Book Description

"It is generally agreed that the skid resistance of a pavement is controlled by the surface texture characteristics. Therefore, by measuring the relevant parameters describing texture, or by measuring a physical process dependent on texture, regression techniques can be used to relate skid resistance to the chosen texture parameter or process. Two scales of texture are of particular importance: microtexture (small-scale asperities) and macrotexture (large-scale asperities). This report describes work performed to: (1) review candidate macrotexture and microtexture measurement methods that can be made at highway speeds (at or above 40 mph), which are presently used or have potential for use in pavement texture measurement; (2) design and build a prototype of the most promising method; (3) evaluate the effects of pavement surface texture on skid resistance; and (4) investigate non-friction-related effects of pavement surface texture. A prototype noncontact vision system which takes texture measurements at highway speeds was developed, and several improvements were made to upgrade the system to provide an advanced-operational prototype. Both hardware and software enhancements have yielded a texture measurement system that is a fast, efficient, and reliable way of obtaining pavement macrotexture data"--Technical report documentation p.