Highways and Highway Transportation by George R. Chatburn
10. Motor trucks or drays 20
9624 words | Chapter 81
The New York State Highway Department took a census in 1909 in which
the following classification and reduction coefficients were used:
Class of Traffic Relative
Weight
Horse-drawn traffic
Horses with vehicles 1
One-horse vehicle, light 2
One-horse vehicle, heavy 3
Two-horse vehicle, light 3
Two-horse vehicle, heavy 4
Three-horse vehicle, heavy 5
Four-horse vehicle, heavy 6
Motor vehicles
Motor cycles 1
Two-passenger cars 2
Three-passenger cars 3
Four-passenger cars 4
Five-passenger cars 6
Seven-passenger cars 7
Trucks, omnibuses, etc. 10
Miscellaneous
Traction engines 15
Two traction engines 30
Miscellaneous heavy traffic 5
upward
The Massachusetts Highway Commission, 1912 Report, say, “After all it
is not numbers which tell the story, it is weight, and it is not weight
alone, but the vehicle by which it is transported, whether by horses or
by motor.... All these considerations are probably not so important on
many road surfaces as the actual weight imposed upon the road per inch
width of tire resting upon the road.” There was used in this census the
following weights:
Motors Tons
Runabouts 1.43
Touring cars 2.23
Trucks 6.25
Horse-drawn vehicles
One-horse, light .36
One-horse, heavy 1.12
Two or more horses, light .54
Two or more horses, heavy 2.46
James and Reeves, with the United States Bureau of Public Roads,
recommend the ton-mile basis and give the following weights:
Tons
One-horse wagon, loaded, 0.88; unloaded 0.28
Two-horse wagon, loaded, 1.57; unloaded 0.47
Four-horse wagon, loaded; 3.88; unloaded 0.54
Pleasure vehicles, one-horse, 0.28; two-horse 0.47
Rubber-tired pleasure vehicle 0.28
Saddle horse 0.50
Motor cycle 0.20
Excessively heavy vehicle 3.94
Motor, runabout, 1.68, touring car 2.00
Motor dray, loaded, 2.43; unloaded 1.23
Draught horses 0.50
In a traffic census taken by the Borough of Brooklyn, New York, the
weights were reduced to traffic units per minute per foot width of
roadway which was called density. By this rule, “the number of vehicles
passing a given point in eight hours times the traffic unit divided
by 8 times 60 times the width of the roadway equals the density.” The
weights and traffic units used were:
Weight in Traffic
Rubber-tired vehicles tons value
Large automobile trucks, loaded 9 5
Large automobile trucks, empty 4 4
Small automobile trucks, loaded 3 3
Small automobile trucks, empty 1¹⁄₂ 2
Pleasure automobiles 1³⁄₄ 1
Carriages 2 2
Steel-tired vehicles ranged in weight from 1 to 7¹⁄₂
tons and in traffic value from 2 to 10.
A suggested form for a traffic census sheet presented by a committee
appointed to study the question of traffic censuses to the New Jersey
State Association of Roads is shown on p. 245. This sheet also bears,
for the use of the office, blanks for the tabulation of the traffic by
classes:
-------------------------+-----+------+------------
Kind of Vehicle | No. |Weight|Vehicle-Tons
-------------------------+-----+------+------------
Motor cycle |.....| 0.25| ..........
Light-horse, empty |.....| 1.25| ..........
Light-horse, loaded |.....| 2.00| ..........
Heavy two-horse, empty |.....| 3.20| ..........
Heavy two-horse, loaded |.....| 6.00| ..........
Light pleasure motor car |.....| 1.50| ..........
Heavy pleasure motor car |.....| 2.50| ..........
Light motor truck, empty |.....| 1.00| ..........
Light motor truck, loaded|.....| 2.50| ..........
Heavy motor truck, empty |.....| 5.00| ..........
Heavy motor truck, loaded|.....| 10.50| ..........
Specials: 10 tons |.....| .....| ..........
15 tons |.....| .....| ..........
Over 15 tons |.....| .....| ..........
Total |.....| .....| ..........
-------------------------+-----+------+------------
Tonnage per foot width of pavement ...............
Tonnage per foot width of roadway ...............
SUGGESTED FORM OF TRAFFIC CENSUS SHEET
Traffic Census Sheet County Number....... Station No...... County.....
State Highway Department of New Jersey........................ 192 ...
................................ Road at..............................
Exact location........................................................
Count taken.............from.......to.........from........to..........
--------------------+-----+------------+------------+-----------+
Time Count |Motor| Light | Heavy | Pleasure |
Was Taken |Cycle| Horse | Horse | Motor |
| | | | Cars |
| +-----+------+-----+------+-----+-----+
| | | | | | | |
| |Empty|Loaded|Empty|Loaded|Light|Heavy|
--------------------+-----+-----+------+-----+------+-----+-----+
6 a. m. to 7 a. m.| | | | | | | |
--------------------+-----+-----+------+-----+------+-----+-----+
7 a. m. to 8 a. m.| | | | | | | |
--------------------+-----+-----+------+-----+------+-----+-----+
8 a. m. to 9 a. m.| | | | | | | |
--------------------+-----+-----+------+-----+------+-----+-----+
9 a. m. to 10 a. m.| | | | | | | |
--------------------+-----+-----+------+-----+------+-----+-----+
10 a. m. to 11 a. m.| | | | | | | |
--------------------+-----+-----+------+-----+------+-----+-----+
12 noon to 1 p. m.| | | | | | | |
--------------------+-----+-----+------+-----+------+-----+-----+
1 p. m. to 2 p. m.| | | | | | | |
--------------------+-----+-----+------+-----+------+-----+-----+
. . . . . . .
--------------------+-----+-----+------+-----+------+-----+-----+
3 a. m. to 4 a. m.| | | | | | | |
--------------------+-----+-----+------+-----+------+-----+-----+
4 a. m. to 5 a. m.| | | | | | | |
--------------------+-----+-----+------+-----+------+-----+-----+
5 a. m. to 6 a. m.| | | | | | | |
--------------------+-----+-----+------+-----+------+-----+-----+
Total | | | | | | | |
--------------------+-----+-----+------+-----+------+-----+-----+
--------------------+------------+------------+
Time Count | Light | Heavy |
Was Taken | Motor | Motor |
| Trucks | Trucks |
|-----+------+-----+------+
| | | | |
|Empty|Loaded|Empty|Loaded|
--------------------+-----+------+-----+------+
6 a. m. to 7 a. m.| | | | |
--------------------+-----+------+-----+------+
7 a. m. to 8 a. m.| | | | |
--------------------+-----+------+-----+------+
8 a. m. to 9 a. m.| | | | |
--------------------+-----+------+-----+------+
9 a. m. to 10 a. m.| | | | |
--------------------+-----+------+-----+------+
10 a. m. to 11 a. m.| | | | |
--------------------+-----+------+-----+------+
12 noon to 1 p. m.| | | | |
--------------------+-----+------+-----+------+
1 p. m. to 2 p. m.| | | | |
--------------------+-----+------+-----+------+
. . . . .
