Engineering Commons^™

Ground Penetrating Radar: "Pavement Layer Thickness Evaluation", David A. Willett, Brad Rister

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The following report demonstrates the accuracy of using Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) to determine both the surface layer thickness for asphalt, and concrete pavements. In addition tests were conducted to identify GPR’s repeatability on dry pavements, GPR’s ability to determine pavement layer thicknesses in wet conditions, and an attempt was made to determine the number of actual field cores necessary to accurately post-process radar data into thickness values.

The equipment used to perform these evaluations was Geophysical Survey Systems Inc.’s model SIR 10B with the model 4108 (1 GHz.) air-launched horn antenna.

Preliminary results indicate that when ground truth cores …

Evaluation Of Post-Interchange Guide Signs, Monica L. Barrett, Jerry G. Pigman, Ronald E. Langley

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

There are four basic types of guide signs related to tourist and recreational facilities, each with its own requirements and purpose. These include limited supplemental guide signs, cultural and recreational supplemental guide signs, fifth legend logos, and tourist oriented directional signs. Under the category of limited supplemental guide signs is a new pilot program to include a similar type sign at 10- and 20-mile points before an interchange. These signs are called post-interchange guide signs.

This report evaluates these experimental post-interchange guide signs. This evaluation included a before and after study of crash information including total numbers and trends, a …

Assessment Of The 1997 Commodity Flow Survey For State-Level Freight Transportation Planning, Darren M. Scott

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Urban travel demand modeling in the United States has a rich history in both practice and academic research. The same cannot be said, however, of freight demand modeling despite the intermodel planning requirements of IS TEA and TEA21. In most instances, agencies responsible for state transportation planning (e.g. Kentucky Transportation Cabinet) have applied, in a limited way, the methodology developed for urban travel demand modeling (i.e., Urban Transportation Modeling System or UTMS 1) to the freight arena (see, for example, Black 1997). Obviously, this methodological similarity implies that the fundamental data requirements for both types of demand modeling are also …

Evaluation Of Kentucky’S You Drink And Drive. You Lose”, Kenneth R. Agent, Eric R. Green, Ronald E. Langley

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Alcohol and drug related crashes continue to be one of the highest priority problem identification areas and considerable emphasis is being placed on programs to impact those types of crashes. Various types of campaigns have been used over the years in an attempt to reduce the number of alcohol-related crashes. Kentucky was selected within the Southeast Region of the United States by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to conduct a comprehensive impaired driving campaign entitled “You Drink & Drive. You Lose”. The campaign was conducted around the 2002 Labor Day holiday. The objective of this report was to document …

Experimental Maintenance Painting Of I-65 In Louisville (Fr 108), Rick Younce, Theodore Hopwood Ii, Sudhir Palle

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

I-65 project in downtown Louisville consisted of 27 bridges having approximately 1,493,100 ft2 of steel. The structures had existing coatings that contained lead. The project posed significant operational and public safety and operational constraints due to close proximity of the structures with residences and businesses along the entire route. In 2000, the Central Office Project Design Team developed experimental specifications to abrasive blast and re-paint the bridges. Surface preparation procedures included solvent cleaning, pack rust removal and abrasive blast cleaning. Containment enclosures were employed throughout the project, air monitoring was performed to assure satisfactory containment, and hazardous wastes were collected …

Documentation Of Context-Sensitive Design Case Studies, Jerry G. Pigman, Donald L. Hartman, Nikiforos Stamatiadis, Lisa Aultman-Hall, Sally G. Oldham

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

A major challenge for many current transportation projects is to plan, design and build to create a solution which will not only address the planning and engineering requirements, but also satisfy the human and natural environmental issues related to a specific project. Occasional projects of this type have been designed and built for many years, typically when there have been few alternatives otherwise. A key component to these types of projects has been a greater level of community interest and public involvement. Initial efforts to introduce the concept of increased sensitivity to community interests and the natural environment was labeled …

Safety Evaluation Of New Roads, Kenneth R. Agent, Jerry G. Pigman

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The primary objective of this research study was to evaluate the crash history of bypass routes to determine if there were unusual patterns or changes in the crash history on these routes over the first years of operation. The focus of the evaluation was to collect data at bypass routes opened in recent years in Kentucky. Crash patterns were summarized with recommendations made for countermeasures to reduce the probability of crashes, specifically at intersections, with an emphasis on the early stages of operation. The literature was reviewed, crash data were obtained at nine case study bypasses, and discussions were held …

Experimental Maintenance Painting On Various Bridge Painting Projects (Kentucky Highway Investigative Task No: 31), Sudhir Palle, Theodore Hopwood Ii

