Civil and Environmental Engineering Commons^™

Head Determinations For Structures On U.S 23 That Are Affected By Raising The Normal Pool Elevation Of Ohio River Lock And Dam No. 30 At Greenup, Kentucky, Eugene M. West

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

During a visit to this office on July 3, 1952, Mr. J.O. Cornell requested the assistance of the Hydraulics Section of the Research Laboratory in investigating the possible head to be expected on the drainage structures on U.S. 23, that would be influenced by the proposed raising of the normal pool elevation of Ohio River Lock and Dam No. 30 at Greenup, Kentucky.

In order to better evaluate the head to be expected, I have approached the problem from an analytical standpoint, outlining and comparing the results from three suggested methods. The results of the analysis of the three separate …

Corrosion Of Highway Structures By Acid-Bearing Drainage Water In Hopkins County, James H. Havens

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Pursuant to your conversation with Mr. Hopgood concerning the above matter, Mr. Peed and I contacted Mr. Charlie Rogers, Resident Engineer, Madisonville, and made an inspection of the locations in question. In specific connection with this, you will recall from our Progress Report No. 1 on "A Survey of Acidity in Drainage Waters and the Condition of Highway Drainage Installations" that the acid conditions in Hopkins County were rated as extremely severe, if not the most critical in the state. It was, in part, due to the prevailing severity there that led to the selection of a location at Mortons …

Proposed Special Specification For Reflectorizing Glass Spheres, James H. Havens

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

In response to your request for a specification that will apply to glass beads for reflectorizing surfaces of signs, paints, and other night driving aids, we recommend the attached material which is drawn up in the form of a proposed specification. In general, the procedures. and ranges of performance characteristics conform with things that have been discussed by the A.S.T.M. Subcommittee on Traffic Paints. Actually, A.S.T.M. has not adopted a specification, but probably they will have one within the next year or two.

You will note the refractive index and size distribution or gradation are referred to in the specification, …

Field Trip To Daviess And Henderson Counties For Inspection Of Gravel-Bituminous Roads, Ellis G. Williams

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This series of inspections started April 28, with inspection of pavements containing gravel located in Daviess County. It was found that most pavements containing this aggregate has been resurfaced last year using a crushed limestone aggregate. There were, however, three hot-mix and one road-mix pavements remaining.

A Study Of Runoff From Small Drainage Areas And The Openings In Attendant Drainage Structures, Eugene M. West, J. O. Cornell

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

In 1926, John T. Lynch read to the Kentucky Academy of Sciences a paper entitled, "The Relation Between Drainage Area and Waterway Required for Culverts and Small Bridges in Kentucky." The paper was based on a study of many small drainage structures then existing in the highway system, and a general evaluation of the performance of the structures in relation to rainfall and runoff from contributing watersheds.

As a result of this report, and in accordance with the suggestions contained in it, the Department of Highways adopted a system of runoff coefficients applicable to different sections of the state and …

A Bank Gravel Base Containing Calcium Chloride [Report No. 1], William B. Drake

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report is concerned with a bank gravel base construction project, and particularly with that part of the base containing calcium chloride as a stabilizing agent. The project was carried out on a relocation of U.S. 62, between Kuttawa in Lyon County and Kentucky Dam on the Tennessee River. A part of the project, as shown on the general location map in Fig. 1, was in Livingston County between the Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers.

An Investigation Of Lean Concrete Mixes As Base Courses For Bituminous Surfaces [Jan. 1951], S. T. Collier

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Cement concrete bases for pavements with bituminous surfaces are, of course, not new. However, it has been many years since concrete has served this purpose except as a pavement itself ultimately resurfaced after years of service. The outstanding qualities of many roads which developed in this way were obvious without any particular tests, and for many years there apparently was no attempt to evaluate them. Probably structural value was first investigated in tests on airfields in Florida, Ohio and California. Although the original concrete pavements in all cases were heavy in comparison with highway sections, the results of the tests …

Observations On Seal Coats, Tack Coats And Penetration Macadam Construction In 1950, William B. Drake

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Early in the 1950 construction season the Division of Design requested that the Research Division observe some new methods and materials that were being used in bituminous construction. The projects chosen in most cases represented several of the type throughout the state. There were some instances though where the procedure or material was used in only one project.

