Engineering Commons^™

Design Guide For Bituminous Concrete Pavement Structures, James H. Havens, Robert C. Deen, Herbert F. Southgate

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

To determine pavement thicknesses from design charts and tables, it is necessary to know only the EAL's (equivalent axle loads), the CBR of the subgrade soil, and the modulus of elasticity of the bituminous concrete. Charts permit selection of pavement structures employing alternative proportions of bituminous concrete and crushed stone base. Total thickness varies according to the proportions chosen. It is implicitly intended that the selection of alternative structures be based on engineering considerations, such as 1. estimates of comparative construction costs, 2. compatibility with cross section template and shoulder designs, 3. uniformity or standardization of design practices, 4. highway …

Analysis Of Time-Deflection Consolidation Data, E. Gregory Mcnulty

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

A computerized statistical curve-fitting algorithm has been developed for determining the time-dependent properties of conventional (load-incremental) consolidation test data. Analytical models of the graphical methods developed by Taylor and Casagrande and of the Naylor-Doran method of successive approximations determtne values for the coefficients of consolidation, permeability, and the values of deflection corresponding to the begimltng and endtng of primary consolidation. The coefficients of volume change and secondary compression are also calculated. A modified statistical definition is used to select the linear portions of the data curves and is applicable to other data-fitting problems. After the Naylor-Doran method has been used, …

Structural Capacity Of In-Place Asphaltic Concrete Pavements From Dynamic Deflections, Herbert F. Southgate, Gary W. Sharpe, Robert C. Deen, James H. Havens

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The proper design of asphaltic overlay thicknesses involves four major factors; the in-place modulus of the subgrade, an estimate of the structural capacity of the existing pavement, estimates of the future traffic expressed as equivalent axleloads and required or desired design levels, and a thickness design procedure. This paper deals with estimating the in-place subgrade modulus and the remaining load-carrying capacity of the existing pavement. The method presented herein is valid for any Road Rater or other dynamic tester such as the Dynaflect. This procedure was based upon a 600-pound (272.4-kg) peak-to-peak dynamic load applied at a rate of 25 …

Identification Of Kentucky Shales, Tommy C. Hopkins, Brian C. Gilpin

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Results obtained from a series of engineering tests performed on 40 different types of shales are summarized and discussed. Both hard and soft shales, as well as shales having well-documented histories of involvement in highway embankment failures and shales having little known involvement, were tested. A major portion of the report examines the suitability of the slake-durability tests, originally devised by Franklin-Chandra of England, as a means of broadly characterizing the engineering properties of Kentucky shales. Results obtained from ten different slake-durability testing procedures, which include procedures proposed by Franklin and Chandra and others as well as procedures devised during …

Identification And Rehabilitation Of High-Risk Drivers, Kenneth R. Agent

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report deals with the identification and rehabilitation of high-risk drivers. Methods used to identify negligent drivers were examined. Kentucky's point system was compared to those tn other states. The consequences of drivers attending driverimprovement clinics were studied by analyzing driving records.

The analysis showed that accident involvement was directly related to the accumulation of penalty points and number of violations. Definite relationships were found between several specific types of violations and accidents.

A very significant improvement in driving records was noted for those drivers who completed a driver-improvement clinic; however, a similar improvement occurred for drivers eligible for the …

Evaluation Of Rumble Strip Design And Usage, Jerry G. Pigman, Michael M. Barclay

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The objective of this study was to investigate the following aspects of rumble strips: the optimum height and width of elements in a rumble strip pattern, spacing between them, the effect of grouping elements into sets, the effects of speed on design criteria, and driver reaction to the audible and physical stimuli produced by rumble strips. A survey of design and usage in other states was conducted; and the results show that even though 35 of the 44 responding states have installed rumble strips, only five have warrants for usage.

Two types of rumble strip design were evaluated -- one …

Evaluation Of Watertight Bridge Expansion Joints, Wm. Vernon Azevedo

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Engineers have long recognized the importance of bridge expansion joints. The inadequacy in design of such joints has also been realized. Proprietary products are now available which may eliminate well-documented problems associated with bridge expansion.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the field performance of such products.

Vehicle Noise Emission Levels In Kentucky, Kenneth R. Agent

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The objectives of this study were to update individual vehicle noise data taken in previous years in Kentucky and to determine reference mean energy emission levels for Kentucky vehicles for use in the SNAP 1 noise prediction procedure.

