SKID RESISTANCE MEASUREMENT TESTS OF FHWA REFERENCE SYSTEMS AT THE WESTERN FIELD TEST CENTER

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is developing a program to improve the method of measuring wet weather pavement skid resistance (SN) and to reduce the variation in results. At the national level, an interim reference system (IRS) is maintained and operated by the National Bureau of Standards. At the regional level, an area reference system (ARS) is maintained and operated at each FHWA field test center. Inter-comparisons between these reference systems and the highway measuring systems at the state level, provide measurement assurance. Correlation results between the IRS and the Western ARS are given and the SN is described as a function of test speed. The test program is explained from test preparations, tuning and calibration of subsystems, through dynamic measurement of the surfaces. Controlled and uncontrolled variables are identified, discussed, and in some cases, experimentally verified.

• Corporate Authors:

  National Bureau of Standards

  Engineering Mechanics Section
  Washington, DC  United States  20234

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Kearns, R W
  • WARD, J F
• Publication Date: 1976-8

Media Info

• Pagination: 167 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Calibration; Correlation analysis; Dynamic tests; Highways; Measurement; Pavements; Referencing; Skid resistance; Skid resistance tests; Skidding; Standards; States; Texture; Traffic safety; Wet weather
• Uncontrolled Terms: Wet pavements
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Highways; Pavements;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00147367
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: NBSIR-76-1 133 Final Rpt.
• Files: NTIS, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Mar 15 1977 12:00AM