Abstract
Although the splash and spray phenomenon produced by heavy trucks on road pavements is not a significant issue in relation to traffic safety, it may cause considerable inconveniences for those driving cars or motorbikes. This paper addresses the issue of pavement engineering with regard to surface characteristics; particularly pavement texture and its influence on water mobilization and projection in conditions of wet weather and heavy traffic. Considering the theoretical concept of pavement macrotexture, the analysis starts with the hypothesis concerning a relationship between Mean Profile Depth (MPD) and water splashed during rain. In order to focus on the impact of texture on splash and spray, a field experiment was carried out to test the hypothesis using 5 test tracks on a range of different pavement textures. The experiment was performed using a Traffic Speed Drain Meter (TSDM), which is a new drainability survey device presented to PIARC for approval. This equipment employs the laser and image technology and allows one to simultaneously obtain MPD and water splash data. The results of drainability and MPD were compared for each test track. Having analysed the pavements with different MPD ranges in the experiment, it has been concluded that MPD and water splashed apparently have an inversely proportional relationship. In addition, the TSDM proved to be a suitable equipment (repeatability) at an affordable cost (high performance of data collection). Finally, it has been concluded that there is a way to reduce splash and spray adjusting the infrastructure rather trying to solve the issue modifying vehicle moving modes. Therefore, if the issue is properly addressed by civil engineers and road managers, road safety in the areas of heavy rain may be improved at an affordable cost. The experiment presented here is considered a starting point opening the path for further research.
Highlights
Splash and spray from heavy vehicles occur on wet pavements and causes inconveniences for those driving cars or motorcycles
Statistical significance between the differences among mean profile depth (MPD) ranges for water droplets collected would confirm the hypothesis of this paper: the existence of a relationship between water splashed in a wet road and pavement texture
Since the p-value of the F-test is less than 0.05, there is a statistically significant difference between the mean water droplets number from one level of MPD range to another at the 5% significance level. This result confirms that the range of pavement macrotexture has an influence on the water splashed from a tire rolling over wet road
Summary
Splash and spray from heavy vehicles occur on wet pavements and causes inconveniences for those driving cars or motorcycles. The systems of different configurations and designs aimed at eliminating the phenomenon and protecting the drivers have been developed since the 1880s (Tennent, 1886; Marion, 1915). It was first perceived as a hazardous phenomenon for traffic safety, a great deal of research was carried out by different organizations, especially the Road Research Laboratory of the United Kingdom (Maycock, 1966) and the Federal Highway Administration of the United States (Weir et al, 1971). This paper takes an infrastructure-related approach and presents research regarding the influence of pavement texture on the water splash phenomenon occurring on wet roads. Five Test Tracks were surveyed using this device in order to analyse the influence of surface texture on water splash
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