Friction Characterization/Classification of Maryland Asphalt Mixes using Dynamic Friction Testing and Three Wheel Polishing Machine

Road surface friction characteristics are very important to determine safety of commuters while they apply brakes. More than 20% of accidents happen due to low friction value of road surface. This is a public safety issue, which needs to be addressed. SHA OMT has been collecting Dynamic Friction Testing (DFT) data on virgin aggregates used in asphalt mixes for the last three decades and predicting weighted average of DF (micro texture) value of asphalt mixes based on used sources of aggregates in the asphalt mixes. The prediction of DF value of asphalt mixes is not as accurate as the direct measurement of DF value on the actual asphalt mix. No equipment was available in the market to make 20in by 20in asphalt slab in the past, but now new equipment is available in the market to do so. We can make asphalt slabs in the lab and directly perform DF testing on these slabs to obtain the true friction performance of asphalt mixes. Based on DFV, the asphalt mixes can be classified as high, standard and low friction mixes. The pavement designer can choose mixes per need of road surface and accidents due to low road friction will be reduced.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $174,996.00
• Contract Numbers:

  SPR26B47

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration

  707 North Calvert Street
  Baltimore, MD  United States  21202
• Managing Organizations:

  Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration

  707 North Calvert Street
  Baltimore, MD  United States  21202
• Project Managers:

  Wyatt, Steve

• Performing Organizations:

  University of Maryland, College Park

  Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
  College Park, MD  United States  20742
• Principal Investigators:

  Wei, Jianqiang

  Attoh-Okine, Nii

• Start Date: 20260227
• Expected Completion Date: 20271231
• Actual Completion Date: 0
• USDOT Program: Pavements and Materials

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Asphalt mixtures; Friction tests; Highway safety; Polished aggregates; Surface friction
• Identifier Terms: Maryland Department of Transportation
• Geographic Terms: Maryland
• Subject Areas: Highways; Materials; Pavements; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01989120
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration
• Contract Numbers: SPR26B47
• Files: RIP, STATEDOT
• Created Date: May 13 2026 9:27AM