Comparison of Kentucky and nationwide emission levels showed a close agreement for medium and heavy trucks; however, automobile noise levels in Kentucky were higher than nationwide levels. An analysis of emission levels of the various vehicle types showed that a fourth category, light trucks, may need to be added. The Kentucky emission levels were input into SNAP 1 in place of the …

Ohio River Suspension Bridges: An Inspection Report, Theodore Hopwood Ii

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

For many years, suspension bridges have been employed to economic advantage where long uninterrupted spans were required. While they have been supplanted for most common applications by cantilever and arch bridges in the United States, suspension bridges are a valid design type. Two American suspension bridges have been in service for over 100 years. A new form of suspension bridge, the cable-stayed bridge, is widely used in Europe and is expected to be as popular in the United States.

The key to the success of suspension bridges lies in the use of high-strength wires that are consolidated into the main …

Traffic Accidents In Kentucky (1978), Kenneth R. Agent

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Highway locations having an abnormal history of accidents should be identifiable in some way. Average and critical accident numbers and rates must be known for similar locations. Averages have been determined previously for rural highways, but it is necessary to update those numbers and to determine rates for urban areas. A detailed picture of traffic accidents in Kentucky in 1978 is presented.

Average rates in terms of accidents per 100 million vehicle-miles (160 million vehicle-kilometers) were calculated for various classifications of rural and urban highways. Also, average rates in terms of accidents per million vehicles were determined for 0.3-mile (0.48-km) …

Evaluation Of Raised Pavement Markers In Kentucky: Statewide Installations; 1975-1979, Jerry G. Pigman, Kenneth R. Agent, Rolands L. Rizenbergs

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Raised markers have become commonplace in delineation on highways in states where snowfall is minimal and snowplows are not needed. They have proven to be especially effective for wet, nighttime, and other poor visibility conditions when paint stripes are least effective. In Kentucky, over one million raised markers have been installed and damage from snowplowing has been significant during some of the more severe winters. As a result of costs associated with replacing damaged markers and requirements of the Pavement Marking Demonstration Program, an evaluation of all installations was undertaken.

Between 1975 and 1979, a total of 1,082,250 markers were …

Strain-Rate Selection In The Constant-Rate-Of-Strain Consolidation Test, C. Thomas Gorman

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Constant-rate-of-strain (CRS) consolidation tests were performed on remolded kaolinite specimens. The effect of strain rate on CRS test data is shown. A relation between soil parameters and strain rate was developed and used to formulate a strain-rate selection procedure. The fmal selectlon procedure is based on liquid limit and initial degree of saturation of the specimen and is presented in graphical form. The procedure is applicable to all types of soils.

Problem Identification For Highway Safety Plan (Fy 1982), Jerry G. Pigman, Kenneth R. Agent, Joseph D. Crabtree

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

To comply with Section 402, Title 23 of the United States Code, each state is required to prepare an annual highway safety program. Kentucky's program, which includes identification, programming, budgeting, and evaluation of highway safety projects, is intended to have a positive impact on the reduction of traffic accidents. The first step in the program, problem identification, requires systematic, statistical analyses of accident records. In-depth analyses of accident data were performed, and 24 problem areas were investigated. Accident rates were found for counties and cities in the following categories: total accidents; fatal accidents; accidents by driver age and sex; and …

Survey Of Lane Delineation Methods, Kenneth R. Agent

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The objective of this study was to summarize the nationwide experience pertaining to various lane delineation methods. The usage, cost, and problems associated with each alternative could then be analyzed for the purpose of determining an optimum marking program. A survey of the methods of lane delineation used across the United States was done by means of a questionnaire sent to each state. Responses were received from 46 states. Most of the information dealt with the following lane delineation methods: raised pavement markers, pavement tape, thermoplastic markings, and paint and beads.

Sprinkle-Treated Asphaltic Concrete Surface Course, Donald C. Newberry Jr.

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report gives details of construction and some skid resistance data from experimental sprinkle-treatment placed in Nelson County, Kentucky, north of Bardstown, US 31-E. The various types of aggregate, application rates, and precoating processes are reported.