--------------------+-----+------+-----+------+
3 a. m. to 4 a. m.| | | | |
--------------------+-----+------+-----+------+
4 a. m. to 5 a. m.| | | | |
--------------------+-----+------+-----+------+
5 a. m. to 6 a. m.| | | | |
--------------------+-----+------+-----+------+
Total | | | | |
--------------------+-----+------+-----+------+
--------------------+----------------------+------+------
Time Count | |Street|Hourly
Was Taken | | Cars |Totals
| Specials | |
|-------+-------+------+ |
| | | Over | |
|10-tons|15-tons|15-ts.| |
--------------------+-------+-------+------+------+------
6 a. m. to 7 a. m.| | | | |
--------------------+-------+-------+------+------+------
7 a. m. to 8 a. m.| | | | |
--------------------+-------+-------+------+------+------
8 a. m. to 9 a. m.| | | | |
--------------------+-------+-------+------+------+------
9 a. m. to 10 a. m.| | | | |
--------------------+-------+-------+------+------+------
10 a. m. to 11 a. m.| | | | |
--------------------+-------+-------+------+------+------
12 noon to 1 p. m.| | | | |
--------------------+-------+-------+------+------+------
1 p. m. to 2 p. m.| | | | |
--------------------+-------+-------+------+------+------
. . . . .
--------------------+-------+-------+------+------+------
3 a. m. to 4 a. m.| | | | |
--------------------+-------+-------+------+------+------
4 a. m. to 5 a. m.| | | | |
--------------------+-------+-------+------+------+------
5 a. m. to 6 a. m.| | | | |
--------------------+-------+-------+------+------+------
Total | | | | |
--------------------+-------+-------+------+------+------
Of above motor vehicles....carried foreign licenses as follows........
...................... Weather........................................
Type of pavement.................. Condition of pavement..............
Width of roadway....... Width of pavement....... Traffic... Narrow ...
Tires............ Special........ Inspector...........................
Notes.............................. Checked by........................
=Destructive Factors.=--From the above it appears that there is a
general opinion that there should be some common measure for the
destructive effect of vehicles upon road surfaces. As yet no unanimity
of opinion has crystallized. While density of traffic influences the
surface wear of the road crust--considerably in the case of earth and
gravel, less for macadam and asphalt, and still less for brick and
concrete--the actual weight of the wheel load seems to have a much
greater destructive effect. The impact due to speed and irregularities
of the road surface, the resiliency of the tires, the proportion of
sprung to unsprung weight, and the shoving forces of the wheels all
have their effects which are usually in some way connected with either
the weight or the speed, or both, of the vehicle. The many experiments
now being carried on by the United States Bureau of Public Roads, and
the several states may furnish data from which a practical measure will
some day be devised. Mr. Older, Chief Highway Engineer of the State
of Illinois, under whose direction the comprehensive investigational
and endurance tests under way in that state are being carried on,
recently stated to a party of visitors, of which the author was one,
that in his opinion weight, including impact, is the prime factor
in the destruction of a pavement. Wear is of very minor importance,
temperature and weather is of considerable importance.
Road surfaces must be considered as bodies acted upon by forces. Some
day the stresses produced by these forces will have been analyzed,
then will it be possible to standardize the importance of the several
vehicle loads. At present it is known that the weight of the load
and the weight of the pavement itself are under some circumstances
sufficient to produce cracks in the pavement and disruption of the road
crust. Bearing tests and bending tests are being devised to measure the
effects of such loads. Road crusts, earth, gravel, macadam, asphalt,
brick, concrete, are to varying degrees elastic bodies and when loaded
they give, as an elastic band stretches, a spring shortens, or a bow
bends, until the internal stresses reach a limiting point where the
crust is broken or permanently distorted. It is well known that the
effect on an elastic body of a suddenly applied load is twice as
destructive as the same load gradually applied. And when the action is
an impact the destructive effect may be very great indeed, depending on
the physical properties of the impinging bodies. But however the load
is applied, whenever the internal stresses reach the limiting strength
of the material of which the road crust is composed it will go to
pieces. The sudden application of the load by fast driving is a sort
of impact. The stresses produced by this impact are now being studied.
Much good is expected to come toward the solution of the problem of
destructive vehicle influence from these researches.
Another effect of speed is noted on the more or less viscous materials
of which road surfaces are composed. The pushing of the wheels against
the surface causes wrinkles which continue to grow until the wrinkles
become waves entirely across the pavement. Such waves may also be
produced by expansion and contraction due to changes in temperature,
but are probably always accentuated by wheel pressure. Side thrust of
wheels often produces longitudinal waves in viscous road crusts.
In the classifications given no one seems to have considered the
proportion of sprung and unsprung weight in the motor car. There can be
no doubt but that the resiliency of the springs relieves the pavement
of very much of the shock of impact. This is illustrated by an attempt
to drive a nail into a springy board. It can hardly be done because
the springiness of the board uses up, absorbs, the work of impact.
A mechanical statement is, the work of impact equals the change in
kinetic energy, or algebraically stated
_Wv_²
_Fs_ = -----
2_g_
when the entire energy has been absorbed. Here _F_ is the acting force
and _s_ the distance through which it acts, _Fs_, is the work done by
the force _F_. _W_ is the weight of the ram or moving body (vehicle,
wheel load), _v_ the velocity of impact and _g_ the acceleration of
gravity, a factor that enters the equation in the expressing of mass in
terms of weight. Solving this equation for _F_ there results,
_Wv_²
_F_ = -----,
2_gs_
which shows that the smaller _s_ is the greater the force of impact
_F_. When _s_ is made long by means of a spring the force _F_ becomes
smaller. This is illustrated by the old method of catching a baseball
without gloves--the hands were allowed to go backward so that the work
of stopping the ball was spread over a greater distance, the impact
force thus becoming so small it did not sting the hands.
The effect upon the road, and also the vehicle, is like that of the
hammer which hits a nail on the anvil. The nail is flattened, pounded
to pieces very soon. But if the nail were not placed upon the solid
anvil but upon a slab of springy steel, it might be pounded all day
without doing it much harm, the spring at all times absorbing the
shock. So with the weight of the vehicle largely sprung the damage
to the roadway is comparatively small. Therefore, it would seem, as
though a fair classification would take into account the springs of the
vehicle.
The pneumatic tire, and the cushion tire and wheel, each act as springs
and shock absorbers in varying degrees. In some of the censuses,
pneumatic or solid tires were noted, and very many of the earlier noted
whether rubber or steel tires were used.
Just how far all these things should be taken into account is
questionable. Whether or not just as good results would not come for
even a simpler classification is not yet determined. It might be that
only the heavy loads and their frequency is all that need be considered
if the destructive effect of traffic alone is aimed at.
The great amount of pleasure riding and the tremendous desire for such
riding should be considered in laying out a system of roads and in the
selection of a type of road, therefore all passenger cars and motor
cycles should be counted and given an influence number.
=Other Methods of Estimating Amount of Traffic.=--The amount of road
traffic may be roughly estimated from the area served by the highway.
