Designed to evaluate pavement friction and surface grip using the locked wheel method (ASTM E274), providing reliable skid resistance data on roads and highways.
The Dynatest 1295 Pavement Friction Tester (PFT) is a trailer-based locked-wheel skid tester for roads and highways. The PFT measures both average locked-wheel (skid) and peak (slip) friction on dry or self-wetted paved highway surfaces in accordance with ASTM E274. It is designed for maintenance testing to evaluate how pavement friction changes due to traffic, aging, and weathering.
The PFT consists of a fully instrumented tow vehicle and trailer, using a two-axis force transducer to record vertical load and horizontal friction forces. Its locked-wheel method provides established Skid Number (SN) and Peak Braking Coefficient (PBC) values, supporting critical safety assessments and maintenance planning to ensure paved surfaces meet required friction levels. The PFT’s locked-wheel approach yields discrete friction measurements at specific test points, which complement continuous friction data by offering detailed compliance checks at locations of interest.
You need it for:
Safety inspections: Consistently measuring friction levels to ensure vehicles maintain traction at operational speeds.
Periodic friction surveys on roads or highwyas: Conducting scheduled locked-wheel skid resistance tests (ASTM E274) at specific intervals on highways to ensure friction levels remain within safe limits.
Assessing Pavement Conditions: Tracking aggregate polishing, pavement wear, and material degradation over time.
Validating pavement friction against international/national standards (e.g., required Skid Number (SN) on highways) after construction, rehabilitation, or surface treatments.
Investigating critical spots: Measuring skid resistance on accident-prone or high-speed segments using the locked-wheel method to pinpoint slippery sections and justify targeted interventions (e.g., retexturing, resurfacing).
ASTM E-274 method requirements: When specifications call for discrete friction testing (locked-wheel full-scale tire method) on a pavement section – for instance, to comply with ASTM E274 for highway friction evaluation, which differs from continuous testers (like HFT).
The Pavement Friction Tester (PFT) measures both fully locked wheel and peak friction on paved surfaces. It is designed for maintenance testing to evaluate changes or deterioration in pavement friction due to traffic, weathering, polishing, and/or aging.
The Pavement Friction Tester consists of a fully instrumented tow vehicle and test trailer and utilizes the Dynatest two-axis transducer to provide real-time vertical load and horizontal tractive force measurements. As a pavement measurement device, the PFT meets all the requirements of AASHTO T242, ASTM-E274, E1337, and F408.
Options available: Dual-side testing, texture laser for MPD data collection, pavement and tire temperature sensors, ROW camera, multiple vehicle and water tank sizes.
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