Tom Yager at NASA Wallops Test Facility, nr The Hamptons Virginia IS Mr Friction in the USA.
He has been conducting tests on specimen surfaces using a variety of carts for many years. He's forgoten more than the rest of us will ever know!
The contibution textue makes to runway braking performance appears to be gathering support. Avinor, the Norwegian Airport operator has just published a paper on using lasers to measure texture and relate it to wet friction characteristics.
ICAO has recently formed a group of experts to review current guidance and make recommendations for change.
Sir George Cayley