The article discusses recent research into the effect of suspension design on dynamic loading, with particular reference to TRRL work reviewed at a march 1988 meeting at the Institution of Civil Engineers in London. Preliminary results showed that the dynamic load on a road is seven per cent less with air suspension. Steel sprung bogies, particularly on trailers were deficient on hump-backed bridges because of the lack of movement of one axle relative to another and the total bogie load can momentarily be on one axle. It was suggested that, at some time, there should be legislation to encourage suspensions that cause less road wear. Suspension performance would be measured by a transportable rolling-mat fixture. There are some indications that road wear decreases with speed and that wear could be between four and six times the static axle load rather than the currently used fourth power law.
Abstract