Investigation To Ascertain The Causes Of Failure And Present Traffic Capacity Of Highways
(A Case Study Of Eliozu-New Airport Road In Obio/Akpor L.G.A, River State Of Nigeria)
An investigation into the factors contributing to highway failure and the current traffic capacity reveals a complex interplay of various elements. Understanding the causes necessitates a comprehensive analysis encompassing aspects such as infrastructure integrity, environmental conditions, traffic volume, and maintenance practices. Highways may succumb to degradation due to factors like inadequate design, substandard materials, or prolonged exposure to harsh weather conditions, among others. Moreover, the burgeoning traffic demands impose strain on existing capacities, leading to congestion and potential hazards. Therefore, an effective assessment must consider not only the physical condition of the highways but also the dynamic traffic patterns and evolving infrastructural needs, ensuring resilience and sustainability in transportation networks.
The essence of this project work is to look into the causes of highway failure and the different types of failure which are presented along the Eliozu – New Airport road in Obio/Akpor L.G.A in River state, taken as a case study. Some factors identify as being responsible for the failure of the chosen road section includes, poor sub grade soil with questionable material. Ground water study is carried out, which give insight to it effect to the failure of the flexible pavement, lack of drainage facilities, improper pavement design, poor compaction and traffic volume increase and lack of maintenance are critically taken into consideration.
Traffic volume count and soil test analysis and test on asphalt such as extraction-gradation test, are properly carryout, of which it result gives an adequate insight to the various causes of the failure situation experience along the road section through this investigation, show that relative to pavement, base course, wearing course and sub base were to less than the requirement for effective functionality of the said road of case study. From the investigation carryout, useful recommendation are made to improve the design and proper ways of reducing the rate of failure in Nigerian highways.
TITLE PAGE
CERTIFICATION
DEDICATION
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
ABSTRACT
TABLE OF CONTENT
LIST OF TABLES
LIST OF FIGURE
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION 1-3
1.1 AIMS AND OBJECTIVE OF STUDY 3-4
1.2 SCOPE OF THE PROJECT STUDY 4-5
1.3 BACKGROUND INFORMATION OF THE STUDY
AREA 5-6
1.4 LIMITATION OF THE STUDY 6
CHAPTER TWO
2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW 7
2.1 GENERAL 7-15
2.2 ENGINEERING PROPERTIES OF SOIL 15
2.2.1 SOIL PROPERTIES AS HIGHWAY MATERIAL 15-17
2.2.2 HIGHWAY SUB-GRADE, SUB-BASE, THEIR
THICKNESS AND SHAPING 17-20
2.2.3 MATERIAL CLASSIFICATION 20
2.2.3.1 AMERICAN ASSOICATION OF STATE HIGHWAY AND TRANSPORTATION OFFICIALS (AASHTO) SYSTEM 21-22
2.2.3.2 UNIFIED SOIL CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM
(USES) 22 – 25
2.2.4 CLAY SOILS AND THEIR ENGINEERING
PROPERTIES 26-29
2.2.5 SOIL COMPACTION AND CONSOLIDATION EFFICIENCIES 29-30
2.2.6 SOIL PERMEABILITY AND COMPRESSIBILITY… 30-31
2.2.7 GROUND WATER PENETRATION AND ITS EFFECT ON ROAD BASES 31-32
2.2.8 EFFECT OF VOID IN HIGHWAY PAVEMENT 32
2.3 TYPES OF PAVEMENT DISTRESS32-39
2.4 TRAFFIC SURVEY40-41
2.4.1 INTERPRETATION OF DATA42-43
2.5 TRAFFIC CAPACITY STUDIES43
2.5.1 FACTORS AFFECTING PRACTICAL
CAPACITY43-44+
2.5.2 TRAFFIC FLOW CHARACTERISTIC44
2.5.3 TRAFFIC VOLUME STUDY45
2.6 RELATIVE PRACTICAL TERMS46
2.6.1 SITE EXPLORATION AND RECONNAISANCE 46-47
2.6.2 SOURCING OF SAMPLES47-48
2.6.3 MEASUREMENT OF PAVEMENT THICKNESS…48-49
2.6.4 GROUND WATER INSPECTION IN THE
LOCATION49-50
2.6.5 TRAFFIC VOLUME STUDY50-51
2.6.6 RAINFALL DATA51-52
2.6.7 SOIL TESTS DATA52
2.6.8 SOIL CLASSIFICATION52-53
2.6.9 THE CALIFORNIAN BEARING RATIO (CBR) TEST METHOD54
2.7 CLASSIFICATION RELATION TERMS55
2.7.1 EFFECTIVE SIZE55
2.7.2 UNIFORMITY COEFFICIENT55
2.7.3 CO-EFFICIENT OF GRADATION55
2.7.4 LIQID LIMIT56
2.7.5 PLASTIC LIMIT56
2.7.6 PLASTICITY INDEX56
2.7.7 LIQUIDITY INDEX57
2.7.8 CONSISTENCY LIMIT57
2.7.9 GROUP INDEX57
2.8 AGING OF BITUMEN58-59
2.9 BITUMINOUS MIXES AND IT DESIGN
PRINCIPLES 60-61
