ECT 4313: HIGHWAY ENGINEERING BY : MR MOHD AMIN BIN SHAFII
HIGHWAY DRAINAGE
ECT 4313: HIGHWAY ENGINEERING BY : MR MOHD AMIN BIN SHAFII
Why road need drainage
facilities?
ECT 4313: HIGHWAY ENGINEERING BY : MR MOHD AMIN BIN SHAFII
‘One of the most important consideration in locating and designing rural highways and city
streets is providing adequate drainage’ (Paul H Wright)
Highway drainage is a process to divert and remove water from the pavement surface, and
control subsurface water by directing it into proper channels to protect the road from
damage.
Sources of water on highway
• surface runoff-rain, snow, sleet
• subsurface runoff-ground water
Problem with water
• Water on road surface can cause aquaplaning (hydroplaning). Aquaplaning occur when
water depth 5 mm to 10 mm on the surface. At this stage, water completely support the
tyre and separates from the road surface.
• Subsurface water can weaken the subgrade.
Subsurface water generally comes from two sources:
groundwater, which is defined as the water existing in the natural ground in the zone of saturation
below the water table.
infiltration water which is defined as surface water that seeps down through the voids or cracks in
the pavement surface to the pavement substructure.
ECT 4313: HIGHWAY ENGINEERING BY : MR MOHD AMIN BIN SHAFII
Hydroplaning
“Hydroplaning effect is a phenomenon that takes place when there is a certain water film
thickness between the tire and the pavement. Maximum hydroplaning happen when fluid
pressure forces exceeded the load of tyre and the vehicle weight itself”
Types of hydroplaning
Three different category of hydroplaning which are the viscous hydroplaning, dynamic
hydroplaning and tire-tread rubber reversion hydroplaning.
• Viscous hydroplaning happens when there are a thin water film layer and little
microtexture on the road.
• Dynamic hydroplaning is considered when there is very little time to remove water
under the tires due to the high speed.
• Tire-tread rubber-reversion hydroplaning takes place when the vehicles lock it tyres at
high speed
ECT 4313: HIGHWAY ENGINEERING BY : MR MOHD AMIN BIN SHAFII
Engineering Techniques to Reduce the Occurrences of Hydroplaning
• Design the highway geometries to reduce the drainage path lengths of the water
flowing over the pavement. This will prevent flow build-up.
• Increase the pavement surface texture depth by such methods as grooving of Portland
cement concrete. An increase of pavement surface texture will increase the drainage
capacity at the tyre-pavement interface.
• potential of the roadway surface. This reduction is due to the ability of the waThe use
of open graded asphaltic pavements has been shown to greatly reduce the
hydroplaning ter to be forced through the pavement under the tire. This releases any
hydrodynamic pressures that are created and reduces the potential for the tire to
hydroplane.
• The use of drainage structures along the roadway to capture the flow of water over the
pavement will reduce the thickness of the film of water and reduce the hydroplaning
potential of the roadway surface
ECT 4313: HIGHWAY ENGINEERING BY : MR MOHD AMIN BIN SHAFII
• Excess water
stagnating in the
subsurface of rigid
pavements may
cause mud-pumping
ECT 4313: HIGHWAY ENGINEERING BY : MR MOHD AMIN BIN SHAFII
Main functions of a road drainage system:
• To prevent flooding of the road and ponding on the road surface
• To protect the bearing capacity of the pavement and the subgrade material
• To avoid the erosion of side slopes
ECT 4313: HIGHWAY ENGINEERING BY : MR MOHD AMIN BIN SHAFII
DRAINAGE SYSTEM
SURFACE DRAINAGE
• Surface drainage encompasses all means by which surface water is removed from
pavement and right of way of the highway or street.
• A properly designed highway surface drainage system should effectively intercept all
surface and watershed runoff and direct this water into adequately designed channels and
gutters for eventual discharge into the natural waterways.
Transverse Slope
Curbs and
Surface Drainage Longitudinal Slope
Gutters
Longitudinal
Channels
ECT 4313: HIGHWAY ENGINEERING BY : MR MOHD AMIN BIN SHAFII
DRAINAGE SYSTEM
SURFACE DRAINAGE
A) Transverse Slope
- to facilitate the removal of surface water from the pavement surface in the shortest
possible time.
- this is achieved by crowning the surface at the center of the pavement, thereby
providing cross slopes on either side of the centerline or providing a slope in one
direction across the pavement width.
- the inclination of the slope depends on the type of pavement and amount of rainfall
in the area.
