Engineering Commons^™

Seat Belt Attitudinal Survey, Kenneth R. Agent

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The primary objective of this study was to conduct a statewide survey to determine public opinion of a statewide mandatory safety belt law. The survey was conducted so that opinions could be analyzed by areas of the state. The method used to separate the state into geographic regions was to use the boundaries of the 15 Area Development Districts (ADD). A mail survey was conducted with 1,000 questionnaires sent to each ADD. A response rate of 51 percent was obtained.

The respondents were in favor of a statewide law requiring use of safety belts. The statewide percentage in favor of …

Construction Evaluation Of Hydraway Edge Drains And Outlet Pipes On Interstate 64, L. John Fleckenstein, David L. Allen

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report documents the installation of the Hydraway edge drain (version two) on 1-64 in Franklin·Woodford-Scott and Fayette Counties. The edge drain was placed on the back side of the trench against the shoulder and backfilled with a sand/slurry.

From observations on this project and several previous projects, the sand/slurry backfill helps to insure the integrity of the drainage system during initial backfilling. It is apparent that the sand slurry backfill provides a better installation in comparison to previous methods using excavated trench material. Notable trench settlement did occur on this project. It is apparent that insufficient water was used …

Field Performance Report On Corrugated Polyethylene Pipe, L. John Fleckenstein, David L. Allen

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report documents the installation and performance of corrugated smooth lined polyethylene pipe installed during construction of South Forbes Road in Fayette County, KY 54 in Daviess County, US 62 in McCracken County, Nicholasville Road in Fayette County, US 68/KY 80 in Warren County, KY 127 in Franklin County, US 62 in Hardin County, Donaldson Road and KY 236 in Kenton County, KY 17 in Kenton County, and Anderson Road in Kenton County. The majority of the pipe installed was N-12 pipe manufactured by Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc., and is designated as ADS N-12. ADS N-12 is a corrugated high-density …

Sensitivity Study Of 1986 Aashto Guide For Design Of Pavement Structures, Herbert F. Southgate

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

A sensitivity study of 14 items added to the 1986 AASHTO Guide for Design of Pavement Structures indicated: (1) variations in percent reliability were most influential on the design EAL for the same pavement structure while (2) variations in standard deviations had minimal effects. (3) Resilient moduli for base and subbase materials are very dependent upon stress state (or bulk stress). (4) A method was developed to quantify the effect of drainage capabilities for various soils and its effect upon reduction in structural coefficients for base and subbase materials. (5) Literature review revealed 13 relationships to define soil stiffness. The …

Evaluation Of Pe Film, James E. Funk, Theodore Hopwood Ii, Christopher M. Oberst

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Laboratory tests were conducted to assess the ability of a 3-mil thick adhesive-backed polyethylene film (Polymask) to protect vehicle paint finishes from acid-rain damage. The laboratory tests employed conditions known to be relevant to actual service conditions including: 1) automotive paints of various colors, 2) simulated acid-rain solutions (of pH values from 2.2 to 5.5), and 3) service temperatures (120 to 160 °F). Laboratory tests included cyclic evaporation and soak tests similar to those employed in a previous series of tests for Toyota (1). Cyclic evaporation tests were performed for 12 cycles and the soak tests were performed for 5 …

Value Of Research, Kentucky Transportation Center

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Transportation research in Kentucky has been ongoing since 1914. The Road Materials Testing Laboratory was established that year at the University of Kentucky. Operation of the laboratory commenced in 1915 under the guidance of Professor D.V. Terrell who later became Dean of the College of Engineering. Dean Terrell often noted that the purpose of research was not to save money but to make it go farther. Public funding was never sufficient to accomplish all that various agency personnel considered essential nor that which the public deemed necessary and research was conducted most often for the purpose of gaining more for …

1991 Safety Belt Usage Survey And Evaluation Of Effectiveness In Kentucky, Kenneth R. Agent

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The objective of the survey was to establish 1991 safety belt and child safety seat usage rates in Kentucky. Data were collected at 100 sites and combined based on vehicle miles traveled for a given type of highway, rural or urban location, and county population category. Also included in this report is an analysis of accident records evaluating the effectiveness of safety belts.

