Engineering Commons^™

Highway Safety Research, Development, And Technology Transfer, John A. Deacon

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Late in 1987, the Federal Highway Administration assembled a seven-member panel which, guided by a primary contractor, Harrison Boyd & Associates, was charged with the task of developing a recommended five-year research, development, and technology transfer program for highway safety starting in the 1990s. As a part of the task, each panel member prepared an individual position paper to stimulate and focus panel discussions and, ultimately, to provide the basis for a consensus paper. This represents one such individual paper.

Although it is believed that significant safety gains can be achieved in the 1990s and beyond simply by more extensive …

Comparison Of Rigid Pavement Thickness Design Systems, Herbert F. Southgate

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Rigid pavement thickness design systems investigated during this study were the 1986 AASHTO, American Concrete Pavement Association (ACPA), Portland Cement Association (PCA), and Kentucky methods. The ACPA system is a computer program based upon the 1966 AASHTO design equation. It was difficult to evaluate and compare the Kentucky method to the PCA system because the input and analysis procedures differ greatly.

The Kentucky method is based upon the fatigue relationship involving the value of work at the bottom of the concrete pavement caused by the applied load and repetitions of an 18-kip single axleload. The AASHTO method was derived from …

Soil-Bridge Abutment Interaction, Bobby W. Meade, David L. Allen

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Presented herein are analyses of 6 bridge approaches. Lateral movement and settlement of the foundations and embankments are discussed. Result·s of slope stability and finite element analyses are related to measured movements. A graph for predicting approach pavement settlement is included. A theoretical approach model was used to run an extensive series of finite element analyses. Movements resulting from these analyses are presented with several variable model conditions. Variable conditions include embankment and foundation configuration, soil cohesion, and soil friction angle.

Earthquake Priority Routes For Mclean County, Kentucky, David L. Allen, Vincent P. Drnevich, L. John Fleckenstein, Mostafa Sayedsadr

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

No abstract provided.

Evaluation Of A Polymer Asphalt Additive -- Kraton (1118 And 4141), L. John Fleckenstein, David L. Allen

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report documents the use of two types of asphaltic concrete mixture designs. Both the control mixture and a Kraton rubber mixture were placed on sections of the Hazard Bypass, in Hazard, Kentucky. The location of the project is shown in Figure 1.

Evaluation Of Hydraway Edge Drain On Pennyrile Parkway, David L. Allen, L. John Fleckenstein

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

No abstract provided.

Analysis Of Accidents In Construction And Maintenance Work Zones, Jerry G. Pigman, Kenneth R. Agent

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report includes documentation of the two following phases of the study : 1) analysis of statewide accidents for the period 1983 through 1986 in which "road under construction" was listed as a contributing factor; and 2) analysis of accident data and traffic control devices used at 20 case study locations. At the case study locations, accident data were analyzed for a three-year period before construction and compared to the period during construction.

Results from the statewide analysis indicate that even though the level of construction and maintenance activity is higher and traffic volumes have increased, there have not been …

Laboratory Evaluation Of Edge Drains, L. John Fleckenstein, David L. Allen

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report documents laboratory test results performed on four brands of highway edge drains. The four brands included in this study are Hydraway (by Monsanto), Akwadrain (by International Construction Equipment, Inc.), Advantage (by Advanced Drainage Systems), and PDS 40 (by Pro Drain Systems).

Evaluation Of Extruded Thermoplastics As Lane Delineation, Kenneth R. Agent, Jerry G. Pigman

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This study involved an evaluation of large-scale installations of both hydrocarbon and alkyd extruded thermoplastics as lane delineation on sections of interstate highways having open-graded surfaces. The objective of the study was to evaluate the performance of thermoplastics as lane delineation and to compare the performance of hydrocarbon versus alkyd formulations.

Data were collected on a periodic basis over an 18-month period. Data collection consisted of daytime observations of the appearance and durability of the thermoplastic material along with reflectivity measurements using a portable retroreflectometer.

