Friction Testing Equipment

Friction testing equipment helps road authorities, airport operators and pavement engineers measure surface grip, evaluate skid resistance and maintain safe operating conditions for vehicles and aircraft.

Dynatest friction testing solutions support airport runway friction testing, highway skid resistance measurement, pavement safety assessments and friction-based maintenance planning. By measuring how tires interact with pavement surfaces, agencies can identify low-friction areas, support compliance requirements and make informed decisions that improve safety and reduce risk.

What is friction testing?

Friction testing is the process of measuring the interaction between a tire and a pavement surface to determine how much grip is available under specific operating conditions.

Pavement friction directly affects a vehicle’s or aircraft’s ability to accelerate, maneuver and stop safely. As pavements age, surface texture changes due to traffic loading, weathering, polishing, contamination and environmental conditions. Friction testing helps identify these changes before they become safety concerns.

Depending on the application, friction testing may be performed using continuous fixed-slip systems or locked-wheel testing systems. Both approaches provide valuable information for pavement maintenance, rehabilitation planning and safety management.

Why pavement friction matters

Adequate pavement friction is essential for safe transportation infrastructure.

For airport operators, runway friction affects aircraft braking performance during landing and takeoff, especially in wet, icy or contaminated conditions. For road agencies, pavement friction affects stopping distance, vehicle control and crash risk.

Regular friction monitoring helps organizations:

  • Improve road and runway safety
  • Identify hazardous low-friction areas
  • Monitor the effects of polishing and wear
  • Support maintenance planning
  • Prioritize resurfacing programs
  • Verify compliance with applicable standards
  • Reduce the risk of accidents and incidents

Choose the right friction testing equipment

Dynatest friction testing solutions cover airport runway testing, highway friction monitoring and locked-wheel pavement friction evaluation.

Use the overview below to select the solution that best fits your application.

Runway Friction Tester (RFT)

For airport runway safety and compliance testing

The Dynatest Runway Friction Tester (RFT) is a continuous fixed-slip friction measurement system designed specifically for airport pavements.

The system measures and records runway friction values in accordance with FAA and ICAO requirements. It helps airports monitor friction loss caused by rubber deposits, weathering, rain, ice, snow and other contaminants that may affect aircraft braking performance.

Best suited for:

  • Airport runway friction testing
  • Runway maintenance programs
  • Operational runway testing
  • Winter runway operations
  • Rubber contamination monitoring
  • FAA and ICAO compliance programs

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Highway Friction Tester (HFT)

For continuous highway skid resistance measurement

The Dynatest Highway Friction Tester (HFT) is a continuous friction measuring system that evaluates skid resistance on highways and road networks.

Using a fixed-slip measurement principle, the HFT continuously measures pavement friction along entire road sections, providing a detailed friction profile that helps agencies identify hazardous conditions and prioritize corrective action.

Best suited for:

  • Network-level road safety surveys
  • Highway friction monitoring
  • Bridge deck evaluations
  • Intersection and ramp assessments
  • Continuous skid resistance measurement
  • ASTM E2340 testing programs

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Pavement Friction Tester (PFT)

For locked-wheel friction testing and compliance measurement

The Dynatest Pavement Friction Tester (PFT) is a trailer-based locked-wheel friction testing system for roads and highways.

The PFT measures both average locked-wheel friction and peak friction using full-scale test tires. It generates Skid Number (SN) and Peak Braking Coefficient (PBC) values that support compliance verification, pavement evaluation and maintenance planning.

Best suited for:

  • ASTM E274 friction testing
  • Highway friction compliance programs
  • Acceptance testing
  • Pavement safety inspections
  • Post-treatment verification
  • Investigation of high-risk locations

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Friction Equipment Compariso

 

Equipment  Primary Application  Measurement Method  Typical Use 
RFT  Airport pavements  Continuous fixed-slip  Runway safety and compliance 
HFT  Roads and highways  Continuous fixed-slip  Network-level friction monitoring 
PFT  Roads and highways  Locked-wheel testing  Compliance and acceptance testing 
RFT  FAA and ICAO programs  Continuous friction profile  Airport maintenance and operations 
HFT  ASTM E2340 testing  Continuous friction profile  Highway skid resistance programs 
PFT  ASTM E274 testing  Skid Number and PBC reporting  Detailed friction evaluation 

Friction Data and Reporting

From measurements to actionable safety insight

Friction testing systems generate large volumes of objective safety-related pavement data.

