PAVEMENT FRICTION MEASUREMENT NORMALIZED FOR OPERATIONAL, SEASONAL, AND WEATHER EFFECTS. FINAL REPORT

This report describes the validation of models previously developed to normalize pavement friction measurements to standard environmental and operational conditions. In addition, recommendations are reported to improve the techniques and equipment for pavement friction measurement. Two models were examined for normalization of weather-related and seasonal variation of pavement friction. Their performance was found to be comparable, but the generalized prediction model is more readily applied than the mechanistic model, which requires knowledge of the percent normalized gradient of the pavements to be adjusted. The suggested procedure for normalization requires that three pavements of each class in a homogeneous climate be tested once per month during the testing season. The data then can be used to develop the coefficients in the models to adjust single measurements of all other pavements to standard conditions. Two recommendations are made for improving pavement friction measurement equipment and techniques. The first suggests the use of current equipment with both smooth-treaded and ribbed standard test tires. The second requires modification to the equipment but provides for simpler instrumentation in that it is possible to eliminate the force transducer. This system uses the acceleration of the test tire during the spinup after being locked as the indication of pavement friction.

• Corporate Authors:

  Pennsylvania State University, University Park

  Pennsylvania Transportation Institute, Transportation Research Building
  University Park, PA  United States  16802

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Wambold, J C
  • Henry, J J
  • Antle, C E
  • KULAKOWSKI, B T
  • Meyer, W E
  • Stocker, A J
  • Button, J W
  • Anderson, D A
• Publication Date: 1989-6

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 215 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Equipment; Friction; Mathematical models; Measurement; Pavements; Recommendations; Seasons; Validation; Weather
• Uncontrolled Terms: Models; Seasonal variations
• Old TRIS Terms: Normalizing
• Subject Areas: Highways; Pavements; Research; I23: Properties of Road Surfaces;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00490570
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Federal Highway Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA-RD-88-069, PTI 8711, 3A5g 0012
• Contract Numbers: DTFH61-84-C-00078
• Files: TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Jan 31 1990 12:00AM