STUDY ON PREVENTION OF SNOW AND ICE ACCRETION TO ROAD SIGNS AND OTHER FACILITIES

This paper describes how, in cold regions, snow and ice accretion to road accessories causes serious damage. In particular, information necessary for traffic safety does not reach road users when snow or ice adheres to road signs. For this reason, the prevention of accretion and the removal of accreted snow and ice are significant for ensuring safe road traffic in winter. In recent years various methods for controlling snow and ice on road signs have been suggested. This method chiefly depend on shifting the stagnation points of airflow from the standpoint of fluid mechanics, or an application of ice-accretion retardant materials made of water-repellant silicon or fluorine resin. However, no methods have been completely successful in controlling snow and ice. This paper proposes a new control method for the prevention of snow and accretion to road signs that is inexpensive to implement and maintain.