United States Department of Transportation
i
Evaluation of Methods for Pavement Surface Friction, Testing on Non-Tangent Roadways and Segments
-
2017-08-15
[PDF-3.32 MB]
Details:
-
Creators:
-
Corporate Creators:
-
Corporate Contributors:
-
Subject/TRT Terms:
-
Publication/ Report Number:
-
Resource Type:
-
Geographical Coverage:
-
Edition:Final Report, August 1, 2016 – March 1, 2018
-
Corporate Publisher:
-
Abstract:This report presents the research effort to explore the use of continuous friction measurement equipment (CFME) as a tool for pavement friction management to be incorporated into the NCDOT Pavement Management Program to produce a strong Safety Improvement Program. The new tool and processes could supplement and/or replace the traditional locked-wheel tangential friction measurements and provide critical details to better understand road departures, wet crashes, and overall traffic performance and safety along ramps, loops, curves, and super-elevated sections that have traditionally been difficult to assess friction on. Testing included measurements with the locked-wheel trailer currently used by NCDOT, a Grip Tester, and a SCRIM (Side-Force Coefficient Routine Investigation Machine). The researchers took measurements with the three devices on common pavement types, overlays, and surface treatments on various highways in the state. The results from the three different equipment and methodologies were compared, and guidance for future implementation is provided. The research products include: (1) A comparison of friction obtained from the three different equipment and methodologies, including continuous average friction values by pavement type for all the roadway geometries tested (curve/ramp/loop/super elevated section/section on grade); and (2) Recommendation and guidance with regards to the feasibility of collecting continuous friction and macrotexture data to define investigatory friction and macrotexture levels to support the state’s pavement friction management program. The main conclusions of the review of practice and analysis of the data collected as part of the study are the following: (1) The direct results of the comparison showed that it is possible to interconvert GN and SR measurements with LWST measurements but the correlations are not very strong; (2) Macrotexture is a very important parameter to obtain the full pavement frictional properties, especially for those devices that are insensitive to it (such as the LWST with a ribbed tire); and (3) The development and implementation of a PFM program would benefit from the collection of continues friction and macrotexture data. Based on the stated conclusions the following recommendations are provided: (1) It is recommended that NCDOT start collecting macrotexture data to complement the agency’s friction data collection; and (2) NCDOT should investigate the feasibility of implementing a pro-active friction management program that uses CFME with macrotexture measurement capabilities.
-
Format:
-
Collection(s):
-
Main Document Checksum:
-
Download URL:
-
File Type:
