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Structural Stability of Cycle Paths: Introducing Cycle Path Deflection Bowl Parameters from FWD Measurements
Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute, Infrastructure, Infrastructure maintenance. Department of Building Materials, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden.ORCID iD: 0000-0002-0334-9940
Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute, Infrastructure, Infrastructure maintenance.ORCID iD: 0000-0003-1162-2633
Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute, Infrastructure, Pavement Technology. Department of Building Materials, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden; Faculty of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland.
2024 (English)In: Infrastructures, E-ISSN 2412-3811, Vol. 10, no 1, article id 7Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

A recurrent challenge on cycle paths are edge cracks, which affect the traffic safety and accessibility of cyclists and produce high maintenance costs. Being both structurally thinner and narrower structures than roads, the cycle paths are extra prone to this problem. A few passages of heavy vehicles in unfavourable conditions might be enough to break the edge. The load-bearing capacity of eight municipal cycle paths in Linköping, Sweden, were assessed by falling weight deflectometer (FWD) and light falling weight deflectometer (LWD) measurements during a year-long cycle. A set of alternative Deflection Bowl Parameters (DBPs), better adapted to the structural design of cycle paths, were suggested and evaluated. The results of the FWD measurements showed that these suggested DBPs are a promising approach to evaluate the load-bearing capacity of cycle paths. From the results of the LWD measurements, it was found that the load-bearing capacity varies considerably with lateral position. The conclusion is that it might be more fruitful to measure the load-bearing capacity by LWD close to the edge, rather than the traditional approach of FWD measurements along the centre line of the cycle path.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
MDPI, 2024. Vol. 10, no 1, article id 7
Keywords [en]
FWD, LWD, cycle paths, structural stability, moisture, deflection bowl parameters
National Category
Infrastructure Engineering
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:vti:diva-21545DOI: 10.3390/infrastructures10010007Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-85215984453OAI: oai:DiVA.org:vti-21545DiVA, id: diva2:1933541
Funder
Swedish Transport Administration, 2021/79526Mistra - The Swedish Foundation for Strategic Environmental Research, DIA 2016/28Available from: 2025-01-31 Created: 2025-01-31 Last updated: 2025-05-14Bibliographically approved
In thesis
1. Structural design, degradation and condition assessment of cycle paths
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Structural design, degradation and condition assessment of cycle paths
2025 (English)Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

A shift in modal share from car driving to cycling has many benefits, e.g., health benefits from increased physical activity and less pollution and congestion. A smooth cycle path surface with sufficient friction is important for cyclist traffic safety, comfort and level of service. Cracks and surface unevenness are frequent maintenance-related deficiencies associated with the degradation of the structure. A purpose of this thesis is to identify degradation factors specific for cycle paths, through a state-of-the-art literature review. The review is complemented by four appended papers. Paper A analyses the stated distress modes and causes reported on Swedish municipal cycle paths with respect to climatic and population data. Paper B evaluates a novel method for condition assessments on cycle paths related to cycling comfort—the Bicycle Measurement Trailer. PaperC proposes alternative deflection bowl parameters for structural evaluation of cycle paths from in-situ falling weight deflectometer and light weight deflectometer measurements. Paper D reports on the results of full-scale testing on instrumented cycle path structures. The main results from the papers indicate that surface roughness and unevenness, longitudinal cracks and edge deformations are the most common distress modes. The main reasons behind this distress are structural interventions, tree roots, frost heave and heavy vehicles. The load-bearing capacity close to the pavement edge and at increased moisture content is reduced. The proposed alternative approaches for cycle path condition assessment were able to assess the surface roughness and evenness, along with the structural condition, for practical applications on the investigated cycle paths. The conclusions of the thesis suggest that the structural design principles for cycle paths in the Swedish structural design manual needs to be updated. Models that better describe the behaviour of thin-surfaced asphalt pavements, especially with respect to climate, should be developed. More studies are recommended to validate the proposed condition assessment approaches.

Abstract [sv]

En förflyttning av bilresor till cykeltrafik har många fördelar, t.ex. förbättrad folkhälsa genom ökad fysisk aktivitet och minskade föroreningar och trängsel. En slät yta med adekvat friktion är viktigt för cyklisternas trafiksäkerhet, komfort och framkomlighet. Sprickor och ojämnheter är vanligt förekommande underhållsrelaterade brister som är kopplade till cykelvägens nedbrytning. Ett syfte med den här avhandlingen är att identifiera specifika nedbrytningsfaktorer för cykelvägar. Det görs genom en litteraturgenomgång och fyra vetenskapliga artiklar. Paper A analyserar skador och skadeorsaker, som rapporterats av svenska kommuner, med avseende på klimat och befolkningsdata. Paper B utvärderar en ny metod för tillståndsbedömningar av cykelvägar som beaktar cyklisters komfort—Cykelmätvagnen. Paper C föreslår en uppsättning alternativa deflektions bassängparametrar för hållfasthetsutvärdering av cykelvägar baserat på fältundersökning med fallviktsmätningar. Paper D rapporterar resultat från fullskaligare sponsmätningar på instrumenterade cykelvägskonstruktioner. Huvudresultaten från artiklarna indikerar att lokala ojämnheter, längsgående sprickor och kantdeformationer är de vanligaste skadetyperna. De vanligaste bakomliggande orsakerna uppges vara avgrävningar, trädrötter, tjällyft och tunga fordon. Cykelvägens bärförmåga minskar i närheten av cykelvägskanten och vid ett ökat fuktinehåll i konstruktionen. De föreslagna metoderna för tillståndsbedömning av cykelvägar visade sig kunna bedöma cykelvägytornas textur och jämnhet samt det strukturella tillståndet på ett bra sätt för de undersökta cykelvägarna. Avhandlingens slutsatser poängterar att principerna för dimensionering av cykelvägar enligt Trafikverkets krav eller rekommendationer bör uppdateras. Modeller som bättre beskriver tunna asfaltkonstruktioners beteende bör utvecklas, speciellt när det gäller hur de påverkas av klimatfaktorer. Mer studier behövs för att validera de föreslagna tillstånds bedömningsmetoderna.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 2025. p. 127
Series
TRITA-ABE-DLT ; 257
National Category
Infrastructure Engineering
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:vti:diva-22034 (URN)9789181062656 (ISBN)
Public defence
2025-05-23, F3, Lindstedtvägen 28, KTH Campus, 10:00 (English)
Opponent
Supervisors
Funder
Mistra - The Swedish Foundation for Strategic Environmental ResearchSwedish Transport Administration
Available from: 2025-05-14 Created: 2025-05-14 Last updated: 2025-05-14Bibliographically approved

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Larsson, MartinNiska, AnnaErlingsson, Sigurdur

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