Engineering Commons^™

Evaluation Of Pavement Edge Drains And The Effect On Pavement Performance, L. John Fleckenstein, David L. Allen, Jack A. Harison

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report documents the performance of highway edge drains in Kentucky. Approximately eighteen high edge drain installations were inspected. The report also documents the laboratory testing, construction, short-term and long-term performance of these systems. Construction inspection and maintenance are addressed.

It is apparent that the panels are distressed more under the old method of installation using excavated trench material and dynamic type compaction. It is apparent that using the sand slurry reduces the chances of installation damage. Proper density needs to be achieved during installation of the sand backfill or damage will occur due to trench settlement. In most cases, …

Evaluation Of Advanced Surveying Technology For Accident Investigation, Kenneth R. Agent, John A. Deacon, Jerry G. Pigman, Nikiforos Stamatiadis

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of advanced surveying technology tor the investigation of traffic accidents.

The analysis shows that the investigation of traffic accidents using total station (survey) equipment provides a substantial improvement over the traditional coordinate procedure. The number of measurements obtained at an accident scene increased (by a factor of about two) when the total station equipment was used while the time required to collect the measurements decreased by about 33 percent with the man hours decreased by about one-halt. The increase in the number of measurements results in a more accurate and …

Summary Of Results Of 1993 Field And Laboratory Evaluations Of Pavement Marking Materials, Kentucky Transportation Center

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report summarizes the results of data collected as part of the 1993 field and laboratory evaluations of pavement marking materials for the SASHTO Regional Test Facility. The report is divided into two volumes. The first volume presents the field evaluations while the laboratory tests results are given in the second volume. 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 …

Forecasting And Backcasting Equivalent Single Axleloads (Volume 2- Appendix C), Jack A. Harison, David L. Allen, Jerry G. Pigman

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

No abstract provided.

Barge Traffic On Kentucky Rivers, Michael W. Whitney, Issam E. Harik, James J. Griffin, David L. Allen

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Kentucky currently has the second longest navigable inland waterway system in the United States. Prior to the design of a bridge at a specific location on a river, a thorough investigation of barge traffic at that location ust be conducted. This report investigates the barge traffic on all navigable waterways in Kentucky. This report provides the data necessary to develop the risk assessment procedures for Kentucky vessel impact design problems in accordance with the AASHTO Guide Specification and Commentary for Vessel Collision Design of Highway Bridges design Method II. Method II is more rigorous to apply than Method I, but …

Stress Measurements On The I 65 Bridge Over The Ohio River At Louisville, Theodore Hopwood Ii, Christopher M. Oberst

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Kentucky Transportation Center personnel conducted measurements of live stresses on structural members of the I 65 (John F. Kennedy Memorial) Bridge over the Ohio River. That work was performed in conjunction with an extensive flaw evaluation of the bridge by Hazelet & Erdal Consulting Engineers.

The measurements were performed by placing strain gages on the upper chord (an H-beam) and a vertical post and transverse strut that were framed into the upper chord at PP63 on the West truss. Measurements were performed using battery-powered data logging instruments that were capable of unattended strain measurement. The units were used to monitor …

Evaluating The Design And Effectiveness Of Subsurface Drainage Layers, Bobby W. Meade, David Q. Hunsucker

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

In recent years, the subject of open-graded drainage layers, often referred to as "drainage blankets", has been utilized increasingly for pavement drainage. This study addresses the use of drainage blankets in Kentucky. Study efforts have focused on construction, performance, materials, and design considerations of drainage blankets.

Study findings are that the Number 57 gradation provides the optimum drainage and structural stability of the standard gradations evaluated. Asphalt treated aggregate provides greater stability and a better working platform than untreated aggregate. Maintenance of collector system outlets is very poor. Daylighting of drainage blankets appears to be feasible. Drainage blankets can be …

Evaluation Of Kentucky’S Policy On Tourist Information Signs, Jerry G. Pigman

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

As a result of recommendations made by the Governor's Task Force on Signage and Tourism, the Transportation Cabinet requested that an evaluation be made of Kentucky's policy on tourist information signs. Among the tasks undertaken were a review of the formula tor Parks, Historic, and Recreation Area signs, a survey of interstates and parkways to determine the extent of the constraints imposed by the limitation of one supplemental sign tor each interchange approach, and an investigation of the potential for application of Tourist Oriented Directional signs (TODS).

