{"id":{"repo_id":"vt","oai_identifier":"oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/36277"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/vt/oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/36277","repository":{"repo_id":"vt","name":"Virginia Tech","base_url":"https://vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"Evaluation of International Friction Index and High-Friction Surfaces","abstract":"State highway agencies have an obligation to provide users with optimal surface conditions under various weather conditions throughout the year. A satisfactory pavement surface should exhibit good friction and texture depth to reduce roadway highway accidents. This is why friction is starting to receive increased attention in the pavement management process. There have been numerous research efforts by different countries and agencies to better understand the behavior of different friction testing devices and the influence of texture, speed, and other external conditions on their measurements. The first part of this thesis presents a research effort to compare and harmonize texture and skid resistance measurements taken with various devices on 24 pavement sections with a wide range of textures. Measurements were compared and the International Friction Index (IFI) calculated following PIARC and ASTM steps. The results revealed discrepancies in the IFI values calculated for the different devices, suggesting that the coefficients A, B, and C proposed by PIARC may need to be adjusted for each device considered before the IFI can be implemented by the surface properties consortium participating agencies. In this research the A, B, and C coefficients were then recalculated, and the predicted values of friction using these revised coefficients are presented. The coefficients developed were also used to obtain IFI values for high-friction surfaces (HFS). It has been found that under different conditions, different parameters and coefficients will result. It is strongly recommended equipment comparison experiments (like the NASA and Smart Road programs) continue to better determine the coefficients necessary for harmonization. HFS have emerged as viable high-friction pavement alternatives that mitigate the consequences of driver error, poor geometric alignment of the roadway, and insufficient friction at the tire-pavement interaction, especially during wet weather. This thesis presents a study of the HFS available in the U.S. market and their performance (friction and texture) in different applications, under different weather conditions, and in various locations. This thesis also presents the results of the benefit-cost analysis for the studied HFS.","abstract_html":"State highway agencies have an obligation to provide users with optimal surface conditions under various weather conditions throughout the year. A satisfactory pavement surface should exhibit good friction and texture depth to reduce roadway highway accidents. This is why friction is starting to receive increased attention in the pavement management process. There have been numerous research efforts by different countries and agencies to better understand the behavior of different friction testing devices and the influence of texture, speed, and other external conditions on their measurements. The first part of this thesis presents a research effort to compare and harmonize texture and skid resistance measurements taken with various devices on 24 pavement sections with a wide range of textures. Measurements were compared and the International Friction Index (IFI) calculated following PIARC and ASTM steps. The results revealed discrepancies in the IFI values calculated for the different devices, suggesting that the coefficients A, B, and C proposed by PIARC may need to be adjusted for each device considered before the IFI can be implemented by the surface properties consortium participating agencies. In this research the A, B, and C coefficients were then recalculated, and the predicted values of friction using these revised coefficients are presented. The coefficients developed were also used to obtain IFI values for high-friction surfaces (HFS). It has been found that under different conditions, different parameters and coefficients will result. It is strongly recommended equipment comparison experiments (like the NASA and Smart Road programs) continue to better determine the coefficients necessary for harmonization. HFS have emerged as viable high-friction pavement alternatives that mitigate the consequences of driver error, poor geometric alignment of the roadway, and insufficient friction at the tire-pavement interaction, especially during wet weather. This thesis presents a study of the HFS available in the U.S. market and their performance (friction and texture) in different applications, under different weather conditions, and in various locations. This thesis also presents the results of the benefit-cost analysis for the studied HFS.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Roa, Julio Alberto"],"institution":"Virginia Tech","degree_name":"Master of Science","degree_level":"masters","degree_discipline":"Civil Engineering","degree_department":"Civil Engineering","school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":["Flintsch, Gerardo W."],"committee_members":["Wang, Linbing","Trani, Antonio A."],"year":2008,"date_issued":"2008-12-05","date_published":"2008-12-05","updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:20:21Z","subjects":["high-friction surface","harmonization","International Friction Index","testing devices.","safety"],"languages":[],"rights":["In Copyright"],"rights_urls":["http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/"],"identifier_entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.other","label":"Dc Identifier Other","values":["etd-12182008-225503"],"render_values":[{"text":"etd-12182008-225503","href":null,"code":true}]}]},"links":{"outbound_url":"http://hdl.handle.net/10919/36277","outbound_label":"Handle","outbound_source":"dc:identifier.uri"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.committeechair","label":"Committee Chair","values":["Flintsch, Gerardo W."]},{"key":"dc:contributor.committeemember","label":"Committee Member","values":["Wang, Linbing","Trani, Antonio A."]