The genesis of washboard roads

Authors
Kurtze, DA Hong, DC Both, JA
Citation
Da. Kurtze et al., The genesis of washboard roads, INT J MOD B, 15(24-25), 2001, pp. 3344-3346
Citations number
6
Categorie Soggetti
Apllied Physucs/Condensed Matter/Materiales Science
Journal title
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MODERN PHYSICS B
ISSN journal
02179792 → ACNP
Volume
15
Issue
24-25
Year of publication
2001
Pages
3344 - 3346
Database
ISI
SICI code
0217-9792(20011010)15:24-25<3344:TGOWR>2.0.ZU;2-O
Abstract
We consider a model of cars driving along a compressible or erodible road. Each car is modeled as a mass supported above a wheel by a damped spring. W e find conditions under which a flat road surface is unstable and gives way to a regular pattern of corrugations. The instability is mitigated by the damping of the cars' springs and also by the tendency of the road surface t o harden as it is compressed. Similar phenomena occur in railroad rails and in calendaring of paper.