What Are Road Studs?

When driving at night, or in bad weather such as fog or heavy rain, have you ever noticed those small devices that flash on the road to guide you? They are road studs, small but play a key role in ensuring road safety. From its birth to date, the road stud has undergone many changes, and constantly adapted to the needs of modern transportation.

 

The Development of Road Studs

 

The Flash of Inspiration

 
In the 30s of the 20th century, the British inventor Percy Shaw (Percy Shaw) in a dark night driving, car headlights irradiated by a cat's eyes produced by the reflection, gave him inspiration. He thus created a device that could reflect the light from the car's headlights, making it easier for drivers to see the road ahead, which he named “cat's eye”, and this was the original road stud.  

Evolution of Road Stud

 
The original road studs, made of glass and filled with reflective material, were arranged in straight lines on the road to guide drivers and help them stay on the correct driving path. Over time, the material of the studs evolved from glass to plastic, and the reflective material became brighter and more durable.
 
Today, road studs come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors, such as amber, red, and green, and are used to indicate the edge of a road or a change in direction.
 

What are road studs and why they are used

 

Definition of road stud

 
Road studs are small devices, categorized as reflective studs and self-luminous studs (e.g. solar studs), mounted on the road surface to provide clear road guidance to motorists at night or in adverse weather conditions.

The Importance of road studs in Road Safety

 
Road studs play a crucial role in enhancing road safety. They can significantly improve the visibility of the road in adverse weather conditions such as fog and heavy rain. The high-brightness reflective material of road studs reflects the light from vehicle headlights, making it easier for drivers to see the road ahead, which is particularly important on highways and two-lane roads where vehicles travel at higher speeds. In addition, road studs guide drivers at night, helping them stay in the correct lane.
 
Reducing accidents
 
Studies have shown that roads with road studs have lower accident rates than those without. This is because drivers are able to see the road more clearly and are therefore better able to stay in the correct lane.
   

Types of Road studs

Ceramic road studs

 
Ceramic road studs are one of the traditional types of road studs, consisting of a ceramic or glass shell and reflective material inside. They are able to reflect the light from the headlights of a car so that drivers can see them from some distance away. However, they are slightly less durable than some of the newer types of road studs.
 

Plastic Road Studs

 
Plastic road studs are widely used due to their durability and cost-effectiveness. They are made of high quality plastic material with reflective properties, are easy to install and require minimal maintenance.
 

Solar Road Studs

 
Solar road stud is an innovative and environmentally friendly stud. It integrates solar panels and LED lights, which are charged during the day and emit bright light at night. This type of stud not only saves energy, but also reduces the environmental impact of road lighting, especially for areas without street lights or frequent power outages.
   

Aluminum Road Stud

 
Aluminum road studs are strong and durable, and are often used in high traffic areas. Their reflective properties enable them to provide excellent visibility and ensure traffic safety.
 

How Do Road Studs Work?

 

The Work Principle of Reflective Road Stud

 
Reflective road studs, also known as road markings, the use of reflective materials through the principle of return injection molded into the shape of a multi-angle reflector traffic safety facilities. Its working principle relies mainly on reflective materials (such as reflective sheets and glass beads) reflect the light of the car headlights to play a warning role.
 
There is a glass reflective road studs, can be 360 degrees without dead angle reflection. However, reflective road studs work on the premise that there must be light exposure. Because of its passive design, relying on vehicle headlights reflective, low cost and no additional energy, easy to install, durable, in the well-lit conventional road applications excel.
 

The Work Principle of Solar Road stud

 
Solar road stud belongs to the self-luminous road stud, do not need to rely on vehicle headlights can play a warning role. It is equipped with LED beads inside, and will automatically light up when the surrounding light is darkened to a certain extent.
 
The working principle of solar road studs can be summarized as follows: During the day, solar panels absorb sunlight, convert solar energy into electricity and store it in an energy storage device (battery or capacitor). At night, the electricity in the storage device is automatically converted into light energy (controlled by photoelectric switch), and the LED lights emit bright light to outline the road and guide the driver's vision.     
   

Standard requirements for road studs

 

Construction Requirements

 
1. studs should be manufactured from materials with adequate chemical, water and ultraviolet resistance.

