Instrumentation and performance modelling of heavy vehicle simulator tests

Flexible test road structures have been built and tested in accelerated pavement tests using a heavy vehicle simulator (HVS) at VTI in Sweden for 15 years. The objectives have been to investigate pavement responses and pavement performance behaviour, which can be used to validate mechanistic performance schemes. Here, the instrumentation is described, its accuracy is estimated, the response and performance are modelled and a performance prediction is carried out. The registrations of the measurements were rather smooth with acceptable variation. In general, good agreement was established between the measurements and calculations. The HVS machine can be used to evaluate new road concepts and maintenance strategies and provides the option of performing a life cycle cost analysis, which can decrease both costs and environmental impacts.