Upon a map is outlined the tributary territory and its area measured by
any one of several means. The area may be divided into small squares
of known size and the number of squares counted; it may be divided into
strips and the length of the strips measured with a scale and thence
the area computed, or a planimeter may be used. Having found the area
the unit tonnage is estimated from a knowledge of the character of the
crops raised and the industries in the territory from which the haulage
is calculated. The average haul may be determined, if desired, by
finding approximately the center of gravity of the area and measuring
its distance from the market. If the market place is at the center of a
circle surrounding it and the products are uniformly distributed over
the circle the mean distance is two-thirds the radius of the circle.
The tonnage, arising from farms, which is transported over the roads
varies with the kind of crop, the fertility of the soil, the amount of
stock fed, or kept for dairying, and numerous other local conditions.
Studies made by various authorities[179] indicate that the marketable
products vary from ¹⁄₁₀ to ¹⁄₂ ton per acre. If a circular area with
market place at the center is served by six uniformly distributing
radial roads a mathematical analysis will show that the tonnage upon
each one of these roads, one-sixth that from the whole circle, will be
_T_ = 335.12_qr_²
where _T_ = total tons per year,
_q_ = yield of marketed crops in tons per acre,
_r_ = maximum haul-radius of the circle.
Dividing _T_ by the number of working days per year (usually taken as
300) gives the average daily haul into the market. The average length
of haul may be taken as ²⁄₃_r_. The haul over any zone whose edges are
concentric with the circle is considered to be all that originating
in the area outside the zone plus that originating within the zone
times the mean distance from the inner edge of the zone. The result of
the analysis gives this equation, for the haul over any zone having an
outer radius _a_, and an inner radius _b_,
_H_ = _T__{_r_} - _T__{_a_} +
2_a_² - _ab_ - _b_²
-------------------(_T__{_a_} - _T__{_b_}),
3(_a_ + _b_)
where _T__{_r_}, _T__{_a_} and _T__{_b_} represent the tonnage
originating on the sectors of radius _r_, _a_ and _b_ respectively.
For the first mile,
_a_ = 1, _b_ = 0.
_H_ = _T__{_r_} - ¹⁄₃(_T__{_a_}).
For the eighth mile,
_a_ = 8, _b_ = 7.
_H_ = _T__{_r_} - _T__{8} + ²³⁄₄₅(_T__{8} - _T__{7})
THEORETICAL AVERAGE TONNAGE OF SIX UNIFORMLY DISTRIBUTED MARKET
ROADS[180]
-----+-----+--------------------------------------------------------
| | UNIFORM YIELD PER ACRE OF
| +-----------------+------------------+-------------------
| | One-tenth Ton | One-fourth Ton | One-half Ton
| +-----+-----------+------+-----------+------+------------
| | |Tons Hauled| |Tons Hauled| |Tons Hauled
| | | per day | | per day | | per day
| |Total+-----+-----+ Total+-----+-----+ Total+------+-----
Maxi-|Aver-|Tons |Over |Over | Tons |Over |Over | Tons | Over |Over
mum | age | per | 1st |8th | per |1st | 8th | per | 1st |8th
Haul| Haul|Year |Mile |Mile | Year |Mile |Mile | Year | Mile |Mile
-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+------+-----+-----+------+------+-----
1 | 0.67| 33 | 0.07| | 84| 0.17| | 168| 0.34|
2 | 1.33| 134 | 0.40| | 335| 1.00| | 670| 2.01|
3 | 2.00| 302 | 0.96| | 754| 2.40| | 1,508| 4.80|
4 | 2.67| 536 | 1.74| | 1,340| 4.36| | 2,681| 8.71|
5 | 3.33| 838 | 2.75| | 2,094| 6.87| | 4,189| 13.74|
| | | | | | | | | |
6 | 4.00|1206 | 3.98| | 3,016| 9.95| | 6,031| 19.90|
7 | 4.67|1642 | 5.43| | 4,106|13.58| | 8,211| 27.15|
8 | 5.33|2145 | 7.11| 0.85| 5,362|17.76| 2.13|10,724| 35.52| 4.25
9 | 6.00|2714 | 9.00| 2.75| 6,786|22.51| 6.88|13,572| 45.02|13.75
10 | 6.67|3351 | 4.13| 4.87| 8,378|27.82|12.18|16,756| 55.63|24.35
| | | | | | | | | |
11 | 7.33|4056 |13.47| 7.22|10,138|33.68|18.05|20,279| 67.35|36.10
12 | 8.00|4826 |16.04| 9.79|12,064|40.10|24.48|24,128| 80.20|48.95
13 | 8.67|5663 |18.83|12.58|14,158|47.08|31.45|28,316| 94.15|62.90
14 | 9.33|6568 |21.85|15.59|16,420|54.63|38.98|32,840|109.25|77.95
15 |10.00|7540 |25.09|18.83|18,850|62.73|47.08|37,700|125.45|94.15
-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+------+-----+-----+------+------+-----
The table shows the theoretical average tonnage on each of six
uniformly distributed radial roads. It is taken from Bulletin 136, U.
S. Department of Agriculture. Since roads do not run in practice in
this manner the results can only be used for comparison in confirming
estimates.
Mr. E. W. James, of the Bureau of Public Roads, U. S. Dept. of
Agriculture, makes an analysis of the distribution of traffic over
the roads of a township located along the section lines of the United
States land survey. The market place is taken at the center of the
township.[181]
[Illustration: Graphic representation of distribution of traffic on
roads located along section lines.]
His analysis assumes the lay of the country makes all roads equally
traversable and that the traffic seeks the nearest highway thence to
the main traveled road east and west or north and south through the
market center. This analysis shows that 4.8 per cent of the total
mileage carry 39.3 per cent of the traffic; that 9.5 per cent of the
roads carry 71 per cent of the traffic. In his opinion this analysis
corroborates the observation of engineers to the effect that 20 per
cent of the roads carry 80 per cent of the traffic. Of course the most
important roads, measured in traffic, are the ones nearest the market,
15-22, 15-16, 16-21, 21-22. Following these naming only one of the four
symmetrical roads, in the order of importance are 14-23, 14-13, 13-24,
13-x, 14-15, 11-12, 12-x, 12-13, 1-x, 11-14, and 1-12.
------------+----------
Road between| Relative
Sections |Importance
------------+----------
15-22 | 100
14-23 | 60
14-13 | 25
13-24 | 20
13-x | 15
14-15 | 13
11-12 | 7
12-x | 7
12-13 | 2
1-x | 2
11-14 | 1
1-12 | 1
------------+----------
The same objections to this method hold as to the preceding. Local
conditions always affect the travel on roads; hills, valleys, soil,
drainage, nearness to other cities, railways, streams, and location of
farmhouses, schoolhouses, churches, and factories, all enter into the
estimate. A reconnaissance and the good judgment of the observer must
supplement any method of formal procedure.
=The Selection of a Suitable Type of Road.=--The highway plan should,
if it has been carefully and scientifically made specify the type
of roadway as well as the location of the highway. However, when
the improvement is to be paid for by a special tax on the abutting
land, it is customary to allow the taxpayers to have something to
say about the type. Road engineers often object to this as being
unscientific and unsound, on the theory that the layman is ignorant of
the properties and behavior of road materials and that only an expert
can make the proper selection. The author’s observation is, however,
that hard-headed business men and farmers who have passed through the
experiences of rough knocks are no more likely to make a mistake in
the selection of a road type than is the young engineer fresh from the
halls of college, or the engineer whose experience has prejudiced him
in favor of particular types of road surfacing. The best and fairest
of engineers cannot agree, then why not give the man who must pay the
fiddler an opportunity to dance?
