NOISE-REDUCING CONCRETE PAVEMENTS

Wet pavement skid resistance, especially at high speeds, is an important road surface characteristic relevant to traffic safety. For about 20 years, the Belgian Road Research Centre (BRRC) has been making considerable progress to improve the skid resistance properties of both concrete and bituminous pavements. Together with the development of Belgium's large road and highway network, various surface treatments have been developed to improve the safety and comfort of users, particularly with respect to wet pavement skid resistance, evenness, and noise. This paper looks at research conducted at the BRRC concerning the development of texture-related parameters that have an influence on rolling noise. The focus is on new surface treatments, such as chip-sprinkling, designed to reduce rolling noise and increase the durability of concrete pavements.