Impact of traffic loads on flexible pavements considering Ecuador's traffic and pavement condition

This paper presents a study regarding the consequences of traffic loads, including the ones due to traffic overload and traffic efficiency, on the damage of flexible road pavements. It was based on a real traffic data collection done in the city of Portoviejo, Ecuador. The study starts by defining the typical Ecuadorian fleet composition and heavy-traffic stream which comprises overloaded vehicles. The mixed heavy-traffic stream is then simulated in a load generating software for two road condition scenarios mimicking a well and a badly-maintained road. Two theoretical heavy-traffic streams were simulated, one without overloaded vehicles and a high-efficient one, therefore this methodology can be easily adapted for other situations. The results show a clear tendency towards a significant increase in the road pavement damage underlying the need to promote actions aimed at reducing traffic overloading thus improving road condition. Enforcement can decrease the pavement damage at least 33% and its condition by 30-40% which in a normal life span of 20 years would represent 7-8 years. This study also draws the attention of the authorities to the implications of high-efficient heavy-traffic streams.