Depending on the selected system, users can collect:

  • Friction coefficient (μ)
  • Continuous friction traces
  • Skid Number (SN)
  • Peak Braking Coefficient (PBC)
  • Speed and distance information
  • Weather observations
  • Temperature measurements
  • GPS-location data
  • Pavement texture data (optional)

The systems support real-time monitoring, data storage and reporting workflows that help agencies track friction performance and document compliance requirements.

Friction Testing Use Cases


Airport Runway Safety Management

Airport operators use runway friction testing to monitor runway condition, evaluate contamination and support safe aircraft operations during changing weather conditions.

Highway Safety Programs

Road authorities use continuous friction measurements to identify high-risk locations and prioritize improvements before accidents occur.

Maintenance Planning

Friction testing helps organizations understand how pavement performance changes over time and where maintenance investment can provide the greatest safety benefit.

Compliance Testing

Many agencies must comply with national or international friction testing requirements. Friction measurements provide objective evidence that pavements meet established standards.

Post-Treatment Verification

After resurfacing, grooving, rubber removal or other corrective actions, friction testing can help verify that target friction levels have been achieved.

Understanding friction measurement methods

Continuous fixed-slip testing

Fixed slip testing continuously measures friction while a test wheel operates at a controlled slip ratio as the vehicle moves along the pavement.

This approach provides a continuous friction profile that helps engineers identify localized low-friction areas that might otherwise be missed. Continuous friction measurement is widely used for highway and runway friction monitoring programs.

Locked-wheel testing

Locked-wheel testing evaluates pavement friction by locking the test wheel during a test sequence and measuring the resulting braking forces.

This method generates established friction indicators such as Skid Number (SN) and Peak Braking Coefficient (PBC), making it valuable for compliance testing, acceptance testing and detailed investigation of specific pavement locations.

From friction measurements to safety decisions

Collecting friction data is only the first step.

Airport authorities use friction measurements to manage runway safety, evaluate contamination and schedule corrective maintenance. Road agencies use friction data to identify hazardous locations, prioritize safety improvements and monitor network performance over time.

Objective friction measurements support data-driven decisions rather than relying solely on visual inspection or user reports.

How friction testing works

Friction testing systems measure the forces that occur between a tire and the pavement surface under controlled conditions.

A dedicated measuring wheel is loaded against the pavement while force sensors continuously record vertical and horizontal forces. Depending on the testing method, the wheel may operate at a fixed slip ratio or be locked during a test sequence.

The measured forces are used to calculate friction values that help engineers evaluate pavement safety, compare performance over time and support maintenance decisions.

FAQ Friction

Pavement friction testing measures the available grip between a tire and a pavement surface. It helps engineers evaluate safety and identify areas where pavement friction has deteriorated.
Friction affects braking performance, vehicle control and aircraft stopping capability. Low pavement friction can increase safety risks and accidents potentially.
Continuous friction testing measures friction continuously along an entire pavement section, while locked-wheel testing measures friction during controlled braking events at specific locations.
HFT is a continuous fixed-slip friction measurement system used for network-level monitoring. PFT is a locked-wheel testing system that produces Skid Number and Peak Braking Coefficient values for compliance and detailed friction evaluations.
A Runway Friction Tester is used to evaluate runway friction conditions, support airport maintenance decisions and comply with aviation friction testing requirements.
Skid Number is a friction indicator generated during locked-wheel friction testing. It is commonly used to evaluate pavement skid resistance for roads and highways.
Yes. Friction data can be combined with other pavement condition information to support maintenance prioritization, safety management and infrastructure planning.
Choose RFT for airport runways, HFT for continuous network-level highway friction measurement and PFT when locked-wheel testing or ASTM E274 compliance is required.

Need help selecting the right friction testing system?

Whether you need airport runway friction testing, continuous highway friction measurement or locked-wheel skid resistance testing, Dynatest can help you identify the right solution for your application.

Talk to a Dynatest Friction Specialist