It will be well, nevertheless, for the engineer to suggest a type,
or types, of roadway with his reasons for its or their suitability.
If he can show that one type is superior to another the tax-payer
will usually follow his advice, and agree to the type suggested.
The final decision must rest with the road officials. They should
know the requirements of the road, whether, for example, it is to be
largely commercial or used largely for pleasure; whether durability
or noiselessness is a determining factor; or whether a pleasing
appearance and convenience to the inhabitants living along the way are
of greater importance than directness and low grades. The decision must
be made after taking all things into consideration even to the whims
of the property-holders. The best road for a given location is the
one which at a reasonable cost will give over a long period of time a
service which is most satisfactory to the majority of its users. What
is a reasonable cost and what is satisfactory service are debatable
questions and usually must be compromised to a greater or less extent.
An ideal road is one that is cheap to construct and maintain, one that
is durable, presents light resistance to traffic but is not slippery,
is comfortable to travel and not annoying to users or dwellers along
its side, and one that is easily cleaned and is sanitary. No road can
contain all these qualities to the same degree, neither are they all of
equal importance, but each should be given some weight in the selection.
Perhaps the first and most important item to be considered is the
economic one of cheapness in construction and maintenance. In making
a decision between two types of pavement the first cost will probably
have more weight than will the ultimate cost. The fact that a higher
priced article will last longer and in the end prove to be a saving
has little charm for the man who has not the ready money to pay for the
article. He will content himself with the cheaper until he can afford
the better. If a community cannot pay for a certain type of road, no
matter how desirable that may be, that type cannot be used. Types of
roads must be selected which will utilize the materials most available.
It would seem to be unwise for brick to be shipped from the Middle West
to New England, or granite blocks from New England to the Middle West.
Gravel, being plentiful in many states, is being used, and rightly so,
more than any other road material notwithstanding the durability of a
gravel roadway is less than that of many other types.
Durability is an important factor from an economical standpoint, as
it enters vitally in the long-run cost of a pavement. It is also of
importance on account of the infernal nuisance of having a roadway full
of pot holes and rough places, to say nothing of the inconvenience to
users of frequent repairs. Road officers are no more given to regarding
the adage “a stitch in time saves nine,” than are other people,
consequently non-durable roads are usually more or less out of order.
Durability depends upon the materials used in construction and their
manipulation, proportioning, and other treatment; the character weight
and density of traffic; system or lack of system in making repairs; the
opening up of pavements for water, gas, and sewer or other purposes;
building operations along the street; cleanliness; the absence or
presence of street-car tracks; climate and possibly other factors.
=Materials and Design.=--The physical properties of materials--their
tensile, compressive, and shearing strengths, their elasticity,
brittleness, etc.--while important elements in the durability of
pavements, the design of the pavement, its thickness, the proportioning
and mixing of parts, the laying, as well as the subgrade and its
treatment are all elements that count very much also. No matter
how good a material it can easily be spoiled in the handling. Some
materials like vitrified brick and stone will last indefinitely on a
little-used street while others like asphalt and creosoted wood block
are much better for considerable wear. The use of definite and often
meticulous specifications is to insure good materials and proper
manipulation of the same, while the plans are carefully prepared ahead,
so that durability and satisfaction may result.
[Illustration:
© _Underwood and Underwood_
GIVING A MACADAM ROAD AN APPLICATION OF TARVIA BINDER
This is Followed by a Coat of Screenings and then the Road is Rolled
Again.]
[Illustration:
© _Underwood and Underwood_
A ROAD OF MIXED ASPHALT AND CONCRETE BEING TESTED OUT]
The effect of character, weight, and density of traffic has been
frequently mentioned and will again be referred to in what follows.
There is no doubt a relationship between materials and design and
the character and amount of traffic. A cinder road may be perfectly
acceptable for a park drive where the traffic is light, but absolutely
worthless under heavy commercial trucking.
Resistance to traffic varies with different road surfaces. A smooth
hard surface offers a very great deal less resistance than does a
rough or soft surface. To illustrate, a horse is said to be able to
pull directly on the traces one-tenth his own weight without being
overworked. With a resistance of 100 pounds per ton (earth road in
medium condition) a team of horses weighing 1200 pounds each could draw
over a level road
2 × 1200
-------- = 2.4 tons.
10 × 100
On a concrete, asphalt or brick pavement having a tractive resistance
of 30 pounds per ton the team could draw
2 × 1200
-------- = 8 tons.
10 × 30
In other words the load that can be drawn is inversely as the tractive
resistance. Here speed was not considered. It was the natural walking
gait of the horse about three miles per hour. If the speed is greater
the load must be cut down proportionally. With a truck the direct pull
is the effective power of the engine in foot-pounds per minute divided
by distance in feet per minute; and the load that can be drawn is the
direct pull times the tractive resistance. Thus if a truck may exert
_h_ effective horse power = 33,000_h_ foot-pounds per minute, and the
speed is v miles per hour, the load _T_, in tons, that may be hauled
on a road having a tractive resistance of _t_ pounds per ton, is
33,000_h_ 375_h_
_T_ = ------------- = ------.
5280_v_ _vt_
------- · _t_
60
Therefore a truck of 20 effective horse-power will haul over a road
whose tractive resistance is 100 pounds per ton at a speed of 10 miles
per hour a load of
375 × 20
_T_ = -------- = 7.5 tons;
10 × 100
and on a smooth road with a tractive resistance of 30 pounds per ton at
the same speed, 25 tons, or the same load 7.5 tons may be drawn at a
speed of 33¹⁄₃ miles per hour.
It must be remembered that when the speed is increased the tractive
resistance is likewise increased. The air resistance is in about the
ratio of the square of the velocity, so that 33 miles per hour would be
too great in the last case.
Experiments to determine the tractive resistance due to the surface
vary considerably, for it is impossible to secure like conditions of
surface smoothness and cleanliness, to say nothing of hardness. The
tractive resistance will with some materials vary with the temperature.
That of sheet asphalt, for example, may be twice as much in summer as
in winter. The tractive resistance may not be directly proportional to
the load although it is customary to express it in pounds per ton. It
is conceivable that a heavy load because it sinks into the road crust
may require a greater number of pounds to move it than a light load
that does not greatly sink in. This also leads to the effect of width
of tire and diameter of wheel. Many experiments have shown the tractive
force to be less with wide than narrow tires, due, no doubt, to the
unequal sinking into the road crust. Likewise wheels ought, for the
same reason, to show less resistance for large diameters; in fact some
engineers give it as varying inversely as the diameter of the wheel.