ECT 4313: HIGHWAY ENGINEERING BY : MR MOHD AMIN BIN SHAFII
DRAINAGE SYSTEM
SURFACE DRAINAGE
B) Longitudinal Slope
- A minimum longitudinal gradient is more important for a curbed pavement than for
an uncurbed pavement since the water is constrained by the curb. However, flat
gradients on uncurbed pavements can lead to a spread problem if vegetation is
allowed to build up along the pavement edge.
- Desirable gutter grades should not be less than 0.5 percent for curbed pavements
with an absolute minimum of 0.3 percent. Minimum grades can be maintained in very
flat terrain by use of a rolling profile, or by warping the cross slope to achieve rolling
gutter profiles.
ECT 4313: HIGHWAY ENGINEERING BY : MR MOHD AMIN BIN SHAFII
DRAINAGE SYSTEM
SURFACE DRAINAGE
C) Longitudinal Channels
- Longitudinal channels (ditches) are constructed along sides of the highway to collect
the surface water.
- The water collected in these channels or ditches is then transported to nearby
drainage channels or natural waterways.
ECT 4313: HIGHWAY ENGINEERING BY : MR MOHD AMIN BIN SHAFII
DRAINAGE SYSTEM
SURFACE DRAINAGE
D) Curbs and Gutters
- Curbs and gutters are used more frequently in urban areas particularly in residential
areas where they are used in conjunction with storm sewer systems to control street
runoff.
- The application of curbs and gutters are to control drainage by restricting the flow of
surface water and directing the water to underground channels
ECT 4313: HIGHWAY ENGINEERING BY : MR MOHD AMIN BIN SHAFII
DRAINAGE SYSTEM
SUBSURFACE DRAINAGE
- Subsurface drains are drains built with a permeable conduit such as corrugated plastic, a
geotextile fabric, tubing, tile, pipe or any combination thereof installed beneath the
ground surface to collect and/or convey drainage water to an outlet.
ECT 4313: HIGHWAY ENGINEERING BY : MR MOHD AMIN BIN SHAFII
DRAINAGE SYSTEM
CULVERT
- A culvert is a channel used to enclose a flowing body of water. It may be used to allow
water to pass underneath a road, railway, or embankment. A culvert is required where the
roadway crosses a stream channel to allow water to pass downstream.
ECT 4313: HIGHWAY ENGINEERING BY : MR MOHD AMIN BIN SHAFII
DRAINAGE SYSTEM
CULVERT
- Culverts can be made of many different materials; steel, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and
concrete are the most common.
ECT 4313: HIGHWAY ENGINEERING BY : MR MOHD AMIN BIN SHAFII
DRAINAGE SYSTEM
CULVERT
-The advantage of culvert installation is that it can move water from one side of the road
or landing to the other without eroding surface.
- The best culvert should be perpendicular to the road direction.
ECT 4313: HIGHWAY ENGINEERING BY : MR MOHD AMIN BIN SHAFII
DRAINAGE DETERIORATION
-There are no specific drainage deterioration types in highway.
-Usually the drainages are damaged due to
(1) improper maintenance, and
(2) the low quality of material used
-Stagnation of drainage systems is also a common problem. This may be caused by the
following:
• vegetative growth around the pipe outlets
•rodents’ nests
•mowing clippings
•sediment collecting on rodent screens
ECT 4313: HIGHWAY ENGINEERING BY : MR MOHD AMIN BIN SHAFII
DRAINAGE MAINTENANCE
DRAINAGE INSPECTION
The objectives of drainage inspection are:
• To ensure that all drainage channels and structures are unobstructed
• To check culverts and drainage lines for structural damage
• To inspect check dams for debris and excessive erosion
• To investigate water ponding on or adjacent to surfaced areas
• To inspect the system drainage during or after every storm
ECT 4313: HIGHWAY ENGINEERING BY : MR MOHD AMIN BIN SHAFII
DRAINAGE MAINTENANCE
DRAINAGE MAINTENANCE
Typical maintenance activities include:
annual inspection (minimum maintenance)
minor to major structural repairs
replacement when needed
erosion control
obstruction removal
ECT 4313: HIGHWAY ENGINEERING BY : MR MOHD AMIN BIN SHAFII
DRAINAGE MAINTENANCE
Surface Drainage Maintenance
Surface drainage maintenance works include:
1) Mark and correct areas where pending (delayed runoff) occurs on surfaced areas.
2) Correct water-logging problems by filling or raising depressions, and by providing
outlets for water blocked by high shoulders.
3) Control entry of storm water through pavement by sealing joints and cracks.
4) Keep unpaved roads crowned (provide camber/cross-slope) to prevent water from
remaining on the road.
