From Chevrolet.com:
Even with a mild winter in many parts of the country, potholes are a rite of spring. But it is simulated cracks and craters in the pavement developed by General Motors’ engineers that help develop the ride quality of vehicles like the global Chevrolet Cruze compact sedan.
The buildup of moisture in the small holes and cracks in the road during the winter months alternates between freezing and thawing as temperatures fall and rise, causing expansion and contraction of the road surface. The result can be significant breaks in the pavement under the weight of normal vehicle traffic.
The potholes at GM’s Milford Proving Ground don’t look like the ones drivers encounter on daily commutes. These are specially designed, fabricated in metal and planted into the ground with concrete surface around them. The downslope and the ramp up in these engineered potholes vary to simulate severity of road damage and recreate varied load conditions that occur in a vehicle when it is driven through one.
The designer potholes allow for controlled, repetitive testing, necessary to assess durability and help determine the fine tuning that contributes to a comfortable ride.
Read entire article here.
Stop by Tyrrell-Doyle Chevrolet to learn more about the Chevrolet Cruze.
