FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN AWAM

UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI
PULAU PINANG
LABORATORY REPORT

TITLE : PAVEMENT ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION

PREAMBLE :

1.1 Introduction

Skids between tyres and road surface occurs in many road accidents. Highway engineers
have researched a few ways to improve the skid resistance of road surfaces. One of the
equipment is the Pendulum Skid Tester. This device simulates the skid resistance of a road
surface to a motorcar travelling at 50km/h. It gives a number, being a percentage somewhat
akin to a coefficient of friction. It was found that skid resistance falls rapidly after a road is
opened to traffic but the rate of deterioration slows down and eventually settling to a
constant value. This value is dependent on the surface texture, rock type and traffic volume.

Sample site should normally be selected by a random sampling technique. The surface of
the pavement must be clear of dirt and any debris by sweeping the surface with a small
brush. Make sure the surface of the test area is to be clear of surface cracking. The
pavement surface must be dry to achieve satisfactory results. The average texture depth
may be calculated by driving the volume of sand by the area of the sand patch.

Volume of sand (cm 3 )

Texture Depth, h (cm) 
Area of sand patch (cm 2 )

An outflow meter is a device that measures the time taken by a known quantity of water
under gravitational pull, to escape through voids in the pavement texture. The technique is
intended to measure the ability of the pavement to relieve pressure from the surface of the
vehicular tyres and thus an indication of hydroplaning potential under wet conditions.

1.2 Objective

1. For skid resistance, the objective is to determine the skid resistance value of road
pavement surface.
2. In sand patch, the objective is to measure the average depth of the surface texture of an
asphaltic concrete pavement.
FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN AWAM
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI
PULAU PINANG
LABORATORY REPORT

3. In outflow, the objective is to evaluate the surface drainage of a surface course of a

pavement and its relationship with skid resistance value.

1.3 Learning Outcomes

At the end of this open ended lab, the students should be able to:

i. Conduct pavement characteristic assessment; texture depth, skid resistance and

surface drainage of a pavement.
ii. Describe the average texture depth, texture classification and the mean texture depth of
a pavement.
iii. Comment the suitability of the skid resistance value for the current use of the road and
the relationship between skid resistance value and texture surface drainage of a
pavement.

PROBLEM STATEMENT :

Since the opening of the UiTM Cawangan Pulau Pinang campus in 2003, major roads in the
campus are still under its original conditions. Few sections of the roads are visibly
deteriorated and need major maintenance activity. The campus management has appointed
your firm to conduct the study of the skid resistance and texture depth of the major road in
the campus. Your team have to report the current condition of the road surface and propose
a solution if necessary.

Provision of sufficient surface drainage is an important in the location and geometric design
of roadways. Inadequate drainage will eventually result in serious damage and accidents.
Recently, during heavy rain falls, water accumulated on the pavement causing few vehicles
skidded. The campus management has appointed your firm to conduct the study of the
surface drainage texture of the major road in the campus. Your team have to report the
current condition of the road surface in term of its hydroplaning potential and propose a
solution if necessary.
FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN AWAM
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI
PULAU PINANG
LABORATORY REPORT

WAYS AND MEANS :

3.1 Apparatus

Texture Depth (Sand Patch Test) :-

i. Sand Patch Equipment

ii. Ruler
iii. Brush
iv. Stopwatch

Skid Resistance Test :-

i. Skid resistance equipment

ii. Ruler
iii. Water
iv. Brush

Outflow Meter Test :-

i. Outflow meter equipment

ii. Stopwatch
iii. Water
FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN AWAM
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI
PULAU PINANG
LABORATORY REPORT

3.2 Procedures

Texture Depth (Sand Patch Test) :-

1) The pavement surface was ensured to be clear from debris by sweeping the surface
with a small brush. Test area must clear of cracking and the pavement area must be dry.
2) 50 cm3 was measured and then poured onto the road surface to form a cone, using the
measuring cylinder.
3) The sand was spread with the spreading disc to form a circular patch. A horizontal force
was applied to the spreading tool and work outwards in a circular pattern until the
surface depressions are filled to the level of the peaks.
4) The diameter was measure at five different angles and the data was recorded.
5) Step 1-4 are repeated three times for the smooth, intermediate and rough surface.
6) The data collected are tabulated.

Skid Resistance Test :-

1) The skid resistance tester was set up so that center column is vertical by adjusting the
leveling screws
2) The height of the pivot was adjusted so that the arms swing freely without touching the
road surface. The pivot was checked to swing freely right through to the zero on the
scale.
3) The pivot height was lowered so that the friction foot is in contact with the road surface
over the precise distance 150mm as shown by the gauge scale rule which is placed
along side
4) The pendulum arm was raised to the starting position and the retaining catch was
engaged.
5) The road surface was wetted with water where the readings of skid resistance will be
taken
6) The maximum swing indicator was checked to be set to the vertical position.
7) The pendulum arm was released.
8) The pendulum arm was caught after it swings through to prevent back swing which
could disturb reading.
9) The test was repeated to obtain a minimum of three readings.
FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN AWAM
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI
PULAU PINANG
LABORATORY REPORT

10) Step 1-9 are repeated three times for the smooth, intermediate and rough surface.
11) The data collected are tabulated.

