Citation

Jagannath MV, Roberts AW. Transp. Res. Rec. 1977; 651: 39-42.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1977, Transportation Research Board, National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences USA, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

After two winters, during which Snowplow operations had been carried out at all three locations using both steel and tungsten carbide insert blades, five types of raised, reflective pavement markers specifically designed for use on roads subject to snow removal (one with an adhesive pad between the casting and reflector-Model 1, one with a spring clip over the reflector-Model 2, one with a stud shield and a spring clip over the reflector-Model 3, one with an adhesive pad between the casting and reflector but with no spring clip--Model 4, and one with a spring clip, and an adhesive pad between the reflector and the stud shield but no pad between the casting and the reflector-Model 5, which had been installed at three locations in New Jersey were evaluated for durability. It was found that while steel blades neither damaged nor were damaged by the castings, the opposite was the case for tungsten carbide blades, thus making it advisable to either use steel blades or keep the tungsten carbide blades from coming into direct contact with the pavement. Neither type of blade caused damage to the reflectors, however. There was damage to reflectors from nose shoes in tests utilizing three types of modified nose shoes. In tests where plow shoes and plow wheels rode over the reflectors, however, there was no damage noted. The principal cause of reflector loss and damage appears to be tire studs and other tire forces. A comparison of the various types of reflectors revealed that those protected with shields had less damage than those without, thus making the former especially desirable in areas where studded tires are legal. Among the types with shields, those with spring clips had less damage and fewer losses than those using adhesive pads. (The adhesive did not attach well in cold weather, causing either damage to the reflector after loss of the shielding or loss of the reflector itself due to lack of proper adherence to the casting.) The spring clip type reflector was also found to be easiest to install. Therefore, considering minimum loss and damge and ease of installation and replacement, the Model 5 assembly appears to be the most practical.