Accelerated Pavement Testing and Research
Heavy Vehicle Simulator Overview
The need for faster, practical, and economical evaluation methods under closely simulated in-service conditions prompted the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to invest in Accelerated Pavement Testing (APT). The Department procured a piece of equipment known as a Heavy Vehicle Simulator (HVS) in 1999. The HVS applies accelerated loading to full-scale pavement test tracks at the State Materials Office to simulate one-half-axle truck loading. Pavement studies using the HVS generally take just weeks to apply sufficient loading to comprehensively understand critical pavement characteristics and failure mechanisms. The Department procured a second HVS in 2016 due to the benefits and growing workload of this initial APT investment.
HVS Image Gallery
HVS Research Reports, Journal Publications, and Presentations
| Year | Title | Report/Journal |
| 2022 | Validation Technique for Heavy Vehicle Simulator Rut Measurement with Florida Laser Rut Meter | Journal (external link) |
| 2022 | Accelerated Pavement Testing Validation of a Pavement Response Model Using Three-Dimensional Finite Element Analysis Software: Two Case Studies | Journal (external link) |
| 2022 | Asphalt Pavement Interlayer Bonding Study | Report |
| 2022 | Impact of the Interlayer Scabbing on Asphalt Pavement Performance | Journal (external link) |
| 2021 | Evaluation of the Performance of Highly Modified Asphalt Binder Using Accelerated Pavement Testing | Journal (external link) |
| 2021 | The Effect of Binder Type and Layer Thickness on the Long-Term Performance of Open-Graded Friction Courses | Report |
| 2019 | Accelerated Pavement Testing: Celebrating over 100 Years of Innovation and Economic Benefits | Report (external link) |
| 2019 | Evaluation of the Impact of Asphalt Mix Segregation on Pavement Performance | Journal (external link) |
| 2019 | Evaluation of the Performance of High-SBS Modified Asphalt Binder through Accelerated Pavement Testing | Report |
| 2018 | Strategies to Reduce Flexible Pavement Cracking in Florida | Journal (external link) |
| 2018 | The Impact of Different Levels of In-Place Density on Asphalt Pavement Performance | Report |
| 2017 | Aluminum Lightweight Orthotropic Deck Evaluation Project | Report |
| 2016 | Lightweight Solid Decks for Movable Bridges - Phase II | Report |
| 2016 | Thickness and Binder Type Evaluation of a 4.75-mm Asphalt Mixture Using Accelerated Pavement Testing | Journal (external link) |
| 2014 | Evaluation and Implementation of a Heavy Polymer Modified Asphalt Binder through Accelerated Pavement Testing | Report |
| 2014 | Evaluation and Implementation of PG 76-22 Asphalt Rubber Binder in Florida | Report |
| 2013 | Benefits Achieved from Florida's Accelerated Pavement Testing Program | Report |
| 2012 | Effect of Asphalt Rubber Membrane Interlayer (ARMI) on Instability Rutting and Reflection Cracking of Asphalt Mixture | Report |
| 2010 | Accelerated Pavement Testing Validation of a HMA Gradation-Based Evaluation Method | Report |
| 2009 | Impact of Wide-Base Single Tires on Pavement Damage | Report |
| 2008 | Comparison of a Three-Dimensional Viscoelastic Pavement Model with Full-Scale Field Tests | Journal (external link) |
| 2008 | Evaluation of Pavement Strain Gauge Repeatability Under Accelerated Pavement Testing | Report |
| 2007 | Develop Methodologies/Protocols to Assess Cracking Potential of Asphalt Mixtures Using Accelerated Pavement Testing | Report |
| 2007 | Evaluation of Feasibility of Using Composite Pavements in Florida By Means of HVS Testing | Report |
| 2007 | Instrumentation Data Interpretation | Report |
| 2006 | Evaluation of Coarse and Fine Graded Superpave Mixtures Under Accelerated Pavement Testing | Report |
| 2005 | Evaluation of Early Strength Requirement of Concrete for Slab Replacement Using APT | Report |
| 2005 | Rut Initiation Mechanisms in Asphalt Mixtures as Generated Under Accelerated Pavement Testing | Journal (external link) |
| 2003 | Acquisition/Acceptance, Installation and Operation of FDOT's Accelerated Pavement Testing Vehicle | Report |
| 2003 | Assessing Appropriate Loading Configuration in Accelerated Pavement Testing | Report |
| 2002 | Evaluation of Superpave Mixtures with and without Polymer Modification by Means of Accelerated Pavement Testing | Report |