The opportunity tor increased tourism through improvements in signing and accessibility was evaluated. …

Summary Of Stress Evaluations Of Welded Steel Bridges On Coal-Haul Routes, Theodore Hopwood Ii, Keith J. Hogan, Christopher M. Oberst

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Stress analyses were performed on continuous girder welded steel bridges on extended weights coal-haul routes. The tests were intended to determine whether extended weight coal trucks pose fatigue problems to those bridges. Measurements were performed by strain gaging selected bridges subject to high coal transport tonnages. Stress measurements were conducted on fatigue-prone weld details or test sites where high tensile stresses were anticipated. Test sites on the bridges were instrumented with strain gages. Strains induced by routine traffic including coal trucks were monitored for periods of one to two weeks. Unattended monitoring of the variable amplitude strain data was performed …

Cost Estimating And Forecasting For Highway Work In Kentucky, James D. Stevens

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

There is a need for a better cost estimating and forecasting for highway work in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. KRS45.245 grants the Interim Joint Committee on Transportation oversight of the biennial highway plan, including a review of all authorized highway project phases that exceed their estimates by 15%. In recent years, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has suffered the loss of many resources necessary to produce good cost estimated.

Estimates developed using current methods are not sufficiently accurate to preclude cost overruns in excess of 15%. During the biennium 134 overruns, totaling over $69 million, have been submitted to the Committee. …

Follow-Up Inspection Of Premature Cracking On The National Turnpike, Jefferson County, L. John Fleckenstein, David L. Allen

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report discusses the investigation of the premature cracking that has been occurring on the National Turnpike, Jefferson County since 1989. A report was issued in 1990, KTC-90-5. This report documents performance to date. A detailed distress survey was performed evaluating each slab throughout the project site.

The distress survey indicates that substantial pavement cracking has occurred since the last visual inspection in 1990.

An intense maintenance program is recommended.

Barge Impact Loads For The Maysville Bridge, Michael W. Whitney, Issam E. Harik, James J. Griffin, David L. Allen

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report provides the barge equivalent static load distribution data needed to apply method II of vessel impact design for the Maysville, Kentucky bridge over the Ohio River. The information provided in this report is in accordance with the AASHTO Guide Specification and Commentary for Vessel Collision Design of Highway Bridges.

A computer program was written to process the database and calculate the probability based length, width., and capacity for each barge category. Additionally, a second computer program was written to calculate the probability based number of barges in a flotilla column and row, and subsequently categorize that flotilla based …

Construction And Interim Performance Of A Shrinkage Compensating (Class S) Bridge Deck Concrete, Michael D. Stone, David Q. Hunsucker

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Shrinkage Compensating Concrete (Class S) is made with an expansive cement in which the expansion, if restrained, induces compressive stresses that approximately offset tensile stresses induced during drying shrinkage, thereby eliminating or significantly reducing the occurrence of shrinkage cracking in concrete. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the construction and performance of the Shrinkage Compensating Concrete (Class S) and to compare these characteristics to previous Class S concrete data and to conventional Class AA bridge deck concrete. This report summarizes the construction activities and interim performance of experimental decks and barrier walls constructed of shrinkage compensating concrete.

Kentucky Traffic Accident Facts 1994 Report, Kentucky Transportation Center, Kentucky State Police

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

KENTUCKY'S TRAFFIC ACCIDENT FACTS report for 1994 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 date on traffic accidents" for such purposes as will improve the traffic safety program in the Commonwealth." Data …

Breakaway Timber Utility Pole Installations In Kentucky, Ronald D. Hughes

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report describes the installation of ten breakaway timber utility poles in Lexington, Kentucky. Installations were made by Kentucky Utilities Company personnel and monitoring has been performed by Kentucky Transportation Center investigators. Retrofit hardware is described and locations of modified poles are detailed.

Modified poles have not been struck by vehicles during the monitoring period.

