Title: Draft report: road resource consumption as reflected by fuel consumption
Abstract: This report is a result of a research project sponsored by the Roads and Traffic Authority in order to look at the relationship between fuel usage by different types of vehicles and road track costs. The vehicles considered include four types of articulated trucks, four types of rigid trucks, one bus, four types of vans and seven types of cars. Fuel consumption results were obtained by simulation using the computer programs TABESAM and FAEM-III. Road resource consumption parameters used were travel (Vkt), capacity represented by the product of passenger car units and travel distance (PCU.km), road wear and tear represented by the product of equivalent standard axles and travel distance (ESA.km), pavement wear (vehicle mass.km), road construction represented by the product of the fourth root of ESA and travel distance (ESAI.km) and bridge wear (vehicle mass.km). The results of simulations and calculations show that there is good correlation between fuel consumption and ESAs and ESAIs and somewhat worse correlation between fuel consumption and vehicle mass. The relationships established do not take into account the fact that most vehicles operate unladen over considerable parts of their travel and imposing charges calculated on the basis of fixed ESAs or ESAIs will not be equitable even if these values were based on average vehicle masses instead of maximum masses. Fuel consumption, on the other hand, is a more flexible parameter since it varies with vehicle load. The only problem associated with fuel consumption being used as a surrogate for road resource consumption is its sensitivity to factors such as engine power, vehicle age and the use of technologically advanced vehicles and engines. There is also evidence that there are other vehicle characteristics affecting road resource consumption, such as tyre pressure, tyre type (single versus dual), suspension, and axle spacing. Generally, it is the finding of this study that of all vehicle parameters considered, fuel consumption is the best option available to calculate charges for road resource consumption. Other factors affecting fuel consumption must be taken into account when determining the costs per unit parameter by which road resource consumption is to be evaluated. A method of registering the amount of fuel consumed also needs to be introduced.
Publication Year: 1992
Publication Date: 1992-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
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