The results of tests, while varying much, show in a general way, the
direct pull necessary to draw a load at slow speed on the level in
well-lubricated wagons to be approximately as follows:
----------------------------------------+------------+---------------
| |μ = coefficient
|Lbs. per Ton|of Resistance
----------------------------------------+------------+---------------
Upon Steel rails | 10 | ¹⁄₂₀₀
Sheet asphalt, good condition | 20 | ¹⁄₁₀₀
Asphaltic macadam or concrete, good| |
condition | 20 | ¹⁄₁₀₀
Concrete, good condition | 20 | ¹⁄₁₀₀
Brick, good condition | 20 | ¹⁄₁₀₀
Broken stone water-bound macadam, | |
good condition | 30 | ³⁄₂₀₀
Gravel, good condition | 30 | ³⁄₂₀₀
Sand clay, good condition | 60 | ³⁄₁₀₀
Earth, best condition | 67 | ¹⁄₃₀
Earth, medium condition | 100 | ¹⁄₂₀
Earth, poor condition | 300 | ³⁄₂₀
----------------------------------------+------------+---------------
=Resistance Due to Grade.=--The resistance due to grade is just as
marked as that due to surface. The work necessary to draw a load up an
inclined plane is the same as that of drawing on a level along the base
of the plane and lifting it directly up to the height of the plane. A
mathematical analysis[182] based upon this fact leads to the formulas:
For a horse-drawn load,
_t_ - _g_
_L_ = ---------_H_. (1)
μ + _g_
For a tractor,
_P_
_L_ = ------- - _T_. (2)
μ + _g_
For an automobile or truck,
_P_
_L_ = -------, (3)
μ + _g_
where _L_ = weight of load drawn, including weight of vehicle
(subtract weight of vehicle for net load);
_H_ = weight of horse;
_T_ = weight of tractor;
_P_ = effective tractive force exerted (available engine
effort);
μ = coefficient of road resistance;
_g_ = grade (gradient) = tangent of angle of incline, nearly the
same for small angles as the sine of the angle of incline,
that is, the height of the incline divided by its length;
_t_ = the direct pull of the horse divided by the weight of the
horse;
_h_ = horse-power = work of 33,000 ft.-lb. per minute.
_v_ = velocity in miles per hour.
Equation (3) indicates that the load, including its own weight, that
a truck or an automobile can draw varies directly as the horse-power
exerted effectively, and inversely as the velocity. Also it decreases
as the coefficient of road resistance, μ, and the gradient _g_
increases.
The resistance coefficient, μ may include axle or internal resistance
of the vehicle plus road surface resistance plus air resistance. The
axle resistance is nearly a constant, the road resistance likewise, but
the air resistance depends upon the speed _v_, varying approximately as
the square of the velocity. W. S. James, in the _Journal of the Society
of Automotive Engineers_, June, 1921, uses the formula
_F_ = _CAV_²
where _F_ = the wind force in pounds;
_C_ = a constant, varies from .003 to .004;
_A_ = frontal area of automobile in square feet
approximately 26;
_V_ = velocity in miles per hour.
His researches show that the available engine effort _P_ of equation
(3) or horse power _h_ is not quite constant but varies with the speed.
His table follows:
---------+-----------------------+---------------------------
|Available Engine Effort|
Car Speed| Per 1000 lb. of Car |Air Resistance Per 1000 lb.
m.p.h. | Weight, Lbs. | of Car Weight, Lbs.
---------+-----------------------+---------------------------
15 | 107.3 | 4.9
16 | 105.2 | 6.8
20 | 107.6 | 8.8
25 | 106.0 | 13.4
30 | 103.9 | 19.2
35 | 101.2 | 26.0
40 | 98.0 | 34.1
45 | 94.1 | 43.4
50 | 86.8 | 53.8
---------+-----------------------+---------------------------
Returning to Equation (3) which has been plotted in two different ways
on page 260, it may be seen that the load that can be hauled up a grade
decreases with the per cent of grade very rapidly for the roads having
a small coefficient of resistance and very much less rapidly for larger
resistances. For example, on steel rails, resistance 10 pounds per ton,
μ = ¹⁄₂₀₀, a 1 per cent grade reduces the load to one-third the load
that may be hauled on the level, and a 5 per cent grade reduces it to
less than one-tenth of the same load. With a good asphalt, brick or
concrete road, resistance 20 pounds per ton, μ = ¹⁄₁₀₀, a 1 per cent
grade reduces the load to one-half, while a 5 per cent grade reduces it
to about one-sixth the load that can be drawn on a level road. While
for an earth road in bad condition or a dry sand road, 300 pounds per
ton resistance, μ = ³⁄₂₀, a five per cent grade only reduces the level
grade load by one-fourth. This shows clearly that the better the road
surface the less the grade must be in order to benefit by it. The plots
on page 260 show the same thing in different ways, and also that the
maximum load that can be hauled with a given force at a constant speed
is greater, no matter what the grade, on the better types of roads than
on the poorer, but that the very great advantages due to hard roads
come with the better type of roads. Incidentally this plot shows that
the load that may be hauled, other things being equal, on steel tracks,
is very much greater than that that can be hauled on the best hard
surfaced road with same power, therefore it will never be possible to
haul loads on highways as cheaply as on railways unless the operating
expenses on the highways can be made materially less than on railways.
[Illustration: Graphical representation of the effect of grade on the
load that can be drawn.]
[Illustration: Graphical representation of the effect of road
resistance on the load that may be drawn.]
=Slipperiness.=--Road surfaces which become slippery not only decrease
the tractive effort of horses and motors but are very dangerous also.
Non-slipperiness ought then to be given weight in the selection of
the type of roadway. Observations in London in 1873 by Heywood on
slipperiness of pavements indicated granite-block most slippery,
then asphalt and wood-block. Greene, in 1885, analyzing a series
of observations made in the principal cities of the United States,
gave the order of slipperiness as wood-block, granite-block, and
sheet-asphalt.
Slipperiness increases with grade. A special committee upon road
materials of the American Society of Civil Engineers[183] recommend the
following maximum grades for various kinds of pavements:
--------------------------------+-------------
|Maximum Grade
Kinds of Roadway | Per Cent
--------------------------------+-------------
Gravel | 12
Broken stone | 12
Bituminous surface | 6
Bituminous macadam | 8
Bituminous concrete | 8
Sheet asphalt | 5
Cement concrete | 8
Brick, cement grout filler | 6
Brick, bituminous filler | 12
Stone-block, cement grout filler| 9
Stone-block, bituminous filler | 15
Wood-block | 4
--------------------------------+-------------
This would indicate that in the belief of the committee slipperiness is
about in the inverse ratio of the grades. Those on which the steepest
grades are allowed being the least slippery.
Climatic conditions affect slipperiness. Roads which are non-slippery
in dry weather may be very slippery in wet weather. Pavements having a
small amount of clay or earth on them are quite slippery when dampened,
but after a hard rain may be much less slippery. Earth roads that have
been thoroughly dragged are much more slippery immediately after a
small shower than after a hard or soaking rain. Stone blocks and brick
are worse after they have worn turtle-backed. Ice and sleet render all
pavements slippery, but some more than others.
=Sanitariness.=--The sanitariness of a road is the measure of the
effect it has on the health of its users and the dwellers along its
side. A dusty road is ordinarily an unsanitary one because of the
germs of disease carried on the dust particles and which may be widely
spread by the wind. An earth or gravel road when not dry or dusty is
a sanitary road. A concrete or asphalt pavement when clean is very
sanitary, but because dirt and debris brought upon it soon becomes
ground into dust may become more unsanitary than an earth road. Mud,
when clean, if that expression may be allowed, is sanitary, but when
mixed on the road with the droppings of animals, sputum and other
unclean things may become very unsanitary.
