Investigation to the skid resistance of asphalt pavement based on the movement of aeolian sand

Abstract

Particulate contaminants that adhere to the surface have a major impact on asphalt pavement skid resistance. In this investigation, the skid resistance analysis system for the contaminated road was used to look at the decay characteristics of the pavement friction and the movement behavior of sand particles. To analyze the effect of aeolian sand on the skid resistance, the handheld laser scanner was used to collect the road surface macrotexture and then rebuilt the 3D model. The surface roughness of the contaminated road can be jointly characterized via the centreline average (Sa), the profile root-mean-square deviation (Sq), the height distribution symmetry (Ssk), and the height distribution kurtosis (Sku). The results show that aeolian sand has shear lubrication and rolling lubrication at the contact interface between the tire and the road. It fills the macrotexture and weakens the road's skid resistance. When there is aeolian sand adhering to the pavement, sliding and rolling friction provides the skid resistance of the asphalt road. Excessive aeolian sand has adverse long-term effects on skid resistance. It is recommended to routinely clean the road surface to maintain its original skid resistance when the amount of sand reaches to 0.625 kg/m2.