U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590
202-366-4000
In June 2003, nine engineers from the FHWA, State DOTs, and private industry participated in a superior materials scan of four European countries. The team visited the United Kingdom, Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands. Scan objectives included the following:
Identify processes or procedures that bring superior products to market efficiently and quickly.
Identify new technologies, test methods, or procedures that may improve State DOT material specification and testing programs.
Implement the most promising and beneficial processes or technologies.
The team identified 18 items worthy of follow-up and possible implementation in the United States.
The Netherlands' Roads to the Future program
Accelerated pavement striping wheel testing
Innovative European product development and material specification processes
European Union (EU) standardization process
New product certification program (British HAPAS)
French Charter of Innovation program
Functional (performance-based) maintenance contracting
Rational approach to pavement surface design for noise abatement
Concrete pavement advancements
U.K. thin surface friction treatments (HAPAS approved)
External enclosures of bridges
U.S. demonstration of pre-fabricated, rolled-out, noise-reducing pavement
Torque bond test
Automated raveling assessment
Microscopy
Wet pressure aging vessel
Polymer content testing
Pulse thermography
Cold-in-place recycling functional specifications
Danish and German orthotropic bridge deck waterproofing
Low-temperature asphalt
The scanning team was impressed with a novel approach to exploring long-range solutions for meeting future highway demands in the Netherlands. The government integrated long-term perspectives with short-term test projects and demonstrations through a cooperative, split-funded program with industry called “Roads to the Future.” The intent of this program was to examine road surfaces of the future and to develop demonstrable concepts for tomorrow's road surface. The agency's softer goals were to stimulate out-of-the-box thinking in both the agency and Dutch companies.
The government established three formal areas of interest: modular road surfaces, smart road surfaces, and energetic road surfaces. Modular Road Surface Program criteria called for a surface that was prefabricated, noise reducing, easy to apply, and easy to remove. Private contractors were invited to offer solutions, no matter how unconventional. The tremendous response surprised the agency. Four techniques resulted in demonstrable projects in which the surfaces were placed on a freeway ramp. The team recommends one product for possible demonstration in the United States (see Item 9.)
Develop a comprehensive paper on the Netherlands' Roads to the Future program.
Raise awareness of the Roads to the Future program, targeting senior State DOT and FHWA research and policy officials.
Develop a similar strategy appropriate for the United States.
White paper and slide presentation
Action plan for further implementing the concept
Scan implementation specialist
Because of the expense and logistics associated with field-testing of lane markings (stripes), Germany has developed a laboratory facility for accelerated lane marking evaluation. This facility is capable of evaluating tape, temporary paint, and permanent paint markings. Since the facility began testing in 1989, nearly 2,000 materials have been tested. This specification can be found in CEN 13197.
The accelerated procedure consists of a wheel (8 meters in diameter) with spokes affixed with a rectangular test plate at the end. Each test plate is coated or painted as appropriate with pavement stripe material. As the wheel rotates, the plates come in contact with up to six tires that apply pressure to each plate. The protocol describes the number of cycles and the environmental condition that the striping material will be exposed to during the test. At predetermined cycles, the plate is removed and evaluated using various functional tests.
Examine the German process in detail.
Compare AASHTO's NTPEP pavement striping program to the German process and determine the potential benefits of switching to a wheel-testing program in the United States.
If deemed beneficial and appropriate, develop various implementation strategies, including capital costs, operating strategies, partnerships with industry, etc.
A strategic paper that investigates possible application in the United States.
AASHTO, FHWA, and scan implementation specialist
Under the AASHTO/FHWA International Technology Scanning Program, the superior materials scanning team has identified several key processes worthy of additional examination. They include the European Union (EU), the British HAPAS program, and the French Charter for Innovation. Each has potential merit for implementation in the United States. The team was not able to clearly comprehend the full nature of the effort, the agreements, or the potential impact this may have on selling and procuring products. While the United States is moving toward performance specifications, no formal national program or process is in place to coordinate and manage such a movement.
Through its various commissions, boards, and associations, the EU has structured ways that individual countries cooperate in promoting trade and commerce in the transportation and highway construction fields. The EU standard-setting bodies addressing roadway and bridge construction are well into developing standards for many items, including asphalt concrete pavements and portland cement concrete pavements. The scanning team consistently heard new terms such as CEN, EOTA, and other programs involving individual countries.
Officials in each country discussed the major impact that this effort is having on their individual specifications, suppliers, laboratory programs, contractor pool, etc. The team was impressed with the way the highway agencies are cooperating in this complicated initiative. The process includes the development of functional specifications (commonly called end-result or performance specifications in the United States), laboratory certification programs, and classes of service for various products. It should be noted that the European process is geared to promoting free trade across country borders by agreeing on common specifications. The intent is to allow the countries and vendors who develop the products to discuss product data and performance within a unified framework, not to require road agencies to buy materials that do not meet their specific needs, budget, and conditions.
