Friday, May 6, 2016

Basics Of High Friction Surface Treatment

By Virginia Walker


A lot of damage is usually caused by friction on surfaces such as roads. That makes its necessary to develop methods that help in reducing the effects of this force while maintaining aesthetic beauty. High friction surface treatment, often abbreviated a HFST is a technique that involves applying a thin layer durable, high-friction aggregates as topping on surfaces. The topping serves to protect surfaces it is applied on against polishing and wear.

When topping is applied on a surface, it forms a very strong bond with it as a result of good engineering. It forms a coarse, hard, and durable surface, which has a high capability of withstanding abrasion from snowplowing, heavy braking among other applications. HFST helps in making driving safer through the introduction of certain desirable attributes.

When HFST is applied on tarmac, vehicles gain the friction they need to perform vital maneuvers such as braking and cornering. Safe driving can only be achieved, if the necessary pavement friction levels are maintained. Inadequate abrasive force will cause the car to skid in case it speeds, turns abruptly, or brakes excessively. Abrasive force of the tarmac is naturally lost or reduced after a long period of using the pavement.

HFST has an impeccable ability to effectively address site-specific issue on any road. The installation should be started right at the point where vehicles start braking down as they enter the curve. On horizontal curves, one can observe brake lights to determine the point where installation needs to be started. The purpose of starting the installation at that point is to make drivers enter curves at reduced speeds. In many states, application of HFST is stopped at point of tangent.

HFST treatments have a lot of advantages to drivers, especially around curves. Drivers who accidentally find themselves driving at a high speed while entering curves can effectively reduce the speed hence reducing chances of a crash. Most crashes that occur around curves have been determined to be hugely as a result of high speed. HFST is polish-resistant and remains useful even when the road is wet. Thus, this treatment is a very important safety measure.

HFST can also be applied in double layers. Bridge deck applications are the ones double layers are most suitable on. Double layers are applied to increase life expectancy and prevent penetration of water. There is still ongoing testing and experimentation with double layers. That is partly why large scale adoptions have not occurred yet.

The life expectancy of HFST is dictated by several factors. Some of them include type, nature, and volume of traffic, type of roadway, and geometry of the road. Generalization is hard, but should also be avoided. On average, doing the installation properly can lead to this technology lasting for 7 to 12 years.

In the United States, there are reports of bridge deck applications that have lasted over the last 15 years. Statistics give from various locations and states vary. Either way, the benefits of HFST are way too many over its shortcomings and costs, which make its installation worthwhile.




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