Outflow Meter Test :-

1) The outflow meter is placed on a pre-determined surface and the stabilizer board is
fitted to the outflow meter.
2) Two persons of approximately the same weight is asked to stand on the stabilizer board
to stabilize the outflow meter.
3) Water is filled into the outflow meter until the 2500ml gradation.
4) The stopper in the outflow meter is opened and the time for the water to reach 500ml
from 2500ml is recorded.
5) Step 1-5 are repeated three times for the smooth, intermediate and rough surface.
6) The data collected are tabulated.
FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN AWAM
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI
PULAU PINANG
LABORATORY REPORT

RESULTS :

4.1 Data Acquisition & Analysis of Data

Texture Depth (Sand Patch Test) :-

Texture Depth
Condition of Volume of Average
Diameter of Circular
Pavement Sand Diameter, d
(cm) Sand Patch, h
Surface (cm3) (cm)
(cm)
12.6
Rough 50 13.0 12.87 0.38
13.0
15.0
Medium 50 14.5 14.77 0.29
14.8
24.0
Fine 50 21.0 22.17 0.13
21.5

50
Texture Depth, h 
 d 2 
 
 4 

50
Sample Calculation :- Texture Depth, h   0.38 cm
 Π x 12.87 2 
 
 4 
 
FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN AWAM
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI
PULAU PINANG
LABORATORY REPORT

Skid Resistance Test :-

Condition of Pavement Reading Average

Surface 1 2 3 4 Reading
Dry 105 96 96 107 101
Rough
Wet 104 101 100 90 98.75
Dry 77 75 70 70 73
Medium
Wet 70 65 65 65 66.25
Dry 66 67 65 74 68
Fine
Wet 63 64 60 61 62

Sample Calculation :-

Average Reading 
105  96  96  107   101
4

Outflow Meter Test :-

Condition of Volume of Water Rate of the

Time Taken
Pavement (ml) Flow
(s)
Surface Initial Final (ml/s)
Rough 2500 500 26 96.15
Medium 2500 500 36 69.44
Fine 2500 500 190 13.16

Volume of Water (ml)

Rate of Flow (ml/s) 
Time Taken (s)

2500 (ml)
Sample Calculation : - Rate of Flow (ml/s)   96.15 ml/s
26 (s)
FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN AWAM
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI
PULAU PINANG
LABORATORY REPORT

DISCUSSION :

Pavement surface texture affect the tire pavement skid resistance the most. Pavement
surface irregularities are continuous from pavement macro texture to micro texture. Skid
resistance depends on surface irregularities of aggregates used in pavements and the
irregularities of overall road surface. The surface irregularities of an individual particle is
called micro texture while the larger irregularities in particles that made up the pavements is
called macro texture.

From skid resistance test, the test has been conducted in both dry and wet condition of fine,
medium and rough pavement. Based on data observed by skid resistance, the values of skid
resistance for wet condition of fine, medium and rough surface are lower than dry conditions.
Wet and smooth surface will give the lower skid resistance value due to the friction. Wet and
finer surfaces had less friction compared to dry and rough surfaces. In general, the friction
resistance of most dry pavements is relatively high; wet pavements are the problem. The
number of accidents on wet pavements are twice as high as dry pavements.

From sand patch test, this experiment is to measure the average macrotexture and
microtexture depth of the road surface. Texture depth for rough surface is the highest which
is 0.38 cm followed by medium surface, 0.29 cm and the lowest is for the fine surface, 0.13
cm. The rougher the pavement there will be a lot of voids in between aggregates thus
allowing the sand to get through them and resulting in a smaller diameter of sand for the
experiment.

From outflow meter test, the flow rate for fine surface was the lowest, 13.16 ml/s followed by
medium surface, 69.44 ml/s and the highest was on the rough surface with flow rate of 96.15
ml/s. The time taken for the water to flow out was taken this is to analyse the texture depth of
pavement and drainage flow for the pavement. Based on the location, the rough surface took
the quickest time to empty the cylinder this is because the space between pavement
particles is large making it easier for the water to flow thus providing better drainage system.
This is vice versa for the smoother surface, it took longer time to empty the cylinder.
FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN AWAM
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI
PULAU PINANG
LABORATORY REPORT

CONCLUSION :

From the test conducted, we can conclude that the value of skid resistance, texture depth
and rate of flow depend on the condition of the pavement’s surface from microtexture
pavement to macrotexture pavement. From the data, we also concluded that the finer the
surface, the smaller the reading of the skid resistance. The smoother the surface of
pavement, the larger the diameter and smaller the voids between the particles of pavement
thus the lower macro texture depth of the road surface. We can conclude that the smoother
or the finer the surface, the longer the time taken for the water to discharge from the outflow
meter. Longer time to discharge indicated that the water cannot flow smoothly because of
the fine texture of the pavement. Hence, we had achieved the objectives of this experiment
successfully.

REFERENCES :

Manual of “ Texture Depth and Skid Resistance of a Road Surface”. UiTMPP: Cawangan
Permatang Pauh, Pulau Pinang (Accessed September 22, 2019)

“Texture Depth ”. Retrieve 22 September 2019 from

https://www.google.com/search?q=texture+depth&rlz=1C1AVFC_enMY837MY837&oq=text
ure+depth&aqs=chrome..69i57.5816j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

“Skid Resistance ”. Retrieve 22 September 2019 from

https://shareok.org/bitstream/handle/11244/300274/Yang_okstate_0664D_15460.pdf?seque
nce=1&isAllowed=y
FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN AWAM
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI
PULAU PINANG
LABORATORY REPORT

APPENDICES :
FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN AWAM
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI
PULAU PINANG
LABORATORY REPORT