study of documentation derived from operating production enterprises. The most appropriate approach for the calculation of the load equivalency factor has been chosen. This article presents the results of calculation of the load equivalency factor of concept truck-trains. The achieved results will allow maintaining higher efficiency of forest truck roads in the long term.

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