Evaluation of the Ultra-Light Inertial Profiler (ULIP) for Measuring Surface Texture of Pavements

The National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT) test track comprises a range of different mixtures types with varying surface textures. The macrotextures of the surface mixtures on the track were measured following the suspension of trafficking operations (as part of the Phase 2 experiment) using the ASTM sand patch and circular texture meter (CTM) methods as well as with the new ultra-light inertial profiler (ULIP). An excellent correlation was found between the macrotexture measurements of the NCAT sections using these three devices. The ULIP has an advantage over the sand patch and CTM methods in that the macrotexture of a stretch of road can be measured instead of spot measurements. This allows the definition of texture wavelength spectra that can be used to calculate the ISO texture wavelength parameters L4 and L63. These parameters are reportedly related to noise levels generated at the pavement-tire interface. Past studies at NCAT have indicated that noise at the pavement-tire interface is not overly influenced by surface macrotexture or mixture gradation parameters such as fineness modulus. A statistical analysis of variance was done to relate noise levels measured on the different sections at the NCAT track with texture parameters measured with the ULIP and mixture gradation properties. Once again, no definitive relationship between sound pressure as measured at the pavement-tire interface and the material factors was observed. This conclusion suggests that pavement-tire noise cannot only be defined in terms of mixture gradation and surface texture properties, particularly if the surface mixture has been exposed to trafficking as was the case at the track. The focus of the report is on the evaluation of the ULIP to measure the macrotexture properties of surface layers. The device proved to be an effective and efficient tool for this purpose. Possible anomalies using the ULIP device were identified but these would need to be confirmed, possibly by repeating selected tests with an alternative surface profiler.

• Record URL:
  http://www.eng.auburn.edu/research/centers/ncat/files/reports/2007/rep07-01.pdf
• 
• Corporate Authors:

  National Center for Asphalt Technology

  Auburn University, 277 Technology Parkway
  Auburn, AL  United States  36830

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Smit, Andre de Fortier
  • Waller, Brian
• Publication Date: 2007-6

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Features: Appendices; Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 122p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Asphalt mixtures; Bituminous mixtures; Inertial forces; Mixtures; Pavement design; Pavements; Rolling contact; Test tracks; Texture
• Uncontrolled Terms: Inertial profilers
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Pavements; I22: Design of Pavements, Railways and Guideways; I23: Properties of Road Surfaces;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01090131
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: NCAT Report 07-01
• Files: TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Mar 21 2008 8:13AM