Concrete pavement surface textures and multivariables frictional performance analysis: a North American case study

Concrete pavements are well known for long structural life. The major challenge, however, is to provide a durable surface with adequate skid resistance for economy and safety. This paper examines the long-term frictional performance of eight different surface textures on 197 sections of concrete pavements within the long-term pavement performance (LTPP) program database. Analysis shows that tined and (or) grooved textures maintain consistently higher skid resistance over time and the surface friction of concrete pavements is less sensitive to ambient temperature. Cumulative traffic passes are more sensitive to longevity of friction than the cumulative axle loads. Five alternative models have also been successfully developed for prediction of the long-term skid resistance of concrete pavements as a function of texture type, cumulative traffic passes, speed, and concrete compressive strength. These models were shown to be statistically significant at 95% confidence levels with reasonable prediction accuracy.