The evaluation revealed that both the hydrocarbon and alkyd extruded thermoplastic material maintained their appearance, …

Evaluation Of Lime Stabilized Road Bed, Bobby W. Meade, David L. Allen

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

In October 1986, the Transportation Research Program of the University of Kentucky published a report evaluating the addition of hydrated lime to the subgrade soils of Section 19 of the Ashland-Alexandria (AA.) highway (1). That study involved laboratory testing only and concluded that the engineering properties of these subgrade soils were significantly improved with the addition of 6 percent (by weight) hydrated lime. It was decided to add hydrated lime to the subgrade soils on Section 19.

Because that procedure had not previously been used in Kentucky, a study was approved to monitor construction procedures and the performance of an …

Excessive Beam Deflections On The Ky-52 Bridge Over Dix River (Boyle-Garrard County Line), Theodore Hopwood Ii, Vishwas G. Oka, David Q. Hunsucker, James H. Havens

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Upon rehabilitation, beams and deck of the Ky 52 bridge over Dix River were observed to have excessive deflections. An investigation of the problem included field inspections, structural analyses, and interviews with relevant KYDOH and other personnel.

Field measurements were made of the beam deflections. Those were compared to construction field measurements and dead-load calculations.

The beam deflection problem is attributed to 1) a failure to provide for sufficient camber in the beams to accommodate for construction dead loads, and 2) pre-existing sags in the beams when placed prior to casting the deck. Part of the deck deflection problem can …

Allocation Of Highway Costs And Revenues, Jerry G. Pigman, John A. Deacon

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

A continuing task related to highway financing is determination of the appropriate level of taxation for each class of highway user. Cost allocation in various forms has traditionally been the tool used to achieve an equitable assignment of user responsibility. Following is a summary of results from such a cost-allocation study undertaken by the University of Kentucky's Transportation Research Program. The objective of this study is to determine highway cost responsibility of various user classes and to assess revenues relative to costs under existing levels of taxation and under various alternatives considered in the 1988 legislative session.

Evaluation Of Procedures For Testing Aggregates, David Q. Hunsucker

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report summarizes findings of a research study conducted to evaluate aggregate testing procedures as related to aggregate soundness and durability. The objectives of the study were to determine a suitable replacement or modification of Kentucky's existing Sodium Sulfate Soundness Test for aggregates which would more accurately reflect in-service performance of concrete pavements and bridges, to correlate freezing and thawing durability data and other test data with sodium sulfate soundness data, and to develop a rational implementation criterion for use of new or modified testing procedures.

There were no observable correlations between the various test methods evaluated and the Sodium …

Evaluation Of Stability And Rutting Potential Of Asphaltic Concrete Using Big-Stone Gradations, David L. Allen, Hossien Roghani

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Considerable interest has been generated in recent years in using big stone gradations to reduce rutting and shoving in asphaltic concrete. This report documents mix design procedures and a laboratory testing program to determine the stability and rutting potential of a big-stone gradation. A series of creep tests was performed on a big-stone gradation and the results were compared to creep tests performed on a Class I base mixture. The big-stone mix average approximately 50 percent rutting potential as compared to the Class I base. One creep specimen of the big-stone mixture was compacted using polymer-modified AC-20 grade asphalt cement. …

Evaluation Of Ads Polyethylene Pipe, L. John Fleckenstein, David L. Allen

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Construction and performance evaluations of ADS Polyethylene Pipe N-12 are presented. Construction procedures and visual inspection data are included. The pipe appears to be performing well.

Long-Term Evaluation Of The Acoustic Emission Weld Monitor, Theodore Hopwood Ii

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The Kentucky Transportation Research Program conducted an extended 10- month evaluation of the Acoustic Emission Weld Monitor (AEWM) in a bridge fabrication shop. That device was used to detect welding flaws during typical production of butt-welds on flanges and webs used in steel bridges. A total of 153 welds were monitored.

AEWM test results were compared with visual inspection and double- blind results of conventional nondestructive testing routinely conducted on the welds. The AEWM did not miss any flaws detected visually or by nondestructive testing. Three AEWM flaw indications were confirmed by conventional nondestructive testing (radiography).