Retrieval Guide: Kentucky Soils Data System, William J. Pfalzer, Louise B. Hensley

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The Kentucky Soils Data System is an extensive data file of the physical properties and characteristics of soils as determined by field and laboratory testing. Site locations are available for most samples. Since Kentucky has been mapped geologically (scale 1:24,000), the bedrock at each of these sample locations can be determined, providing better opportunities for studying soil-bedrock (parent material) relationships. A complimentary report covers data input. This report is divided into two sections: data availability and data retrieval. The first section is designed to show the quantity and types of data available and how the data are distributed geographically. The …

Survey Of Effectiveness Of Transportation Services, Jerry G. Pigman, Kenneth R. Agent, Joseph D. Crabtree

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

With increased emphasis on public accountability and program evaluation, the need for effectiveness measures to indicate the extent to which an agency's goals and objectives are being met is increasingly apparent. A research study was undertaken to establish and implement a procedure for monitoring the effectiveness of transportation services in Kentucky. Quantitative data for many of the effectiveness measures were obtainable only through responses from the public. Surveys of licensed drivers and bus riders were selected as data sources. This report addresses the procedures and results of the two surveys. Responses were received from 35.5 percent of the 10,000 licensed …

Frictional Performance Of Pavements And Estimates Of Accident Probability [Dec. 1980], James L. Burchett, Rolands L. Rizenbergs

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Objectives of this study were to evaluate standard and experimental surfaces throughout Kentucky in terms of skid resistance and effects of traffic, and to provide criteria for judging suitability of these surfaces to satisfy requirements for skid resistance and economics. The effects of traffic were quantified by regression analysis and scatter of data. Criteria included an estimate of accident risks, effects of speed on skid resistance, and seasonal variations in skid resistance.

Pavements on low volume roads (less than 1,000 vehicles per day) maintained adequate skid resistances. Open-graded friction courses, with the possible exception of sections using phosphate slag aggregate, …

Interstate Safety Improvement Program, Jerry G. Pigman, Kenneth R. Agent, Charles V. Zegeer

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The purpose of this paper was to prepare prioritized rankings of recommended improvements which could implemented for the Interstate Safety Improvement Program in Kentucky. Considerable detail is presented which documents analysis procedures used to determine sites, sections, and elements of the roadway in need of improvement. The average number of accidents per interchange, bridge, 1.6-km (1.0-mile) section, and 0.48-km (0.3-mile) spots were summarized for large urban, medium urban, and rural sections of the interstate system. At specified levels of statistical significance, critical numbers of accidents and critical accident rates were calculated to assist in identifying high-accident locations. A limited field …

Use Of Economic Analyses And Dynamic Programming In The Selection Of Projects For Resurfacing, Charles V. Zegeer, Kenneth R. Agent, Rolands L. Rizenbergs

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The objective of this paper was to develop a dynamic programming procedure using economic analyses to assist in optimizing expenditures in pavement resurfacing programs. Benefit relationships were determined from expected accident reduction, improved comfort, time saving, fuel savings, and maintenance savings. The only cost input to the program was the resurfacing cost of each project.

Dynamic programming was adapted to the selection of projects for resurfacing in Kentucky. Over $8.4 million of additional user benefits would have been realized in 1976 if dynamic programming had been used in selecting projects. The benefit-cost ratio of sections selected for resurfacing by the …

The Operation Of An Electrical Heating System For Bridge Decks, Wm. Vernon Azevedo, Robert C. Deen, James H. Havens

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The 9th-Street interchange with I 64 in Louisville, Kentucky, was designed and constructed with an automated electrical heating system for snow and ice removal. This report summarizes the operation of the heating system during the first four years. The system was capable of keeping the interchange free of ice and snow accumulation. The average daily slab temperature fell below 0°C (32° F) only on a few occasions. The average cost of electrical power for heating the interchange was $883 per day.

The Effect Of Lane And Shoulder Widths On Accident Reductions On Rural, Two-Lane Roads, Charles V. Zegeer, Robert C. Deen, Jesse G. Mayes

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of lane and shoulder widths on accident benefits for rural, two-lane roads and also to determine the expected cost effectiveness of widening lanes and shoulders. Information concerning geometries, accidents, and traffic volumes was obtained for over 25,000 km (15,000 miles) of roads.

Run-off-road and opposite-direction accidents were the only accident types found to be associated with narrow lanes and shoulders. Wide lanes had accident rates 10 to 39 percent lower than for narrow lanes. Wide shoulders (up to 2.7 m (9 feet)) were associated with the lower accident rates. Criteria …

Interpretation Of Dynamic Pavement Deflections, Gary W. Sharpe, Herbert F. Southgate, Robert C. Deen

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

In 1977, a methodology was .developed to evaluate pavement performance using dynamic (Road Rater) deflections. Since then, additional research has resulted in modifications ill the procedures. This paper presents the procedures presently used to evaluate flexible pavement structures. Background information is included on various procedures used by others. A sample set of data is presented and evaluated. A discussion is included on how the analyses of dynamic pavement deflections can be used to design overlays and in pavement management.

