Developing an Analysis Framework to Quantify and Compare Skid Resistance Performance on Porous and Nonporous Pavements

Abstract

Porous pavement surfaces are widely used to improve wet-pavement skid resistance and to reduce skidding accidents. Numerous studies in the literature have examined the ability of porous pavements to provide better skid resistance than nonporous pavements; however, many of these studies were experimental and could not offer a mechanistic interpretation of the skid resistance behavior exhibited by porous pavements. This paper presents an analysis framework that can mechanistically quantify the skid resistance capabilities of porous and non-porous pavement surfaces and aid in understanding the key factors involved. The analysis framework consists of two key modules. The first determines the thickness of the water film accumulated on pavement surfaces for a given rainfall intensity, and the second computes wet-pavement skid resistance with consideration of structural mechanics, fluid dynamics, fluid–structure interaction, and flow within a porous medium. The developed framework is first validated against past experimental data and is found to predict skid resistance accurately. An illustrative case study is then presented to quantify and compare skid resistance performance between porous and nonporous pavements. This case study demonstrates that the developed framework not only effectively compares skid resistance performance between porous and nonporous pavements but also provides a fundamental understanding of the development of skid resistance on those surfaces.