Drainage of Pavement Design

Ministry Of Higher Education
University Of Al-ESSRAA
Department Of CIVIL Engineering
DRAINAGE OF
PAVEMENT DESIGN STAGE 4th B
SHAMS ABDULKAREEM JANJON
SUPERVISOR
ALI ALWAN
2020 1441
Water has a detrimental effect on pavement performance,
primarily by either weakening subsurface materials or erosion of
material by free water movement. For flexible pavements the
weakening of the base, subbase or subgrade when saturated with
water is one of the main causes of pavement failures. In rigid
pavement free water, trapped between the rigid concrete surface
and an impermeable layer directly beneath the concrete, moves
due to pressure caused by loadings. This movement of water
(referred to as pumping) erodes the subsurface material creating
voids under the concrete surface. In frost areas subsurface water
will contribute to frost damage by heaving during freezing and
loss of subgrade support during thawing. Poor subsurface
drainage can also contribute to secondary damage such as 'D'
cracking or swelling of subsurface materials.
Subdrainage facilities can be categorized into two

functional categories, one to control infiltration, and one to
control groundwater. An infiltration control system is designed
to intercept and remove water that enters the pavement from
precipitation or surface flow. An important function of this
system is to keep water from being trapped between impermeable
layers. A groundwater control system is designed to reduce water
movement into subgrades and pavement sections by controlling
the flow of groundwater or by lowering the water table. Often,
subdrainage is required to perform both functions, and the two
subdrainage functions can be combined into a single subdrainage
system. Figures 1-1 and 1-2 illustrate examples of infiltration and
groundwater control systems.
1
The type and condition of the pavement surface will have
considerable influence on the volume of water entering the
pavement structure. In the design of surface drainage facilities
all rain falling on paved surfaces is assumed to be runoff. For
new well designed and constructed pavements, the assumption of
100 percent runoff is probably a good conservative assumption
for the design of surface drainage facilities. For design of the
subsurface drainage facilities, the design should be based on the
infiltration rate for a deteriorated pavement. Studies have shown
that for badly deteriorated pavements, well over 50 percent of the
rainfall can flow through the pavement surface
The flow of water through soils is expressed by Darcy's

empirical law which states that the velocity of flow (v) is directly
proportional to the hydraulic gradient (i). This law can be
expressed as :
V=K.I
where k is the coefficient of proportionality known as the

coefficient of permeability. Equation 2-1 can be expanded to
obtain the rate of flow through an area of soil (A). The equation
for the rate of flow (Q) is :
Q=K.I.A
According to Darcy's law, the velocity of flow and the
quantity of discharge through a porous media are directly
proportional to the hydraulic gradient. For this condition to be
true, flow must be laminar or nonturbulent. Investigations have
indicated that Darcy's law is valid for a wide range of soils and
hydraulic gradients. However, in developing criteria for
subsurface drainage, liberal margins have been applied to allow
for turbulent flow. The criteria and uncertainty depend heavily
2
on the permeability of the soils involved in the pavement
structure. It is therefore useful to examine the influence of
various factors on the permeability of soils. In examining
permeability of soils in regard to pavement drainage, the
materials of most concern are base and subbase aggregate and
aggregate used as drainage layers.
MnDrain allows for evaluation of a given drain design against the

FHWA requirement. In MnDrain the user can Choose from three
basic scenarios .
Select material types and adjust geometries for each scenario .
Calculate the moisture removal vs. time curve over a two-hour
drainage time for comparison
with the FHWA 85% cut off.
Protection of the pavement structure that is not full-depth asphalt

from the action of surface water is most easily accomplished by a
full-width asphalt surface. This means that the top layer of the
pavement, including the shoulders, is constructed to provide
3
impervious cover that will prevent surface water from entering
the pavement structure from the sides. The pavement surface
should be free from holes and cracks, have a permanently tight
joint with the shoulder or gutter, and be shaped and sloped
(crowned) for adequate runoff. Surface water usually is collected
at the edges of the paved surface in ditches or gutters; these carry
it to lower ground or to catch basins and storm sewers. On
embankments, the water should be directed to asphalt spillways
by means of asphalt curbs or dikes constructed on the extreme
edge of the shoulder.
If a full-width asphalt surface is not used, the designer should
consider making provision for removal of such water as may leak
through it.
Highway and street pavements should be built with a crown or

slope to facilitate the flow of water from their surfaces. The ·most
common design practice allows the surface water to flow across
the shoulder into a ditch or gutter at the side. Commonly used
values for the transverse slopes of pavements, shoulders, and
ditches are as shown in the chart below.
The best practice for shoulder drainage is to waterproof the entire
shoulder with an asphalt surface. An alternative but inferior
practice is to cover the shoulders with an aggregate graded to
minimize seepage into the subgrade. Where a crown section is
used for rapid drainage, the shoulder slope must be steeper than
that of the pavement (See the chart above), but on a pavement
uniformly sloped either to the outside or the inside (such as on a
super-elevated curve), the shoulder slope generally is the same as
that of the pavement. Sodded shoulders have some advantages in
preventing erosion, but they tend to keep the shoulder material
and the underlying subgrade in a moist and soft condition.
Drainage ditches are constructed along the edges of the roadway
to receive the runoff from the pavement surfaces and water from
4
subsurface drains. Where the slope of the surrounding area is
toward the roadway, these ditches
also serve to intercept and carry away water that would otherwise
reach the roadbed. V-shaped ditches should not be used as they
promote erosion by concentrating water flow at their bottoms.
To increase the capacity of a drainage ditch it usually is preferable
to widen rather than deepen. The side slopes of such ditches
usually vary from about four-to-one for the slope nearer the
roadway to about eight-to-one, or flatter, for the far side. The
ditch should be big enough to accommodate all the surface runoff
from the design storm and should be constructed to a continuous
smooth grade without depressions or pockets that will collect
water.
Drainage of Cuts
Where the surrounding area consists of higher ground, as in a cut,
or where the pavement runs along the side of a hill, consideration
should be given to the possibility of water flowing toward the
roadway, either on the surface or at shallow depths through water
bearing strata. A ditch constructed at the back of the top of the
cut, or on benches in the cut slope, will intercept and carry the
water away.
Drainage of Fills
Where there is a general slope of the adjacent ground towards a
fill, it may be necessary to construct a similar type of interception
ditch at the toe. If the embankment is not more than about ten feet
5
high, the ditch may be placed adjacent to the toe and about 12″
deep. For higher fills or large amounts of runoff, it may be
advisable to separate the ditch from the fill.
Parking Lot Drainage Design
After the plan of the parking area has been established, a
parking pattern making the most economical use of the available

