Engineering Commons^™

Re-Evaluation Of The Kentucky Flexible Pavement Design Criterion, William B. Drake, James H. Havens

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Prior to 1948, the criterion in Kentucky for designing the thickness of bituminous pavements was based upon a modified laboratory CBR and the 1942 curves developed by the California Department of Highways. In 1948, the Materials Research Laboratory reported: "An Investigation of Field and Laboratory Methods for Evaluating Sub-grade Support in the Design of Highway Flexible Pavement." Included in that report as a recommended method of thickness design for use in Kentucky was a set of curves based upon an empirical relationship between minimum laboratory CBR and observed pavement performance. These five curves accounted for traffic groups up to 10,000,000 …

Bridge Resurfacing With Silica Sand-Asphalt Mixture, Loren H. Strunk

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The bituminous section has been engaged in testing silica sand-asphalt mixtures composed of various penetration grades of asphalt and sands from sand and sandstone deposits from several different areas of the state since early this year. The purpose of this study was to develop a surfacing mixture which would provide a skid-resistant surface and which could be machine laid in thin courses.

Skid Prevention Studies In Kentucky, James H. Havens

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Laboratory apparatus, consisting essentially of a torque generator and a torque meter, in which a rubber annulus is driven against a plane surface of a rock core or pavement specimen, as in an ordinary friction clutch, was used to study variations in the coefficients of friction with respect to texture and material characteristics. Dry friction coefficients were found to be rather high in magnitude. and fairly constant throughout wide variations in surface textures. In contrast, wet friction coefficients were very high for rough textures but very low for polished surfaces. Wet friction values correlated in an approximately hyperbolic manner with …

Differential Thermal Analysis Of The Freeze-Thaw Mechanisms In Concrete, James H. Havens, Knox R. Burchett

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The freezing of water in concrete may create highly disruptive internal forces, depending upon the degree of saturation of the voids and the extent of the resulting dilations. Heretofore, it has not been possible to measure the internal pressures accompanying freezing; and it is this aspect of the automatic freeze-thaw testing of concrete with which the present study was concerned. By the use of thermocouples, imbedded in concrete and referenced to an ice-water bath, it was possible to plot, on an automatic multivolt potentiometer recorder, an isothermal phase change for the absorbed water, and to demonstrate a depression of the …

Recommendations For Special Specifications, Covering Basic Lead Silico-Chromate, Oil-Alkyd, Vinyl-Alkyd Paints For Bridges, James H. Havens

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This specification covers the material requirements for a Basic Lead Silico-Chromate, Oil-Alkyd Paint System intended for use on exterior iron and steel structures (bridges), for either new or re-paint work, except where exposed to severely corrosive conditions such as within the splash-zone from bridge decks or on other members likely to be affected by de-icing salts or persistent moisture conditions. This system shall consist of a primer-, intermediate-, and finish-coat paint as hereafter specified. Uses of the component paints other than as an integral part of this system are specifically excluded.

An Evaluation And Summary Of The 16-Year Performance Of A Concrete Test Pavement, Milton Evans Jr.

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Presented herein are a summary and evaluation of the performance of a reinforced concrete section of U.S. 27 in north central Kentucky which has been in existence since the summer of 1941. The pavement, totaling 7.89 miles, was constructed in 10 experimental test sections, as shown on the layout map in Figure 1. Five blends of cement, containing normal portland, natural, and two additives, were used with two types of coarse aggregate, limestone and gravel. Since the construction of the pavement in the summer of 1941, several reports and memoranda have been released dealing with various aspects of the over-all …

A Study Of The Use Of A Local Fly Ash In Concrete Mixes, Frank D. Whitney

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The widespread use of powdered coal in industrial furnaces has, since its introduction in the 1930's, produced considerable increases in efficiency for many industrial processes. In its wake, however, it has brought its own unique problems, and chief among these has been the problem of collecting and disposing of the residue which results from the combustion of the powdered or ground coal. This residue, known commonly as fly ash, is a nuisance if it is allowed to be dispersed into the atmosphere; and if collected it presents a difficult disposal problem. In present industrial practice it is almost always collected, …

Test Project F. A. 366, C1 And C2, Harrison-Pendleton Counties: A Memorandum Report, Milton Evans Jr.

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

No abstract provided.

A Study Of Lime And Fly Ash With Regard To Soil Stabilization, James F. Hardymon

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The paving of roadways originally developed from the inadequacy of natural soils to support vehicles and pedestrian traffic. Thus a pavement serves as a nearly rigid covering which distributes otherwise highly concentrated surface loads over wider areas of the underlying soils, Most natural soils are deficient for direct roadway service unless such a covering is provided or unless the soil itself is solidified, concreted, or otherwise reinforced, Attempts to compensate soils for these inadequacies in order to minimize the thickness of pavement needed have developed into a specialized aspect of highway design and construction known as soil stabilization.

