Characterisation of pavement profile heights using accelerometer readings and a combinatorial optimisation technique

Pavement surface profiles induce dynamic ride responses in vehicles which can potentially be used to classify road surface roughness. A novel method is proposed for the characterisation of pavement roughness through an analysis of vehicle accelerations. A combinatorial optimisation technique is applied to the determination of pavement profile heights based on measured accelerations at and above the vehicle axle. Such an approach, using low-cost inertial sensors, would provide an inexpensive alternative to the costly laser-based profile measurement vehicles. The concept is numerically validated using a half-car roll dynamic model to infer measurements of road profiles in both the left and right wheel paths.Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and TechnologySeventh European Framework Project ASSET (Advanced Safety and Driver Support in Efficient Road Transport)Record must link to the DOI version - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jsv.2009.09.035. DG 08/07/10 ke,kpw.21/7/1