Abstract
A transverse profilometer which measures the depth and shape of wheeltrack rutting has been developed at the Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL). It consists of a 2 metre wide set of 21 sensing wheels mounted on a trailer that is towed behind a van containing the computer control and recording system. The profilometer is designed so that the measurement of rut depth and shape is completely independent of any movement of the trailer on its suspension. The profilometer is described and its high levels of accuracy and repeatability are demonstrated. Examples are given to illustrate its use in research on pavement performance. (A)