Impact of Aggregate Characteristics on Frictional Performance of Asphalt-Based High Friction Surface Treatments

Author

Alireza Roshan
Magdy Abdelrahman, Missouri University of Science and TechnologyFollow

Abstract

High Friction Surface Treatments (HFST) are recognized for their effectiveness in enhancing skid resistance and reducing road accidents. While Epoxy-based HFSTs are widely applied, they present limitations such as compatibility issues with existing pavements, high installation and removal costs, and durability concerns tied to substrate quality. As an alternative to traditional Epoxy-based HFSTs, this study investigated the effects of aggregate gradation as designated by agencies on the performance of asphalt-based HFST. Various aggregate types were assessed to evaluate friction performance and the impact of polishing cycles on non-Epoxy HFST. It was found that adjustments in aggregate size and gradation may be necessary when transitioning to asphalt-based HFSTs, given the different nature of asphalt as more temperature susceptible compared to Epoxy. Various asphalt binder grades were considered in this study. A series of tests, including the British Pendulum Test (BPT), Dynamic Friction Tester (DFT), Circular Track Meter (CTM), Micro-Deval (MD), and Aggregate Imaging Measurement System (AIMS), were conducted to measure Coefficient of Friction (COF), Mean Profile Depth (MPD), texture, and angularity before and after polishing cycles. The results showed that the COF in asphalt-based slabs decreased more significantly than in Epoxy-based slabs as polishing cycles increased for HFST and medium gradations. However, in coarse gradation, the COF of slabs using asphalt-based binder matched or even surpassed that of Epoxy after polishing. Notably, the PG88-16 binder for Calcined Bauxite (CB) had the smallest reduction in COF after 140K polishing cycles, with only a 19% decrease compared to a 23% reduction for Epoxy.

Recommended Citation

A. Roshan and M. Abdelrahman, "Impact of Aggregate Characteristics on Frictional Performance of Asphalt-Based High Friction Surface Treatments," CivilEng, vol. 6, no. 1, article no. 4, MDPI, Mar 2025.

The definitive version is available at https://doi.org/10.3390/civileng6010004

Department(s)

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering

Publication Status

Open Access

Comments

Missouri University of Science and Technology, Grant TR202206

Keywords and Phrases

aggregate type; asphalt-based HFST; dynamic friction tester (DFT); high friction surface treatment (HFST); size and gradation

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

2673-4109

Document Type

Article - Journal

Document Version

Final Version

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2025 The Authors, All rights reserved.

Creative Commons Licensing

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Publication Date

01 Mar 2025