Pavement Marking/Colored Pavement Friction Differential and Product Durability

Abstract

The frictional characteristics of pavement surfaces is a major component of safety. Pavement markings play a very important role in traffic flow and safety, but they also have different friction characteristics than pavement due largely to the spherical glass media needed to improve retroreflectivity for night visibility and the marking material itself. The sudden change in frictional characteristics - friction differential - can create a safety hazard for pedestrians, motorcyclists, and bicyclists, especially under wet conditions. In this research effort, this issue was addressed first by performing a literature review, including a comprehensive review of the NordicCert certification process used in Scandinavian countries for selecting pavement marking products and conducting a survey to evaluate how users are affected by the friction differential between pavement markings and normal pavement surface. Then, based on recommendations from members of the Technical Advisory Panel, the research team developed and performed in situ experiments at MnROAD to determine the friction properties of various pavement markings, using a dynamic friction tester (DFT) and British pendulum test (BPT). A Sideway-force Coefficient Routine Investigation Machine (SCRIM) was also used to provide continuous friction measurement data. The data analysis showed that all three test methods (DFT, BPT, and SCRIM) produced comparable results and identified a similar range of friction differentials. A procedure used in the United Kingdom was recommended at the end, as an initial step in providing guidelines for selecting the friction coefficient of pavement markings.