The scanning team believes that the European standardization effort eventually will have an impact on U.S. highway construction operations. European-based companies are expected to present new product data developed and approved in the European framework to potential U.S. customers. State DOTs could benefit from knowledge of the system and structure in place, the government partnerships, the new tests methods and techniques, the validity of performance data, and the independent vendor certification process. This undoubtedly would help DOTs understand the new products and expedite determination of their potential value on State projects.
The scanning team was impressed with the United Kingdom's HAPAS program. The program identifies key specification areas in which the Highways Authority and industry jointly develop a functional specification to replace a preexisting method specification. Once the HA approves the new specification, product vendors are free to develop products that meet these new functional requirements.
Before a new product is used, however, the HA requires an independent third party to thoroughly evaluate and certify it. In the United Kingdom, the British Board of Agrèment (BBA) manages the certification program. It evaluates vendor-supplied performance data and inspects the vendor's facility and quality program. After the BBA issues the certificate, the vendor's product may be used on HA-funded contracts. The BBA also conducts periodic audits to reestablish compliance. The BBA maintains secret files on any proprietary material details that are fundamental to the product certification but are not required under the functional specification.
The HA (through the BBA certification) also requires that the product supplier certify the installation contractor. The vendor must certify that the contractor has been fully trained, is experienced, and has been formally certified to install the product.
The BBA is a government established, non-profit corporation with more than 30 years' experience in certifying products for the U.K. building trades. It is now the official certification agent for the HA under the HAPAS program and is well respected by industry.
The scanning team was extremely impressed with the results of the HAPAS program on thin friction surface treatments. Before the HAPAS effort, the HA had to select one of two proprietary products from one vendor. After 10 years, it now has 32 products from multiple vendors with a comprehensive certification program in place, an outstanding accomplishment.
Each country visited mentioned that France had policies and programs that would be of interest to the scanning team. Officials also identified technologies developed in France years ago that are just now being evaluated in their countries. The French have instituted a public-private partnership to identify and develop new products and processes that by all indications is successful.
Understand more fully European innovative material programs and processes, participating groups, missions, objectives, etc.
Determine their impact on material specifications vis-à-vis method and functional specifications, new test procedures, certification, and compliance.
Help State DOTs understand product information that references the EU tests and specifications.
Determine if elements of the EU, HAPAS, and French processes could, if implemented, improve U.S. practices.
Collect detailed information on the three processes, including site visits to U.S. and European EU offices, and interviews with key countries.
Develop a comprehensive paper on how these systems work in practice.
Compare the processes with U.S. practices and identify possible improvements to the U.S. system.
In cooperation with the AASHTO Subcommittee on Materials, conduct a workshop to present the findings and to develop an implementation strategy, if appropriate.
Working with the subcommittee, forward a final report with recommendations to the AASHTO Standing Committee on Highways.
Scan implementation specialist and AASHTO
The European public roads agencies have faced many of the same staff and funding cutbacks experienced by State DOTs. Also, they seek both innovative and cost-effective execution of their maintenance operations. All four countries the scanning team visited have experience with functional maintenance contracts. The United Kingdom is planning to award these contracts solely on quality. The Netherlands is working almost exclusively with these types of contracts and has moved to the second generation of specification. In Denmark, municipalities are beginning to use 10-to-15-year functional contracts for pavement surface renewal and restoration.
The transfer of many work items associated with functional maintenance contracts includes the transfer of roles and responsibilities to the private contractor. This has an impact on the application of standards, material selection, mix designs, pavement design, quality control and assurance techniques, warranties, and independent government assessment of product value and safety.
Obtain copies of the specific tender language from each country for sharing in the highway community.
Participate in a national workshop focused on this concept with a select group of European public and private officials.
Assist the FHWA Eastern Federal Lands Highway Division in developing and implementing a functional maintenance contract based in part on the European experience, with specific attention to pavement, bridges, signs, striping, etc. Study and apply as many principles as possible, linking them to the workshop.
Collect and synthesize European functional contracts. The team will collect as many of the detailed specifications as possible from the countries visited. This may require translation of specific documents.
Conduct a performance-based maintenance contract workshop in partnership with TRB Task Force A5T60 on Accelerating the Adoption of Innovation. The task force is developing the program for the workshop, which is designed for senior State DOT officials. The goal is to invite select European officials to share their experiences and provide insights on materials-related issues.
Once the first two tasks are complete, work with FHWA's Eastern Federal Lands Highway Division to implement appropriate European concepts, especially those associated with materials issues.
