Ngwangwa, Harry MagadhlelaHeyns, P.S. (Philippus Stephanus)Labuschagne, F.J.J. (Kobus)Kululanga, Grant K.2012-09-142012-09-142010-04H.M. Ngwangaw, P.S. Heyns, F.J.J. Labuschagne & G.K. Kululanga, Reconstruction of road defects and road roughness clasification using vehicl responses with artificial neural networks simulation, Journal of Terramechanics, vol. 47, no. 2, pp. 97-111 (2012), doi: 10.1016/j.terra.2009.08.007.0022-4898 (print)1879-1204 (online)10.1016/j.terra.2009.08.007http://hdl.handle.net/2263/19779The road damage assessment methodology in this paper utilizes an artificial neural network that reconstructs road surface profiles from measured vehicle accelerations. The paper numerically demonstrates the capabilities of such a methodology in the presence of noise, changing vehicle mass, changing vehicle speeds and road defects. In order to avoid crowding out understanding of the methodology, a simple linear pitch-plane model is employed. Initially, road profiles from known roughness classes were applied to a physical model to calculate vehicle responses. The calculated responses and road profiles were used to train an artificial neural network. In this way, the network renders corresponding road profiles on the availability of fresh data on model responses. The results show that the road profiles and associated defects can be reconstructed to within a 20% error at a minimum correlation value of 94%.en© 2009 ISTVS. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Notice : this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Journal of Terramechanics. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Journal of Terramechanics, vol. 47, no. 2, pp. 97-111 (2012), doi: 10.1016/j.terra.2009.08.007.Reconstruction of road defectsRoad roughness classificationArtificial neural networks simulationVehiclesPavements -- DefectsPavements -- Live loadsPavements -- Service lifeRoads -- Design and constructionNeural networks (Computer science)Postprint Article