Mekelle University

EiT-M
School of Civil Engineering
Road & Transport Engineering

Highway Engineering I – CENG 3182

Chapter- Five
Introduction to Highway Drainage

By: Abinet G.
.
 Contents
• Introduction
• Types of Highway Drainages
• Erosion Prevention

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 Introduction
• Highway drainage is a process of removing and controlling
excess surface and sub-surface water from the right of way.

• The most important consideration in locating and designing

highways and city streets is providing adequate drainage

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 …Contd.
Effect of Water on Highway Structures
• Moisture causes lowering of subgrade stability

• Reduction in strength of pavement materials

• Variation in volume of expansive soils

• Stripping of bitumen from aggregates and formation of potholes

• Damage on pavement edge

• Erosion of soil from top of unpaved roads and slope

embankment, cut and hill side

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 …Contd.

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 …Contd.
Requirements of Highway Drainage:
• The surface water from the carriageway and shoulder should
effectively be drained off without allowing it to percolate to sub
grade.
• Surface water from adjoining land should be prevented form
entering the roadway.
• Side drain should have sufficient capacity and longitudinal slope
to carry away all surface water collected.
• Seepage and other sources of under ground water should be
drained off by the subsurface drainage system.
• Highest level of ground water table should be kept well below
the level of subgrade, preferably by at least 1.2m.
• In waterlogged areas special precautions should be taken,
especially if detrimental salts are present or if flooring is likely
to occur.
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 Types of Highway Drainages
• During rains, part of the rain water flows on surface
and part of it percolate through the soil mass as
gravitational water until it reaches the GWT.

• The three principal types of highway drainage are:

1. Surface drainage

2. Subsurface drainage

3. Cross drainage

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 …Contd.
Surface Drainage

 The removal and diversion of surface water from the road way

and adjoining land is termed as surface drainage.

 Surface drainage is made for the quick and effective removal of

water that collects on the pavement surface, shoulders, slopes

of embankments and cuttings and adjoining land up to the right
of way

 This water is let off into natural or artificial channels

sufficiently farther away such that the functioning of the
highway is not impeded in any manner.
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 …Contd.
Methods of Surface Drainage: The surface drainage system includes
• By Longitudinal side drains.
• Providing proper camber/Transverse slope
• Curbs and Gutters in urban areas

Transverse/camber slope Longitudinal side ditches

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 …Contd.
Design of Surface Drainage
The design of surface drainage system may be divided in two
phases:
1. Hydrological analysis – estimation of flow
2. Hydraulic analysis – design of structures
Hydrological analysis
• To estimate the maximum quantity of water expected to reach
the element of the surface drainage system
o Various factors affecting the run-off are:
• Rate of rainfall
• Type of soil
• Moisture condition and topography of the area
• Type of ground cover like vegetation etc.

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 …Contd.
o The analysis of run-off estimation includes:
Rainfall intensity
•
Intensity – frequency and duration
•
Flood hydrograph
•
Time of concentration etc.
•
Rational Method
Rational method is widely used to estimation the peak run-off
water
Q = CIA Where
Q = run-off (m3/sec)
I = intensity of rain fall (mm/sec)
A = drainage area (1000 m2)
C = run-off coefficient; ratio of run off/rain fall

C = A1C1 + A2C2 + A3C3 + …

A1 + A2 + A3 + …

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 …Contd.
Hydraulic Design
• The side drains and partially filled culverts are designed based
on the principle of flow through open channels
𝑸 = 𝑨𝑽
• Assuming uniform and steady flow through channel of uniform
cross section and slope, Manning’s formula is used for
determining velocity of flow or the longitudinal slope
Manning’s Formula

V = [R2/3 * S1/2]/ n
V = Mean Velocity (m/s)

R = Hydraulic radius (m) = [Area / wetted perimeter].

S = Slope of channel

n = Manning’s roughness coefficient

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 …Contd.
Subsurface Drainage
• Removal or Diversion of excess soil-water from sub grade is
termed as sub-surface drainage.

• The change in moisture of sub-grade are caused by the following

• Fluctuations in Ground Water Table

• Seepage Flow

• Percolation Of Rain Water

• Movement of Capillary Water

• In sub-surface drainage it is practiced to keep the variation of

moisture in sub-grade to a minimum.

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 …Contd.
• The aim of sub surface drainage is to keep the ground water table (GWT)
sufficiently below the level of the subgrade at least 1.2 m.

• If this is not possible for the reason of unfavorable topography, the only
option is to lower the ground water table by means of subsurface drainage
arrangements.

When subsurface drainage?

• When road is in cutting and water seeping from sides.
• When road is near the foot or hill and is likely to be damaged by water
flowing down the hill.
• When road is passing through plain area and water is likely to
accumulated on sides.
• Where water rises up to sub-grade by capillary action.
• Where sub-grade soil is affected by the drain passing near the road

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 …Contd.
Methods of Subsurface Drainage: generally, subsurface drainage
systems include the following:
Longitudinal Sub Surface Drains: These drains can be used to lower
the water table below the pavement structure or to remove any
water that is seeping into the pavement structure.

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 …Contd.
Transverse Drains: The most common use of a transverse drain is to
remove the water that may seep into the road bed at joints

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 …Contd.
Capillary Cut-Off for Clayey Subgrade: In such a case the subgrade
has to be raised with a free-draining material, or a capillary cut-
off has to be applied

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 …Contd.
Cross Drainage Structures
• Roads have to be aligned often as to cross natural
drainage channels, streams and major rivers.

• Sometimes, the alignment will be across man-made

channels like those for irrigation.

• In such cases, the need for constructing cross drainage structures

arises to ensure that the water flows beneath the road without
causing any inconvenience or instability to the highway
structure.

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 …Contd.
Types of Cross-Drainage Structures: it depends on the length of the
structure/waterway length

• Culverts (waterway less than 6 m)

• Minor bridges (waterway from 6-30 m)

• Medium-sized bridges (waterway from 30-100 m)

• Major bridges (waterway more than 100 m)

• Causeways: It allow water to flow over them when the

stream or water course receives floods eg. Aynalem road

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 …Contd.
Road Construction in Water Logged Areas
• In case when sub-grade soil is subjected to water soaking
condition, capillary rise, and in extreme condition even flooding
for prolonged periods is termed as water logged areas.
• In such areas construction and maintenance of road is a problem.
Methods Adopted to Overcome
• Raising the road level by constructing embankment
• Providing a capillary cut off to arrest capillary water
• Providing Cement Concrete Block
• Depressing the sub surface water level by drainage system

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 Erosion Prevention
• Soil adjacent to roadways can be subjected to erosion by surface
water.

• Erosion results in :

• Destruction of productive soil

• Clogging of ditches & drainage structures

• Unsightly & hazardous ditches

• Endangering stability of side slopes (failure of embankments

and cut sections).

• Pollution of nearby lakes and streams.

• Increase maintenance cost because of sedimentation

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 …Contd.
Measures to Prevent Erosion & Control Sediment:

1.Turf culture (growing grass on back slopes):

2. Erosion Control during construction

3. Slope or channel lining

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