area should be worked out. When this pattern has been
determined, drainage grades that obviate patrons stepping from
cars into gutters can be designed.
To avoid puddle formation in rainy weather, a minimum 2
percent (1/4” per foot) grade is necessary for all places used
by pedestrians. On sloping terrain, the establishment of this
grade presents no problem, but on flat sites, the built-in drainage
valleys will give rise to a gently undulating surface. To avert
objectionable ponding on the paved area – or excessive flow –
buried conduits may be required. Flows to proposed inlets should
be calculated for existing conditions of runoff and, if necessary,
spacing should be adjusted to give satisfactory results. For
average conditions, inlet spacing of no more than 200 to 400 feet
will be satisfactory.
6
Subsurface Water
The free water that percolates through or is contained in the soil
beneath the surface is called subsurface water. When it emerges
or escapes from the soil, it is termed seepage water and the point
of emergence is called a spring or seepage area.
There are several forms in which subsurface water may be

present: (1) water which is free to flow under the force of gravity,
called “free water”, (2) water which moves under capillary forces,
called “capillary water”, and (3) water in the form of water vapor.
The groundwater level may fluctuate with the seasons or because
of withdrawal for irrigation or domestic use. Seepage from water-
bearing strata may fluctuate with the seasons or remain relatively
constant, depending on the source.
7
Why and where are Underdrains Installed?
Subsurface drains are required at any location where water may

enter or collect in the structural elements of the pavement. The
location or identification of these areas requires a thorough study
of the topography of the site, water table and considerable insight
on the part of the engineer. The design should also be
checked during construction as unexpected subsurface drainage
issues frequently occur and should be addressed before placing
pavement layers.
Subsurface drains may be required because of:
1. A high water table in the area
2. Active springs or seeps beneath the pavement
3. Surface water entering the structural section
4. Through a pervious pavement
5. From a raised median
6. From side ditches
If the source of water is through the pavement or from the median

or side slopes, the first consideration should be given to
preventing the entrance of water into the structural section. If this
is not possible or cannot be assured, drainage facilities under the
pavement must be provided.
8
Unpaved raised medians invite difficult drainage problems.
Regardless of the number of transverse drains employed,
quantities of rainwater will drain from a raised median into the
pavement structure and subgrade, weakening the pavement. The
depressed median is recommended wherever possible, but when
conditions make it mandatory to construct an elevated median,
transverse drains should be connected with a longitudinal drain in
the median deep enough to collect all groundwater before it can
find its way into the pavement structure.
Subsurface seepage, under certain conditions, may develop a
hydrostatic head sufficient to lift the pavement completely off the
base, causing cracking and, in extreme cases, complete
disintegration of the pavement structure. This problem is acuter
when steep grades are involved. If not intercepted, subsurface
water from a cut may flow out onto a fill and cause slumping of
the fill slope and cracking of the pavement. The choice of filter
material and the design of the drainage system must be given
careful attention, considering both the type of material to be
drained and the quantity of water to be expected.
In order to design a reliable subsurface drain of adequate capacity

that can be constructed at a reasonable cost, it is necessary to:
1. Determine, during the preliminary soil survey, the location of all
seepage areas which may cause water to enter the structural
elements of the pavement
2. Determine the maximum rate of flow of water which may enter
the structural section from any seepage and infiltration areas
9
3. Locate a source of aggregate suitable for filter material to prevent
clogging of drains by water-borne soil
4. Locate a source of aggregate which if needed may be used as
drain rock to remove the water from beneath the pavement. (See
Figure 3-1)
5. Combine these materials into a design of adequate capacity to
meet all requirements for the life of the pavement
11
1-An Introduction to the Principles of Pavement Drainage J.
Paul Guyer, P.E., R.A., Fellow ASCE, Fellow AEI.
2-Designing Pavement Drainage Systems: The MnDRAIN

Software.
3-vaasphalt.org/pavement-guide/asphalt-pavement-drainage/
11

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Ministry Of Higher Education

Subdrainage facilities can be categorized into two

The flow of water through soils is expressed by Darcy's

where k is the coefficient of proportionality known as the

MnDrain allows for evaluation of a given drain design against the

Protection of the pavement structure that is not full-depth asphalt

Highway and street pavements should be built with a crown or

parking pattern making the most economical use of the available

There are several forms in which subsurface water may be

Subsurface drains are required at any location where water may

If the source of water is through the pavement or from the median

In order to design a reliable subsurface drain of adequate capacity

2-Designing Pavement Drainage Systems: The MnDRAIN

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