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the effectiveness of the materials and the methods which were being used. The nature of this study required that only visual inspections be made. Particular emphasis in this report is placed upon observations of …

A Survey Of Acidity In Drainage Waters And The Condition Of Highway Drainage Installations, James H. Havens, James L. Young Jr., Harvey J. Field Jr.

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Every creek gulley and raw interrupted by roadway fills and embankments must be provided with an adequate drainage conduit under the pavement. If the natural drainage is impeded or the conduit is not functioning properly, impounded water over-runs the pavement, seeps through the fill, and eventually disintegrates the section or reduces its stability. The topography in Kentucky, through varied sectionally, requires on the average, one cross-drain for every thousand feet of roadway. Obviously, these drainage structures are of considerable economic importance in the highway program, not only from the standpoint of initial construction costs, but also from consideration of the …

Measurement Of Surface Irregularities And Riding Qualities Of High Type Bituminous Pavements, Harvey J. Field Jr.

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Studies of riding qualities as determined by irregularities in high type bituminous pavements were first treated in Report No. 1 on this subject in December, 1949. At that time interest was centered as much on specifications as on the causes, the thought being that specifications did not provide satisfactory tolerances to produce surfaces with good riding qualities. Specifically, tolerances over relatively short distances longitudinally were though to be at fault.

It was found early in that work that variations in the lateral direction were causing considerable roughness but since longitudinal variations were being studied primarily, no actual measurements were made …

B.P.R. Project On Correlation Of Truck Traffic And Pavement Conditions, Kentucky Highway Materials Research Laboratory

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Locations for the Test Sections within the Control Sections and as close as possible to the Loadometer Stations established by the Division of Planning have been selected and are described in this report. With but one or two exceptions, there is reasonable certainty that these sections of pavement can be kept in service without major changes for a period of five years. However, there are repairs that should be made on the pavements in two of the sections in order to prevent rapid deterioration that is likely to occur if these are not corrected at the beginning of the study.

An Installation Of An Experimental Joint For Concrete Pavements, Harvey J. Field Jr.

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The experimental joint described in this paper involves the use of a new type load transfer set-up which was developed by the Oxford Manufacturing Company, Oxford, Indiana, and produced by the Reynolds Metals Company. The producers designed this apparatus on the assumption that the present joints used in concrete pavement construction are not adequate. For example, from the standpoint of load bearing, the dowel bars which theoretically carry the load from one slab to the other are not sufficient in that the very shape of the bars (circular) allows only a limited bearing surface. In order to eliminate the rusting …

Determination Of Unit Weights Of Aggregates In The Laboratory And At The Source, S. T. Collier

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

As a result of meetings with producers, a committee of Highway Department engineers recommended that a study be made of various type of aggregates from statewide sources; the objective being to arrive at a standard of evaluating unit weight of aggregates of various but commonly recognized characteristics. It was further desired that a factor be determined which could be applied to a given aggregate for computing its unit weight with reasonable accuracy; taking cognizance of specific gravities and densities as influenced by particle shapes and gradation.

Prefabricated Neoprene Joint Sealer, A. C. Peed Jr.

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

On November 18, 1948, the assembly of joints with prefabricated neoprene sealers was demonstrated by representative of the Lastite Joint Company, 105 W. Madison Street, Chicago 2, Illinois, on the construction project on U.S. 27, about 5 miles south of Alexandria. Installation was not possible at that time due to the fact that the contract was temporarily without cement.

