Surface properties
The surface of an SDA pavement affects driving comfort, safety, and noise development. Therefore, evenness and texture should be checked.
Evenness:
- Longitudinal evenness: Deviation of the surface in the direction of travel; affects driving comfort and rolling noise.
- Transverse evenness: Determines drainage and safety in wet conditions (groove depth, theoretical water depth).
Texture:
The texture can be measured with laser profilometers or 3D optical methods and describes the roughness on two scales:
- Macrotexture (50 mm > λ > 0.5 mm): positively affects grip and noise.
- Microtexture (λ < 0.5 mm): important for slip resistance.
Especially with new asphalt technologies and the use of new aggregate materials, it is advisable to check the texture and its long-term stability to ensure acoustics and safety.