2.9.1 DIAGNOSIS OF UNSATISFACTORY MIXES CASES61-64
CHAPTER THREE
3.0 METHODOLOGY AND EXPERIMENTATION 65
3.1 FIELD COLLECTION OF A SOIL SAMPLE65-66 3.2 COLOUR CLASSIFICATION66
3.4 SPECIFIC GRAVITY TEST68-69
3.5 SIEVE ANALYSIS70-71
3.6 ATTERBERG LIMIT TEST72
3.6.1 PLASTIC LIMIT72-73
3.6.2 LIQUID LIMIT74-76
3.7 COMPACTION TEST76
3.7.1 STANDARD PROCTOR COMPACTION TEST76-79
3.7.2 MODIFIED PROCTOR COMPACTION TEST80-82
3.8 CALIFORNIA BEARING RATIO (C.B.R) TEST82-85
3.9 DETERMINATION OF WATER TABLE85-86
3.10 MANUAL METHOD OF TRAFFIC COUNT86
3.11 BULL SPECIFIC GRAVITY OF COMPACTD BITUMINOUS MIXTURES TESTS86-87
3.12 EXTRACTION-GRADATION TEST88-89
CHAPTER FOUR
4.0 DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS90
4.1 FIELD COLLECTION OF SOIL SAMPLE90
4.2 COLOUR CLASSIFICATION90
4.3 NATURAL MOISTURE CONTENT91
4.4 SPECIFIC GRAVITY TEST91
4.5 SIEVE ANALYSIS92-95
4.6 ATTERBERG LIMIT TEST96
4.7 CLASSIFICATION COMPUTATION AND DATA ANALYSIS96-105
4.8 COMPACTION TEST106
4.8.1 STANDARD PROCTOR COMPACTION TEST106
4.8.2 MODIFIED PROCTOR COMPACTION TEST 107
4.9 DETERMINATION OF GROUND WATER TABLE… 108
4.10 MANUAL TRAFFIC COUNT DATA AND
4.10.1 MEAN DAILY TRAFFIC 116-117
4.11 TESTS FOR BULK SPECIFIC GRAVITY OF COMPACTED BITUMINOUS MIXTURES 122
4.12 EXTRACTION – GRADATION TEST 123-124
CHAPTER FIVE
5.0 SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND
RECOMMENDATION 125
5.1 CONCLUSION AND SUMMARY 125
5.1.1 SUMMARY 125-127
5.1.2 CONCLUSION 28-131
5.2 RECOMMENDATION 132-134
BIBLIOGRAPHY 135-135
APPENDICES 138-238
INTRODUCTION
In construction of highway, generally the roads are not designed to last forever. It is been designed to serve some purpose for a specific time. As it can be seen in engineering work, the life span of a road is always an important factor that must be taken into consideration as one of the criteria for the construction. This really depends on the factors like construction procedure and consideration, the soil water relationship, quality of workmanship during the construction and the type of maintenance culture adopted.
Many roads (Highway mostly) are seen widely as attaining the state of failure and show signs of distress before the expected life span used for construction is reach, due to the lack of factors such as lack of maintenance culture etc. many of our road today serve as death trap and hang out for hoodlums going by the number of accident recorded daily on them as a result of bad paved road.
Pavement failure can be defined as the failure of the constructed layer of durable material of specified thickness, usually of concrete, asphalt or bituminous materials assigned to carry wheeled vehicles. Due to the number of load passing through a pavement structure, some deflection of the surface and underlying layers occur. The deflection can be as a result of the excess load, poor material usage, and poor road foundation resulting from the nature of the soil or groundwater rise in the area of high groundwater level. If layers are lacking in strength, repeated applications causes roughening and cracking that ultimately lead to failure of the pavement structure.
The construction of the Eliozu-New Airport road, which was constructed a while ago, sudden failure due to improper investigation of either the soil composition or traffic capacity situation in the said section of the road networking, lack of proper drainage to control the effect of rise in groundwater level. The pavement thickness of the road section as measure was about 3.87inches (98.3mm) and the width of the dual carriage way about 7.9m with no proper shoulder and drainage provided.
The effort of put in controlling the rate of failure and provision for annually increase of traffic capacity has been a thing of burden to the government of the River State in particular and the Federal government in general. By questioning and observation, failure of the said Eliozu-New Airport road as it problem from compounded presence of water coming out at a particular points on the road surface poor material and workmanship and pressure from increasing traffic capacities on the road pavement of which the government is making provision for overhead bridge which is currently in construction and it is found out that most at a point like Eliozu junction by ABC shuttle, the pavement bituminous material on the road have disappear.
