Benefits of increased axle loads : method of calculation and its application to Swedish conditions

IN MANY COUNTRIES, THE ROADS BEING BUILT TODAY ARE DESIGNED FOR HEAVIER AXLE LOADS THAN THOSE PERMITTED EARLIER. IN SEVERAL OF THE COUNTRIES WHERE THE CURRENT LIMIT IS 10 (METRIC) TONS AN INCREASE TO 13 TONS IS BEING CONSIDERED. IN SWEDEN, TOO, AN INCREASE OF THE PERMISSIBLE AXLE LOAD TO 13 TONS HAS BEEN DISCUSSED IN RECENT YEARS. A GENERAL INCREASE IN PERMISSIBLE AXLE LOADS WOULD, HOWEVER, REQUIRE A VAST AMOUNT OF CAPITAL EXPENDITURE. AT PRESENT, SUCCESSIVE IMPROVEMENTS OF THE BEARING CAPACITY OF THE ROAD NETWORK IN THIS COUNTRY ARE TAKING PLACE IN ORDER TO PERMIT A GENERAL INCREASE OF THE PERMISSIBLE AXLE LOAD TO 10 TONS. A QUESTION THAT NATURALLY ARISES IN THIS CONNECTION CONCERNS THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS LIKELY TO RESULT FROM SUCH AN INVESTMENT. IN THE THESIS PRESENTED HERE, A METHOD OF CALCULATING THE BENEFITS OF INCREASED AXLE LOADS IS DESCRIBED. THE METHOD IS APPLIED TO SWEDISH CONDITIONS, AND MUCH EFFORT HAS BEEN MADE TO ENSURE THAT THE ASSUMPTIONS ON THE CALCULATION IS BASED REFLECT THE CONDITIONS WHICH PREVAIL IN THIS COUNTRY. /AUTHOR/