Friction is one of the essential aspects of pavement performance and safety. Unfortunately, the rate at which the friction data are being collected exceeds the rate at which the data can be proficiently analyzed. Furthermore, the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) lacks long-term trend analysis for the many years of locked-wheel skid trailer (LWST) data collected in Utah. In addition, UDOT is missing a statistically adequate correlation equation between friction-testing devices. Likewise, only one method is used in Utah to prequalify aggregates for use in pavements. Finally, there has not been an investigation of the potential use of lithium silicate solution in Utah as a hardening agent to decrease the rate of friction loss. This research consists of five objectives. The first objective was to investigate pavement friction factors that influence skid resistance; methods of measuring skid resistance in the laboratory and the field, including correlations between test results; methods of evaluating aggregate sources; and methods of enhancing skid resistance of asphalt pavements through a comprehensive literature review on these subjects. The second objective was to investigate temporal trends in skid numbers measured using the LWST on Utah highways with different surface treatment types. The third objective was to develop a three-way correlation between the skid number measured with the LWST in the field, the British pendulum number measured with the British pendulum tester (BPT) in the field, and the polish value measured with the BPT in the laboratory. The fourth objective was to investigate selected performance-related properties of aggregates used to produce surface treatments at several field sites representing Utah conditions. The fifth objective was to examine the potential benefits of lithium silicate treatment for improving the resistance of aggregates to polishing. The scope of the research for the five objectives included statistical analysis, field testing, and laboratory experimentation. The findings include, first, a literature review that identified four critical deficiencies in Utah’s friction-related literature, which formed the basis of the remaining four objectives. Second, a statistical analysis of 9 years of LWST data indicated above-average skid values across Utah’s pavement network. Third, correlations were evaluated for multiple friction-testing devices. Fourth, X-ray diffraction testing methods were found to compare favorably to the accelerated polish test. Fifth and finally, the effects of lithium silicate solution on polish-susceptible aggregates were documented. This research has substantially advanced the body of knowledge on pavement friction testing and improving the resistance of aggregates to polishing in Utah through laboratory and field experimentation

Road safety is a complex problem. It is influenced mainly by the driver, the vehicle and the road surface. This thesis is focused on the road surface properties and especially skid resistance that directly affect the braking distance and keeping the vehicle in the horizontal curves and thus traffic accidents. The thesis deals with the durability of pavement surface skid resistance, the type of pavement layers and aggregate polishing used in wearing course. The aim of this thesis was to develop the methodology for improvement of road surfaces skid resistance durability and implementation of functional test for their assessment.

The diploma thesis deals with the problems of pavement surface skid resistence of wearing course of asphalt mixtures with R-material. Specifically, it is a mixture of type ACO 11 (asphalt concrete for wearing layers). In the theoretical part of the thesis there are dismantled the problems of Antiskid properties of the road surface and recycling of R-material. The practical part is dedicated to the design and laboratory production of the asphalt mixture ACO 11 without admixture of R-material and with content of 38 % R-material. In addition, the results of the measurement of friction coefficient after smoothed for these bitumen mixtures are shown in the work. The aim of the thesis was to determine the influence of the increased content of R-material on the anti-skid properties of the road surface as it is planned to update the standard ČSN EN 13108-1, which will allow the use of up to 40 % R-material into the mixtures of type ACO 11.