A review of numerical and experimental studies on hydroplaning of vehicles in motion on road surfaces

Abstract

During vehicle hydroplaning, the vehicle is caused to move on a thin layer of water by accumulated undrained water on the pavement in front of the vehicle wheel. This thin layer of water results in an uplift force on the wheels that can lead to vehicle skidding and potential accidents due to the prevention of direct contact between the wheels and the road. A comprehensive review of various articles was conducted in the present study to examine the mechanisms and occurrences of hydroplaning. Different factors that influence hydroplaning, including tire-related parameters (such as pressure and tread), fluid characteristics (such as depth and density), and pavement attributes (such as surface texture and mix design), were identified based on numerical, experimental, and analytical research. The occurrence of hydroplaning can generally be minimized by various risk factors, such as having deeper and more intricate tire treads, higher inflation pressure, reducing the thickness and density of fluid-film, and enhancing surface drainage. This study elaborated on the equations proposed and validated for calculating hydroplaning speed. Furthermore, various devices, such as the SR-ITD utilized in the SKIDSAFE project, that have been employed to detect hydroplaning incidents were discussed.

Keywords

• Hydroplaning
• Skid resistance
• Macro-texture
• Tire-pavement contact