Comparative Laboratory Evaluation And Field Observations Of A Modified Class I Base, Loren H. Strunk

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

A number of materials and methods have been used in the continuing search for a satisfactory initial bituminous treatment. Towards this end, three traffic bound roads were given initial treatment, in the summer of 1956, with three inches of Kentucky a Standard Class I Base mixture. The large size coarse aggregate -- either No. 36 or No. 48 stone -- in this mixture made the material difficult to work, however, and caused severe segregation during handling. Although a well integrated mixture of the type could have been compacted to about eight percent voids, the excessive segregation left many areas of …

A Study Of The Polishing Characteristics Of Limestone And Sandstone Aggregates In Regard To Pavement Slipperiness, William J. Stutzenberger, James H. Havens

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The coefficient of friction on dry highway surfaces regardless of stone composition and texture has in most cases been at least 0.6 or above. However, some of these same surfaces when lubricated by a small amount of water have given test results dangerously lower. Some interesting theoretical aspects of this situation are presented here along with results from a laboratory study of the fundamental factors affecting tractive friction.

A machine is described for measuring the coefficient of friction between the plane surfaces of four-inch diameter stone specimens and a rubber annulus of slightly smaller diameter. Measurements were made both wet …

An Engineering Soil Survey Of Fayette County, Kentucky, Robert C. Deen

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The need for soils data in the site selection, design, construction and maintenance of any major structure is generally appreciated by the engineer. The "rule of thumb" methods often used in developing smaller structures can prove unsatisfactory, or even disastrous, when applied to larger projects.

A Method Of Developing Engineering Soil Maps For Kentucky, Robert C. Deen

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

No abstract provided.

Ten Rural Highway Base Stabilization Projects, James H. Havens, William B. Drake

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

During the last week o£ September, 1956, the Division of Rural Highways requested assistance from the Research Division in conducting a series of ten experimental base stabilization projects which were to be geared more-or-less to a practical rural roads development program in which existing soils and local granular materials might be most advantageously treated and stabilized to provide fairly low cost base courses and surfaces, adequate for light rural traffic. The idea of actually constructing a base and bituminous surface for this type of road would represent a refinement over the traditional traffic-bound base type of construction which usually serves …

Comparative Laboratory Evaluation Of A Modified Class I Base Mixture, James H. Havens, William B. Drake

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

No abstract provided.

A Survey Inspection Of Plain Corrugated Metal Pipe Arches And Multi-Plate Metal Pipe Arches In Kentucky, Eugene M. West

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Past observations have indicated that rusting has been rather prevalent in the large, un-paved metal drainage structures most of which have been installed since the opening of the Kentucky Rural Secondary Program in 1949. Since all of these structures are relatively new, and since rusting in any form can be considered a threat to the life of a structure, the Chief Engineer's Office, in 1954, requested that a study be made to determine the over-all frequency possible causes, and individual seriousness of this condition.

Altogether, a total of 86 of these un-paved structures were inspected. Although it would have been …

Memo On Sandstone Specifications, James H. Havens

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

No abstract provided.

Hydraulic Model Studies Of Culvert Operation, Eugene M. West

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Since 1951 the Division of Research has been engaged in a comprehensive study of highway drainage problems. This study has included special investigations of rainfall and runoff, drainage structures in use and the practices used in their design, culvert hydraulics, and other relevant investigations. To date, reports have been published concerning runoff and rainfall variables (1 and 2)* and the effects of barrel roughness upon culvert operation (3), together with the preparation of a drainage manual for the use of Highway Department engineers and consultants.

The most recent special project, part of the over-all study, has dealt with the effects …

A Field And Laboratory Examination Of Weathering Effects On Petroleum And Blended Petroleum-Natural Asphalts In Paving Mixtures, Ellis G. Williams

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The relative merits of various asphalts and asphaltic materials have been the subject of considerable controversy almost from the beginning of flexible pavement construction in this country. In this early period petroleum asphalt had not yet entered the picture and controversy centered about naturally occurring products such as Trinidad natural asphalt and impregnated stones. In 1876 Congress directed that comparative service tests be made on a rock asphalt* and a sheet asphalt containing Trinidad natural asphalt. The sheet asphalt was considered the more successful of these and thus Trinidad natural asphalt became firmly established as a paving material in this …

Analysis Of Pavement Riding Quality: A Triaxial Evaluation Of Pavement Roughness, William S. Foy

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

For the last twenty-five years considerable research has been directed toward developing reliable equipment for evaluating pavement roughness. Since roughness inhibits passenger riding comfort and safety, as well as inducing vehicle deterioration, the determination of the features that cause roughness would indicate possible improvements in pavement design, materials, construction practices and equipment. For example, certain types of base design might be found to produce smoother surfaces than others; and a construction practice such as a blade-spread leveling course might result in more uniform pavements. Then too, evaluation of pavement roughness would permit relative comparison of pavements as one of several …

The Application Of Kentucky Flexible Pavement Design Method To Washo Test Road Conditions, William B. Drake

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

In the summer of 1952 the Flexible Pavement Design Committee of the Highway Research Board began the sponsoring of a comparative design project. Several state highway departments and other organizations were invited to submit flexible pavement designs, based upon their own current practices, for the subgrade, materials, and traffic conditions of the Western Association of State Highway Officials (WASHO) test road. This road was being constructed in Malad, Idaho, through the participation of 13 western states and the Bureau of Public Roads. The Kentucky Department of Highways was one of the organizations invited to participate in the comparative design project.