},{"key":"dc:contributor.department","label":"Department","values":["Civil Engineering"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Roa, Julio Alberto"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.accessioned","label":"Dc Date Accessioned","values":["2014-03-14T20:50:20Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2014-03-14T20:50:20Z","2009-01-25"]},{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2008-12-05"]},{"key":"dc:publisher","label":"Institution","values":["Virginia Tech"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Civil Engineering"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["masters"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Science"]},{"key":"thesis:institution_name","label":"Thesis Institution Name","values":["Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["high-friction surface","harmonization","International Friction Index","testing devices.","safety"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["In Copyright"]},{"key":"dc:rights.uri","label":"Rights URI","values":["http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.other","label":"Dc Identifier Other","values":["etd-12182008-225503"]},{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["http://hdl.handle.net/10919/36277"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["State highway agencies have an obligation to provide users with optimal surface conditions under various weather conditions throughout the year. A satisfactory pavement surface should exhibit good friction and texture depth to reduce roadway highway accidents. This is why friction is starting to receive increased attention in the pavement management process. There have been numerous research efforts by different countries and agencies to better understand the behavior of different friction testing devices and the influence of texture, speed, and other external conditions on their measurements. The first part of this thesis presents a research effort to compare and harmonize texture and skid resistance measurements taken with various devices on 24 pavement sections with a wide range of textures. Measurements were compared and the International Friction Index (IFI) calculated following PIARC and ASTM steps. The results revealed discrepancies in the IFI values calculated for the different devices, suggesting that the coefficients A, B, and C proposed by PIARC may need to be adjusted for each device considered before the IFI can be implemented by the surface properties consortium participating agencies. In this research the A, B, and C coefficients were then recalculated, and the predicted values of friction using these revised coefficients are presented. The coefficients developed were also used to obtain IFI values for high-friction surfaces (HFS). It has been found that under different conditions, different parameters and coefficients will result. It is strongly recommended equipment comparison experiments (like the NASA and Smart Road programs) continue to better determine the coefficients necessary for harmonization. HFS have emerged as viable high-friction pavement alternatives that mitigate the consequences of driver error, poor geometric alignment of the roadway, and insufficient friction at the tire-pavement interaction, especially during wet weather. This thesis presents a study of the HFS available in the U.S. market and their performance (friction and texture) in different applications, under different weather conditions, and in various locations. This thesis also presents the results of the benefit-cost analysis for the studied HFS."]},{"key":"dc:description.degree","label":"Dc Description Degree","values":["Master of Science"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Evaluation of International Friction Index and High-Friction Surfaces"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.committeechair":["Flintsch, Gerardo W."],"dc:contributor.committeemember":["Wang, Linbing","Trani, Antonio A."],"dc:contributor.department":["Civil Engineering"],"dc:creator":["Roa, Julio Alberto"],"dc:date.accessioned":["2014-03-14T20:50:20Z"],"dc:date.available":["2014-03-14T20:50:20Z","2009-01-25"],"dc:date.issued":["2008-12-05"],"dc:description.abstract":["State highway agencies have an obligation to provide users with optimal surface conditions under various weather conditions throughout the year. A satisfactory pavement surface should exhibit good friction and texture depth to reduce roadway highway accidents. This is why friction is starting to receive increased attention in the pavement management process. There have been numerous research efforts by different countries and agencies to better understand the behavior of different friction testing devices and the influence of texture, speed, and other external conditions on their measurements. The first part of this thesis presents a research effort to compare and harmonize texture and skid resistance measurements taken with various devices on 24 pavement sections with a wide range of textures. Measurements were compared and the International Friction Index (IFI) calculated following PIARC and ASTM steps. The results revealed discrepancies in the IFI values calculated for the different devices, suggesting that the coefficients A, B, and C proposed by PIARC may need to be adjusted for each device considered before the IFI can be implemented by the surface properties consortium participating agencies. In this research the A, B, and C coefficients were then recalculated, and the predicted values of friction using these revised coefficients are presented. The coefficients developed were also used to obtain IFI values for high-friction surfaces (HFS). It has been found that under different conditions, different parameters and coefficients will result. It is strongly recommended equipment comparison experiments (like the NASA and Smart Road programs) continue to better determine the coefficients necessary for harmonization. HFS have emerged as viable high-friction pavement alternatives that mitigate the consequences of driver error, poor geometric alignment of the roadway, and insufficient friction at the tire-pavement interaction, especially during wet weather. This thesis presents a study of the HFS available in the U.S. market and their performance (friction and texture) in different applications, under different weather conditions, and in various locations. This thesis also presents the results of the benefit-cost analysis for the studied HFS."],"dc:description.degree":["Master of Science"],"dc:identifier.other":["etd-12182008-225503"],"dc:identifier.uri":["http://hdl.handle.net/10919/36277"],"dc:publisher":["Virginia Tech"],"dc:rights":["In Copyright"],"dc:rights.uri":["http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/"],"dc:subject":["high-friction surface","harmonization","International Friction Index","testing devices.","safety"],"dc:title":["Evaluation of International Friction Index and High-Friction Surfaces"],"dc:type":["Thesis"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Civil Engineering"],"thesis:degree_level":["masters"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Science"],"thesis:institution_name":["Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:20:21Z"}