Installation was made on November 30, 1948, under the supervision of a representative of the company. This installation was not completely satisfactory due to the inexperience of the paving crew with this type of joint. The joint at Station 622÷22 was …

A Laboratory Investigation Of Mineralogical, Chemical And Physical Properties Of Limestone Aggregates, James L. Young Jr., James H. Havens, L. E. Gregg

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The project described in this report represents one phase of comprehensive research with all types of aggregates for highway paving mixtures in Kentucky. It was designed to show the fundamental properties of limestones which determine their suitability for this type of use -- particularly their so-called durability. For this reason, emphasis was placed on analysis of the intrinsic properties of the aggregates themselves rather than analysis of procedures or test methods, such as freezing and thawing.

Separation, Fractionation And Mineralogy Of Clays In Soils, James H. Havens, James L. Young Jr., Robert F. Baker

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This paper describes a working method for separation, fractionation and identification of colloid and colloidal clay minerals in soils. Technical information pertains to super-centrifugation, electron-microscopy and X-ray diffraction. On the basis of these techniques, twenty-two samples have been investigated in conjunction with a soil stud of pumping pavements.

Soils were first dispersed and separated by gravity sedimentation. Fractionation was accomplished by controlled super-centrifugation. The separated fractions were purified and then analyzed by X-ray diffraction. Computed size fractions were checked by shadow castings and lineal dimensions on electron micrographs.

Results include identification of the mineral or minerals present and the properties …

Cold-Applied Mastic-Type Crack And Joint Filler Compound, L. E. Gregg

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

For the past year the Research Laboratory has been investigating joint filling compounds for concrete pavements with the object of determining whether extenders of one type or another placed in the hot-poured rubber-asphalt filler could reduce the cost without reducing the efficiency of these materials. Also included in the investigation was a search for new or different materials that might serve the same purpose but have properties that would make them more desirable or less expensive than the rubber-asphalt fillers. Because of the inconvenience and danger involved in the heating process to 450°F, and also the difficulty of controlling the …

Excerpts From: A Study Of The Relationship Between Subgrade California Bearing Ratios And Pumping Of Rigid Pavements, Robert F. Baker

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

No abstract provided.

Reflectorizing Surfaces For Signs And Markers, L. E. Gregg

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The attached copy of a proposed special specification for reflectorizing surfaces for signs and markers is submitted with the recommendation that this be considered by the specification committee, and furthermore that it be considered tentative. The specification was drawn up at the request of the Division of Maintenance in order that they would have some basis for differentiating materials offered by different vendors when invitations for bids are taken. I am sure that Mr. Palmer and Mr. Ringo consider the matter urgent.

Research With Mulches For Roadside Grasses, Kentucky Highway Materials Research Laboratory

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

At the January 27, meeting of our Research Board,experiments with mulches for roadside grasses as proposed by a committee of the Highway Research Board, National Research Council, was discussed. The matter – as noted in item 7 of the minutes of that meeting – was directed to Professor Shaver and me with a request by Mr. Cutler that we confer with men in the Agricultural Experiment Station, University of Kentucky, and at our next meeting report on the practicability of these experiments.

On the afternoon of March 7, Prof. N.R. Elliott, Acting Head of the Department of Horticulture at the …

A Summary Of Experiments With Air Entrainment In Cement Concrete, Kentucky Highway Materials Research Laboratory

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Field and laboratory experiments designed to show the merits of air-entrainment in cement concrete have been conducted by the Department of Highways since 1940. During that time six laboratory projects with many variables have been completed, and most of these were directly related to the four experimental roads which have been in service from four to six years. Collectively these experiments form a moderately comprehensive analysis of the features of air-entrainment, still there are many points which have not been fully covered either because of limitations in time and personnel or because of new developments which render some of the …

Porous Backfill, Robert F. Baker

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Until the late 1930's, the accepted practice for the construction of drainage installation included the use of a large, approximately No. 2 size, aggregate as porous backfill. However, a lage number of drains ceased to function as result of clogging or "silting"*, and many highway departments practically eliminated sub-surface and intercepting drainage.

The following report summarizes some of the more important studies that have dealt with "filter" (backfill material) to be used in drainage construction. The scope of it is limited, dealing primarily with the questions of proper gradation.

