High-speed road profile equipment evaluation : a feasibility study for high-speed road profilometer.

PDFTech Report73-13-8-63-73 (HRP-1-4)Road metersPavementsEvaluation and assessmentStructural analysisStructural engineeringSurveyingTexasUniversity of Texas at Austin. Center for Highway ResearchHudson, W. RonaldUniversity of Texas at Austin. Center for Highway ResearchTexas. Highway DepartmentUnited States. Bureau of Public RoadsUS Transportation CollectionThe importance of evaluating the relative smoothness of pavements is well recognized in the highway profession. In the past, however, this evaluation has been largely a matter ofqualitative judgment. Such evaluations are useful in serviceability-performance studies and in studies of mechanistic evaluation of pavements for structural adequacy. Pavement surveys are used by maintenance engineers, design engineers and highway administrators to make many decisions with reference to the highway system. This report discusses the parameters affecting the measurement of roughness profiles, the evaluation of these parameters by various techniques, and the importance of measuring these profiles at high speeds. Several types of available equipment are discussed and associated data processing techniques are described. Recommendations are made to the Texas Highway Department with reference to the future development of equipment to serve the purposes of the Department