Análisis de la velocidad en carreteras rurales de dos carriles en entornos montañosos. Caso de estudio Loja Vilcabamba (Tramo 2)

Abstract

Abstract: The vehicular analysis on mountainous roads is essential to ensure smooth circulation and road safety, especially when there is a high flow of heavy vehicles. This study focuses on Section 2 of the Loja-Vilcabamba road, characterized by slopes ranging from -8% to 8% and curve radii between 20 m and 200 m. Using the IRI Calc Free mobile application, the speeds of 35 heavy vehicles were recorded at 51 selected curves. The data were analyzed using statistical tools, such as Minitab, applying normality tests and analysis of variance (ANOVA). The results show that the data follow a normal distribution (𝑝 > 0.05) and confirm that wider radii allow for higher speeds along with steep descending slopes, while smaller radii tend to significantly reduce speed. This study highlights the importance of geometric design in rural mountain roads, providing relevant information to improve road safety and optimize the flow of heavy vehicles.