High Friction Surface

Treatments Overview

Frank Julian
Federal Highway Administration
Resource Center Safety & Design Team
 What is a
High Friction Surface Treatment?
High Friction Surface Treatments (HFST) are
pavement surfacing overlay systems with:
exceptional skid-resistant properties that are not
typically acquired by conventional materials
retains the higher friction property for a much
longer time.

Commercially available resin-based products

Generally applied in short sections to improve safety
in spot locations where friction demand is critical.
 HFST Binder Materials
Polymer system (proprietary blends)
Epoxy-resin
Polyester-resin
Acrylic-resin

Thin layer that

allows for 50%
aggregate
embedment depth
 HFST Aggregates
Recommended aggregate is calcined
bauxite which provides the highest
resistance to polishing.

Typically
referred to
as a 3 mm
aggregate
Calcined
Bauxite
National Center for Asphalt Technology
Aggregate Durability Study
HFS Phase 1 Laboratory Samples
DFT Summary
Bauxite Mining in the USA

Bauxite, AR

Eufaula, AL Andersonville, GA
Numbers for 2010's total proven bauxite reserves x 1,000 tonne
Country 2010 2011 (est.) Reserves Reserve base
Guinea 17,400 18,000 7,400,000 8,600,000
Australia 68,400 67,000 6,200,000 7,900,000
Vietnam 80 80 2,100,000 5,400,000
Jamaica 8,540 10,200 2,000,000 2,500,000
Brazil 28,100 31,000 3,600,000 2,500,000
Guyana 1,760 2,000 850,000 900,000
India 18,000 20,000 900,000 1,400,000
China 44,000 46,000 830,000 2,300,000
Greece 2,100 2,100 600,000 650,000
Iran 500
Suriname 4,000 5,000 580,000 600,000
Sierra Leone 1,090 1,700 180,000 ?
Kazakhstan 5,310 5,400 160,000 450,000
Venezuela 2,500 4,500 320,000 350,000
Russia 5,480 5,800 200,000 250,000
United States 30 NA 20,000 40,000
Other countries 2,630 2,600 3,300,000 3,800,000
World total (rounded) 209,000 220,000 29,000,000 38,000,000
 Why Calcined Bauxite?
AASHTO PP 79-14 Standard Practice for
High Friction Surface Treatment for Asphalt
and Concrete Pavements

In-place friction characteristics must meet a

minimum requirement of 65 FN40R when
tested in accordance to AASHTO T 242
upon completion of the installation
Some States are using values
greater than 65
 Texas Transportation
Institute Friction Test Results

The 3 run average, SN40 wet value

on the concrete pavement was 52
The 3 run average, SN40 wet value
on the HFST was 85
The stopping difference was 25% -
30%, regardless of the speed.
Effect of Water Film Thickness on
Pavement Friction (Henry, 2000)
 Conceptual Relationship
(Friction Demand, Speed and Friction Availability)
Example of Variable Friction Demand
Relationship between curve speed and side friction demand for two radii
Side Friction Demand, g

42 53

Source TRR 2075

Basis for AASHTO Curve Design
Driver Comfort
Model is ________________
Although the curve design policy
stems from the laws of mechanics,
the values used in design depend on
practical limits and factors
determined empirically over the
range of variables involved.
 AASHTO Horizontal Curve
Design Model
f = friction demand
= 2/15(e + f) V= operating speed (mph)

e + f = V2/15 R
f = (V2/15 R) - e
e = superelevation
f = side friction factor
V = design speed (mph)
R = radius of curve (ft)
 Operational Effect of HFST on
Vehicular Performance
Chapter 4 examined
the effect on operating
speed when HFST
was applied in
horizontal curves and
found no statistically
significant change

https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/research/safety/15030/15030.pdf
 2011 AASHTO Greenbook
Where practical, the maximum side friction factors used in
design should be conservative for dry pavements and
should provide an ample margin of safety against skidding
on pavements that are wet as well as ice or snow covered.
The need to provide skid-resistant pavement surfacing for
these conditions cannot be overemphasized because
superimposed on the frictional demands resulting from
roadway geometry are those that result from driving
maneuvers such as braking, sudden lane changes, and
minor changes in direction within a lane. In these short-
term maneuvers, high friction demand can exist but the
discomfort threshold may not be perceived in time for the
driver to take corrective action.
Strategies for Reducing Crashes

Why High Friction Surface

Treatment?

HFST is effective in reducing crashes:

Horizontal Curves
Intersections or braking conditions
Grades
Combination of all of the above
Picture Courtesy Illinois DOT
Horizontal Curve Fatalities

Tangent
Curved
 Horizontal Curves and Safety
7 6.7
Average crash
6
rates for
5 horizontal
Crashes/km

4
curves is
about 3 times
3 2.21 that of tangent
2 segments
1

0
 The Marquette Interchange

Milwaukee, WI
Systems interchange Junction of I-94, I-43, & I-794
Reconstruction completed in August 2008
Featured Context Sensitive Solutions for the surrounding
community
 TOTALS

Before HFST (11/08 8/11) 2 years, 10 months 219 crashes

HFST Applied 9/21/2011
After HFST (10/11 8/14) 2 years, 11 months 9 crashes
1997 2005, 21 Crashes Installed Safety
Features:
ADT is 5,000 with 8% trucks
Chevrons
Install HFST June 13, 2007
Southbound Lane Only Painted Slows
Advanced Signs
Reduced speed
GR & Reflectors
CLRS

SR 611 Northampton County, PA

Pennsylvania Success Story
Pennsylvania Success Story
Pennsylvania Project Summary
Installed 10/27/12
Traffic
SR 2017 - 9,000 AADT
SR 2024 - 4,600 AADT
Crashes
3 yrs. prior to install - 26
Since installation - 1
Skid Number
Before Install - 22
After Install - 75
Case Studies: PennDOT District 5
Like a Miracle

PennDOT District 5-0 evaluated 12 curves

Before installation (3 yrs.) = 136 crashes

After installation (3 yrs.) = 17 crashes

 Kentucky HFST Program
Crash Reduction %

Annual ALL RAMPS CURVES

Wet Avg. 90% 90% 84%

Dry Avg. 77% 78% 80%

Total Avg. 87% 95% 87%

(As of 6/22/2015)
 HFST Safety Effectiveness Study

Total Crashes
Ramps CMF = 0.48
Curves CMF = 0.63
Wet Road Crashes
Ramps CMF = 0.21
Curves CMF = 0.37

Details: 8 State Nave Study

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/research/safety/14065/14065.pdf
HFST Safety Effectiveness Study
Total Crashes
Ramps CMF = 0.65
Curves CMF = 0.76
Wet Road Crashes
Ramps CMF = 0.14
Curves CMF = 0.48

Details: Study with comparison sites

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/research/safety/14065/14065.pdf
 Links to HFST Resources

http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/
roadway_dept/pavement_friction
/

http://www.atssa.com/Resources/
HighFrictionSurfacing/Videos.aspx
 HFST Conclusion
HFST is not a pavement treatment that
happens to have safety benefits!
HFST is a great safety treatment that
happens to be a pavement!
To be applicable, HFST must still provide
the functions of a pavement for durability,
but it must greatly reduce crashes for a
significant duration to distinguish its
unique value.