2. Axle and vehicle weights. Regulatory aspects
2.1 French Highway Code
As mentioned above, axle weight requirements in France are defined by the Highway Code, and more specifically by articles R. 312-5 and R. 312-6. They are currently as follows:
R. 312-5: "The most heavily loaded axle of a vehicle or vehicle component must not support a load exceeding 13 tons". This value is essential since, as we shall see later, the 13 t (130 kN) twin axle is the reference axle for the French dimensioning method;
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R. 312-6: "On vehicles or parts of vehicles with more than two axles, the load on the most heavily loaded axle belonging to a group of axles must not, depending on the distance separating two consecutive axles in this group, exceed the following values:...
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Axle and vehicle weights. Regulatory aspects
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Bibliography
Bibliography
Standards and norms
- Chaussées, terrassements, terminologie, partie 1, terminologie relative au calcul de dimensionnement des chaussées. - NF P 98-080-1 - 1992
- Chaussées, terrassements, dimensionnement des chaussées routières, éléments à prendre en compte pour le calcul de dimensionnement. - NF P 98-086 - 1992
- Dimensionnement des chaussées routières, détermination des trafics routiers pour le dimensionnement des structures...
Regulations
Article R 312-5 of the French Highway Code, June 2001.
Article R 312-6 of the French Highway Code.
Directive 85/3/EEC of December 1984 relating to the weights, dimensions and certain other technical characteristics of certain road vehicles (updated by Directive 96/53/EC of July 25, 1996 laying down for certain road vehicles circulating within the Community the maximum authorized...
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