1.1 AIMS AND OBJECTIVE OF STUDY
The major objective of this investigation is to ascertain factors that likely lead to the failure of Eliozu-New Airport road in Obio/Akpor L.G.A. of River State in particular and Nigeria Highways in general and how it affect national stability and development. This project work stand at a point to unveil the very facts behind why most of the roads fail soon after construction.
The count carryout will broadly provide information on the actual traffic volume and the capacity of traffic and will help in used for possible traffic planning and design.
It shall lead in proper construction of highway and remedy that will possible give a lasting solution and reduction in road failures. The several test such as test on asphalt, test on soil will provided better facts to the cause of the failure of the case study.
1.2 SCOPE OF THE PROJECT STUDY
The whole section of the road was visited (Reconnaissance) and failure pattern noted.
The project scope includes:
– Assessment of kind of failure and causes on the Eliozu-New Airport road.
– Soil samples collection and testing and analysis to determine the sub-grade, sub-base strength of the road foundation.
– Assessment of underground water level and its affect on the pavement.
– Assessment of traffic capacity intensity on the networking plan of the road and volume determination.
– Assessment of drainage condition and proper drainage provision.
– Assessment of the proportion and amount of bitumen and finer used in the Asphalt mixture used for the surface course.
– Classification of the soil according to ASSHATO classification system.
– Enumeration of possible pavement distresses that are found along a road section.
1.3 BACKGROUND INFORMATION OF THE STUDY AREA
The location of which this investigation is been carryout is a road network located at Obio/Akpor L.G.A at the out script of Port-Harcourt, River State. The road is from Eliozu junction to Airport road leading to Elele of which concentration is lay on the Eliozu junction where ABC shuttle is, at where over head bridge is undergoing construction currently to where the Eliozu-New airport road intersect with the airport road.
1.4 LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
This research was carried out under the limits of the available material and resources. The work is centre on soil sample testing and classification, asphalt testing and traffic volume and effect of groundwater on road bases.
The following factors hinder the prompt attainment of this project work.
– Lack of laboratory facilities
– Cost of the project work
– Time proximities.
SHARE PROJECT MATERIALS ON:
Causes Of Failure And Present Traffic Capacity Of Highways:
The causes of failure and the present traffic capacity of highways can vary depending on several factors, including the design, construction, maintenance, and usage of the road. Here are some common causes of failure and factors that affect the present traffic capacity of highways:
Causes of Failure:
Aging Infrastructure: Over time, highways can deteriorate due to the effects of weather, heavy traffic loads, and wear and tear. This can lead to cracks, potholes, and other forms of deterioration.
Inadequate Design: Poorly designed highways may not be able to handle the volume and types of traffic they were intended for. Inadequate design can lead to congestion, accidents, and reduced capacity.
Insufficient Maintenance: Regular maintenance is essential to keep highways in good condition. Lack of maintenance can lead to the deterioration of road surfaces, signage, and safety features.
Heavy Traffic Loads: Highways that experience heavy traffic loads, especially from oversized vehicles or trucks, can deteriorate more quickly. The repeated stress from heavy vehicles can lead to pavement damage.
Environmental Factors: Extreme weather conditions, such as freeze-thaw cycles, heavy rainfall, and excessive heat, can contribute to the degradation of highway surfaces.
Accidents and Collisions: Frequent accidents and collisions can damage highway infrastructure, including guardrails, barriers, and road surfaces.
Natural Disasters: Events like earthquakes, floods, landslides, and hurricanes can cause significant damage to highways, leading to failures.
Present Traffic Capacity:
Traffic Volume: The number of vehicles using a highway at a given time affects its capacity. Highways designed for heavy traffic will have a higher capacity than those designed for lower volumes.
Lane Configuration: The number of lanes on a highway can significantly impact traffic capacity. Wider highways with more lanes can accommodate more vehicles.
Traffic Control Devices: Effective use of traffic control devices like signals, signs, and lane markings can help optimize traffic flow and capacity.
Geometric Design: The alignment, cross-section, and sight distance of a highway impact its capacity. Properly designed curves, grades, and intersections can improve traffic flow.
Speed Limits: Speed limits can affect traffic capacity. Higher speed limits may allow for faster traffic flow but require more space between vehicles.
Maintenance: A well-maintained highway is more likely to operate at its designed capacity. Regular repairs and upkeep are essential to prevent bottlenecks and congestion.
Technology: Advances in traffic management systems, including real-time traffic monitoring and adaptive traffic signals, can help optimize traffic flow and capacity.
Public Transportation: The availability and use of public transportation options can reduce the number of vehicles on the road, potentially increasing highway capacity.
Land Use and Development: Land use planning and development decisions can impact traffic capacity. Poorly planned developments can lead to increased congestion and reduced highway capacity.
It’s essential to note that the present traffic capacity of a highway can change over time due to factors like population growth, changes in traffic patterns, and infrastructure improvements. Regular assessments and maintenance are critical to ensuring that highways operate efficiently and safely. Additionally, capacity expansion projects, such as widening highways or adding new lanes, are often undertaken to address congestion and increase the overall traffic capacity of a roadway.