A Study of Mitigating Concentrated Sheet Flow of Water at Ends of Super-Elevated Curves

Concentrated sheet flow may occur during runoff events at the transitions into and out of super elevated curves. This problem is more likely to present at the transition of a downhill grade into a curve (or from a super elevated curve into an uphill grade). The geometry at these transitions tends to direct runoff from a large surface area into a smaller cross section, leading to a depth of runoff that may cause hydroplaning. An example site is I-70 eastbound just east of the US-77 interchange. At this location, I-70 heads down grade into a super elevated curve to the left. The entrance ramp on the south side of the highway adds additional paved area that may contribute to runoff. Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) has observed a number of vehicles in the median at this location after rain events. It may be possible to mitigate concentrated flow with post-construction efforts; however, such efforts are likely to be expensive and the effectiveness of mitigation strategies is not yet well known. This project will study the hydraulics and geometrics of drainage at curve transitions and will propose methods for (a) predicting where the problem is likely to occur, (b) develop a list of potential mitigation strategies, and (c) develop recommendations for evaluating potential mitigation strategies.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Final report is pending.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $78646
• Contract Numbers:

  K-TRAN: KU-22-6

  RE-0834-01

  C2192

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Kansas Department of Transportation

  Eisenhower State Office Building
  700 SW Harrison Street
  Topeka, KS  United States  66603-3754
• Performing Organizations:

  University of Kansas Center for Research, Incorporated

  2291 Irving Hill Drive, Campus West
  Lawrence, KS  United States  66045
• Principal Investigators:

  Kondyli, Alexandra

  Roundy, Joshua

• Start Date: 20210801
• Expected Completion Date: 20240731
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Drainage; Highway curves; Runoff
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Hydraulics and Hydrology;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01832316
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Kansas Department of Transportation
• Contract Numbers: K-TRAN: KU-22-6, RE-0834-01, C2192
• Files: RIP, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Jan 7 2022 1:33PM