GRINDING OF A TRANSVERSELY GROOVED CEMENT CONCRETE PAVEMENT OF THE EUROPEAN MOTORWAY E 40 AT BIERBEEK

Abstract

In the study "Grinding of a Transversely Grooved Cement Concrete Pavement of the European Motorway E 40 at Bierbeek," by C. Caestecker and L. Heleven, the authors evaluate the efficacy of grinding as a method for reducing road noise and maintaining skid resistance on a section of the E 40 motorway in Belgium. Since 1972, the roadway's continuously reinforced concrete pavement featured transverse grooves for improved drainage and skid resistance. However, concerns over noise pollution led to the exploration of alternative surface textures, including chemically exposed aggregate and grading adaptations. The grinding technique, widely used in the USA for surface evenness restoration, was tested in Belgium to address noise issues while preserving skid resistance. The study reports on a grinding project undertaken on 5 of 6 lanes over a 400-meter section, utilizing a high-power grinding machine equipped with diamond wheels. This process aimed to smooth the transverse grooves to reduce rolling noise while maintaining sufficient skid resistance. Noise, skid resistance, and evenness measurements were conducted before and after grinding, showing significant noise reduction (ranging from 5.4 to 7.0 dB(A) for total noise and 2.6 to 6.1 dB(A) for rolling noise) and very high skid resistance across all lanes. The evenness measurements revealed substantial improvement, particularly for shorter wavelengths. The results validate grinding as an efficient, economical, and durable solution for restoring surface properties of old concrete roads, suggesting it as a viable alternative to asphalt overlays for road renovation. This conclusion supports grinding's potential applicability in other European contexts, offering a balance between environmental concerns and traffic safety. (Abstract generated by AI tool ChatGPT 4)