The Amount of Salt on Road Surfaces After Salt Application: A Discussion of Mechanisms and Parameters (original) (raw)

Transportation Research E-Circular, 2008

Abstract

Field observations have been made to study the development of salt amount on road surfaces after salt application. The objective of the study has been to understand the mechanisms that remove salt from road surfaces after spreading and identify important parameters behind the mechanisms. After salt application, salt is transported from the road surface by the three mechanisms: blowoff, spray-off, and runoff. The mechanisms are affected by several parameters grouped in weather parameters, traffic parameters, and road characteristics. Four case studies are presented where the amount of salt was measured with SOBO 20. Weather, traffic, and winter maintenance activities were recorded. The amount of water on the road surface was measured by using absorbent textiles. The results show that the amount of water on the road surface controls the development of salt amount on the road surface. Both the mechanisms of salt loss and how much salt becomes dissolved are governed by the amount of water on the road surface. On a wet road surface more salt will be dissolved compared to a moist road surface. This leads to a higher peak value in the amount of dissolved salt which is detected with the used instrument. Further, on a wet road surface there will be a more rapid loss of salt due to a higher effect of spray-off.

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