Diseño, elaboración e implementación de un “rugosímetro merlín” en el Laboratorio de Pavimentos de la Universidad Politécnica Salesiana, Sede Quito, Campus Sur

Abstract

The purpose of this project is to develop and implement a Merlin Roughness Tester, based on the standards and specifications given by the British Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL), who in 1991 created this equipment in order to evaluate the International Roughness Index. (IRIs). This equipment measures the IRI from a correlation, named with the letter "D", this represents the roughness in Merlin units. The IRI is a quantitative measure used to assess the quality and level of comfort of a pavement. In addition, this index provides crucial information about the surface of a road, especially in terms of smoothness and level of comfort for users, where a high IRI generally indicates rough pavement, which can be uncomfortable to drive on, causing increased wear and tear on vehicles. That rate is measured in m/km or mm/m. To verify the correct operation of the implemented equipment, the IRI of a section of Avenida Rumichaca Ñan, located to the south of the Metropolitan District of Quito, is evaluated using the designed Merlin roughness meter. The standard recommends taking 200 readings per section, to estimate greater precision, for this reason 386 meters of the avenue are evaluated, because the revolution of the wheel of the designed equipment is 1.93 meters. At the same time, the engineer level and look were used in order to level the points taken with the Merlin, to compare results and verify that the implemented equipment complies with all the specifications. Finally, the IRI is disclosed in relation to the TPDA and the Pavement Service Index (PSI) based on damage, this allows us to have an accurate criterion of the current state, the convenience and comfort that it provides to users who transit through the avenue evaluated.