Análise do consumo de combustível em relação às características da via e à condição superficial do pavimento: estudo de um trecho da Rodovia BR-116

Abstract

The analysis of the operational costs of vehicles highlights that approximately 40% of the total operating cost is linked to fuel consumption, which is influenced by the characteristics of the road, the vehicle, and traffic. The interaction between the gradient, curvature, and surface irregularity of a highway affects this consumption. Understanding the behavior of these factors allows for the optimization of consumption and the reduction of operational costs in road transport. This study evaluates whether the characteristics of the road and the condition of the pavement influence fuel consumption in both lanes of a 38 km experimental stretch of the BR116 highway, between the cities of Pacajus and Chorozinho in the state of Ceará. The methodology included analyzing the behavior of a passenger vehicle, using the OBD II Scanner to obtain speed data and other parameters necessary to calculate the synthetic variable IMAP and the MAF value. Data on pavement conditions were obtained through photographs captured during surveys, the SmartIRI app, and DNIT. Information on the gradient and curvature of the stretch was obtained from DNIT. The results showed that the relationship between fuel consumption and surface condition (IRI) presented a nearly null correlation coefficient (r = 0.04) and a low correlation (r = 0.27) with the characteristics of the road (gradient and curvature). Thus, the highest correlation was observed with speed variation (r = 0.42), indicating that the pavement surface and road characteristics do not influence fuel consumption as much as speed does.