PURPOSES: The noise problem in concrete pavements has an adverse effect to the road user or nearby residents and is generated by the contact between a tire and the pavement surface. Exposed aggregate concrete pavements have been adopted to solve the tire-pavement noise problem in the United States and Europe. However, the efficiency of the coagulation retarder and exposure equipment used for this kind of pavement has not yet been investigated. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the ability of the coagulation retarder and exposure equipment in producing the optimum exposed aggregate texture to achieve low pavement noise. A method for the exposure time selection has also been introduced here. METHODS: Sodium gluconate retarders were selected for use in this study. The retarder-water ratios of 1:1, 1:2, and 1:3 were investigated. The retarder was sprayed on a fresh concrete surface with rates of 200 g/m2, 300 g/m2, and 400 g/m2. The aggregates were then exposed to the surface using a steel brush and a water jet. The efficiencies for the low-noise texture, workability, and environmental impact produced by the two exposure devices were estimated. The EAN and the MTD were investigated according to the exposure time. RESULTS : The aggregates were exposed after the retarder was sprayed on the fresh concrete surface; the exposure lasted for 18 h to 26 h each time. The retarder-water ratio of 1:2 and the spraying rate of 300 g/m2 produced an optimum surface texture for low noise. Additionally, the steel brush performed more effectively in exposing aggregate to the surface compared to the water jet. The selected exposure time window (ETW) was 28 h to 35 h. CONCLUSIONS : The optimum retarder was the sodium gluconate retarder with a retarder-water ratio of 1:2 and a spraying rate of 300 g/m2. The steel brush showed a good performance in exposing the aggregates and showing the efficiency of the coagulation retarder in the given environment so as to produce the quality control condition. The ETW was influenced by the construction, mixture design, and construction environment; however, the selected ETW in this study was 26 h~35 h.

골재노출콘크리트포장은 콘크리트 타설 직후 포장표면에 응결지연제를 살포하여 표면으로부터 깊이 2~3mm 정도의 모르타르 경화를 늦추게 한 후 표면의 모르타르 제거를 통해 굵은골재를 포장표면에 노출시키는 공법이다. 골재노출콘크리트포장의 타이어-노면 소음이 일반 콘크리트포장보다 작으면서도 적정한 미끄럼저항을 장기간 유지한다는 장점을 가지고 있다. 특히 굵은골재가 소입경일수록 소음저감효과가 우수한 것으로 알려져 있다. 성공적인 소입경 골재노출콘크리트포장의 건설을 위해서는 굵은골재의 최대입경이 적정하여야 하며, 적정량의 굵은골재를 포장표면에 균일하게 노출하도록 해야 하며 이를 위한 적절한 배합과 노출기법의 도출이 요구된다. 일반적인 콘크리트포장의 배합기준은 강도설계로 이루어지지만 소입경 골재노출콘크리트포장의 경우 강도뿐만 아니라 소음저감효과, 미끄럼저항을 적절히 발현시킬 수 있는 배합설계를 실시하기 위해서는 강도실험 외에도 노면의 미끄럼저항, 소음을 고려할 필요가 있다. 본 연구에서는 소입경 골재노출콘크리트포장에 대하여 적정 강도를 유지하며 포장표면조직의 소음 저감효과 및 적정 미끄럼저항성을 동시에 만족시킬 수 있도록 표면조직을 형성할 수 있는 최적배합에 대해 제시하였다. 또한 콘크리트포장은 온도, 습도 및 대기환경에 의해 모르타르의 경화속도가 달라지므로 콘크리트의 물리적 성질을 정량적으로 고려한 최적 노출기법이 제시되었다.