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The Kentucky Transportation Center (KTC) at the University of Kentucky conducted a research study with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) to monitor various experimental bridge painting projects. The research study Kentucky Highways Investigative Task (KHIT) No: 31 “Experimental Maintenance Painting on Various Bridge Projects During 1997-1998” covered experimental bridge projects completed through the FY 1997 and FY 1998 painting seasons (April 1 through November 15) were monitored and reported. The objectives of the research study were to:

• assess the condition of the existing paint on bridge prior to maintenance painting,
• monitor the project throughout completion,
• note problems and their resolution, …

Contractor Performed Quality Control On Kytc Projects, Donn E. Hancher, Yuhong Wang, Kamyar C. Mahboub

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report addresses issues related to transferring the responsibility for quality control from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KyTC) to construction contractors. Surveys of the KyTC, other state departments of transportation, and Kentucky highway contractors were done to identify the advantages, concerns, and modifications of the Contractor Performed Quality Control (CPQC) program. An advisory committee of experienced KyTC engineers, FHWA representatives, and contractor representatives met periodically to identify approaches for handling key issues of the program.

Several key topics related to CPQC are presented in this report, with emphasis on quality control (QC) /quality assurance (QA) administration, QC/QA procedures, quality acceptance …

Shear Strength Of R/C Beams Wrapped With Cfrp Fabric, P. Alagusundaramoorthy, Issam E. Harik, Ching Chiaw Choo

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The emergence of high strength epoxies has enhanced the feasibility of increasing the shear strength of concrete beams by wrapping with carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) fabric. The objective of this investigation is to evaluate the increase in shear strength of concrete beams wrapped with different configurations of CFRP fabric. Shear tests are conducted up to failure on two reinforced concrete control beams and twelve reinforced concrete beams wrapped with four different configurations of CFRP fabric. An analytical procedure is presented to predict the shear strength of beams wrapped with CFRP fabric. Comparisons are made between the test results and …

Analysis Of Traffic Crash Data In Kentucky (1997-2001), Kenneth R. Agent, Jerry G. Pigman, Monica L. Barrett, Eric R. Green

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report documents an analysis of traffic crash data in Kentucky for the years of 1997 thro ugh 2001. A primary objective of this study was to determine average crash statistics for Kentucky highways. Average and critical numbers and rates of crashes 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 crashes.

The other primary 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 …

Toward Enhancing Estimates Of Kentucky’S Heavy Truck Tax Liabilities, Andrew V. Mcneill, Suzanne Perkins, Merl Hackbart

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Kentucky has established a Road Fund tax structure that is partially based on the principle that the system users pay their fair share of the costs associated with maintaining a safe and efficient highway system in Kentucky. Several of the most important sources of Kentucky’s road fund revenues derived from commercial trucking are dependent on the self-reported tax liabilities submitted by trucking firms. Self- reporting and the interstate nature of this industry allows for the possibility of tax evasion either due to fraudulent behavior or processing errors. To ensure the integrity of the system, the Revenue and Transportation Cabinets have …

Flexural Behavior Of R/C Beams Strengthened With Cfrp Sheets Or Fabric, P. Alagusundaramoorthy, Issam E. Harik, Ching Chiaw Choo

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The resistance to electro-chemical corrosion, high-strength to weight ratio, larger creep strain, fatigue resistance, non-magnetic and non-metallic properties of carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites offer a viable alternative to bonding of steel plates in repair and rehabilitation of reinforced concrete structures. The objective of this investigation is to study the effectiveness of externally bonded CFRP sheets or fabric in increasing the flexural strength of concrete beams. Four-point bending flexural tests are conducted up to failure on nine concrete beams strengthened with different layouts of CFRP sheets and fabric, and three beams with different layouts of anchored CFRP sheets. An …

2002 Safety Belt Usage Survey In Kentucky, Kenneth R. Agent, Eric R. Green

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The objective of this study was to establish 2002 safety belt and child safety seat usage rates in Kentucky. The 2002 survey continues to document the results after enactment of a statewide mandatory safety belt law in 1994. Data were collected at 200 randomly selected sites spread across Kentucky. Data from the individual sites were combined into a statewide percentage considering function classification, geographic region, and vehicle miles traveled.

