Comparative Evaluation of Locked-Wheel and SCRIM Friction Testers

State departments of transportation (DOTs) are required to implement a pavement friction management program to minimize friction-related vehicle crashes over the state highway network. This implementation requires the collection and analysis of friction, crash, and traffic data to make informed and timely decisions, and provide pavements with adequate and durable frictional properties for the safety of the driving public. For friction measurements, most states use locked-wheel skid trailers to monitor the frictional performance of the highway network. The locked-wheel method, developed in the 1960s, simulates emergency braking without anti-lock brakes. In contrast, fixed slip, side force, and variable slip friction measurement systems more closely replicate the action of modern vehicles in an anti-lock braking situation. In addition, these systems provide continuous friction measurements over the test lane. However, the friction numbers from these measurement systems are not the same as the skid numbers obtained from the more commonly used locked-wheel skid trailers in the U.S. Thus, there is a need to compare the locked-wheel with continuous friction measurement devices. This paper presents results from side-by-side tests to compare measurements from the locked-wheel and the Sideway-force Coefficient Routine Investigation Machine (SCRIM). For state DOTs considering deployment of the SCRIM to support pavement friction management activities, relationships between friction numbers from both systems are evaluated to show how the SCRIM readings may be related back to historical data collected with locked-wheel skid systems.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper was sponsored by TRB committee AFD90 Standing Committee on Pavement Surface Properties and Vehicle Interaction.
• Authors:
  • Fernando, Emmanuel
  • Arrington, Dusty
  • Zimmer, Richard
• Conference:
  • Transportation Research Board 97th Annual Meeting
  • Location: Washington DC, United States
  • Date: 2018-1-7 to 2018-1-11
• Date: 2018

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 7p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Friction; Measuring instruments; Pavements
• Identifier Terms: Sideway-Force Coefficient Routine Investigation Machine
• Uncontrolled Terms: Comparative analysis; Friction numbers; Locked wheel testers; Skid number
• Subject Areas: Highways; Pavements;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01659011
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 18-01742
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Feb 5 2018 3:28PM