Statewide usage rates were 39 percent for drivers and front-seat passengers (over 19 years of age) and 57 percent for children under four years of age (front and rear seats). Driver usage rates had increased significantly in …

Analysis Of Traffic Accident Data In Kentucky (1986-1990), Kenneth R. Agent, Jerry G. Pigman

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report includes an analysis of traffic accident data in Kentucky for the years of 1986-1990. A primary objective of this study was to determine average accident statistics for Kentucky highways. Average and critical number and rates of accidents were calculated for various types of highways in rural and urban areas. These data can be used in Kentucky's procedure to identify locations that have abnormal rates or numbers of accidents.

Another objective of this study was to provide data which can be used in the preparation of the problem identification portion of Kentucky's Annual Highway Safety Plan. County and city …

Evaluation Of Stamark Brand Bisymmetric 1.75 Grade Pavement Marking Tape, Kenneth R. Agent

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The objective of this project was to evaluate the performance of Stamark Brand Bisymmetric 1.75 Grade pavement Marking Tape (Series 320) on a large-scale installation on Interstate 24 in McCracken County. The evaluation consisted of periodic inspection of the tape to determine its durability, appearance, and reflectivity.

The tape has demonstrated good performance after two years in service. No durability problems were noted. While the appearance of the tape was not as bright as a typical traffic paint, it was adequate. The tape has maintained a high level of reflectivity. The performance of the material would potentially warrant additional use …

Evaluation Of Headwalls And Outlets For Geocomposite Edge Drains On I-75 And I-71, L. John Fleckenstein, David L. Allen, Jack A. Harison

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Longitudinal, round, perforated pipe edge drains have been used along Kentucky roadways for approximately two decades. Panel (fin) edge drains were first used in Kentucky in 1984. Most of these edge drains were installed on the Interstate and Parkway systems.

Several problems related to the drains have been noted in the last seven years. A number of these problems have been observed to be related to flexible outlet pipes and headwalls.

A recent study was initiated to evaluate headwalls and outlets on I-75 from Lexington, Kentucky to Cincinnati, Ohio (approximately 70 miles) and on I-71 from Louisville, Kentucky to I-75 …

Engineering Estimates And Fhwa Accuracy Criterion, David Q. Hunsucker

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The Federal Highway Administration requires the construction cost estimate of the highway engineer to be a projection of the low bid, and be within +/- 10 percent of the low bid for at least 50 percent of the projects awarded. Construction cost estimates developed by the Estimating Staff of the Kentucky Department of Highways have not always met this criterion in years past.

The Estimating Staff of the Kentucky Department of Highways use an actual cost approach to generate construction cost estimates. It was concluded that the Department's estimating staff possess the ability to do very thorough and accurate work. …

Protective Coating Program Final Report, James E. Funk, Theodore Hopwood Ii, Donald G. Hartman, Christopher M. Oberst, Rick D. Saylor, Anantha R. Sethuraman

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This program consists of two primary segments: 1) installing an environmental monitoring station at the Toyota marshalling yard at Georgetown, Kentucky, and 2) conducting laboratory and field tests of paint and wax-coated painted specimens to assess the protection against acid rain damage afforded by a protective transient coating.

Summary Of Results Of 1990 Field And Laboratory Evaluations Of Pavement Marking Materials (Sashto Regional Test Facility), Kentucky Transportation Center

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report summarizes the results of data collected as part of the 1990 field and laboratory evaluations of pavement marking materials for the SASHTO Regional Test Facility. The purpose of the Regional Test Facility (RTF) is to minimize the amount of field and laboratory research testing of specific types of materials. This is accomplished by combining efforts in an organized manner to reduce the monetary and man-hour requirements of both the states and industry. A RTF for the twelve SASHTO states was approved at the 1988 SASHTO convention. The twelve SASHTO states are Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, …

