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Unsealed road corrugation: a review and synthesis of mechanisms

  • Havisanth Erasanayagam
  • , Weiru Zhou
  • , Liuxin Chen
  • , Nhu H.T. Nguyen
  • , Erol Tutumluer
  • , Jayantha Kodikara

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

Abstract

Road corrugation is the formation of ripple-like patterns on unsealed and thinly-sealed roads. Corrugation affects road durability and vehicle safety, causing significant economic and safety issues worldwide. This review examines the main factors behind corrugation formation, focusing on vehicle dynamics, road material properties, and environmental influences. Evaluating past studies highlights key factors such as shear stress at the tyre-road interface and loss of shear strength in road materials due to summer drying and spring thawing. Preliminary analyses of likely mechanisms suggest that specific ripple shapes can enhance stability under different conditions, offering insights into how these corrugation patterns form and stabilise. The review concludes by highlighting the importance of designing and maintaining roads with consideration of both material behaviour and vehicle interactions to reduce road corrugation.

Original languageEnglish (US)
JournalRoad Materials and Pavement Design
Early online dateSep 26 2025
DOIs
StateE-pub ahead of print - Sep 26 2025

Keywords

  • Corrugation
  • shear strength reduction
  • unsealed road
  • vehicle dynamics

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Civil and Structural Engineering

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