LOCKED-WHEEL PAVEMENT SKID TESTER CORRELATION AND CALIBRATION TECHNIQUES

The objective of the National Cooperative Highway Research Program Project 1-12(2) was the development and verification of methods for improving the ability to measure reliably the skid resistance of wet pavement surfaces with skid testers in conformance with ASTM Method E-274-70. The approach used to improve the understanding and reliability of pavement skid resistance measurement involved: contacts with skid tester owners to collect information on test equipment and operating procedures; conduct of laboratory and field experiments to determine the effect of specific variables on skid resistance measurement; computer simulation studies on the influence of equipment dynamics on skid tester performance; development of tentative recommendations for reducing the variability in skid resistance measurement; and conduct of a two-week skid tester correlation program to verify and modify the tentative recommendations. An analysis of variance performed on data collected during the correlation program indicates that the precision of skid testers, although not completely satisfactory, is generally better than their accuracy. The factors most responsible for the initial poor correlation, in order of decreasing effect, were: force calibration and wheel-load errors; data interpretation and evaluation; water systems; and temperature differences. Applications and recommendations are outlined.

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/nchrp/nchrp_rrd_49.pdf
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Based on NCHRP-Proj-1-12(2), "Locked-Wheel Pavement Skid Tester Correlation and Calibration Techniques," by W. E. Meyer; R. R. Hegmon; T. D. Gillespie, Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park, Pa. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Publication Date: 1973-9

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Pagination: p. 1-5
• Serial:
  • NCHRP Research Results Digest
  • Issue Number: 49
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Calibration; Pavements; Performance; Skid resistance tests; Testing equipment; Wet weather
• Uncontrolled Terms: Wet pavements
• Subject Areas: Highways; Pavements; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00207603
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: Monograph, HS-016 053
• Files: TRIS, TRB, USDOT
• Created Date: Jul 30 1983 12:00AM