Research was conducted at the Canterbury Accelerated Pavement Testing Indoor Facility investigating the influence of dynamic axle loads on pavement response and deterioration. Measurements from an earlier pavement showed that the SLAVE units subject the pavement to realistic dynamic loading.

Two tests have been undertaken, comparing the effect of steel multi leaf, twin parabolic spring and air suspensions on pavement deterioration. The second test was part of the Organisation for Economic Co- operation and Development Dynamic Interaction between Vehicles and Infrastructure Experiment (OECD DIVINE project). The results to date show a good correlation between the dynamic wheel forces and pavement distress. The modes and level of pavement distress are dependent on the particular suspension characteristics. Analysis ranks the suspensions from worst to best as steel, parabolic and air.

The results have provided the first measured evidence of a direct link between peak dynamic loads and pavement damage reported thus far.