The data show that the usage rate in 2002 (62.0) was almost identical to that for 2001 (61.9). This compared to 60 percent in 2000, 59 percent in 1999, 54 percent …

Movements And Settlements Of Highway Bridge Approaches, Bernadette Dupont, David L. Allen

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report is a discussion of the bridge approach settlement or movement problem that is so prevalent in the United States. An explanation and/or description is given of the causes of these movements as described in the literature. A discussion concerning the cost to highway agencies is also given. A review and discussion of current practices in the country is given . This includes construction practices on approach embankment foundations, the approach embankment itself, various types of approach slabs, types of abutments and end bents, and drainage around approach embankments and bridge ends. A survey of all 50 states was …

Long-Term Benefits Of Stabilizing Soil Subgrades, Tommy C. Hopkins, Tony L. Beckham, Liecheng Sun, Bixian Ni, Barry Butcher

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Chemical admixtures have been used extensively since the mid-eighties in Kentucky to improve bearing strengths of soil subgrades. Most pavements in Kentucky are constructed on clayey soils. Although short-term observations at a small number of sites showed that chemical stabilization worked very well, a need existed to perform a more comprehensive review and to assess the long-term benefits of this subgrade stabilization method. The main intent of this study was an attempt to address questions concerning bearing strengths, longevity, durability, structural credit, economics, and performance of pavements resting on soil subgrades mixed with chemical admixtures. In-depth field and laboratory studies …

Transportation Finance: Kentucky’S Structure And National Trends, Merl Hackbart, Suzanne Perkins, Mariam Fordham

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Studies of state Road Fund tax structures, like studies of state General Funds, tend to focus on a state’s current tax structure compared to surrounding states and identifying possible tax changes that may make a tax system simpler, more equitable, more administratively efficient, more competitive or more “adequate.” In conducting such analysis, the inherent trade-offs among these accepted tax principles becomes apparent. Efforts to increase competitiveness may impact the adequacy of a tax system. Likewise, tax legislation intended to enhance tax administration efficiency may impact the equity of a state’s Road Fund tax structure. Such trade-offs associated with conflicting tax …

Enterprise Resource Planning, Ted Grossardt, Joel Brumm

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This goal of this project was to assist the Cabinet in improving the way data is gathered, maintained, and used in the Highway Information System (HIS). The procedure was to identify the critical uses of various data categories, the specific needs for that data, and how that matched up with how the data is handled currently. The end result is a database of metadata information about the HIS database itself. This will enable new users and those unfamiliar with the background of the HIS to easily locate information about how data was collected, how frequently it is updated, and the …

Evaluation Of The Dayton Its Demonstration Project, Jason Yaw, Kavita Boddu, Nikiforos Stamatiadis

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This is the second and final report of the Dayton ITS Demonstration Project, which evaluates the effectiveness of Advanced Traveler Information System (ATIS) devices located in the vicinity of the Nutter Center (Figure 1), Dayton, Ohio. The intention of these devices is to provide real-time information to travelers accessing the Nutter Center during special events. The first report documented the existing conditions (1999) and defined various measures of effectiveness used to evaluate the traffic conditions. The ATIS devices were installed in the meantime. To complete the evaluation of the demonstration project, this report evaluates the performance of the road network …

Kentucky Highway User Survey 2001, Ronald E. Langley, Ted Grossardt

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The purpose of this study was to continue the efforts begun in 1997 to monitor Kentucky public opinion regarding the quality of the highway system and also includes a portion to measure satisfaction with the current drivers’ license and registration renewal processes. Kentucky’s 2001 public opinion is compared to data collected since 1997 to gauge Kentucky’s progress over the past years.

Evaluation Of High Traffic Crash Corridors, Eric R. Green, Kenneth R. Agent

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The objectives of this study were to: a) determine a procedure to use to identify corridors in each highway district for which a detailed analysis of crash data should be conducted (with resulting increased law enforcement activities, education programs and engineering improvement s); b) develop a procedure to use to analyze the crash data and recommend countermeasures; and c) conduct a case study analysis for one selected corridor.

A method which could be used to select high crash corridors, by highway district, was developed. The procedure involved: obtaining a list of rout es in each district which traveled through more …

Safety Implications From Design Exceptions, Kenneth R. Agent, Jerry G. Pigman, Nikiforos Stamatiadis

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The objectives of this study were to: a) summarize past design exceptions to document their frequency and reason for their use and b) determine if any adverse safety implications can be related to adopting design policies and practices related to design exceptions.

