Abustract:

In the measuring of surface frictional properties, the tester is

firstly calibrated, and then a metallic arm ends with a rubber slider
edge is fixed horizontally and then fall under its own weight, with
cause a pointer to give the reading on a graduated panel, which is
the British Pendulum Number.
In the Benkelman test, a load is applied on the beam toe, which
will cause the beam to settle, this will give the settlement by
calibrated dial gage.]

Introduction:
This method covers the procedure for measuring surface frictional
properties using the British Pendulum Skid Resistance Tester, which
is a dynamic pendulum impact type tester used to measure the
energy loss when a rubber slider edge is propelled over a test
surface. The values measured represent the frictional properties
obtained with the apparatus and the procedures stated, which is not
necessary to agree with other slipperiness measuring equipment.
The Benkelman Beam Rebound Deflection Test is a procedure for
determining the static Benkelman Beam rebound deflection at a
point on an asphalt pavement structure under standardized axle
load, tire size, tire spacing, and tire pressure.

Objectives:
1) To be familiar with surface frictional properties measurements.
2) To be familiar with the Benkelman beam test.
3) To measure the friction of the pavement under tire.
4) To determine how much the pavement settle under a load (or
standard load).

Material used:

For Surface Frictional Properties:

British Pendulum Tester.
Slider.
For Benkelman beam test:
Benkelman beam.
Standard load, 18 kip truck usually.

For Surface Frictional Properties:

Choose a section of the road, which is wanted to know its
friction.
Put the British Pendulum tester on the road, and make levelling
for the device using the circular bubble.
Calibrate the device, by letting the pendulum to fall under its
own weight, which make the reading equal zero.

Laboratory work:

Get down the height of the pendulum by the fast and slow
motion screws, until the contact area between the rubber
slider and the ground is about 13 cm, which represent the
width of the tire. Make sure that the rubber is good for using.
Add some water to the road surface, which represent the
worse case of friction.
Put the pendulum in its position, and press the bottom to free
it, the pendulum will fall and the rubber will hit the ground
which will give a reading on the panel, which represent the
friction of the road.
CBR test:
Put the Benkelman beam on the center of the right lane of the
road.
Make leveling for the beam using the circular bubble. Make
sure that the dial gage is on zero.
Bring a standard truck load 18 kip, make it pass on the road
where the beam toe is between the two tires of the truck, the
truck must pass for 1.5 m, and take the dial gage reading.
Repeat steps 1, 2, and 3, in different locations along the road.
Plot a curve representing the distance versus the deflection
measured.

Test results:
Average deflection = 16.065 mm
Average friction = 21.79

Discussion:
The frictional property of the pavement is one of the tests that are
related to the degree of the safety of the road, since the road must
achieve at least the standard friction, to guarantee the stability of
driving, beside the safe stopping. The Benkelman beam test is used
to measure the deflection of the road when a standard load applied
on it, which occur in flexible pavements only, and not in rigid
pavements, since the rigid crack in contrast with the flexible which
deform.
The results show that the friction was about 25 BPN (British
Pendulum Number), this result was for the laboratory ground floor,
which is made from prestressed concrete, which is lower than that
for the asphalt pavement friction, but knowing that the standard
limit is 40, the result will be low if it is for road pavement, and the
road pavement must be treated.
The average of deflection of the Benkelman beam, which was
measured for deflection of a simple beam when a person stand on
it, which have no meaning, but usually in the field, a profile is

plotted of the road versus the deflection along it, and the area which
have large deflection (which determined by the usage of the road)
must be redesigned or rehabilitated.
The errors in this experiment can be summarized as the following:
The devices may not be leveled.
The devices may not be calibrated or zeroed.
The human errors in taking readings.

Conclusion:
1) The surface friction measurement is a safety test used to
measure the friction of the surface of the pavement to ensure
that it has minimum friction to have safe driving and stopping.
2) The friction of the road can be affected largely by exiting of
water, which reduce the friction very much, beside this, the
temperature, the asphalt pavement gradients also may affect the
friction.
3) The Benkelman beam test is a test used to measure the
deflection of the road under a standard limit, to see if it achieve
the design criteria.
4) The deflection of the road pavement depends on the quality of
the surface, base, subase layers.
5) In Jordan, one of the most distress occur in the roads is the
deflection, which has two main reasons:
1) The roads used by large axle loads trucks, while it is not
designed for it, which lead to large deflections.
2) The excavation work done in the road base, which largely
minimize the abilities of the road and cause deflections.

References:

1) Measuring Surface Frictional Properties Using British Pendulum

Tester, ASTM, E 303 74, page 1155 1161.
2) A Guide to the Structural Design of Flexible and Rigid
Pavements in Canada, Canadian Good Road Association, Ottawa,
Septemper 1965, Pages 49 51.

Appendix
Table 81: Results of Benkelman beam test
Results of friction
Measurements
Test No.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7

Reading
1550
1550
1480
1480
1590
1435
1570

Deflection (mm)
15.50
15.50
14.80
14.80
15.90
14.35
15.70

Test No.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7

Table 82:
BPN
21
22
19
25
35
20
38

8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16

1549
1570
1620
1938
1950
1460
1940
1540
1540

15.49
15.70
16.20
19.38
19.50
14.60
19.40
15.40
15.40

8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16

30
20
10
15
19
15
15
15
25

17
18
avge

1211
1945

12.11
19.45
16.065

17
18
19
avge

25
25
20
21.79

Average deflection = 16.065

21.79

Average friction =