Abstract
A more proactive approach toward the repair method for a friction-deficient pavement surfaces would be to test the hot mix asphalt in the laboratory during its initial mix design stage to ensure that aggregate combinations will provide adequate friction over the life of the pavement. Toward this objective, the polishing behavior of laboratory-prepared HMA specimens made of eight different job mix formulas has been studied in terms of friction values. In addition, a robust statistical analysis of the obtained surface friction values has also been carried out in an attempt to verify the success in developing this new asphalt polisher that is used to simulate the tire-pavement interaction. Furthermore, polishing behavior (i.e., polishing trend, rate of friction loss and absolute and percent values of decrease) was all fully investigated to capture surface frictional deterioration of HMA specimens. In conclusion, the new asphalt polisher showed a good degree of repeatability. Additionally, it has been concluded that the decrease in polish number is maximum during the first hour of polishing. With the passage of time the drop in friction decreases and stabilizes.