Modification Of Highway Soil Subgrades, Tommy C. Hopkins, Tony L. Beckham, David Q. Hunsucker

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Major study objectives were to develop highway pavement subgrade stabilization guidelines, examine long-term benefits of chemical stabilizers, such as cement, hydrated lime, and two byproducts from industrial processes, and to establish a subgrade stabilization program in Kentucky. In developing a program, a number of design and construction issues had to be resolved. Factors affecting subgrade behavior are examined. Changes in moisture content and CBR strengths of untreated and chemically treated subgrades at three experimental highway routes were monitored over a 7- year period. CBR strengths of the untreated subgrades decreased dramatically while moisture contents increased. CBR strengths of subgrade sections …

Alleviation Of Fuel Tax Evasion In Kentucky (Interim Report), Marjorie S. Irby, Joseph D. Crabtree

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Motor fuel tax evasion is a problem of major significance nationwide. In Kentucky, evasion of motor fuel taxes could mean an annual loss of approximately $25 million. This study was initiated to provide Kentucky officials involved with fuel tax collection with the best available information on the problem of fuel tax evasion and the best uses of all resources to alleviate the problem.

This interim report concludes the first phase of the study and provides a qualitative look at motor fuel tax evasion in Kentucky. It discusses the fuel tax process in the Commonwealth, how evasion occurs, efforts to alleviate …

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

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

In recent years, costs of highway facilities have generally been considered to be the responsibility of highway users. Although the private sector has recently been called upon to assume more cost responsibility, highways are primarily financed from tax revenues and user tolls. A continuing task related to assessment of highway user fees is determination of the appropriate level of taxation for each class of highway user. Cost allocation in various forms has traditionally been a tool to achieve an equitable assignment of user responsibility. This highway cost allocation study is the sixth in a recent series begun in the early …

By-Product And Discarded Material Utilization In Highway Construction And Maintenance -- A Literature Review, David Q. Hunsucker, J. Michael Tilley

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report summarizes the findings of an extensive literature search and review conducted to determine current attitudes relative to the use of recyclable and recoverable materials in highway construction and maintenance activities. Specifically, the literature search focused upon the engineering, economic, and performance aspects of using recyclable and recoverable materials in highway construction and maintenance projects. The literature review focused on asphalt and cement concrete pavement recycling, discarded tire recycling, reuse of paint removal wastes, fly ash, glass, alternative fuels, and other miscellaneous recycled and recovered materials as related to construction and maintenance of highways. Additionally, regulatory and policy matters …

Proposal For Development Of A Resource And Commodity Highway System, John A. Deacon, David L. Allen, Joseph D. Crabtree, Kenneth R. Agent, Jerry G. Pigman, R. Clark Graves

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

In 1986, the Kentucky General Assembly established the Extended Weight Coal and Coal By-Products Haul Road System. This system includes approximately 3,200 miles of the most significant coal-haul roads in the state and permits coal trucks to carry much larger payloads than trucks with other commodities. In many ways, the extended-weight system has been very successful. Coal-transportation productivity has been substantially increased, and Kentucky coal continues to remain competitive in the marketplace. At the same time, infrastructure costs have risen substantially--to considerably greater levels than the increase in revenue produced by the requisite coal decal fees--and the extended-weight system has …

Development Of Guidelines And Performance For Asphalt Concrete Containing Recycled Rubber, Kamyar C. Mahboub, Donn E. Hancher

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The primary objective of this study was to investigate the feasibility of implementation of the crumb rubber technology in Kentucky. The impetus for this study was provided by the lntermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA).

This study included an overview of existing literature on the subject from an implementation point of view for Kentucky's conditions. Upon completion of this phase of the study, guidelines were developed by the KTC research team and were submitted to the Transportation Cabinet for field implementation of the crumb rubber modifier (CAM) technology in Kentucky. From the ease of implementation point of view, …

Evaluation Of Electronic Truck Monitoring, Jerry G. Pigman, Joseph D. Crabtree

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Automatic vehicle identification (AVI) and weigh-in-motion (WIM) equipment were installed at the northbound weigh/enforcement station on 1-65 in Simpson County, Kentucky. The objectives were to determine the reliability and accuracy of the equipment and to determine the benefits/costs for the trucking industry and enforcement agencies.

The test site for evaluation of the equipment became operational in July 1991 and the evaluation continued through June 1993. AVI equipment was provided by Amtech Corporation and WIM equipment by International Road Dynamics. Participating motor carriers were United Parcel Service and Averitt Express, with a total of 114 trucks equipped with transponders. The system …

Selection Of Design Strengths Of Untreated Soil Subgrades And Subgrades Treated With Cement And Hydrated Lime, David Q. Hunsucker, Tony L. Beckham

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Selection of design strengths of soil subgrades and subgrades treated with cement or hydrated lime is a problem in pavement design analysis and construction because a variety of different types of soils may exist in a highway corridor and a wide range of different strengths may exist after the soils are compacted to form the pavement subgrade. The selected subgrade strength will largely affect the pavement thickness obtained from the design analysis, the future pavement performances, and the overall bearing capacities of the subgrade during construction and the pavement structure after construction. In developing the proposed selection scheme, a newly …

Performance Of The Crash Cushion Attenuating Terminal (Cat) 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 the Crash Cushion Attenuating Terminal (CAT) in traffic accidents.