The Need For A Schema For The Classification Of Transitional (Shale) Materials, Robert C. Deen

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The need for comprehensive information on the characteristics and behavior of earth materials has been recognized for many years, perhaps for as long as significant construction has taken place in and on the surface of the earth. In recent years, however, the magnitude and complexity of engineered construction has greatly increased, resulting in a corresponding increase in the need for information on the engineering properties of soil and rock materials for use in site selection, design, construction, and maintenance of major structures. Probably the most pressing need for such data is for use in preliminary considerations of site selection and …

Evaluation Of The Fhwa Highway Traffic Noise Prediction Procedure (Snap 1) [Oct. 1980], Kenneth R. Agent

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Traffic noise prediction procedures are used in the design of new highways to determine if noise is limited to specific levels. A previous study evaluated the procedure outlined in NCHRP Report 117 and developed a correction factor which was incorporated into Kentucky's noise prediction procedure. This adjusted NCHRP 117 procedure has been used in Kentucky for the past several years. The Federal Highway Administration has developed a new procedure to predict traffic noise levels. The objective of this study was to evaluate the new prediction procedure, designated as SNAP 1.

Comparisons of measured and predicted noise levels showed that predictions …

Frictional Performance Of Pavements And Estimates Of Accident Probability [Sept. 1980], James L. Burchett, Rolands L. Rizenbergs

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Objectives of this study were to evaluate standard and experimental surfaces throughout Kentucky in terms of skid resistance and effects of traffic, and to provide criteria for judging suitability of these surfaces to satisfy requirements for skid resistance and economics. The effects of traffic were quantified by regression analysis and scatter of data. Criteria included an estimate of accident risks, effects of speed on skid resistance, and seasonal variations in skid resistance.

The analysis indicated that pavements on low volume roads (less than 1,000 vehicles per day) maintained adequate skid resistances. Open-graded friction courses, with the possible exception of sections …

Modulus And Damping Of Asphaltic Concrete Using The Resonant Column, David L. Allen, Robert C. Deen

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

When analyzing flexible pavements or predicting their behavior by such means as elastic-layered theory or by finite elements, it is necessary to know the parameters that govern the behavior of the pavement components. One of the most important factors to consider is the modulus of the asphalt bound layers.

In the past two decades, one method that has seen increasing use in the determination of the moduli of engineering materials (particularly soils) is the resonant column. However, its use in determining the moduli cf asphaltic concrete has not been widespread or well documented. In this study, which was part of …

Statewide Survey Of Skid Resistances Of Pavements (1979), Rolands L. Rizenbergs, James L. Burchett

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Statewide survey of skid resistances continued in 1979 with the testing of 3,060 miles (4,930 km) of roads, including interstate and toll roads. During the two-year (1978 and 1979) cycle of testing, over 7,000 miles (11,270 km) of roads have been tested. Altogether, 560 miles (902 km) of roads had an average skid number of 28 or less. These pavements, in particular, should be considered for deslicking.

In 1978 and 1979, 28 percent of the state-maintained roads were surveyed. These roads carried 72 percent of all traffic on state-maintained roads.

Overlay Recommendations For I 64: Rowan, Carter, And Boyd Counties, Gary W. Sharpe, Herbert F. Southgate

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

A method was developed in 1978 for designing asphaltic concrete overlays for flexible pavements. This procedure utilizes Kentucky's theoretical flexible pavement design curves, estimates of pavement fatigue from traffic data, estimates of subgrade strengths, and estimates of the structural capacity of the existing pavement. Overlay designs were recommended for the asphaltic concrete pavement sections of I 64 in Rowan, Carter, and Boyd Counties. Road Rater deflection data were used to estimate the subgrade strength and the effective worth of the pavement structures. Pavement rutting and roughness were also considered in determining the final overlay thicknesses.

Input Guide: Kentucky Soils Data System, William J. Pfalzer

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The Kentucky Soil Data System is a system of information storage intended to be used as both a design and research tool. It contains information relating to soil and rock (parent material) properties and allows for input of precise sample locations. The storage format is presented here. This report is intended primarily to aid in the input of data. A user-oriented report covering what information is available and how requests for information should be made is a forthcoming compliment.