SKID RESISTANCE OF SURFACINGS

Field trials to establish the suitability of an ML400 Mu-meter as a skid resistance testing device for highway surfaces are reported. The objectives of this project include the purchasing and operation of a skid resistance testing trailer; investigate the effect of speed and water depth on the skid resistance of surfacing; survey the skid resistance of heavily trafficked routes; and study the effect of surfacing age on skid resistance. The study concluded the following: Surface friction of road surfacings vary with region and operating speed; surfaces with surface texture depth of less than 0.5 mm have significant speed friction gradients; seasonal effects are significant especially on coarser textured surfacing; and, pavement age is not necessarily a controlling factor provided that the surface is more than 2 years old. Among the ideas recommended for further research, the following are included. All surfacing types should be examined over the speed range 30 to 100 km/h of water depths in the range 1 to 3 mm. Other road districts should be surveyed for skid resistance, to check regional influences. Improved methods of determining texture should be introduced to improve and speed up evaluation of fine textured surfaces. And, the composition and volume of "road dust" should be investigated utilizing chemical analysis on recovered samples plus microscopic examination of road stones.

• Corporate Authors:

  National Roads Board, New Zealand

  P.O. Box 12-041
  Wellington,   New Zealand 
• Publication Date: 1977

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 51 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Calibration; Friction; Highway grades; Motor vehicles; Pavements; Service life; Skid resistance tests; Slopes; Speed; Surfacing; Texture; Traffic speed; Water table
• Old TRIS Terms: Mumeter; Pavement life
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Pavements;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00173224
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: RRU Bull. No. 35
• Files: TRIS, ATRI
• Created Date: Apr 26 1978 12:00AM