Field assessment of three-dimensional surface texture and frictional properties of experimental Canadian road pavements

Three-Dimensional (3D) texture measurement and pavement friction evaluations were conducted at the test-track of the Centre for Pavement and Transportation Technology at the University of Waterloo, Canada. The test-rack consists of 10 types of flexible and rigid pavement sections with various mixture designs. These experimental sections were subjected to frequent heavy truck loadings and harsh climatic conditions in Canada. This research was to quantify pavement surface texture in a 3D manner, to investigate pavement friction values, and to explore the relationship between pavement texture and friction. Pavement texture was measured by using a line-laser scanner of which the accuracy of texture measurement was better than 0.05 mm. The advantage of the line-laser scanner was that pavement surface texture was recovered into 3D surface texture height maps and providing more realistic assessment of surface texture than two-dimensional profile methods. A significant relationship was developed between pavement texture and friction.