=Noisiness.=--Noisiness is a real source of disease, especially mental
disorders. The less noisy types of pavement are usually laid in front
of hospitals.
=Acceptability.=--The acceptability of a roadway depends in addition
to the things mentioned on its looks, appearance, esthetics; on the
degree of heat and light which it reflects; upon its springiness and
comfortableness to travel over as well as its easiness upon horses’
feet and rubber tires.
[Illustration:
© _Underwood and Underwood_
CROWNING A CALIFORNIA DIRT ROAD WITH TRACTOR DRAWN GRADER]
=Some Types of Roads and Their Qualities.=--_Earth Roads._--The good
qualities are: low first cost, not slippery, noiseless, easy on horses’
feet and on rubber tires, comfortable when in first-class condition.
The poor qualities are: high tractive resistance, not durable, high
cost of maintenance when traffic becomes dense, requiring constant
attention to be kept in good condition, difficult to clean, muddy in
wet weather, dusty in dry weather, choppy when dust blows away, rut
easily, wear down rapidly under heavy traffic especially in windy
localities, uncomfortable except when in prime condition. Adaptability:
Satisfactory for light or medium traffic when properly drained and
constantly maintained. It will probably pay to put in better roads when
the traffic amounts to more than 400 vehicle-tons per day.
_Sand-clay Roads._--The good and poor qualities are about the same as
for earth roads. In fact they are earth roads with a selected mixture
of sand and clay. They are more durable, harder and smoother than the
ordinary earth road. They are appropriate for a light or medium traffic
and are especially adaptable for sandy stretches or over clay or gumbo
soils. The cost will depend upon the availability of materials; the
cost of maintenance should be no more or very little more than earth
roads. They should be good up to 800 vehicle-tons per day.
_Gravel Roads._--The good qualities are: moderately hard, compact,
and smooth, not slippery, noiseless, easy on horses’ feet, and not
very hard on tires, not muddy, are comfortable, and low in first cost.
Poor qualities: rut rather easily and require constant attention to
keep them in first-class condition, dusty in dry weather. Gravel
sometimes becomes loose on top and rolls under fast moving vehicles,
causing skidding. When not thoroughly compacted gravel roads have high
tractive resistance. They are particularly well adapted to country
roads under medium traffic, especially where gravel may be obtained
at a reasonable cost near at hand. At the present time more miles of
gravel roads than of any other type of surface are being constructed in
the United States. This is because of their low first cost and general
satisfactory character for medium traffic.
_Macadam Roads._--Moderate first cost and when well compacted smooth
but not slippery. They require new dust continually to keep the stones
cemented together. Under rubber tires the dust is not worn off the
stones and what little there is on the roadway is picked up and spread
to the winds. If covered with tar or asphaltic oil the stones cement
together and form excellent roadways under medium traffic, where there
are no extremely heavy trucks to cut through the surface. Traffic up to
1200 vehicle-tons per day is accommodated well by these roads.
_Bituminous macadam roads_ are ordinary macadam roads impenetrated
with bituminous materials. When well made they are excellent roadways,
and unless extremely heavy trucking comes upon them ought to prove
satisfactory for medium to moderately heavy traffic.
_Bituminous Concrete Roads_ are made of broken stone mixed with a
bituminous cement before laying and rolling. They, like bituminous
macadam, are smooth, non-slippery, easy riding, have small tractive
resistance and the first cost and cost of maintenance are moderate.
Such roads have proven very satisfactory where the traffic is dense but
not composed of real heavy units. On account of their dustlessness and
general sanitary character as well as for their durability they are
deservedly popular.
_Brick Roads._--Vitrified paving brick give a hard durable surface,
reasonably smooth and not slippery. The cost of maintenance is low and
the appearance is good. Brick roads are expensive as a heavy concrete
foundation is necessary, and they are noisy. They are well adapted for
heavy hauling.
_Concrete Roads._--This type of roadway is rapidly forging to
the front. With the exception of gravel it leads in mileage of
hard-surfaced roads. When made of good concrete sufficiently thick
it has proven itself to be durable, hard, smooth, of small tractive
resistance, comfortable, and not particularly expensive in first cost
or maintenance.
With horse-drawn iron-tired vehicles it is doubtful if it would prove
as durable as some other types but for rubber tired motorized vehicles
it seems to be extremely well adapted. There is no doubt but that this
type will continue to be popular. It has a tendency to crack under
the action of temperature and moisture. It is customary to fill these
cracks with tar, pitch or asphalt, giving an appearance which some
people think not pleasing. The pavement is rigid and noisy, therefore
objectionable for some localities.
_Creosoted Wood Block Roads._--Wood blocks treated with creosote to
preserve them from decay make an excellent pavement. They are smooth,
durable, noiseless and sanitary, have small tractive resistance and
are comfortable to ride upon. The principal objection is their habit
of “bleeding” in the summer time. The sticky oil tar that oozes out
is very objectionable, as it adheres to shoes and is tracked into
houses. The first cost is considerable, but maintenance is low for many
years after laying. Wood block roadways seem well adapted for bridge
floors, for stable and shop floors, and for heavy teaming when placed
on a substantial concrete foundation. They seem to last better for a
moderate or semi-heavy use; when left idle they are more subject to
decay.
_Asphalt Block Roads_ have proven satisfactory for both country and
city roads where the traffic is reasonably heavy. They are laid on both
cement concrete and asphaltic concrete bases. They are smooth, easy
riding, have light tractive resistance, are not very noisy, and are
sanitary. The dark color is rather pleasing.
_Sheet Asphalt Roads and Streets_, considering their cost, durability,
smoothness, ease of riding, low tractive resistance, and general
acceptability, are among the most popular roads. What has been said
of sheet asphalt will apply to asphaltic concrete of the Topeka
specification and bitulithic types. The road is better for use. The
asphalt and sand surface has the habit of swelling and cracking when
not used. The proportioning and laying of a sheet asphalt surface is
a particular job and requires a person of technical knowledge and
experience to do it properly. Sheet-asphalt pavements seem well adapted
for city streets and roads where there is a medium or dense traffic.
With a firm foundation it stands up well under the heaviest traffic.
Its popularity is truly deserved. The pavement under some conditions of
moisture is inclined to be slippery but when dry is not. Neither is it
very noisy.
_Miscellaneous._--There are numerous other types of roads that have
their proper uses in many localities. Burned clay, shell, furnace slag,
coal slack, cinders, plank, corduroy, hay, bagasse, and possibly other
materials have and will continue to be used with more or less success.
The proper places for their use will depend upon local conditions which
every good engineer always takes into account before deciding upon a
type of roadway.
=Comparison of Roads.=--In order to compare the relative merits of
different types of roads weights are usually given to the different
qualities entering into the roadway that they may be compared with
a predetermined ideal. It must be remembered that such tables apply
only to the particular road for which they are made out. No two can be
exactly alike.
