RESEARCH

Pavement Surface Characteristics

Pavement surface characteristics affect roadway safety, comfort, and durability.

In addition, they affect vehicle performance and can even have an environmental impact. For example, friction and splash & spray affect safety. Smoothness directly affects comfort. Tire-pavement noise and solar reflectance (albedo) can be environmental concerns.

Our Experience

Our experts have delivered pavement surface solutions for over 40 years. Experts in pavement surfaces must understand more than pavements.

In pavement smoothness, for example, good ride quality comes from an understanding of both pavements and vehicle dynamics.

In pavement noise, experts must understand both pavement texture and acoustics. Our staff is uniquely qualified to bring practical solutions in pavement surfaces.

LEARN ABOUT PAVEMENT NOISE →

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LEARN ABOUT PAVEMENT TEXTURE →

Learn the Basics of Pavement Surface Characteristics

Why should you care about pavement surface characteristics?

If you are a driver

You can feel the vibration caused by the roughness of a pavement surface. This is a key component of pavement surface characteristics (PSC).

Excess vibration at certain frequencies may not only cause discomfort but may even lead to health problems.

Fuel economy and vehicle and tire wear are also adversely affected. PSC also includes pavement friction. If not carefully considered, this may lead to an unsafe situation.

Finally, driving is stressful enough, and excess noise due to the interaction between the tires and the pavement can sometimes add to this. A key PSC is tire-pavement noise, which can be reduced if proper measures are taken.

If you live or work near busy roads

You may be annoyed by traffic noise. While more intuitive sources of noise such as vehicle engine and exhaust systems can be significant, these effects are quite often only dominant on lower speed city streets.

For those adjacent to high-speed facilities (highways and freeways), tire-pavement noise becomes dominant, thus making this an important PSC.

If traffic noise affects you, you may wish to know how to reduce traffic noise without the use of costly (and sometimes unsightly) sound barriers.

If you are a pavement engineer or road owner

You may want to find out how to design, build, and maintain the optimum (ideal) pavement. Included in this decision making process is the desire for a quiet, smooth, safe, and durable surface.

These issues are often complicated by competing interests and public demands. How can we truly achieve a win-win solution?

Transtec provides consulting, design, testing, and training with respect to all pavement surface characteristics.

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We welcome your questions and comments about anything.