Pavement texture fundamentals

Pavement texture has a major effect on a ride, affecting braking distance and gas mileage, among other aspects of driving. Only recently have engineers been able to measure pavement texture effectively, and the connection between the texture of the pavement and friction, noise, rolling resistance, and smoothness has not been fully understood until recently. Now, however, texture is an important part of pavement design. Pavement texture is determined by the irregularities on pavement surfaces that diverge from a perfectly flat surface. Special equipment is required to measure pavement texture, since the surface level varies on such a small scale. Texture measurements are given in fractions of a millimeter. The International Roughness Index (IRI) is used as a quality indicator, and is being increasingly adopted by the highway industry. Smoother pavements can improve ride quality, safety, and fuel economy, and with the help of technology, pavements are becoming increasingly smooth.

• Record URL:
  http://www.cenews.com/magazine-article-cenews.com-8-2013-pavement_texture_fundamentals-9399.html
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/10519629
• Authors:
  • Rasmussen, Robert Otto
• Publication Date: 2013-8

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; Photos;
• Pagination: pp 48-50
• Serial:
  • CE News
  • Volume: 25
  • Issue Number: 7
  • Publisher: Zweig White Information Services
  • ISSN: 1051-9629
  • Serial URL: http://www.cenews.com

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Friction; Noise; Pavement design; Ride quality; Rolling resistance; Smoothness; Texture
• Identifier Terms: International Roughness Index
• Subject Areas: Highways; Pavements; I22: Design of Pavements, Railways and Guideways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01492577
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Sep 10 2013 9:44AM