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Newly
laid bituminous bound surface courses eventually
reach their optimum level of skid resistance after an initial
period of trafficking. Excess bitumen is worn away by the
action of traffic passing over the surface.
Volumes
of traffic on busy roads and runways are usually
sufficient to facilitate this simulated weathering. Many
new surfaces contain polymer modified binders which are
more flexible and durable, therefore resisting removal by
normal traffic.
As
a result, new surface courses laidon
highways and runways where traffic
volumes are not particularly high can be
deficient in terms of skid resistance for
many months following laying.
The
Klaruw K190 controlled mechanical
retexturing process is used to
accelerateweathering by removing the
uppermost binder coating in order to
expose aggregate. This in turn ensures
new surfaces provide compliant skid
resistance immediately following
treatment.
Eighty
four independent computer controlled
tungsten carbide tips remove the binder from
the aggregate surface exposing the micro
texture and providing skid resistance. Variations
in pressure and speed are used to accommodate
differing bituminous viscosities, aggregate sizes
and the degree of accelerated weathering required.
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