Sound Absorption and Friction Responses of Nanoconcrete for Rigid Pavements

This paper reports the influence of nanosilica on friction and sound absorption responses of concrete for application in rigid pavements. The paper also discusses the feasibility of applying nano-lotus leaf as a coating for concrete material. Previous research on friction and sound absorption characteristics of concrete pavement primarily emphasized creating different surface textures through macrotexture modifications. The microstructure can also have a significant effect on surface texture, friction, and sound absorption characteristics of concrete. This research studied the friction and sound absorption properties of concrete on the basis of microtexture modification that used nanomaterials such as nano-silica and nano-lotus leaf. Several laboratory concretes were produced by using different proportions of nanosilica, which partially replaced cement by weight. The fresh concretes were tested for workability, wet density, and air content. The hardened concretes were tested for compressive strength, friction, and sound absorption. The British pendulum test was used to determine the friction number. An impedance tube was used to determine the sound absorption coefficient. Preliminary results indicate that nanosilica can increase friction and sound absorption of concrete pavements. In addition, the results show that nano-lotus leaf can be applied as a coating on concrete material for rigid pavements to improve retention of their friction properties during the wet season.