Flexible Pavement Damage Quantification for Heavy-Duty Electric Trucks

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

2025

Publisher

American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)

Source Publication

Airfield and Highway Pavements 2025

Source ISSN

9780784486214

Original Item ID

DOI: 10.1061/9780784486214.059

Abstract

Freight transport electrification is one of the key potential solutions to minimize the use of energy. However, the use of heavy-duty electric vehicles (HDEV) may pose a challenge to existing pavement infrastructure due to their heavier axle loads and increased torque instantaneously. This study introduced a generalized approach to quantify the combined damage induced by HDEV on asphalt concrete (AC) pavements. Near-surface distresses, generally overlooked in traditional pavement design frameworks, were considered. Using finite element modeling, mechanistic-empirical transfer functions, and a cumulative damage approach, a comparative analysis of the damage induced by various HDEV battery placements on a full-depth pavement section relative to the conventional internal combustion engine heavy-duty vehicle (ICEV). Failure mechanisms such as cracking and shoving were considered. The study introduced a truck damage index (TDI) as a potential adjustment metric to the traffic factor input in pavement design. It offers a practical methodology to integrate HDEV into pavement design and analysis. In addition, the approach provides generalized modifications in pavement design frameworks to accommodate other emerging or future vehicle technologies, including platoons.

Comments

Published as part of the proceedings of Airfield and Highway Pavements 2025. DOI. 

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