Civil and Environmental Engineering Commons^™

Third Annual Performance Survey Of Reinforced Concrete Pipe Culverts, Ronald D. Hughes

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

In April, 1957, under Circular Memorandum 22-40, the Bureau of Public Roads issued a rational criterion covering beddings of reinforced concrete pipe, construction methods, and simplified methods for determining the allowable heights of fill over pipe having given D-load strengths. The states were urged to adopt the criterion; and, accordingly, the Kentucky Department of Highways issued Amendments No. 15 and 16 (Feb, 28, 1958) to its 1956 edition of Standard Specifications for Road and Bridge Construction and Standard Drawings Nos. 11.22 and 11.23. These amendments and standard drawings were patterned after the criterion of the Bureau of Public Roads but …

Construction Report On Experimental Use Of Natural, Bituminous, Quartz Sandstone (Kentucky Rock Asphalt) As A Traffic-Bound Aggregate, George R. Laughlin

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Major deposits of natural, bituminous, quartz sandstone (Kentucky Rock Asphalt) occur in six counties of western Kentucky and a few minor deposits occur in eastern Kentucky. Crushed rock asphalt has been used extensively in Kentucky and elsewhere for over 50 years for surfacing roads.* The most productive area was in Edmonson County where the Caseyville and Bee Springs formations were quarried and mined. These deposits have been described as oil-pools which are now defunct and from which only the asphaltic residue remains. The bitumen content of the rock varies locally in a quarry or mine; and, because of this, enormous …

Investigation Of Aggregate Occurrence In Logan County, Kentucky, George R. Laughlin

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

As requested in your memorandum of September 12, we have conducted an extensive series of tests on the natural sand produced by Kapco Construction Company in Logan County. There was some question regarding the classification of the sand -- whether it would be termed a manufactured, a crushed conglomerate, or a natural sand. I had Mr. George R. Laughlin, Geologist of the Research Division, visit and inspect the pit. A copy of Mr. Laughlin's report to me is attached for your file. He reports that the material being produced is a washed, natural sand and similar in production procedure to …

Laboratory Test Results On Natural Sand Produced By The Kapco Construction Company In Logan County, Ronald D. Hughes

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

On September 19, 1962, a sample of sand produced by the Kapco Construction Company was received by the Research Division. This material was sampled at the quarry in Logan County and forwarded to the Research Division by personnel from District No. 3 of the Bowling Green Office. The sample was submitted for laboratory evaluation in regard to possible use of the material as fine aggregate in Class A concrete.

Study Of Light Compaction-Equipment For Maintenance Patching, Robert L. Florence

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Patching pot-holes and resurfacing small areas of pavement entail certain compaction-equipment difficulties for the maintenance crews. Areas in need of repair are often small but may be widely scattered. Large steel-wheeled rollers are difficult to transport from one location to another and tend to bridge across small, deep pot-holes. The bridging effect can be reduced by use of small rollers or pneumatictired rollers, which conform better to the area to be patched. The efficiency of a patching crew depends greatly upon its mobility. The compaction equipment, therefore, should be portable, should conform to the area to be repaired, and should …

Special Provisions For Non-Leafing Aluminum, Basic Lead Silico-Chromate Oil-Alkyd Finish-Coat Paint For Guard Rails And Bridges, William B. Drake

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

These provisions cover the material requirements for a pre-mixed, non-leafing aluminum, basic lead silico-chromate, oil-alkyd finish-coat paint which is intended for use in one or two finish-coat applications. This paint is considered to be compatible with undercoat paints currently covered by Special Specification No. 14-56b and may be substituted for the green finish-coat, Para. IV, therein, when so indicated by appropriate notations on the plans, proposals, invitations, etc. This paint may be used for either new or re-paint work on bridges, guard rails, and other steel structures as may be designated. Undercoat paints, when required, shall be in accordance with …

The Kentucky Department Of Highway’S Scholarship Program, D. V. Terrell

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The Kentucky Department of Highways was organized in 1912, at that time the field of highway engineering was new, little was actually known about the scientific process of building roads, there were no highway engineers as such. The civil engineer because of his experience in the construction of railroads and public works was to become the highway engineer in the future. As road building began to be an important fact, most schools added courses in highway construction to the already over-crowded field of civil engineering, and highway engineering today is considered on of the major branches of the broad field …

Processed Kentucky Rock Asphalt, P. F. Phelan

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Attached are three copies each of two laboratory reports covering tests on a 50 lb. sample of processed Kentucky rock asphalt forwarded to our laboratory by Mr. C. H. McKinney. The sample arrived June 6. These reports include results of laboratory analysis and evaluation tests - and small scale road tests - to determine the proper amount of tar to be added to the processed material to produce a satisfactory road surfacing mixture.

Laboratory Testing Of Wet-Processed Kyrock, Robert L. Florence

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

No abstract provided.

Structural Repair Of Concrete Pavement, Barren County Project U 543(3), William B. Drake

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The Research Division assisted the District Construction personnel with structural repairs of five areas of cement concrete pavement that had been adjudged unsatisfactory. I had an opportunity to observe the repaired areas on July 19, 1962, and they all appear to be performing. adequately. The color of the epoxy patching material does not completely match the adjacent concrete but with normal weathering the two materials should approach a better match.