The design exception file maintained by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet was obtained with data obtained relating to the types of project, exceptions requested, and the reasons for the various exceptions. A site visit was made to a large number of the locations where the project was built with the requested design exception. Available crash data were obtained at …

A 3-D Finite Element Structural Model Of An Instrumental Rigid Pavement (I-265 Gene Snyder Freeway, Louisville, Kentucky), Kamyar C. Mahboub, David L. Allen, Yinhui Liu

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Field data that were generated from a section of concrete pavement on Gene Snyder Freeway (I-265), Louisville, Kentucky, were closely examined. An important conclusion of the field data examination was that the response produced by environmental load was more significant than traffic load and static load. To predict the mechanical behavior of the rigid pavement, a finite element model was developed for the project using the ANSYS program. The parametric study of the FEA model showed that the stiffness of subbase and subgrade had the most important effect on the mechanical response of the rigid pavement. On the basis of …

The Cost Of Construction Delays And Traffic Control For Life-Cycle Cost Analysis Of Pavements, Brad Rister, Clark Graves

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The objective of this report is to provide the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet a reliable approach to quantifying/calculating “Road User Cost”--often referred to as total user delay costs. To meet this objective, this re port is divided into three main sections. The first section summarizes the reviews of three relatively new computer programs that can be used to help quantify delayed traffic incurred by the presence of a work zone. From this review, one program was selected based on it’s user friendliness and ability to define both quantity of delayed traffic and queue length. The second section compares actual field data …

Compaction At The Longitudinal Construction Joint In Asphalt Pavements (Kyspr-00-208), L. John Fleckenstein, David L. Allen, David B. Schultz Jr.

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the level of compaction at the construction joint in HMA pavements on new and existing projects; to determine the level of water infiltration and segregation at the joint and its effect on joint performance; to determine the most promising joint construction methods around the nation and worldwide by reviewing specifications, experiences, and construction practices for joint construction and the prevention of joint segregation; to develop specifications and construction methods to ensure the level of density necessary at the joint for proper performance; and to review special paving equipment (attachments) for improving densification …

Experimental Maintenance Painting On Various Bridge Projects: Kentucky Highway Investigative Task 40, Theodore Hopwood Ii, Sudhir Palle, Rick Younce

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The Kentucky Transportation Center (KTC) at the University of Kentucky has performed a series of research studies for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) to monitor various experimental bridge painting projects and conduct investigative work focusing on new paint systems. The research study addressed in this report “Experimental Maintenance Painting On Various Bridge Projects During 1998-2000” Kentucky Highways Investigative Task No: 40 was intended to address experimental projects in fiscal years 1999 and 2000, but was extended to address certain fieldwork and KYTC inspections through December 31, 2000.

KTC/KYTC Paint Team joint efforts in late 1998 into early 1999 centered on …

Investigation Of The Impact Of Large Trucks On Interstate Highway Safety, Kenneth R. Agent, Jerry G. Pigman

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This study concentrated on the impact of large trucks on interstate highway safety. The objectives of this study were to investigate the impact of trucks on interstate travel and offer recommendations for improving safety. The procedure involved reviewing the literature, analyzing crash data, discussing the existing situation with the trucking industry, and using the information to develop a list of countermeasures to reduce the number and severity of truck crashes on interstates. The countermeasures were grouped into the general areas of: a) the roadway environment, b) the truck, and c) the driver. The crash data were also analyzed to identify …

Evaluation Of 220 Mhz Frequencies For Its Experimentation, David Q. Hunsucker

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet implemented a 220 MHz wireless communication system as part of the TRIMARC traffic management system. The purpose of this research effort was to evaluate the use of the 220 MHz system to transmit data collected at the roadside to an operations center to enable operators to make sound decisions regarding traffic flow within the greater metropolitan area of Louisville, Kentucky. The attributes of the 220 MHz communication system, relative to functional reliability and cost effectiveness of the system were evaluated to determine if further use of 220 MHz technology for ITS applications is warranted.

The performance …

2001 Traffic Safety Issues Opinion Survey, Kenneth R. Agent, Jerry G. Pigman, Ronald E. Langley

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

As a means of determining public opinion on specific traffic safety issues, a public opinion survey was conducted. A total of 4,500 mail surveys were sent to a stratified sample of drivers selected from the drivers license file. The state was divided into three regions (based on Area Development District) to determine if opinions varied by region of the state. There were 2,097 responses received for a response rate of about 51.5 percent for eligible surveys. The margin-of-error for a sample of this size is plus or minus 2.1 percent at the 95 percent confidence level.

The most support was …

Kentucky Traffic Collision Facts 2002 Report, Kentucky Transportation Center, Kentucky State Police

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

KENTUCKY’S TRAFFIC COLLISION FACTS report for 2002 is based on collision reports submitted to the Kentucky State Police Records Branch. 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 collisions for such purposes as will improve the traffic safety program in the Commonwealth. Data contained in this report are based solely on the observations …