Finite Element Method-Based Skid Resistance Simulation Using In-Situ 3D Pavement Surface Texture and Friction Data.

Area of Science:

• Pavement Engineering
• Road Safety Analysis
• Computational Mechanics

Background:

• Skid resistance is crucial for roadway safety, necessitating accurate prediction methods.
• Current numerical simulations for skid resistance often rely on assumed friction parameters.
• Bridging the gap between pavement texture and simulation inputs is essential for reliable predictions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a finite element method (FEM)-based simulation framework for skid resistance prediction.
• To integrate in-situ 3D pavement surface texture and skid resistance data into the simulation.
• To determine accurate interface friction parameters for FEM simulations.

Main Methods:

• Reconstructed 3D pavement surface models from high-resolution texture data.
• Implemented an exponential decay friction model with a binary search back-calculation approach for parameter determination.
• Utilized Butterworth filtering to separate texture into macro- and micro-scales and calculated areal texture indicators.
• Conducted Principal Component Analysis (PCA) regression to correlate texture characteristics with friction parameters.

Main Results:

• Developed a validated FEM framework for skid resistance simulation.
• Successfully determined interface friction parameters using a back-calculation method based on observed skid numbers.
• Quantified the relationship between pavement texture characteristics (macro- and micro-scale) and interface friction parameters.

Conclusions:

• The developed FEM framework provides a more objective approach to skid resistance simulation.
• Accurate friction parameter determination using in-situ data enhances simulation reliability.
• Understanding the influence of pavement texture characteristics improves the preparation of simulation inputs for FEM.