Comments On: Aasho Interim Guide For The Design Of Rigid Pavement Structures (Aasho Committee On Design, February, 1962), James H. Havens, Ronald D. Hughes

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

We have reviewed the AASHO Interim Guide for the Design of Rigid Pavement Structures, and Messrs. Havens and Hughes of our staff have prepared comments on the guide. These comments do not deal entirely with the rigid pavement guide, but rather compare some of the design concepts from the Flexible Pavement Interim Guide.

The Application Of Nuclear Techniques To The Measurement Of Moisture And Density Of Highway Construction Materials, Robert C. Deen, J. D. Shackelford

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

In recent years much attention has been directed toward the application of neutron and gamma ray techniques to soil moisture and density measurements. This application of radiological measurements of these characteristics of materials of highway construction, of course, is of great interest to the highway industry since the performance of the total pavement system is highly dependent upon the condition of the embankment, subgrade, and base components of this system. An important measure of the state of condition of unconsolidated earth materials is their unit weights and moisture contents. The highway engineer undoubtedly would welcome any method or technique which …

Pavement Roughness Studies (A Progress Report), Rolands L. Rizenbergs

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Road roughness testing in Kentucky was first reported in 1949 (1). At that time, emphasis was placed on localized irregularities in pavement profiles detectable by a roller-type straight edge. The experience gained then pointed to the necessity for making a fast, continuous recording of characteristics of the road which would be more closely related to riding quality. Subsequent progress reports (2)(3) dealing with the development of triaxial acceleration as applied to the evaluation of pavement riding qualities emphasized riding comfort or discomfort. The accelerations monitored then were evaluated in terms of g's per seconds or "jerk", which is considered by …

Engineering Properties For Soil Series Mapped In Kentucky, Robert C. Deen

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Soil maps, and particularly engineering soil maps, are proving to be desirable in the planning and design stage of many types of structures and land developments. Problems associated with foundations, drainage and soil behavior may be recognized at a very early stage during the preliminary location and site selection through the use of adequate soil maps.

Pavement Roughness Studies, James H. Havens

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

During 1961, the equivalent of about 800 lane-miles of pavement were tested and analyzed. The largest portion of this mileage was on completed Interstate projects. In November, three pavements selected by the Bureau of Public Roads for serviceability-index ratings (6) were tested; and these are discussed briefly in this report.

Periodic surveillance of the roughness of all of the roads presently listed in Tables 1 and 2 is contemplated. New primary and Interstate construction will be included in the future. Thus, each respective project may be eventually characterized by a history of roughness measurements.

An Evaluation Of Four Retarding Admixtures In Structural Concrete, Milton Evans Jr., Ralph R. Waddle

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Early in 1960, the Construction Division was becoming quite concerned with the growing problem of obtaining satisfactorily smooth reinforced concrete bridge decks. Increasing areas of new decks were not measuring up to requirements when checked with a straight-edge, and rough-riding surfaces were resulting even after corrective grinding. It appeared that, on large pours, perhaps more time for placing and finishing was needed; this was so particularly on hot, windy days when ambient conditions would cause the concrete to set more rapidly. A proposed method of providing more working time was to use retarding admixtures to slow the setting time of …

Base Stabilization Bryantsville-Beuna Vista Road, Garrard County, Robert C. Deen

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Construction plans for the summer of 1961 called for the placement of a bituminous surface (Class C-1) on Ky. 753 in Garrard County (see Fig. 1). The project extends from US 27 in Bryantsville to Ky. 152 at Beuna Vista, a distance of approximately 2.8 mites. To prepare the roadbed for this bituminous surfacing, personnel of the Maintenance Division placed additional stone on the roadway and stabilized it with calcium chloride. The Research Division was requested to make recommendations as to application rates of the available stone and calcium chloride and to follow the general performance of the project.

Pavement Slipperiness Studies (A Progress Report), James H. Havens, Rolands L. Rizenbergs

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Traction or frictional resistance of tires on clean, dry pavements tends to be fairly high (coefficient of friction of 0.6 to 0.8) and to be independent of the texture of the pavement surface. In contrast, the loss of traction on a wet pavement is due entirely to lubrication effects; and, while wet friction seems to be fairly independent of the identity of the aggregate, it is extremely dependent upon the texture and porosity of the surface. Likewise, the mineralogical and lithological characteristics of the aggregates largely determine the natural texture, i.e., type of wear (coarse or fine) which the aggregate …

Cutback Asphalt Emulsion Primer, Type L, Nelson County, Project Rs Group 38 (1961), J. D. Shackelford

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Personnel of the Research Division visited the Nelson County project to observe the application and behavior of the cutback asphalt emulsion primer, Type L, on Ky. 733, northeast of Boston. The following remarks concerning this project are submitted for your information.

