Got aggregate? Get friction testing before you pave.

Today’s aggregates often fall short in terms of quality, so savvy pavement specifiers and contractors often rely on friction testing to determine how the aggregate will perform before it goes into final installation. Recently, our clients have used friction testing to investigate potential non-polishing alternate aggregate sources for submission to DOT for consideration.

Friction testing provides a quick method to rank potential sources of aggregate. Testing prior to installation far outweighs waiting years to find out how traffic will polish the pavement’s surface. Why take chances on an aggregate when accurate testing can predict performance before the mix is laid? 

On average, a friction test requires 4 to 5 days to perform. The process begins with a slab compactor to prepare the asphalt slab specimen for further mechanical tests. The BATT Lab then runs the sample through a three-wheel polisher (TWP) developed by the National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT). After polishing with the TWP, the dynamic friction tester (DFT) assesses the aggregate’s terminal friction value.

The DFT procedure (standardized in ASTM E1911) requires no manual adjustment of the device prior to testing, thus providing a more consistent measurement. The entire testing process can determine the long-term friction properties of any aggregate or asphalt mix for a substantially lower cost, shorter time frame, and with no risk to the traveling public, than waiting years to measure the pavement wear.

Contact us via the Get in Touch button below for more details and a quote from our lab for testing your aggregate or mixture.