The documented performance of the CAT system in traffic accidents justifies additional use. A recommended location would be at median piers and bridge abutments in narrow medians. While accidents involving this system should continue to be evaluated, this evaluation results in the conclusion that the CAT system could be classified as operational.

The performance of the CAT system indicates a couple of areas which should be addressed. For installations in a raised median, …

Visual Observations Of Parking And Driving Areas And Drainage Conditions On Colverfield Lane Fort Wright Trace, Fort Wright, Ky., David L. Allen

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

On September 30, 1993, the Condominium Council of Co-Owners of Fort Wright Trace in Fort Wright, Kentucky requested of the Director of the Kentucky Transportation Center that a member of his staff meet with them to review and visually inspect the drainage and pavement conditions in their community. The Head of the Pavements Section met with representatives of the Council on October 13, 1993 as a part of the Transportation Center's Technology Exchange Program.

A visual inspection was conducted of Cloverfield Lane and its associated parking areas beginning at the intersection of Cloverfield Lane and Castle Hill Lane and continuing …

Computer Program For Analysis Of Embankments With Tensile Elements, Mikhail E. Slepak, Tommy C. Hopkins

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

A generalized computer program for analyzing stability of earth structures reinforced with geosynthetics (geogrids, geotextiles etc.) was developed in this research study. The newly proposed computer program was built in such a way that a reinforced slope stability problem may be analyzed using a variety of limit equilibrium methods including Hopkins', Morgenstern and Price's, Bishop's methods, Raulin's perturbation method, as well as new perturbation methods proposed by the authors of this study. It was shown in the research study that two versions of the Bishop's method were possible in the case of reinforced analyses: the traditionally used version referred to …

Field Performance Report On Corrugated Polyethylene Pipe On Ky 17 Kenton County, 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 KY 17 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 polyethylene (HDPE) pipe. The pipe has a corrugated exterior for increased strength and a smooth interior to provide maximum flow capacity.

Sags in grade, misalignment, poor coupling, and vertical deformation were observed during visual inspections and do not appear to be a material related problem but are largely due to poor …

Evaluation Of Lime Stabilized Subgrade (Aa-19), Bobby W. Meade, David L. Allen

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Construction of Section 19 of the Ashland-Alexandria Highway began in 1987. Because native soils have very low CBR values (1 to 3), it was decided to stabilize the soil subgrade with an application of 6% hydrated lime. The top 6 inches of the subgrade was to be stabilized. This process had not been previously used in Kentucky; and consequently, a research study was initiated to monitor this project. Objectives of the study were to monitor and document construction procedures, to determine the engineering characteristics of the treated subgrade through laboratory testing, and to report on the study findings. A substantial …

Survey Of The Impacts Of Environmental Regulations On State Highway Operations, Theodore Hopwood Ii, Christopher M. Oberst

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

In recent years, the transportation industry in Kentucky as represented by Kentuckians for Better Transportation (KBT) and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KyTC), have expressed concern over the growing impact of environmental regulations upon transportation activities in the state. The imposition of environmental regulations has resulted in higher costs for new construction and maintenance on roads, project delays, scheduling and financing difficulties, and the creation of additional transportation agency bureaucracy to address environmental regulation mandates. In Kentucky, the impacts of those regulations have not been thoroughly assessed nor have the attendant costs been measured. Coinciding with that lack of information is …

Impacts Of The Extended-Weight Coal Haul Road System (Interim Report), Joseph D. Crabtree, Jerry G. Pigman, John A. Deacon, Kenneth R. Agent

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The Extended-Weight Coal Haul Road System, created by Kentucky's Legislature in 1986, consists of all roads which carry over 50,000 tons of coal in a calendar year. Trucks hauling coal on this system are authorized to exceed normal weight limits through the payment of an annual decal fee. A research study was initiated in July of 1992 to analyze the impacts of the extended-weight system. This interim report, prepared after one year of a three-year study, describes the analyses performed thus far and presents preliminary findings, recommendations, and a discussion of future work.

Analyses in this report are based on: …