HYDROPLANING, HYDRODYNAMIC DRAG, AND VEHICLE STABILITY

A comprehensive series of experiments is reported involving a variety of full-scale highway pavements and various automobile tires. Test condition variables include vehicle speed, tread depth, water depth, and pavement inundated length. Extensive test data are shown which define the tire forces encountered during partial and full dynamic hydroplaning as a function of the ASTM E 274 skid number. This enables an engineer to better interpret the actual friction available under specified conditions and shows vividly one reason it is so difficult to relate wet weather accident frequency to ASTM skid numbers. In the final section of this paper 27 tests in selected water "puddles" are reported. These tests show that loss of tire/pavement contact can occur during puddle traversal and asymmetrical drag forces can develop which have the potential for precipitating a vehicle loss of control. These puddle depths range from zero on the outer edges to 28.5mm (1 1/8 in.) in the deepest part. Drag forces up to 135 kg (300 lb) were measured. It is illustrated that hydroplaning drag forces, in some cases coupled with loss of pavement contact due to hydroplaning, may pose a hazard to drivers who exceed a reasonable speed during wet weather.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Frictional Interaction of Tire and Pavement. A symposium sponsored by ASTM Committee E-17 on Traveled Surface Characteristics and F-9 on Tires, Akron-Fairlawn, Ohio, 11-13 November 1981.
• Corporate Authors:

  American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)

  100 Barr Harbor Drive, P.O. Box C700
  West Conshohocken, PA  United States  19428-2957
• Authors:
  • Hayes, G G
  • Ivey, D L
  • Gallaway, B M
• Publication Date: 1983

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 151-166
• Serial:
  • ASTM Special Technical Publications
  • Publisher: American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Drag; Friction factor; Hydrodynamics; Hydroplaning; Motor vehicles; Rolling contact; Skidding; Speed; Stability (Mechanics); Tires
• Uncontrolled Terms: Skid number
• Old TRIS Terms: Hydrodynamic drag
• Subject Areas: Highways; Hydraulics and Hydrology; Vehicles and Equipment; I95: Vehicle Inspection;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00380977
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: STP 793, HS-035 394, HS-035 395
• Files: HSL, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Jan 30 1984 12:00AM