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.
The engineering of the topping layer is done in a way that it forms a very strong bond with the surface/substrate. The result is a rough, hard, durable surface that can withstand daily abrasion such as snowplowing and heavy breaking. This process is often applied on roads to achieve certain characteristics that make them safer to drive on.
When applied on roads, HFST serves to offer the tarmac the necessary friction that vehicles need in critical braking and cornering maneuvers. It is important that the appropriate amount of pavement abrasion be maintained for safe driving. Without the necessary abrasive force, vehicles can skid when they brake excessively, turn abruptly, or speed. Roads lose their abrasive force when they are used for a long time.
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 US, a service life of more than 15 years in bridge deck applications has been reported. Statistics vary from one state and location to another. Either way, considering the cost of installing HFST and the benefits accruing from it, it is best to have it installed.
The engineering of the topping layer is done in a way that it forms a very strong bond with the surface/substrate. The result is a rough, hard, durable surface that can withstand daily abrasion such as snowplowing and heavy breaking. This process is often applied on roads to achieve certain characteristics that make them safer to drive on.
When applied on roads, HFST serves to offer the tarmac the necessary friction that vehicles need in critical braking and cornering maneuvers. It is important that the appropriate amount of pavement abrasion be maintained for safe driving. Without the necessary abrasive force, vehicles can skid when they brake excessively, turn abruptly, or speed. Roads lose their abrasive force when they are used for a long time.
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 US, a service life of more than 15 years in bridge deck applications has been reported. Statistics vary from one state and location to another. Either way, considering the cost of installing HFST and the benefits accruing from it, it is best to have it installed.
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