Bearing Capacity Analysis Of Pavements, Tommy C. Hopkins

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

A multilayered, mathematical model for analyzing the ultimate bearing capacity of soil subgrades and asphalt pavements is presented. Theoretical considerations and mathematical derivations of limit equilibrium equations, based on plasticity principles, for analyzing the ultimate bearing capacity of soil subgrades and partially completed asphalt pavements, and the extension of these equations to the analyses of asphalt pavements composed of multiple layers, are presented. The model is unique since shear strength parameters, Φ and c, (the angle of internal friction and cohesion, respectively) are used to describe each layer of material of the pavement structure and a factor of safety against …

Evaluation Of Modified Asphalt Mixtures, Kamyar C. Mahboub, Amy Simpson

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The primary objective of this study was to conduct a comparative analysis on various modified asphalt mixture systems in order to determine their suitability for conditions that are commonly encountered in Kentucky.

Several modified asphalt mixture systems were selected for laboratory and field testing (one-mile long field test section on KY 80, Pulaski County). These systems included the following asphalt mixtures: Control, Vestoplast, Polypropylene Fiber, Gilsonite, PMAC #1, Polyester Fiber, and PMAC #2. Laboratory testing included: Marshall stability and flow, mixture air voids and density, indirect tensile strength, moisture damage susceptibility, freeze-thaw damage susceptibility, resilient modulus, and repeated load permanent …

Cost Effective Maintenance Contracting -- A Literature Review, Bobby W. Meade, David Q. Hunsucker

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Faced with ever increasing maintenance needs and constrained resources for meeting those needs, government agencies are searching for the most cost effective means of conducting highway maintenance. One alternative being used is contracting highway maintenance to private agencies. This report includes the findings of a literature search of articles pertaining to contract maintenance.

Review of the articles acquired in the literature search indicates that contract maintenance is increasing in usage and is a cost effective alternative.

Evaluation Of Highway Geometrics Related To Large Trucks, Kenneth R. Agent, Jerry G. Pigman

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

One objective of this study was to determine the extent of highway safety and geometric problems associated with larger trucks using Kentucky's highways. The accident analysis involved both a general analysis of all truck accidents statewide as well as the identification of specific high-accident locations. A second objective was to identify criteria which can be used in identifying roadway sections that cannot safely accommodate large trucks.

The accident analysis given can be used to investigate locations which have a high number of truck accidents. The general accident statistics related to trucks can be used in the investigation of the high-accident …

Development Of Turning Templates For Various Design Vehicles, Kenneth R. Agent, Jerry G. Pigman

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The objective of this study was to develop the data necessary to produce the turning templates that would represent the minimum turning paths for critical design vehicles. This would include information concerning truck turning radii and offtracking for larger trucks with varying wheelbases operating in Kentucky. In order for the turning templates used for the various design vehicles to be based on the same procedure, data were produced tor design vehicles ranging from a passenger car to a combination truck with a 53 foot trailer. The simulation model used was the Truck Offtracking Model (TOM) and was developed by the …

Performance Of Guardrail End Treatments In Traffic Accidents, Kenneth R. Agent, Jerry G. Pigman

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The objective of this study was to report the results of the continued monitoring of the performance of guardrail end treatments in traffic accidents. This report includes an analysis of accidents involving the breakaway-cable-terminal (BCT), Kentucky's version of the median BCT (MBCT), Kentucky's weakened turned down (Type 7), the Crash Cushion Attenuating Terminal (CAT), and the Breakmaster System. The report includes data for 349 accidents. This includes 232 accidents involving a BCT, 66 accidents involving a MBCT, 37 accidents involving the Type 7 turned-down end treatment, 12 accidents involving the CAT, and 2 accidents involving the Breakmaster.

Considering all accidents, …

Kentucky Traffic Accident Facts 1991 Report, Kentucky State Police

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

KENTUCKY'S TRAFFIC ACCIDENT FACTS report for 1991 is based on accident reports submitted to the Accident Unit housed in the Kentucky State Police Information Services Branch, Records Section. As required by Kentucky Revised Statutes 189 .635, "every law enforcement agency whose officers investigate a vehicle accident of which a report must be made ... shall file a report of the accident ... within ten days after investigation of the accident upon forms supplied by the bureau." The stated purpose of this requirement is to utilize data on traffic accidents" for such purposes as will improve the traffic safety program in …