At present Kentucky Specifications (1) require that the gradations of the …

A Study Of The Effect Of Blended Cements On The Durability Of Concrete Incorporating An Inferior Coarse Aggregate, S. T. Collier

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Research Project C-13 was set up for the purpose of studying the effect of blended cement, with air-entraining properties, on the durability of concrete incorporating an inferior grade of limestone as the coarse aggregate. This investigation is not correlated with any Department of Highways field project, being entirely a laboratory study. The tests were begun April 12, 1945, and were completed February 6, 1946.

Durability Of Concrete As Affected By Absorbed Moisture In Tennessee River Gravel Aggregate, S. T. Collier

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This project is more or less a preliminary investigation of Tennessee River gravel relative to the effect of the moisture condition of the aggregates upon the durability of concrete. Certain observations made in the field indicated that absorbed moisture in the aggregate could have a marked effect on concrete, so this study was made in an attempt to give quantitative significance to the observation.

Proposed Field And Laboratory Study Of Flexible Pavements, Kentucky Highway Materials Research Laboratory

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Research into the problem of the design and control of flexible pavement construction has resulted in the use of empirical and arbitrary solutions consisting of general theories for determining pavement thickness, gradation of aggregate, percent of bitumen, base requirements, etc. A desirable method would be one that is applicable to all aggregate, bitumen, and subgrade conditions. Until such a procedure is available, a determination of existing procedures are the immediate problems of highway engineers.

A Proposed Study Of Soils As Related To The Pumping Of Rigid Pavements, Kentucky Highway Materials Research Laboratory

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Pumping has been described as, "The process of ejecting the water-suspended subgrade soil from joints, cracks, and the edges of pavement caused by the deflection of the pavement slab under the action of traffic"(4)*. Obviously, the action is limited to rigid or semi-rigid pavements. Hence, the problem is largely concerned with soil and is almost entirely dependent upon properties of the subgrade. During the past five or six years pumping has become the most discussed if not the most important element of highway soils engineering largely because of the increase in heavily loaded vehicles resulting from wartime traffic requirements.

A Survey And Pedological Classification Of Kentucky Soils, Kentucky Highway Materials Research Laboratory

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

At the meeting of the Highway Research Board in Oklahoma City this year the Department of Soils Investigations devoted the major part of one session to a discussion of the pedological method of classifying soils. This was marked departure from past policies for heretofore pedology in soil classification was largely a matter for research, and incidentally, a controversial matter.

Study Of Proposed Specifications For Bituminous Coated Corrugated Metal Pipe, Robert F. Baker

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

On February 27 and 28, the author visited the Research Laboratories of the American Rolling Mills Company at Middletown, Ohio. The purpose of the visit was to investigate the technique and background of the new specifications for bituminous coated corrugated metal pipe as proposed by Armco with a view to changing the Kentucky Specifications (throughout this report "proposed specifications" will refer to the specifications recommended by the American Rolling Mills Company).

It is a rather evident fact, but the author wishes to point out that the short visit could furnish only an indication rather than a positive solution to the …

Outline Of Proposed Study Of Sands Used As Concrete Fine Aggregates, Kentucky Highway Materials Research Laboratory

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This investigation is being made for the purpose of evaluating fine aggregates for concrete in which the percentages of fines, finer than the No. 50 and the No. sieves, are increased over that in the normal commercial sands meeting the present specifications for Class "A" concrete. It is a continuation of the studies made in Research Projects C-14 and C-15 (Reports submitted January, 1946), but enlarged to include physical tests on sand, and tests on mortar specimens, as well as the usual tests on concrete specimens.

An Evaluation Of Density And Stability Tests On Bituminous Mixes, Cary Burns, L. E. Gregg

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

During the past three years the Highway Materials Research Laboratory has experimented with bituminous aggregate mixes in an attempt to determine the densities that can be obtained through certain methods of compaction and the stability of the resulting mixes. The several investigations have resulted in the preparation and testing of approximately six hundred individual samples, most of which were designed to provide information as a guide for specification on particular field projects.