A Hydraulic Analysis Of The Channel Relocation Of Stephens Creek, Eugene M. West

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Recently Mr. J.O. Cornell requested the assistance of the Drainage Section of the Research Laboratory in investigating the channel that the U.S. Corps of Engineers has designed in conjunction with the raising of Dam No. 39 and the changing of the locking system. The principal reason for this investigation was to determine the effect, if any, that this project will have upon the five-span highway bridge on U.S. 42, located approximately two thousand feet upstream from the confluence of Stephens Creek and the Ohio River and at the upstream end of the new channel.

Model Study Of Flow Through Culverts, Eugene M. West

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Within the past four years, the Highway Materials Research Laboratory has expended considerable effort upon investigating and developing new approaches to the problem of estimating the quantity of runoff from small drainage areas. Particular interest has been given to areas of sizes that require culverts or small bridges with less than twenty feet of span. The results of these studies have been included in the Drainage Manual recently adapted for use by the Department of Highways.

Kentucky Soils: Their Origin, Distribution And Engineering Properties, Robert C. Deen

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Soil is the product of the action of climate and living organisms upon parent materials, as conditioned by local relief. The length of time over which these forces are operative is of great importance in determining the properties of the final soil product. Altogether, there are five principal factors in soil formation: 1.) climate, 2.) biological activity, 3.) nature of the parent material, 4.) topography, and 5.) time.

The major differences in the soils of Kentucky result chiefly from differences in 1.) the rocks from which the parent materials were derived and 2.) the topographic position of the materials.

A Study Of The Properties And Performance Of Kentucky (Natural Sandstone) Rock Asphalt, James H. Havens, Ellis G. Williams

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Kentucky (natural sandstone) rock asphalt derives its esteem as a highway surfacing material from its uniform appearance on the road, its riding characteristics, and the fact that it affords the highest protection against skidding (slipperiness) of any of the paving materials now generally available (see Appendix IV). The usual methods of handling, steaming, laying and spreading offer some of the conveniences and advantages of a ready-to-use material. Although its service history during the past 50 years has been generally favorable, there has also been a certain amount of risk involved in its use, particularly in recent years on roads sustaining …

A Concrete Pavement Without Transverse Joints [Jan. 1956], Dave H. Sawyer

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

For a period of more than six years the Research Division has had under observation the concrete pavement built without transverse joints on U.S. 31-W between Franklin and the Tennessee Line. The primary reason for observing performance year after year is to record the incidence of cracks and other more serious defects; but also the grooving of cracks in 1949 and the application of different joint sealing materials became an important part of the observations.

Observations Of The Manufacture And Placement Of Prefabricated Bridge Sections And Precast Concrete Riprap, Dave H. Sawyer

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The design and equipment necessary in precast concrete operations has progressed in recent years to such an extent that the resulting products are now being used satisfactorily in many types of construction. This report covers two precast concrete products which the Department of Highways authorized in contracts let in 1954 and 1955. These items however, are not the first precast concrete products to be used by the Department. Two concrete bridges are known to have been precast and placed in Scott and Graves County sometime ago. Precast concrete cribbing has also been used for quite some time.

Observations Of Stabilized Turf Shoulders, Ellis G. Williams

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The improvement of highway shoulders, from the standpoint of appearance and practical value, has been and is at present of considerable interest to all highway departments. A great deal of effort has been expended in the past to develop grass combinations which not only will prevent natural erosion of the surface materials but also impart a pleasing appearance to shoulders and slopes. Attempts to include factors of practical value, such as safe support of traffic loads, have greatly magnified the problem. Numerous types of paved shoulders have been introduced which are quite satisfactory with respect to load bearing but are …

Report No. 2 On A Study Of Runoff From Small Drainage Areas And The Opening In Attendant Drainage Structures, Eugene M. West, William H. Sammons

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

No abstract provided.

Performance Of Kentucky (Natural Sandstone) Rock Asphalt, James H. Havens, Ellis G. Williams

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Since about 1948, the performance of natural rock asphalt, used extensively in Kentucky and Indiana, has been plagued by a unique type of scaling in the wheel tracks of each traffic lane. This scaling has been typically an eighth to a quarter of an inch thick and has left the pavements rough and unsightly. In some cases, this phenomen has occurred several times in the same place and has caused much deeper rutting. The general condition is illustrated in a series of photographs attached hereto.