Correlating Lab and Field Tests for Evaluation of Deicing and Anti-icing Chemicals: A Renewed Perspective

Numerous laboratory and field studies have been conducted to evaluate the performance of deicing and anti-icing products and their resulting friction coefficient of treated pavement. However, laboratory results often do not translate to the field performance due to varying temperatures, wind, traffic, etc. in actual field conditions. Also, the existing laboratory tests fail to address all the significant issues in the actual field environment or to provide actual performance of deicers to guide practitioners. This study sheds light on the challenges of developing a laboratory test that correlates the field test based on literature reviews and interviews from various agencies and practitioners. Recommendations for laboratory testing include the use of environmental chamber that can control and monitor air temperature, humidity, air speed and solar radiation. In addition, it is recommended to incorporate a plowing mechanism into the laboratory test to better simulate the field operations. Two friction-measuring devices were recommended that can be used both in laboratory and in field. In addition, it may be preferable to use a friction trailer if the necessary laboratory space can be obtained. For field testing, it is preferable to conduct the research in a controlled field environment. Recommendations from this study may assist in developing a test method that would closely mimic the actual performance.

[1]  Ji-Won Jang,et al.  METHOD FOR DETERMINING ICE UNDERCUT TEMPERATURE OF DEICING CHEMICALS. TECHNICAL NOTE , 1995 .

[2]  Wilfrid A. Nixon.  THE POTENTIAL OF FRICTION AS A TOOL FOR WINTER MAINTENANCE , 1998 .

[3]  C Luker,et al.  LABORATORY MELTING PERFORMANCE COMPARISON: ROCK SALT WITH AND WITHOUT PREWETTING , 2004 .

[4]  Eli Cuelho,et al.  Establishing Best Practices of Removing Snow and Ice from California Roadways , 2010 .

[5]  K L Smith,et al.  Guide for Pavement Friction , 2009 .

[6]  Gopal Goyal,et al.  TIME, TEMPERATURE, AND RELATIVE HUMIDITY IN DEICING OF HIGHWAYS USING SODIUM CHLORIDE OR MAGNESIUM CHLORIDE WITH A METAL CORROSION INHIBITOR , 1989 .

[7]  Ei-ichi Tazawa,et al.  INTERFACIAL DEBONDING OF ICE-ASPHALT CONCRETE , 1992 .

[8]  Robert Blackburn,et al.  COMPARATIVE STUDY OF UNDERCUTTING AND DISBONDMENT CHARACTERISTICS OF CHEMICAL DEICERS , 1990 .

[9]  Robert Blackburn,et al.  HANDBOOK OF TEST METHODS FOR EVALUATING CHEMICAL DEICERS , 1992 .

[10]  Jürg Schweizer.  Laboratory experiments on shear failure of snow , 1998, Annals of Glaciology.

[11]  Xianming Shi,et al.  Development of Standard Laboratory Testing Procedures to Evaluate the Performance of Deicers , 2012 .

[12]  Henrik Åström,et al.  FRICTION MEASUREMENT METHODS AND THE CORRELATION BETWEEN ROAD FRICTION AND TRAFFIC SAFETY. A LITERATURE REVIEW. , 2001 .

[13]  E. Adams,et al.  PERSISTENCE OF REDUCED SNOW TO PAVEMENT SHEAR STRENGTH FOR TWO AGGREGATE MATERIALS TREATED WITH CMA AND NACL. IN: CHEMICAL DEICERS AND THE ENVIRONMENT , 1992 .

[14]  Xianming Shi,et al.  Development of Standardized Test Procedures for Evaluating Deicing Chemicals , 2010 .

[15]  G Ganjyal,et al.  Freezing points and small-scale deicing tests for salts of levulinic acid made from grain sorghum. , 2007, Bioresource technology.

[16]  Bumsoo Han,et al.  Direct cell injury associated with eutectic crystallization during freezing. , 2004, Cryobiology.

[17]  J C Wambold,et al.  JOINT WINTER RUNWAY FRICTION PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS , 2003 .

[18]  Timothy S. Leggett,et al.  Liquid Anti-Icing Chemicals on Asphalt: Friction Trends , 2001 .

[19]  Imad L. Al-Qadi,et al.  Feasibility of Using Friction Indicators to Improve Winter Maintenance Operations and Mobility Prepared for: National Cooperative Highway Research Program Transportation Research Board of the National Academies , 2002 .

[20]  Timothy S. Leggett,et al.  TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY EFFECTS ON THE CO-EFFICIENT OF FRICTION VALUE AFTER APPLICATION OF LIQUID ANTI-ICING CHEMICALS , 1999 .

[21]  A D McElroy,et al.  EVALUATION PROCEDURES FOR DEICING CHEMICALS AND IMPROVED SODIUM CHLORIDE , 1993 .

[22]  Barbara M. Gerbino-Bevins,et al.  Performance Rating of De-icing Chemicals for Winter Operations , 2011 .

[23]  T Ashworth,et al.  EVALUATION OF SOUTH DAKOTA DEICER NO. 2 AND CALCIUM MAGNESIUM ACETATE BY SHEAR TESTING , 1989 .

[24]  Ville Alatyppö.  Efficiency of runway de-icing chemicals in practice , 2008 .

[25]  Wilfrid A. Nixon,et al.  OPTIMAL USAGE OF DE-ICING CHEMICALS WHEN SCRAPING ICE , 2003 .

[26]  L. Fay,et al.  Evaluation of Alternative Anti-Icing and Deicing Compounds Using Sodium Chloride and Magnesium Chloride as Baseline Deicers - Phase I , 2009 .