A large number of …

Review Of Work Zone Literature, Jerry G. Pigman, Kenneth R. Agent

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

A literature search was conducted with the objective of identifying sources of information related to safety in highway work zones. Included is an annotated bibliography of 165 references. From the references, a list of recommendations were made to improve safety in highway work zones. The recommendations were organized into the six categories listed below.

1. Flagging
2. Delineation
3. Traffic Control Devices
4. Accidents
5. Design
6. Policy

Earthquake Hazard Mitigation Of Transportation Facilities, David L. Allen, Vincent P. Drnevich, Mostafa Sayyedsadr, L. John Fleckenstein

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Concern has grown in recent years, over the seismic activity of the New Madrid seismic zone located in the central United States. Western Kentucky is located in this region. To permit emergency medical, supply, and equipment traffic into this area after an earthquake has occurred, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is interested in the possibility of keeping selected routes passable. This report lists the routes that have been investigated and recommended as being routes that should be maintained in passable conditions. These recommended routes have been visually surveyed and all seismically significant features cataloged. These features are listed in the Appendix. …

Shear Strength Of Compacted Shales, Tommy C. Hopkins

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Some basic physical and engineering properties of a broad range of different types of shales located in Kentucky are examined. Physical testing included liquid limit, plastic limit, specific gravity, particle-size analysis, natural water content, and jar-slake determinations. These tests were performed on some forty different types of shales selected from various geological formations of different periods. Geological periods included Recent, Cretaceous, Tertiary, Pennsylvanian Mississippian, Silurian, Ordovician, and Devonian. Engineering tests included slake-durability, bearing ratio, consolidated-undrained triaxial compression tests with pore-pressue measurements, moisture-density relationships, well deflection and pressure, mineralogy, and Shore sclorescope. Ten different slake-durability testing procedures, including the original procedure …

Technical Report El-88-18: Reliability Of The Federally Owned Water Main System, Donald V. Chase, Lindell Ormsbee, Thomas M. Walski

Civil and Environmental Engineering and Engineering Mechanics Faculty Publications

The reliability of the Federally Owned Water Main (FOWM) system was examined, and recommendations to improve system reliability are made. The existing FOWM system is very dependent upon three different pipe links.

The first and most important link is the Francis Scott Key Bridge river crossing. This link carries the entire FOWM supply, and if taken out of service, an alternate means of supply must be used. At present, the only alternate source of supply is through interconnections with the adjacent Arlington County, Virginia, system.

The second vital link is the 30-in. steel main which extends from the Key Bridge …

Evaluation Of Unmanned Radar Installations, Jerry G. Pigman, Kenneth R. Agent, John A. Deacon, Richard J. Kryscio

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Several unmanned radar devices were installed on I75 in northern Kentucky in an attempt to reduce speeds. It was assumed that drivers use radar detectors to exceed the speed limit with a resulting variance between their speeds and others in the traffic stream. Therefore, a reduction in overall speeds and variance was expected to reduce the probability of accidents. Historical data indicated an unusually high accident rate for the study area.

Emphasis was placed on collection and analysis of speed-related data. In addition, a survey of radar detector usage was made and accident patterns were documented.

Speed measures analyzed included …

Traffic Volume Estimates And Growth Trends, John A. Deacon, Jerry G. Pigman, Ahmad Mohsenzadeh

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The objective of this study was to develop a procedure to forecast highway traffic volumes through the use of growth factors representative of Kentucky highways and reflecting effects of important socioeconomic and demographic variables. A two-stage modeling process was used. In the first, linear regression models were used to relate average daily travel on Kentucky roadways to personal income, price of fuel, and total miles of streets and highways. In the second, cross-tabulation models were used to relate growth in volume at a specific site--expressed relative to the statewide ADT--to highway functional classification rural/urban location, county population growth, SMSA/non-SMSA designation, …

Native Aggregates For Skid Resistance, Scott P. Hall, David Q. Hunsucker, David L. Allen, Gary W. Sharpe

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The objectives of the study were 1) to identify sources of native aggregates with varying histories of skid resistance performance; 2) to evaluate and correlate native aggregate characteristics, processing techniques, and other factors with skid resistance and surface mixture performance; and 3) to provide guidelines for implementation of research findings. Limestone, sandstone, river gravel, and control aggregates (granite, traprock, and slags) were subjected to a battery of tests to determine physical relationships between aggregate type and skid resistance.

