INTRODUCTION

The road surface texture can be measured by sand patch method. The method is suitable for
bituminous surface course and concrete pavement surface with texture depth greater than 0.25 mm.
Accurate sand patch testing cannot be carried out when road surface is sticky or wet. For new road
surface, it is recommended that sand patch test for compliance checking should be carried out prior to
opening to traffic including construction traffic.
Pavement surface texture determines ride quality (smoothness, roughness) and durability of
pavement (deformation, aggregate segregation, and roughness) (FHWA 2005). Pavement texture has
been categorized into three major categorizes based on wavelength (λ): microtexture (1 μm to 0.5
mm), macrotexture (0.5 to 50 mm), and megatexture (50 to 500 mm). Larger irregularities in the
pavement surface are expressed as roughness (0.5 to 10 m) (PIARC 1987; Henry 2000). Frictional
properties and nonuniformity and segregation of hot mix asphalt are estimated using pavement surface
macrotexture (Flintsch et al. 2003). The presence of pavement surface microtexture and macrotexture
influences tire and road noise. Higher amplitudes of surface micro- and macrotexture increase wet
friction, reducing the risk of wet weather accidents.

OBJECTIVE
To determine the texture depth classification of a road surface.

THEORETICAL BACKGROUND
Pavement surface is important for road traffic safety and operations. With the study of different level
of pavement surface, it allows for better grip between vehicles tires and road surfaces. Most road
surfaces have adequate performance in the dry condition as compared during wet condition. The
presence of water between tyres and road surface reduces the effective contact areas, which are
needed to create the respective ‘grip’. The characteristics of pavement surface texture which enable
vehicle’s tire to grip effectively and efficiently to the road surface is important for safety on the road
especially at high speed of travel. For speed over about 60km/hr, the pavement macrotexture is
necessary to prevent hydroplaning by helping water escape from the tyre-pavement interface. The
depth of the macrotexture which create voids or channels and its connectivity play an important role
for water dispersion between tyre and road surface.

APPARATUS
I. Sand
II. Ruler
III. Broom
IV. Sand spreading tool
 PROCEDURE
1) The spot on the road was select to be tested. The area to be tested is dry and free from loose
materials.
2) The sand were placed in the barrel.
3) The sand were poured into the road. The sand particles are those passing a passing sieve size
300-150µm.
4) The sand then been spread by using the spreading tools until a large circular sand obtained or
the sand was flat on the road.
5) The diameter of the sand then been recorded.
6) The step were repeated at the other spot of the test.

DATA ANALYSIS
POINT DIAMETER OF MEAN VOLUME AREA TEXTURE TEXTURE
SAND, (mm) DIAMETER OF SAND, OF DEPTH, CLASSIFICATION
D1 D2 D3 OF SAND, (mm3) SAND (mm)
(mm) PATCH,
(mm2)
A 134 135 132 133.67 10000 14033.23 0.71 Open
B 132 131 133 132.0 10000 13684.78 0.73 Open
C 135 132 133 133.33 10000 13961.94 0.72 Open

SAMPLE CALCULATION
Mean diameter of sand patch, D (mm) = (134+135+132) / 3
= 133.67 mm

Area of sand patch, (mm2) = πr2

Texture depth, (mm) = volume of sand / area of sand patch

DISCUSSION
For the discussion of this experiment the sand patch test was run to measure the average of
macrotexture depth of the road surface ,we make three test for this experiment to take the average of
the data ,we run the experiment at three difference place to know the average of macrotexture depth of
the road surface ,we take three average diameter for each test and calculate the average of result to
get the diameter of the sand .the first reading that we get is 133.67mm ,second is 132.0 and the last
reading that 133.33.the first result that we get is the best result for the sand patch test it is
133.67mm.we classified the first data is the best data because the bigger diameter of sand we get the
lower macrotexture depth of the road surface. The macrotexture of the road pavement surface may
affect the riding quality as well as skid resistance, in term of effective contact area between tyres and
road surface water dispersal during wet condition, in other word the macrotexture affect skid
resistance and tyre –pavement noise. The precaution and error for this experiment is make sure the
steel barrier plate is place correctly to prevent the sand from the air ,the error while running this
experiment is the circle of the sand sample is not completely in circle shape so we need to take an
average of the sand sample diameter.

CONCLUSION
From the experiment it can be conclude that we have successfully achieved the objective of this
experiment is to measure the average macrotexture depth of the road surface. We can infer that the
bigger the diameter of the sand sample the lesser the rougher of the road surface .thus the road have
lower macrotexture depth but if the diameter of the sample is smaller the rougher of the road surface.
For the recommendation of this experiment we suggest to done the experiment much further for each
point.

REFERENCES
 1) Research & Development Division, HyD Publication No. RD/GN/009, September
1989.
2) ASTM E 961. (2001) Standard Test Method for Measuring Pavement Macro-texture
Depth Using a Volumetric Technique.
3) Highway Engineering, by Karen K. Dixon Paul H. Wright, 7ed Paperback – 2009.
4) https://ascelibrary.org/doi/10.1061/%28ASCE%29TE.1943-5436.0000315.

APPENDIX

Figure 1: sand spreading tool

Figure 2: classification of the surface