Second Annual Performance Survey Of Reinforced Concrete Pipe Culverts, Ronald D. Hughes

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

A criteria for the design and installation of reinforced concrete pipe culverts was developed by the Bureau of Public Roads in cooperation with the American Concrete Pipe Association and distributed to the various highway agencies in April, 1957, under Circular Memorandum 22-40. This criteria was developed in order to bring together and simplify methods for computing necessary pipe strengths for use under various heights of fill and provide for more effective utilization of reinforced concrete pipe for use as culverts. The memorandum also described various methods for bedding reinforced concrete pipe and outlined procedures for installation of the pipe under …

Evaluation Of Calcium-Chloride Maintained, Traffic-Bound Roads, George R. Laughlin

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Calcium chloride has been used on unpaved road surfaces for over fifty years. Originally, it was used as a dust palliative and later as a stabilizing agent. Observations have shown that traffic-bound roads containing well-graded aggregate and sufficient binder tend to have smooth, stable surfaces. While the binder remains in a damp, cohesive state, the road surface remains in a smooth, compact condition. If the surface becomes dry, dusting and attrition becomes pronounced. Therefore, for a properly constructed traffic-bound base to remain in smooth, stable condition, it is essential that the surface remain damp. Calcium chloride, being a hygroscopic and …

Class I, Type B, Plant-Mix Initial Treatment, Pac-9, Robert L. Florence

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Initial surface treatments of so-called traffic-bound macadam rural secondary roads presents a challenging but frustrating problem in the over-all highway program. In many cases, these roads do not merit the expenditures that would be needed to construct the type of pavement desired, yet there is a need for a dust-free, all-weather type of surface for these roads. It may be argued, for instance, that initial surfacing should be deferred until such time that the construction of a proper base and surface would be justified. On the other hand, one might argue that even a light surfacing would be preferred despite …

Dynamics Of Sprung Loads On Pavements, James H. Havens, D. F. Hutcheson

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The attached report, "Dynamics of Sprung Loads on Pavements," resulted from a need for reliable impact factors for use in the structural design of pavements. For some years, it has been customary to use 1.2 times the static wheel load for designing portland cement concrete pavements. We, along with other investigators, have questioned this value, and have actually used higher values for some specific conditions. Impact factors for specific situations are listed on page 33 of the report. The three roads classed as smooth averaged 1.25, while the rough road gave a value of 1.35. Depressions at culverts and bridge …

A Modified Class I Surface Mixture, Robert L. Florence

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Since the summer of 1954, it has been the practice of the Department to require only natural. sand or slag as the fine aggregate in high-type (Class I, Type B) bituminous surface mixtures. This, of course, was done in order to build skid resistance into the mixture, i.e. by use of polish-resistant fine aggregate. At first, this was specified by means of plan notes; and, during 1957, an Amendment was made to the Standard Specifications. While this has apparently reduced the slickness problem it has created problems relating to the durability and, at times, the stability of the surface course.

Seal Coat Application To Clark Memorial Bridge, Robert C. Deen

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The maintenance of the surface of the approach ramps and bridge deck of the Clark Memorial Bridge in Louisville has presented certain problems over the past few years. The ramps at each end of the bridge are rather steep, and on the Louisville side the ramp intersects Main Street where traffic movements are controlled by traffic signals. Thus, the northbound traffic accelerating upgrade from a stop and the southbound traffic braking to a stop on the downgrade present two very severe conditions that the surface must withstand. The increased use of salt for snow and ice removal has also contributed …

Experimental Paving Projects Using Curtiss-Wright’S Coal-Modified, Coal-Tar Binder [1962], William B. Drake

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report covers the observation and evaluation of 13 sections of experimental pavement constructed in Kentucky using coal-modified coal-tar binder. These are compared with the performance of control sections in which normal specification asphalt cements were used. The results of laboratory and field tests are also reported to support and supplement the visual surveys.

A Machine-Laid Surmountable Bituminous Concrete Median, Robert L. Florence

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

On August 28, 1961, personnel of the Research Division were requested to observe a demonstration of a newly developed Etnyre Median Paver. The demonstration was given at the Lehman-Roberts Company plant in Lexington, and was arranged primarily for the benefit of the paving contractor working on Euclid Avenue in Lexington. The paving contract called for the construction of a surmountable bituminous concrete median which, to our understanding, is the first instance for construction of that type to be machine-laid. Some doubts arose during the demonstration as to the ability of the machine to hold alignment and to give adequate compaction. …

Concrete Color Variations Observed In Specimens Made From 12 Type 1 Portland Cements, Milton Evans Jr.

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

No abstract provided.

Portland Cement Stabilization Of Western Kentucky Gravels, Robert C. Deen

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

It has been known for some time that some Western Kentucky bank gravels perform rather poorly as base or shoulder material. In the fall of 1956, the Division of Research participated in the experimental design and evaluation of a group of ten rural highway base stabilization projects. Two of these projects, one in Ballard County and one in Marshall County involved the stabilization of Western Kentucky bank gravels with a bituminous material; AE-200, a mixing-type emulsion, was used.

The performance of these bitumirlous-stabilized gravels has not been entirely satisfactory. Even though little tendency was noted for the asphalt to bleed …

Proposal For Experimental Use Of Thermo-Plastic Pavement-Striping Materials, James H. Havens

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

No abstract provided.