HOT SAND FOR IMPROVED TRACTION ON ICY ROADS: ESTIMATIONS OF COSTS AND BENEFITS

Sand is often spread on icy roads in order to improve traction. Much of this sand, however, is soon thrown off the roads by passing vehicles. Furthermore, on hard icy surfaces, the sand particles which remain cannot "seat themselves". Under these conditions the loose sand may provide little or no improvement in traction. This last point has been confirmed in laboratory work done for the Research Section at Pennsylvania State University. The main purpose of that laboratory work, however, was to test traction improvements provided by sand which had first been heated. This hot sand would melt itself partially into an icy surface and refreeze in place, producing a gritty, sandpaper-like surface. The dramatic improvements in skidding friction achieved by heating the sand are documented in an earlier report. This report addresses the costs and benefits of the use of hot sand for improved traction on icy roads.

• Record URL:
  • http://www.dot.state.ak.us/stwddes/research/assets/pdf/ak_rd_85_25.pdf
• 
• Corporate Authors:

  Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities

  2301 Peger Road
  Fairbanks, AK  United States  99701
• Authors:
  • Reckard, M K
• Publication Date: 1985-3

Media Info

• Pagination: 7 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Benefits; Costs; Snow and ice control; Traction
• Old TRIS Terms: Hot sand
• Subject Areas: Finance; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; I62: Winter Maintenance;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00488194
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities
• Report/Paper Numbers: AK-RD-85-25
• Files: TRIS, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Sep 30 1989 12:00AM