Optimisation of photoluminescent painting treatments on different surface layers

Improving drivers visibility in night time conditions is vital. Night-time visibility represents one of the most important features of road safety. Within such context, the use of photoluminescent road markings could represent an enhancement with regard to road safety. Consequently, the objective of the investigation here described was confined into the analysis of photoluminescent paints by referring to dense-graded and open-graded friction courses. Measurements, based on photometry technique, were carried out in the laboratory. Cores extracted from the surface layer of known pavements were used. Transitory effects (charge and discharge) and decay phenomena were investigated and modelled as a function of treatment and pavement characteristics (paint quantity, hot mix asphalt volumetrics, etc.). The results highlight that the photoluminescent performance depends on the volumetric characteristics of bituminous mixtures. Results can benefit both researchers and practitioners and can allow optimising painting treatments for different bituminous mixtures