Title: Effect of pavement friction treatments for vehicle lateral stability on curves: a simulation study

Authors: Zichen Zhang; Yang Chen; Guangwei Yang

Addresses: Mechanical Engineering Department, Virginia Tech, VA, USA ' Mechanical Engineering Department, Virginia Tech, VA, USA ' Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, Virginia Tech, VA, USA

Abstract: Understanding how wet-pavement treatments affect vehicle dynamic performance remains limited. This study employs CarSim® to simulate the effect of three friction restoration treatments - regular hot mix asphalt (RHMA), longitudinal grooving (LG), and high friction surface treatment (HFST) - on vehicle lateral stability in wet road conditions. Simulations use a validated passenger car model on a curved roadway with polished asphalt (PHMA), analysing a 90-degree turn (46 m radius) across varying speeds, treatment lengths, and superelevation rates (2%-8%). Results show that in wet conditions, the vehicle experiences severe understeer and significant deviation from the intended path due to low road friction and tire grip forces. Treatments with higher friction coefficients, such as LG and HFST, provide greater tire lateral forces, enabling the vehicle to safely negotiate curves at higher speeds. The study highlights the importance of concentrating friction restoration treatment in curves, with at least 80% coverage to maximize its effectiveness.

Keywords: roadway safety; vehicle dynamics; vehicle lateral stability; friction treatment; wet pavement; critical speed; superelevation; CarSim®.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVP.2025.149515

International Journal of Vehicle Performance, 2025 Vol.11 No.4, pp.426 - 445

Received: 27 Sep 2024
Accepted: 09 Feb 2025
Published online: 04 Nov 2025 *

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