Kolman 3 Kw Seattle Wilson 10884365

Pavement design and fuel economy

March 17, 2014
Road design has an impact of fuel consumption and emissions.

While vehicle and engine builders, along with government officials, are concerned with fuel economy and emissions, so, too, are those involved in infrastructure.

Take researches at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), by way of example. They are looking at ways to boost fuel efficiency and cut greenhouse gas emissions by building better roads.

Researchers at the school’s  Concrete Sustainability Hub found that how the road is constructed could have a significant impact on the fuel economy of cars and trucks, and less fuel means fewer emissions.

Research models predict the use of stiffer pavements could reduce fuel use by as much as three percent, creating reduction of 46.5 million tons of CO2 each year.

Roughness matters

There has been the understanding that roughness matters more than deflection when it comes to fuel usage, but research has shown that it depends on the road design.

Roughness generally accounts for more fuel use, but researchers found that deflection still wastes 180 million gallons each year on the nation's Interstate System. By comparison, roughness accounts for about 555 million gallons of fuel waste.

Because interstates make up only about 2 percent of the nation's roads, they represent just a fraction of the total picture.

By switching to stiffer pavements, highway authorities could boost vehicle fuel economy  by several percent, MIT says. Concrete is naturally more rigid than asphalt, but that doesn't necessarily mean that all highways need be paved with concrete.

MIT has developed a model to help engineers optimize pavement designs.

About the Author

David A. Kolman | Contributor - Fleet Maintenance

Sponsored Recommendations

Ask the Experts: Boost Profitability by Capturing Body Repair Materials Billables

Quality body repairs on medium- and heavy-duty trucks depend on the use of specialized adhesives, sealers, and other allied materials. Unfortunately, many shops face challenges...

Fleet Maintenance E-Book

Streamline your fleet's maintenance and improve operations with the Guide for Managing Maintenance. Learn proven strategies to reduce downtime, optimize in-house and third-party...

Celebrating Your Drivers Can Prove to be Rewarding For Your Business

Learn how to jumpstart your driver retention efforts by celebrating your drivers with a thoughtful, uniform-led benefits program by Red Kap®. Uniforms that offer greater comfort...

Guide To Boosting Technician Efficiency

Learn about the bottom line and team building benefits of increasing the efficiency of your technicians in your repair shop.