Assessment of Splash and Spray Potential of Experimental Quiet Pavement Surfaces

Splash and spray potential is one of the less studied pavement functional characteristics, although it can have significant impact on travel safety and comfort. Research suggests that it contributes to a small, but measurable, proportion of road traffic accidents, provides considerable nuisance to motorists, and can generate negative environmental impact to the vegetation adjacent the roadside. This project will: (1) develop splash and spray measurement equipment, and (2) test innovative "quiet pavements" to determine if they also provide additional benefits with regards to this new emerging functional pavement performance parameter. The project is leveraged by the significant data being collected for the Virginia Quiet Pavement Initiative. The project will develop capabilities for testing splash and spray in the state and compare the splash and spray potential of Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) traditional and innovative pavement surfaces. The innovative aspects of the project include: (1) it allows for the incorporation of an additional functional performance measurement into the asset management process, (2) it will help design pavements that provide safer and more comfortable ride to the citizens of the state, and (3) it will contribute to consolidating VDOT's and Virginia Tech Transportation Institute's (VTTI's) leadership in the area of pavement surface characteristics.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $100000.00
• Contract Numbers:

  DTRT12-G-UTC03

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Mid-Atlantic Universities Transportation Center

  Pennsylvania State University
  201 Transportation Research Building
  University Park, PA  United States  16802-4710

  Research and Innovative Technology Administration

  University Transportation Centers Program
  1200 New Jersey Avenue
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Performing Organizations:

  Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg

  Virginia Tech Transportation Institute
  3500 Transportation Research Plaza
  Blacksburg, VA  United States  24061
• Principal Investigators:

  Flintsch, Gerardo

• Start Date: 20120901
• Expected Completion Date: 0
• Actual Completion Date: 20131231
• Source Data: RiP Project 33629

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Asset management; Data collection; Environmental impacts; Highway safety; Pavement design; Ride quality
• Uncontrolled Terms: Quiet pavements; Splash and spray
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Pavements;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01472291
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Mid-Atlantic Universities Transportation Center
• Contract Numbers: DTRT12-G-UTC03
• Files: UTC, RiP
• Created Date: Feb 14 2013 1:00AM