Washboarding

This article is about the spontaneously-developed road texture. For the deliberately-formed roadway surface, see Rumble strip. For other uses, see Washboard (disambiguation).
Not to be confused with Waterboarding.
Washboarding effect on a road

Washboarding or corrugation[1] is the formation of periodic, transverse ripples in the surface of gravel and dirt roads. Washboarding occurs in dry, granular road material[2] with repeated traffic, traveling at speeds above 8.0 kilometres per hour (5 mph).[3] Washboarding creates an uncomfortable ride for the occupants of traversing vehicles and hazardous driving conditions for vehicles that travel too fast to maintain traction and control.[4]

  1. ^ Taberlet, Nicolas; Morris, Stephen W.; McElwaine, Jim N. (2007). "Washboard Road: The dynamics of granular ripples formed by rolling wheels" (PDF). Phys. Rev. Lett. 99 (6): 068003. arXiv:0711.3872. Bibcode:2007PhRvL..99f8003T. doi:10.1103/physrevlett.99.068003. PMID 17930868. S2CID 15865804.
  2. ^ Nevada Transportation Technology Transfer Center (Summer 2002). "Causes and cures for washboarding" (PDF). Streetwise. University of Nevada. Retrieved 2014-11-26.
  3. ^ Rehmeyer, J. (August 18, 2007). "Road Bumps: Why Dirt Roads Develop a Washboard Surface". Science News. 172 (7). Science Service, Inc.: 102. doi:10.1002/scin.2007.5591720708. Archived from the original on 2002-03-31. Retrieved 2014-12-25.
  4. ^ US Fed News Service (2010). "Motorists warned of washboarded surfaces on backcountry gravel roads". The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd. Archived from the original on 2002-03-31. Retrieved 2014-12-25. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)