Here is one adapted from the author’s work on “Highway
Engineering.”[184]
COMPARATIVE TABLE OF SEVERAL TYPES OF ROADWAY FOR SOME PARTICULAR
LOCALITY
-----------------------+----------+-----+----+------+-------+-----+
|Ideal Road| | | | | |
Qualities | for this |Best |Sand| | | |
|Particular|Earth|Clay|Gravel|Macadam|Brick|
| Location |Road |Road| Road | Road |Road |
-----------------------+----------+-----+----+------+-------+-----+
Low first cost | 20 | 20 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 10 |
Low cost of maintenance| 20 | 15 | 15 | 10 | 8 | 9 |
Ease of traction | 10 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 |
Non-slipperiness | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 |
Noiselessness | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 1 |
Healthfulness | 10 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 9 |
Freedom from dust and | | | | | | |
mud | 10 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 9 |
Comfortable to use | 10 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 8 |
Appearance | 5 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
+----------+-----+----+------+-------+-----+
Total | 100 | 61 | 63 | 63 | 66 | 69 |
-----------------------+----------+-----+----+------+-------+-----+
-----------------------+--------+-------+---------+----------+-------
| | | | |
| | |Creosoted| |
|Concrete|Asphalt| Wood |Bituminous| Sheet
Qualities | Road | Block | Block | Concrete |Asphalt
-----------------------+--------+-------+---------+----------+-------
Low first cost | 12 | 10 | 8 | 14 | 13
Low cost of maintenance| 8 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 10
Ease of traction | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10
Non-slipperiness | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5
Noiselessness | 1 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 2
Healthfulness | 9 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 9
Freedom from dust and | | | | |
mud | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9
Comfortable to use | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9
Appearance | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5
+--------+-------+---------+----------+-------
Total | 66 | 66 | 67 | 70 | 72
-----------------------+--------+-------+---------+----------+-------
Tilson gives the following weights for city pavements having heavy
traffic:[185]
--------------------+----------+-------+-----+-----+-------+----------
| |Granite|Wood | | Sheet |
Pavement Qualities |Percentage| Block |Block|Brick|Asphalt|Bitulithic
--------------------+----------+-------+-----+-----+-------+----------
Cheapness | 14 | 8 | 8 | 13 | 14 | 12
Durability | 21 | 21 | 16 | 12 | 15 | 15
Easiness of cleaning| 15 | 10 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 14
Light resistance to | | | | | |
traffic | 15 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 11 | 12
Non-slipperiness | 7 | 7 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 6
Ease of maintenance | 10 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 6
Favorableness to | | | | | |
travel | 5 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4
Sanitariness | 13 | 9 | 13 | 10 | 12 | 12
+----------+-------+-----+-----+-------+----------
Total | 100 | 80 | 82 | 80 | 81 | 81
Less cheapness | | 72 | 74 | 67 | 67 | 69
--------------------+----------+-------+-----+-----+-------+----------
The Forest Service of the U. S. Department of Agriculture presents the
following table:
--------------------+----------+-------+-------+------+-------+-----
| |Granite| Sheet | | | Wood
Pavement Qualities |Percentage| Block |Asphalt|Brick |Macadam|Block
--------------------+----------+-------+-------+------+-------+-----
Cheapness | 14 | 4 | 6¹⁄₂ | 7 | 14 | 4¹⁄₂
Durability | 20 | 20 | 10 | 12¹⁄₂| 6 |14
Ease of maintenance | 10 | 9¹⁄₂ | 7¹⁄₂ | 8¹⁄₂| 4¹⁄₂ | 9¹⁄₂
Ease of cleaning | 14 | 10 | 14 | 12¹⁄₂| 6 |14
Low resistance to | | | | | |
traffic | 14 | 8¹⁄₂ | 14 | 12¹⁄₂| 8 |14
Non-slipperiness | 7 | 5¹⁄₂ | 3¹⁄₂ | 5¹⁄₂| 6¹⁄₂ | 4
Favorableness to | | | | | |
travel | 4 | 2¹⁄₂ | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3¹⁄₂
Acceptability | 4 | 2 | 3¹⁄₂ | 2¹⁄₂| 2¹⁄₂ | 4
Sanitary qualities | 13 | 9 | 13 | 10¹⁄₂| 4¹⁄₂ |12¹⁄₂
+----------+-------+-------+------+-------+-----
| 100 | 71 | 76 | 74¹⁄₂| 55 |80
--------------------+----------+-------+-------+------+-------+-----
Crosby gives three sets of ideal crusts for country roads: _V_ for main
roads, carrying a fairly heavy mixed traffic, _W_, secondary roads
carrying moderate traffic, and _X_ on minor roads with light farm
travel almost wholly.[186]
-----------------------+-----------+-----+--------+----------+--------
Components | Ideal | | Plain | | Water-
+---+---+---+ | Cement |Bituminous| bound
|_V_|_W_|_X_|Brick|Concrete| Macadam |Macadam
-----------------------+---+---+---+-----+--------+----------+--------
First cost, cheapness | 15| 15| 15| 8 | 10 | 10 | 15
Maintenance, cheapness | 25| 25| 20| 25 | 20 | 20 | 10
Durability | 7| 7| 7| 7 | 5 | 5 | 3
Ease of maintenance | 8| 10| 10| 7 | 8 | 8 | 10
Cleanliness | 5| 5| 5| 3 | 3 | 5 | 2
Low tractive resistance| 10| 5| 5| 5 | 4 | 4 | 4
Non-slipperiness | 10| 10| 10| 4 | 7 | 5 | 10
Sanitariness | 5| 5| 5| 4 | 4 | 5 | 3
Noiselessness | 5| 5| 5| 3 | 3 | 5 | 4
Acceptability | 5| 5| 8| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5
Favorableness to travel| 5| 8| 10| 3 | 5 | 6 | 8
+---+---+---+-----+--------+----------+--------
Total |100|100|100| 71 | 72 | 77 | 74
-----------------------+---+---+---+-----+--------+----------+--------
Anderson gives the following economical table to assist in arriving at
a proper type of surfacing:[187]
METHOD OF MAKING ECONOMICAL COMPARISON OF ROAD SURFACES
-----------------------------------------+---------------------------
|Possible Types of Surfacing
Item +--------+--------+---------
| _A_ | _B_ | _C_
-----------------------------------------+--------+--------+---------
Estimated life of surface with proper | | |
maintenance, years | 4 | 8 | 12
Original construction cost per mile |$ 8,000 |$15,000 | $30,000
Annual charges for interest, depreciation| | |
and resurfacing | 2,364 | 2,528 | 3,797
Cost of maintaining surface per mile, | | |
average, annual | 1,000 | 750 | 200
Total cost per mile at end of 12th year, | | |
period | 40,368 | 39,336 | 47,964
Value of road surface per mile at end of | | |
12th year period | .... | 7,500 | 12,000
Net outlay per mile of road | 40,368 | 32,836 | 35,964
-----------------------------------------+--------+--------+---------
The choice of selection here is evidently between _B_ and _C_, with
the figures so close together that the one with the least number of
uncertainties would probably be adopted if economy is the determining
factor.
