Relevant texture parameters versus rolling resistance – a parametric study of various asphalt mixes

Abstract Rolling resistance is a physical phenomenon related to the dissipation of energy occuring when a tire rools on a road pavement. This loss of energy generates forces opposed to the vehicle movement, which in turn increase fuel consumption. Several factors affect rolling resistance among them, pavement surface texture. Nevertheless, there is a need of identifying relevant texture parameters that can explain rolling resistance evolution. This paper presents a laboratory based study performed on sixteen different pavement mixes. Texture measurements and rolling resistance measurements using a novel test methodology are realized. The analysis of the results demonstrated that parameters such as RMS (Root Mean Square height) and Smc (Inverse Areal Material Ratio) appear as the most correlated with rolling resistance, which can be explained by the fact that an increase in roughness entails an increase of the energy losses by indentation phenomenon. This study also demonstrated that a limit is reached on the direct correlation between texture parameters and rolling resistance coefficient.