Scan implementation specialist and FHWA
Many AASHTO/FHWA scans have identified noise generated in the highway environment as a problem of significant concern in Europe requiring innovative and sometimes expensive solutions. While U.S. DOTs have established procedures for designing and installing noise walls, only a few have addressed noise attributed to pavement type selection, material selection, and construction and maintenance techniques. Several DOTs are now looking at this problem, using modified pavement surface texturing such as diamond grinding or longitudinal tine texturing, or modified mixes such as crumb rubber, SMA, or open-graded asphalt friction courses as noise-attenuating surfaces.
European countries have had more than 20 years of experience in dealing with this issue and have evaluated many products and procedures. Currently, asphalt-based porous pavement that provides noise reduction, spray and splash reduction, and high-skid resistance appears to be an acceptable innovation. Other solutions include SMA. Porous pavements, however, may have an adverse impact on snow and ice control with the formation of black ice. They also have reduced life if sand clogs the pores.
For concrete pavements, the two-lift, wet-on-wet construction technique has been used with the Robucco process from Belgium. This technique was evaluated in 1993 in the European Concrete Pavement Demonstration Project in Michigan. The Robucco process has undergone changes since 1993, but has not taken hold in the United States or Europe. No other long-term concrete-surfaced pavement solutions are available in Europe.
Drivers' expectations and those of abutters to the highways are different in Europe than they are in the United States. As increasing numbers of State DOT material and pavement engineers consider noise, however, a more rational approach to pavement and mix design is needed to address the issue.
Provide materials and pavement engineers with rational approaches to addressing noise in pavement design, mix design, construction, and maintenance.
Identify European and U.S. pavement surface products and processes, mix practices, and construction techniques as they relate to noise with consideration to spray, splash, skid, and product durability.
Identify European and U.S. noise measurement techniques that quantify the noise level attributed to the pavement as a result of tire interaction and engine noise reflection.
Identify European and U.S. noise standards, models, or procedures that attribute noise to the pavement and address mitigation with pavement surface solutions.
Recommend a rational pavement surface design approach for noise that could be used in the United States.
Recommend a rational noise measurement technique that could be used in the field. Prepare a guide procedure in AASHTO format.
Recommend changes to the FHWA noise model to incorporate pavement type, mix design, and construction techniques.
Evaluate recommended test procedures through DOT and industry laboratory testing (optional if new equipment is not needed or is minimal to the effort).
Prepare a plan for field demonstration and evaluation of proposed techniques.
Prepare a final report.
AASHTO and FHWA
The scan team identified four items of potential interest to the broader concrete pavement community:
German geotextile drainage layer between the pavement slab and lean concrete base.
German slow-setting unbound and slow-setting slag base under concrete pavements.
German high-speed concrete pavement repair details.
Role of composite pavements in European pavement technology. Composite pavement is defined as a continuously reinforced concrete pavement with a thin hot-mix asphalt surface wearing course designed and built as an integrated system.
Describe each product with specificity.
Identify the possible benefits for U.S. implementation of each product.
If deemed necessary, prepare research statements for inclusion in the FHWA Long-Range Concrete Pavement Research and Technology Plan being developed by Iowa State University.
If deemed appropriate, this technology will be included in the Long-Range Concrete Pavement Research and Technology Plan as either research or technology evaluation.
Scan implementation specialist
Thirty-two thin surface friction courses have been approved under the United Kingdom's HAPAS functional specification and certification process. The test techniques are not common in the United States. Many DOTs may be interested in this surface type, but may not be familiar the functional test requirements or the approved U.K. products.
Determine if the functional specification developed in the United Kingdom is applicable to U.S. practices.
Identify new products that may be of interest to U.S. engineers.
Collect the standards and product sheets.
Evaluate the functional specification and any specific test methods included.
Evaluate the specific products to determine if they are already available in the United States and if they are appropriate for U.S. use and application.
Prepare a summary paper with recommendations to the highway community.
Functional specification
Test methods
Product sheets
Report with recommendations
AASHTO
Collect information and determine if there is further interest in the bridge community to pursue the topic.
Collect and summarize European information.
Solicit comments and recommendations from bridge engineers.
Prepare final report with action plan, if warranted.
FHWA
Under the Roads to the Future Program in the Netherlands, an innovative prefabricated, rolled-out, noise-reducing pavement was developed in a partnership between the government and Vermeer Corporation. The scanning team witnessed the product in service and was impressed with the speed at which the product went from concept to demonstration in less than 2 years.
Work with the Netherlands and Vermeer to see if pavement sections could be placed and evaluated in the United States.
Raise awareness of the Roads to the Future Program and its ability to bring research products to the demonstration phase.
Contact Dutch officials and determine the appropriateness of a demonstration project.
If appropriate, set up demonstration site in the United States.
Scan implementation specialist
The scanning team identified various tests that the European countries are using or developing that may be of interest to DOT engineers in the United States.
Collect additional European background information on each test.
Identify potential benefits of the tests and compare to U.S. practice.
Develop a plan for introducing and evaluating appropriate tests in the United States.
AASHTO, FHWA, and scan implementation specialist
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