2. The height and width of the stud shall not exceed 20.3 mm (0.80 inches) and 130 mm (5.1 inches).

3. The angle between the face and bottom of the stud shall not exceed 45°.

4. The bottom of the stud shall be flat within 1.3 mm (0.05 in).

5. The bottom of the stud shall be substantially free of luster or substances that may reduce its adhesion to the adhesive.

Performance Requirements

 
1. The luminous intensity factor of the stud shall not be less than the value specified in the following table.
2. For the installation of studs adhesive must be of high quality, due to the strength of the adhesive caused by the damage rate of studs must be 1.5 times lower than the rate of damage caused by other causes of studs.
 

Physical Requirements

 
1. Flexural Strength: Specified Type F road markings shall be tested in a flexural test and shall withstand a force of 909 kg (2000 lbs) without rupture.

2. Compressive Strength: The stud should be able to withstand a load of 2727 kg (6000 lbs) without rupture or significant deformation (3.3 mm).

3. Lens Impact Strength: When the lens surface is subjected to impact, there shall be no more than two radial cracks and the length shall not exceed 6.4 mm (0.25 inches).

4. Temperature cycling: when the temperature cycle test, there shall be no cracking or delamination.
   

The Road Stud Installation Method

 

Step 1: the purchase of road studs

 
The first step in the installation of road studs is to purchase the appropriate size, color and type of road studs, and road studs must comply with SANS EN 1463 - 1 standard. It is important to note that not all studs are of the same classification or brand and some may not be suitable for a particular road. To be on the safe side, always source from a trusted manufacturer and seek their support in the selection process.

Step 2: Demarcate the work area

 
Ensure that the work environment is safe by taking steps to keep traffic away from construction workers and ensuring that there is adequate work space. If working near guardrails or other obstacles, take measures to prevent damage when installing studs. A minimum of 1 meter of space around the crew is required to ensure optimal workspace and safety.

Step 3: Planning, Mapping and Boring

 
The correct size of holes to be drilled needs to be known, depending on the size of the stud and the desired spacing of the installation. The spacing between each stud should be sufficient to avoid accidents, but not so great as to waste material. Typically, the spacing is between 2.5 and 18 meters.
 
According to COTO standards, cat eye road studs should be reflective at night from a distance of 50 meters or more. First, use chalk or paint to mark the installation position of the stud on the road, then use a tape measure or straightedge as a straight edge to accurately mark the drilling position.

Step 4: Thoroughly clean the road before installation

 
Before installing the road studs, clean the roadway with a high-pressure water gun and remove debris from selected areas with a broom. Use squeegee to remove excess water, which may prevent the epoxy adhesive from properly adhering to the pavement.
 
 

Step 5: Selecting a Suitable Installation Date

 
Select a day that is neither too hot nor too cold, with no wind and no rain. The ideal installation temperature is approximately 21°C. If it is likely to rain on the evening of the day you plan to install the studs, wait until after the rain.  

Step 6: Applying Epoxy Adhesive

 
Epoxy resin adhesive is the best choice for installing dowels because it creates a stronger hold. When applying epoxy, be sure to wear gloves for personal safety. In a disposable cup, mix two parts epoxy adhesive and one part hardener thoroughly to make a mixed solution. Use a brush to apply the mixture to each mounting point, ensuring complete coverage. Be sure to apply glue to all recesses to ensure a longer lasting installation.
 

Step 7: Placement of road studs

For final installation of the dowel, insert the shank of the dowel through the epoxy adhesive into the hole, making sure there is enough adhesive to completely cover the bottom of the dowel and secure the shank in the hole. Correctly align the dowel so that the lens faces oncoming traffic. Incorrect dowel alignment will reduce the effectiveness of the return lens and will not meet the required SANS criteria. Scrape off any excess epoxy adhesive and return it to the adhesive can for later use, being careful not to get adhesive on the dowel lens.
 

Step 8: Checking the quality of construction and drying out

 
Once the road studs have been installed, you need to make sure they are installed correctly with no protrusions or excess epoxy adhesive.
 
Road studs may be small, but they play an essential role in road safety. From their humble beginnings as a flash of inspiration to today's diverse range of types and advanced technology, road studs have evolved to provide drivers with critical guidance in a wide range of road conditions. Strict standards and proper installation methods ensure that road studs continue to fulfill their role in road safety. In the future, as technology continues to advance, road studs are expected to play a greater role in ensuring road safety.