Measuring Salt Retention

Project Details
STATUS

Completed

PROJECT NUMBER

12-443

START DATE

09/15/12

END DATE

03/31/13

RESEARCH CENTERS InTrans, CTRE
SPONSORS

Federal Highway Administration State Planning and Research Funding
Iowa Department of Transportation

Researchers
Principal Investigator
Neal Hawkins

Associate Director, InTrans

Co-Principal Investigator
Omar Smadi

Director, CTRE

Co-Principal Investigator
Başak Aldemir Bektaş

About the research

This research developed and completed a field evaluation of salt distribution equipment. The evaluation provides a direct comparison of three different types of salt spreaders at three different truck speeds and rates of pre-wetting. A rubber mat was divided into eight sample areas to measure the salt distribution across the lane by each variable combination. A total of 264 samples were processed and measured. These results will support future efforts to target areas of efficiencies specific to salt and brine delivery methods. These results support Iowa Department of Transportation efforts to progress winter maintenance efficiencies and ultimately motorist safety.

 

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