Journal Article

The Effective Depth of Skid Resistance (EDSR): A Novel Approach to Detecting Skid Resistance in Asphalt Pavements

Xu, Yongli, Li, Yiming, Luo, Yi, Wang, Liming, Wang, Hongguang

2025

Overview

Asphalt pavement skid resistance, governed by surface texture, is critical for traffic safety. Most research has focused on full-depth textural characteristics, often overlooking the depth of tire–pavement contact under real traffic conditions. This study introduces the concept of the Effective Depth of Skid Resistance (EDSR) to describe the effective depth of tire–asphalt contact, improving skid resistance assessment accuracy. Using blue linear laser scanning, surface textures of three common asphalt pavements with wearing courses—AC-13, AC-16, and SMA-13—were analyzed, and friction coefficients were measured using a British pendulum. After pre-processing three-dimensional texture data, fractal dimensions at various depths were calculated using the box-counting method and correlated with the friction coefficients. Previous studies show an insignificant correlation between full-depth asphalt pavement textures and skid resistance. However, this study found a significant positive correlation between skid resistance and pavement textures at specific depths or the EDSR. A depth with a correlation exceeding 0.9 was defined as the EDSR. Linear formulas were established for each pavement type within these EDSR ranges. A theoretical model was developed for predicting skid resistance, showing an over 80% accuracy against real-world data, indicating its potential for improving road surface performance detection.

• Publisher: MDPI AG,MDPI
• Subject: Aggregates / Asphalt pavements / Coefficient of friction / Correlation / Driving conditions / Fractal geometry / Fractals / Friction / Lasers / Morphology / Pressure distribution / Roads & highways / Skid resistance / Stone mastic asphalt / Surface layers / Texture / Tires / Traffic / Variance analysis