As state departments of transportation (DOTs) increasingly adopt performance-related or balanced mixture design (BMD) methodologies, asphalt mixtures are undergoing significant changes in composition. These changes include the use of finer aggregate gradations, higher binder contents, binder modifiers, and greater inclusion of recycled materials. While these innovations aim to improve structural durability and sustainability, they also introduce the risk of reduced surface texture and friction performance—critical factors for road safety. Currently, there is no standardized methodology that enables DOTs to assess and ensure that asphalt mixtures deliver adequate friction performance at both the design and production stages. Without such a methodology, mixtures could inadvertently lead to pavements with low friction, increasing the risk of wet-weather crashes and other safety hazards.

The objective of this research is to develop a practical and implementable methodology to assess the functional performance of asphalt concrete mixtures with respect to friction and macrotexture. This methodology should be applicable during the mix design, construction, and quality assurance processes.

Potential research tasks include:

• Review existing methodologies for assessing asphalt mixture texture and friction, including relevant ongoing research and available datasets.
• Select experimental methods to evaluate mixture performance with respect to friction and texture during design and post-construction.
• Develop a methodology for performance assessment, including evaluating both macrotexture and microtexture.
• Establish initial performance thresholds for use in mixture design, process control, and quality assurance.
• Recommend a draft AASHTO specification for friction performance.