5) Maintain crowns and superelevations with graders or drags.
6) Sweep and clean roads to prevent collection of debris in gutters and inlets, which
could cause delay in the removal of surface water
ECT 4313: HIGHWAY ENGINEERING BY : MR MOHD AMIN BIN SHAFII
DRAINAGE MAINTENANCE
Shoulder Maintenance
Shoulders should be smooth and graded to ensure the water drains from the surfaced
areas towards the ditch.
Eroded shoulder material should be replaced with new material.
It is important to keep shoulders bladed flush to the edge of the pavement (or slightly
below).
Slope away from the pavement to prevent water seepage into the
subgrade.
ECT 4313: HIGHWAY ENGINEERING BY : MR MOHD AMIN BIN SHAFII
DRAINAGE MAINTENANCE
Drainage Ditch Maintenance
To maintain the drainage ditch, it is important to keep it clear of weeds,
sediment, and other debris that obstruct water flow.
It is essential to maintain ditches as to line and grade, and also correct sags and minor
washout as they occur.
Side ditches can be usually maintained with graders.
ECT 4313: HIGHWAY ENGINEERING BY : MR MOHD AMIN BIN SHAFII
DRAINAGE MAINTENANCE
Culvert Maintenance
Culverts should be clear from debris and sediment to prevent water from undermining
the culverts.
Culvert inspection must be done frequently to determine whether they are functioning
properly.
Cleaning by hand is usually necessary after heavy rains.
ECT 4313: HIGHWAY ENGINEERING BY : MR MOHD AMIN BIN SHAFII
SLOPE AND HILLY ROAD MAINTENANCE
Slopes and hill roads are prone to slips and landslides caused by swelling soils. Damage
from swelling soils occurs when the clay minerals in the soil change volume (shrink or
swell) due to moisture change. Much of the damage caused by swelling soils is due to lack
of timely maintenance.
Problems are caused by:
• Neglecting to maintain adequate slopes for good drainage.
• Neglecting to clean gutters and downspouts.
• Over saturating foundation soils by excessive landscape watering.
• Planting trees, shrubs, and flowers too close to the foundation.
• Failing to seal old construction joints and cracks that develop over time in the flatwork
(walks, driveways and slabs).
ECT 4313: HIGHWAY ENGINEERING BY : MR MOHD AMIN BIN SHAFII
SLOPE AND HILLY ROAD MAINTENANCE
Maintenance of Hill Roads
Hills are subject to intermittent to continuous rains, sometimes throughout the year,
therefore the risk of slips and landslides is high for hill roads.
Hill road pavements must be constructed of impervious material, as moisture can
undermine the structure and cause failure. Drainage is also an important
consideration for hill roads to safeguard the pavement.
ECT 4313: HIGHWAY ENGINEERING BY : MR MOHD AMIN BIN SHAFII
SLOPE AND HILLY ROAD MAINTENANCE
Maintenance of Hill Roads
Maintenance type Description
Slope Maintenance Maintain a positive slope in the backfill area next to the road is the most critical aspect of
slope maintenance.
Ideally, the recommended slope is 1 foot within the first 10 feet of the foundation.
The planting of trees on the slopes can prevent soil erosion caused by rains
Drainage Maintenance Drainage structures such as catch-water drains, side-drains, catch-pits and culverts should
therefore be cleared of blockages at regular intervals.
Drainage systems are essential to reducing the amount of water that infiltrates the
ground. By taking the time to maintain and repair these systems, it will increase the life of
hill roads and minimize costly repairs.
Gutters and downspouts They should be inspected regularly.
Remove any debris and defects repaired.
The slope of the gutters should prevent debris build up and subsequent rusting of metal
materials.
Downspouts should be clear of debris and direct the water away from the foundation.
Splashblocks Should be long enough and sloped enough to carry all the water away from the
foundation.
Subsurface drainage If correctly installed, they should require little maintenance.
The most important thing to remember is to avoid covering or obstructing the drain
where it discharges.
If the subsurface drainage is not working, it may have been broken or installed incorrectly
or not at all.
ECT 4313: HIGHWAY ENGINEERING BY : MR MOHD AMIN BIN SHAFII
SLOPE AND HILLY ROAD MAINTENANCE
ECT 4313: HIGHWAY ENGINEERING BY : MR MOHD AMIN BIN SHAFII
SLOPE AND HILLY ROAD MAINTENANCE
ECT 4313: HIGHWAY ENGINEERING BY : MR MOHD AMIN BIN SHAFII
SLOPE AND HILLY ROAD MAINTENANCE
