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Pavement Surface Characteristics

Research and Development in smooth, quiet, safe and durable pavements
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Surface Characteristics Resources

 

Mn/DOT's Astro Turf Drag

 

Strategic Plan for
Improved Concrete Pavement Surface Characteristics

 

Innovative Diamond Grind at MnROAD

 

Related Studies

Implementation of an
International Roughness Index

 

 

For more information:

 

 

Bernard Izevbekhai, Road Research

 

Research Topics

Resources

Organizations

 

Road users expect pavements to be smooth, quite, and safe. To encourage smooth pavements, we need to quantify the effects of other important pavement performance parameters on ride.  These parameters include texture, noise, and friction.

 

Quiet Pavements Seminar

On May 7, TERRA, the U of M and Mn/DOT hosted a seminar on the latest innovations in reducing the noise from tire-pavement interaction. Local and international experts from Denmark and Sweden presented the latest research about quiet pavements. View the webcast.

 

Minnesota Research and Implementation Projects

PCC Surface Characteristics – Rehabilitation TPF-5(134)

This pooled fund project is evaluating the performance of four sections at MnROAD: a transversely tined surface, a conventional grinding, and two variations of New Generation Concrete Surface (NGCS) developed at Purdue University.

 

PCC Surface Characteristics for New Construction  MPR-6(021)

Research findings will enable Mn/DOT to specify friction, ride, and texture range of values that will optimize quietness, ride, texture and friction in program delivery.  It will reduce the incidence of uncomfortable ride, hydroplaning, and obnoxious whines.

 

HMA Surface Characteristics related to Ride, Texture, Friction, Noise, Durability MPR-6(029)

More and more attention has been paid recently to hot mix asphalt pavement surface characteristics.  In addition to structural capacity and durability, it is now desirable to design pavements to meet noise, texture, friction, and ride requirements.  This pooled fund project will evaluate several asphalt test cells as MnROAD over a 5 year period for surface performance.

 

Innovative Diamond Grinding on MnROAD Cells 7, 8, 9, and 37

This report describes the innovative grinding conducted on cells 7, 8, 9, and 37 at the MnROAD research facility of the Minnesota Department of Transportation, and the initial measurement of surface characteristics. The three types of diamond grinding studied include a conventional method (1/8" x 1/8" x 0.120 groove kerf configuration), the "innovative grind" (flush grind and groove) and the "ultimate grind" (flush grind and groove, with wider spacing between grooves than the innovative grind). The report describes the construction efforts followed by the initial testing, and the plans for long-term observation, monitoring, and surface characteristics testing.

 

Other References