Laboratory results were analyzed for correlations among themselves and for correlations with skid number data obtained from pavements containing aggregates involved in …

Breaking And Seating Of Rigid Pavements, Gary W. Sharpe, Mark Anderson, Robert C. Deen

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Breaking and seating has been utilized extensively in Kentucky to rehabilitate portland cement concrete pavements. Experience over three or four years with this type of design and construction are summarized and reported. Breaking to a range of nominal fragments is evaluated. Evaluation of two roller weights for seating is reported. The use of dynamic deflections to evaluate the effectiveness of the breaking and seating process and to measure the appropriateness of the asphaltic concrete overlay.

Evaluation Of Wick Drain Stabilization Of Approach Fill Foundation (Bullitt County), Bobby W. Meade, David L. Allen

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The purpose of this study was to document the construction procedures and evaluate the effectiveness of wick drains as a foundation stabilization method. Field data was primarily obtained from field surveys and penumatic piezometers installed in the approach foundation.

Construction procedures used have been determined to be generally acceptable. The wick drains appear to have effectively dewatered the foundation during embankment construction.

Evaluation Of Asphalt Additive -- Chemkrete, L. John Fleckenstein, David L. Allen, Gary W. Sharpe, Scott P. Hall, David Q. Hunsucker

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Construction, performance, and cost-effectiveness evaluations of an AC-10 treated with Chemkrete (CTI-101) and an untreated AC-20 are presented. Laboratory tests, and field tests which include marshall stability, density test, repeated load test, road-ratter deflection data, and visual observation are summarized.

Because of the apparent failure of Chemkrete to significantly enhance the performance of the pavement, and the additional cost for the use of Chemkrete, it would not be recommended for further use in the state of Kentucky.

Modifications To Chevron N-Layer Computer Program, Herbert F. Southgate, Robert C. Deen, David Cain, Jesse G. Mayes

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report documents changes made to the Chevron N-layer computer program to:

1. Include superposition principles.
2. Calculate strain energy density (or work) at specified locations within the pavement structure.
3. Analyze pavement response at specified radii from one circularly loaded area to permit comparison of analyses by the program as originally written with results incorporating superposition principles.
4. Evaluate pavement response to any combination of loads on circular areas defined by XY coordinates on the surface. Loads and contact pressures are permitted to be different from one loaded area to another, but must be constant for any one loaded area.
5. Simulate dynamic loads …

Laboratory Analysis Of Failed Asphaltic Concrete Surface -- Us 23, Lawrence County, L. John Fleckenstein, David L. Allen

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Laboratory analyses of a failed asphaltic concrete surface are presented. Construction procedures, mix design data, density tests, repeated load tests, asphalt extraction tests, and gradation tests are summarized.

Pavement Designs Based On Work, Herbert F. Southgate, Robert C. Deen

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Thickness design curves presented in the report provide a systematic methodology for the selection of equivalent pavement designs for a broad range of layered systems. This is a unified system since the failure criteria are founded on the same concept of work strain and work. The analyses of stress-strain fields in the layered systems are based on elastic layered theory. This theory is represented by the Chevron N-layered computer program.

The report also summarizes the historical development and evolution of pavement design in Kentucky.

Reliability Assessment Of High-Risk Steel Bridges By Nondestructive Test Methods, Theodore Hopwood Ii, Vishwas G. Oka, Robert C. Deen

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Fatigue-crack related failures of high-risk (fracture-critical) steel bridges may be prevented through application of nondestructive tests (NDT). Economical reliability assessment of those structures requires 1) application of a suitable NDT method, 2) testing of fatigue-susceptible members, and 3 ) periodic retests of those members to preclude problems with growing or previously undetected flaws.

Six conventional NDT techniques were tested in the laboratory using buttweld configured specimens having intentionally embedded cracks. Those NDT methods were 1) visual inspection, 2) magnetic-particle testing, 3) dyepenetrant testing, 4) florescent-enhanced surface testing, 5 ) eddy-current testing, and 6) ultrasonic testing. The other NDT methods provided …