With continuous development and expansion of industrial plants in rural areas, the movement of superheavy loads has become a necessity. Over the years, researchers have attempted to develop structural response models to predict pavement damage from superheavy loads with mixed degrees of success. To date, specific structural analysis guidelines/methodologies to predict pavement damage have yet to be validated. This paper outlines the outcome of a literature survey of ‘best practices’ and presents the outcome of two studies of superheavy load moves each planned for the spring and winter months of 2016 and 2017.
Based on the apparent shortcomings highlighted with previous analysis methods, finite element modelling was used to determine the pavement layer stresses and strains when subjected to superheavy moves. The transport vehicle for the winter move comprised a double inter combi trailer with gross weight of vehicle of approximately 1.5 million kilograms. This vehicle had two 24 axle line trailers with 1.5m axle spacing to facilitate the move. The transport vehicle for the spring move was a 4 file – 24 line conventional trailer with gross weight of 625,000 kilograms. The paper will present the study methodology, environment factors, material properties, traffic and speed variables, and the simulation of the model replicating the pavement response.
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