Why Is Concrete Better?
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From: Flourtown, PA | Bethany, DE
Why Is Concrete Better? So one of my local tracks is being redone as I type this. They plan to open late this month. Their former track surface was your typical street style asphalt. It worked, but traction was always an issue for me. They are redoing the track with either 60', 700', or the full 1/4 mile in concrete. I have been told concrete provides better traction, but I am curious as to the reasons behind this - any links or info would be great. Thanks!
Concrete holds rubber better than asphalt. Rubber from burnouts, etc gets laid down and makes for better traction but, if you get out of the "groove" on a concrete track, where there is no rubber, traction is worse than asphalt. So, stay in your lane and go straight. Hope this makes sense.
Several benefits, the largest being it's stability, it is far more rigid even compared to an asphalt pavement designed for it. Have you ever noticed in high traffic areas - typically approaching a stop light - you get rutting and a ripple effect in the pavement? This is the asphalt actually moving between layers (e.g., base, binder, top)
As a Civil Engineer I design roads all the time, there are several different grades of asphalt with different types types of coefficients of friction use for a top coarse - typically a type 7 or type 6 if it isn't a superpave type. Depending on the concrete mix and how it was finished it can also have a different coefficient of friction which can be dialed in for a more aggressive friction type. We typically use a coefficient of friction to analysis the necessary degree of superelevation (banked slope on a turn) and the necessary distance for stopping - usually designed for wet conditions and bald tires in mind.
As a Civil Engineer I design roads all the time, there are several different grades of asphalt with different types types of coefficients of friction use for a top coarse - typically a type 7 or type 6 if it isn't a superpave type. Depending on the concrete mix and how it was finished it can also have a different coefficient of friction which can be dialed in for a more aggressive friction type. We typically use a coefficient of friction to analysis the necessary degree of superelevation (banked slope on a turn) and the necessary distance for stopping - usually designed for wet conditions and bald tires in mind.
Several benefits, the largest being it's stability, it is far more rigid even compared to an asphalt pavement designed for it. Have you ever noticed in high traffic areas - typically approaching a stop light - you get rutting and a ripple effect in the pavement? This is the asphalt actually moving between layers (e.g., base, binder, top)
As a Civil Engineer I design roads all the time, there are several different grades of asphalt with different types types of coefficients of friction use for a top coarse - typically a type 7 or type 6 if it isn't a superpave type. Depending on the concrete mix and how it was finished it can also have a different coefficient of friction which can be dialed in for a more aggressive friction type. We typically use a coefficient of friction to analysis the necessary degree of superelevation (banked slope on a turn) and the necessary distance for stopping - usually designed for wet conditions and bald tires in mind.
As a Civil Engineer I design roads all the time, there are several different grades of asphalt with different types types of coefficients of friction use for a top coarse - typically a type 7 or type 6 if it isn't a superpave type. Depending on the concrete mix and how it was finished it can also have a different coefficient of friction which can be dialed in for a more aggressive friction type. We typically use a coefficient of friction to analysis the necessary degree of superelevation (banked slope on a turn) and the necessary distance for stopping - usually designed for wet conditions and bald tires in mind.
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10 Second Club
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 4,465
Likes: 192
From: Harford Co. Maryland
Gotta get my LY6 clone to the machine shop and then it won't be long (I hope)
http://www.cecilcountydragway.com/index.shtml
Due to our resurfacing project the track will be closed for approximately 2 or 3 more weeks. We are hoping to be open by March 30th.
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (5)
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 537
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From: Flourtown, PA | Bethany, DE
Gotta get my LY6 clone to the machine shop and then it won't be long (I hope)
http://www.cecilcountydragway.com/index.shtml
http://www.cecilcountydragway.com/index.shtml
6 & 8 Second Club
Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Illinois, RT 66 dragway area
.
I read a story years ago about the difference.
They had close up photo's and showed that concrete had a much higher contact area.
Even with the naked eye you can see there is more air gaps between the tiny pebbles.
It's even more evident when they do the magnification comparison.
.
I read a story years ago about the difference.
They had close up photo's and showed that concrete had a much higher contact area.
Even with the naked eye you can see there is more air gaps between the tiny pebbles.
It's even more evident when they do the magnification comparison.
.
