Welcome to part four of our series, “Back to the Future: Concrete’s Role in Preserving the Interstate System.”
Building the Backbone
Welcome to the fourth chapter in our series, where we explore concrete's pivotal role in constructing modern infrastructure.
Road friction testing began to gain traction in the 1950s, with significant developments in the U.S. The use of high friction surface treatments (HFSTs) started during this period, paving the way for future technologies like diamond grinding to improve road safety.
The 1956 Federal-Aid Highway Act was a landmark event, providing federal funds for interstate highway construction. Though each state made the final material decision, concrete was typically chosen for its durability and ability to support heavy loads—crucial for national defense and transportation.
The first International Skid Prevention Conference was held at the University of Virginia
in 1958.
Fun fact:
In the 1960s, pavement grooving was extensively studied by NASA and the FAA, leading to significant advancements in airport and highway safety.
The Kansas City Municipal Airport became the first in the U.S. to implement runway grooving, setting a new standard in aviation safety.
General Motors' research group began developing the inertial profilometer in the early 1960s. The first GM profilometer had a mechanical profile wheel riding on the road surface. In the mid-1960s, the first commercially produced GM profilometer was built by K.J. Law for the Texas Highway Department under license to GM. Others followed, developing their own devices for measuring road friction.
The ASTM E274 “Standard Test Method for Skid Resistance of Paved Surfaces Using a Full-Scale Tire” was published in 1965. This standard relates to road friction testing and includes the use of a Locked Wheel Friction Tester (LWFT) for skid testing on road surfaces.
The skid trailer, consisting of a tow vehicle and a two-wheeled trailer, was designed in the late 1960s to measure the horizontal and vertical forces acting on a test wheel as it skids across wet pavement. The device conformed with the ASTM E274 specifications. Little has changed on the skid trailer since then, with most advancements occurring in the tow vehicle and the electronics data processing.
As roadway performance requirements increase with traffic volume and vehicle speed, engineers are forced to think outside the box to achieve these expectations. Thanks to diamond grinding, engineers can remediate smoothness and friction with one cost-effective treatment!
In our next installment, we'll look at the innovations and milestones that defined the late 20th century. Stay tuned!