Experimental Determination of Glass Bead Retroreflectivity for Aircraft Geometries

Spherical glass beads embedded within paint aid in visibility of pavement markings at night. Retroreflectivity measurements on roadways are based on ASTM E1710, a standard using parameters for an automobile 30 meters from the point of interest on the pavement. Various manufacturers’ equipment replicate this geometry and conveniently conduct measurements on pavement markings. However, aircraft geometry varies widely, and entrance and observation angles differ significantly from those of a passenger car. Literature suggests that the higher refractive index of Type III beads (1.9) over Type I beads (1.5) provides a higher peak reflectance but returns light at a narrower range of angles than Type I. A complete angle scatter instrument measured the bidirectional reflectance distribution function of beads of both types embedded in white paint. Results are reported for angles more appropriate for large-aircraft geometries. Limited results from this study confirm the higher retroreflective peak of Type III beads, but also suggest that Type I may beads provide marginally higher retroreflectivity for large aircraft with observation angles exceeding ±7°, as encountered during taxiing.

• Record URL:
  • https://doi.org/10.1061/9780784482476.043
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/9780784482476
• Supplemental Notes:
  • © 2019 American Society of Civil Engineers.
• Corporate Authors:

  American Society of Civil Engineers

  1801 Alexander Bell Drive
  Reston, VA  United States  20191-4400
• Authors:
  • Sloan, Joel A
  • Butler, Samuel D
  • Ullom, Jessica M
  • Wander, Joseph D
• Conference:
  • International Airfield and Highway Pavements Conference 2019
  • Location: Chicago Illinois, United States
  • Date: 2019-7-21 to 2019-7-24
• Publication Date: 2019-7

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Pagination: pp 436-446
• Monograph Title: Airfield and Highway Pavements 2019: Innovation and Sustainability in Highway and Airfield Pavement Technology

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aircraft; Airport runways; Geometric configurations and shapes; Glass beads; Paint; Retroreflectivity
• Subject Areas: Aviation; Materials; Pavements;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01728638
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 9780784482476
• Files: TRIS, ASCE
• Created Date: Jan 28 2020 9:46AM