Another method of making economical comparisons is shown in the table
and plot following:
---------------------+------+------+----------+--------+
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| | |Bituminous| |
Item | | | Macadam |Portland|
|Earth |Gravel| and | Cement |
| Road | Road | concrete |Concrete|
---------------------+------+------+----------+--------+
First cost per mile |$1,000|$5,000| $10,000 |$20,000 |
Annual Interest, 5 | | | | |
per cent | 50| 250| 500 | 1,000 |
Annual Maintenance | 250| 250| 500 | 100 |
Life of surface, yrs.| 0| 5| 10 | 20 |
Cost of resurfacing | $ 0|$2,500| $ 5,000 |$15,000 |
Annual Sinking Fund | | | | |
3¹⁄₂ per cent | 0| 466| 427 | 530 |
Annual Total Cost | 300| 966| 1,427 | 1,630 |
Daily Cost, per mile | 0.82 | 2.74 | 3.90 | 4.45 |
---------------------+------+------+----------+--------+
---------------------+----------+-------+-------
| 5 | 6 | 7
| | |
Item | Sheet | Brick |
| Asphalt | Stone | Wood
|Bitulithic| Block | Block
---------------------+----------+-------+-------
First cost per mile | $30,000 |$40,000|$50,000
Annual Interest, 5 | | |
per cent | 1,500 | 2,000| 2,500
Annual Maintenance | 100 | 50| 50
Life of surface, yrs.| 20 | 25| 25
Cost of resurfacing | $15,000 |$25,000|$35,000
Annual Sinking Fund | | |
3¹⁄₂ per cent | 530 | 884| 899
Annual Total Cost | 2,130 | 2,934| 3,449
Daily Cost, per mile | 5.84 | 8.03 | 9.46
---------------------+----------+-------+-------
[Illustration: _Plot showing cost of several types of roads under
varying traffic density. When the traffic density of road No. 1 (Earth
and sand clay) becomes greater than 300 or 400 vehicles per day the
curve would turn up because the maintenance costs would be increased.
Similarly for Nos. 2 and 3 for 1600 to 2000 vehicles per day._]
SELECTED REFERENCES
“American Civil Engineers’ Pocket-Book,” Sec. 15, Art. 4, John Wiley
& Sons, New York.
“American Highway Engineers’ Handbook,” p. 1360, John Wiley & Sons,
New York.
American Society of Civil Engineers, _Proceedings_, 1918, p. 2327.
ANDERSON, ANDREW P., “Modern Road Building and Maintenance.” Hercules
Powder Co., Chicago.
_Automotive Industries_, “The Motor Bus Field as a Market for
Trucks,” Vol. XLV, pp. 627-628, Sept. 29, 1921; “Weight of Trucks,”
May 18, 1922.
BLANCHARD AND DROWNE, “Textbook of Highway Engineering,” Chap. II,
John Wiley & Sons, New York.
BULLARD, GENERAL ROBERT LEE, “The Motor Truck’s Importance on the
Battle Front of France,” National Automobile Chamber of Commerce, New
York.
CHATBURN, GEORGE R., “Highway Engineering--Rural Roads and
Pavements,” pp. 22-28; John Wiley & Sons, New York.
COLLINS, J. A., “Transportation Surveys for Rural Express Routes,”
_Good Roads_, March 17, 1919.
Cornell Agricultural College Bulletin No. 205; Ithaca, New York.
CRISSEY, FORREST, “Our New Transportation System,” _Saturday Evening
Post_, December 16, 1922, p. 14.
CROSBY, W. W., “The Scientific Selection of Pavements,” _Municipal
Journal_, May 29, 1913.
DALTON, JAMES C., “Highways Must Be Made Self-supporting,”
_Automotive Industries_, May 25, 1922.
_Good Roads._--“Benefits of a National Highway System,” A committee
report of the American Road Builders Association, Jan. 19, 1919.
HAYDOCK, WINTERS, “The Pittsburgh Traffic Count,” _Proceedings of the
Engineering Society of Western Pennsylvania_, Vol. XXVII, pp. 477-513.
HIRST, A. R., “Laying out Wisconsin Trunk Line Highways,” _Good
Roads_.
HORINE, M. C., “Economics of Motor Transport,” _Journal of the
Society of Automotive Engineers_, May, 1922.
JAMES, E. W., “Distribution of Traffic on a Rectangular System,”
_Engineering Record_, Vol. LXXIV, p. 439.
JOHNSON, A. N., “The Traffic Census,” _Public Roads_, Dec. 1920,
Appendix; also p. 16.
“Traffic Census and its Use in Deciding Road Width,” _Public Roads_,
July, 1921, p. 7.
JADWIN, COLONEL EDGAR, “Relation of the War Department to Improved
Highways.” Bulletin No. 25 of the Texas Engineering Experiment
Station, Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas, May 1, 1922,
p. 40.
MACDONALD, “Classification and Uses of Highways,” _Engineering
News-Record_, Vol. LXXXIII, pp. 984-985, 635.
Massachusetts Highway Commission Report, 1912.
SIMONDS, FRANK H., “History of the World War,” Vol. I, p. 118, Vol.
V, p. 115. Doubleday, Page & Company, New York.
New Jersey State Highway Commission, Committee Report on Traffic
Census--_Engineering News-Record_, Vol. LXXXVI, p. 338.
TAYLOR, COLONEL B., “Similarity of Military and Commercial Motor
Transportation,” National Automobile Chamber of Commerce, New York.
United States Bureau of Public Roads, “A Study of the California
Highway System,” _Public Roads_, pp. 124, 136-138, 196-197, 200-209.
United States Census Reports.
United States Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Statistics
Bulletin 49. Bureau of Forestry Bulletin.
FOOTNOTES
[173] Highway is sometimes used in the sense of greater importance
and road in that of less, as in the expression “highways and roads.”
Baker in his “Roads and Pavements” uses roads to indicate unpaved
highways.
[174] See _Engineering News Record_, Vol. LXXXIII, p. 985.
[175] “Economies of Motor Transport,” by Merrill C. Horine, Engineer
International Motor Company, New York City, in the _Journal of the
Society of Automotive Engineers_, May, 1922.
[176] See Simonds’ “History of the World War,” Vols. I and V.
[177] “Am. Civ. Eng’s. Pocketbook,” Sec. 15, Art. 4, Wiley & Sons, N.
Y.
[178] Report of Third International Road Congress, 1913.
[179] Bulletin 205, Cornell Agricultural College; Bulletin 136, U. S.
Department of Agriculture; Bulletin 49, Bureau of Statistics, U. S.
Dept. of Agr. Reports of the 1910 U. S. Census.
[180] From Bulletin 136, U. S. Department of Agriculture.
[181] _Engineering Record_, Vol. LXXIV, p. 439.
[182] See “Highway Engineering,” by G. R. Chatburn, pp. 22 to 28,
Wiley & Sons, New York, publishers.
[183] Am. Soc. C. E. Proceedings, 1918, p. 2327.
[184] “Highway Engineering--Rural Roads and Pavements,” by George R.
Chatburn, John Wiley & Sons, New York.
[185] “American Highway Engineers’ Handbook,” p. 1360, Wiley & Sons,
New York.
[186] “The Scientific Selection of Pavements,” by W. W. Crosby, in
_Municipal Journal_, May 29, 1913.
[187] “Modern Road Building and Maintenance,” by Andrew P. Anderson.
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