Abstract

The commercial deployment of Autonomous Trucks (ATs) and the implementation of platooning technology present a transformative opportunity for the freight industry in Quebec, offering potential benefits in efficiency, safety, and environmental sustainability. However, the aggressive loading patterns of channelized truck platoons pose significant risks to pavement infrastructure, particularly regarding permanent deformation (rutting). This research investigates the optimal AT platoon configurations, specifically speed and headway, that minimize pavement distress without compromising traffic flow efficiency or environmental gains.

The methodology employs a multi-scale approach, combining laboratory rheological testing with microscopic traffic simulation. Uniaxial compressive haversine loading tests were conducted on asphalt concrete samples (ESG-10 mix with PG 64E-28 binder) to simulate traffic loading frequencies of 8 Hz and 10 Hz (corresponding to speeds of 80 km/h and 100 km/h) and rest periods of 0.5 s, 1.2 s, and 1.5 s. The experimental results identified that a higher frequency (100 km/h) coupled with a shorter rest period (0.5 s) resulted in the least accumulated permanent strain, contrary to traditional assumptions regarding material recovery time. These parameters were subsequently used to calibrate a PTV VISSIM microsimulation model of a 7.5 km segment of Autoroute 15 in Quebec. The simulation evaluated mixed-traffic scenarios with AT penetration rates ranging from 0% to 100% under varying traffic volumes. Results indicate that a three-truck platoon configuration with 0.5 s headway at 100 km/h significantly improves traffic operations, reducing network delay by up to 63% and CO2 emissions by approximately 16% at full penetration. The study concludes that aggressive platoon parameters with high speeds and short headways are optimal for both rutting resistance and traffic efficiency in the Quebec context, provided that safety systems can reliably support such operations.