This report describes the development of a hand-operated texture meter based on the same principles as the high-speed texture meter. It has been developed in response to requests for an inexpensive, rapid and convenient method that could replace the laborious sand-patch method for the control of newly-laid bituminous road surfacings. The mini texture meter (mtm) uses a mini-sensor controlled by a micro-computer system. It is light in weight and can be readily carried in the boot of most cars. A version of the meter is being manufactured under license. The report includes an account of studies that have been made with the commercial mtm, including estimates of its precision and correlation with the sand-patch test on rolled asphalt surfacings. An account is given of the development of a procedure for using the mtm under road construction conditions. This involves the use of a sensitivity mat and the insertion of calibration factors in order to compensate for the small bias that can occur between meters. For part 1 see IRRD 244401.
Abstract