HIGHWAY DRAINAGE

INTRODUCTION

Highway drainage is the process of removing and controlling excess surface and
subsurface water within the right of way.

SURFACE DRAINAGE

Removal and diversion of surface water from the roadway and adjoining land.

SUBSURFACE DRAINAGE

Diversion or removal of excess soil water

SIGNIFICANCE OF DRAINAGE

1) Excess moisture in soil subgrade causes considerable lowering of strength

2) Increase in moisture causes considerable reduction in strength of many pavement
materials.
3) In case of expansive soils, variation in moisture content causes considerable variation
in volume of the subgrade. This may contribute to pavement failure.
4) Sustained contact of water with bituminous pavement causes failure due to stripping
of bitumen from aggregates.
5) Excess moisture causes considerable damage due to frost action in places with
freezing temperature.
6) Erosion of soils from unsurfaced roads and slopes of embankments cut and fill side is
due to surface water.
7) Surface water affects skid resistance of pavement surface.

HOW WATER ENTERS THE PAVEMENT AND SUBGRADE

6. Through Permeable
Surface or Cracks

PAVEMENT 2. Seepage
from High
1. Water Seeping Ground
Through Shoulders

3. Upward
Movement
of Water 4. Capillary 5. Vapour
Table Rise Movement
MAIN FUNCTION OF HIGHWAY DRAINAGE SYSTEM

1) To drain off surface water from carriageway and shoulders

2) Prevent surface water from adjoining land from entering the roadway
3) Provide sufficient capacity and slope of side drains to carry away all surface water
collected
4) Prevent erosion from the flow of surface water and flow along slopes
5) To drain off seepage and other sources of subsurface water
6) To keep the highest level of ground water table well below the subgrade level

SURFACE DRAINAGE

Surface water is to be collected in longitudinal drains and then disposed-off at the nearest
valley, stream or waterway.
Bridges and culverts may be necessary for disposal of surface water (cross drainage
structures).

Collection of Surface Water

Camber on the carriageway

Shoulder slope
The water is drained to side drains which are parallel to the road
1.5 – 3. %

4–6%

25 – 50 %
Rural

For urban area because of space limitations and presence of foot paths underground
longitudinal drains are provided
Footpath
Grating
Kerb
Pavement

Longitudinal
drain pipe

Urban Area
Design of Surface Drainage System

This is divided in two parts

1) Hydrological Analysis: Deciding the amount of water which must be catered for
2) Hydraulic Analysis: The design of the facility that is needed to handle the
amount of water obtained in the hydrological analysis.

Hydrological Analysis

The rainfall data is used, including intensity, duration and frequency of occurrence of the
storm.
The rainfall intensity is used for determining the intensity for the design of surface
drainage facility. It is based upon the time of concentration.
Rational formula is frequently used in estimation of peak runoff for highway drainage
𝑸 = 𝑪𝑰𝑨
3
Where Q = Runoff (m /sec)
C = Runoff coefficient
I = Intensity of rainfall (mm/sec)
A = Drainage area in 1000 m2

Hydraulic Analysis

Once the deign runoff Q is determined, then hydraulic design of drains is done based on
principles of flow through open channels.
𝑸 = 𝑨𝑽
Where A = Area of the drain
V = Average velocity
𝟏
𝑽 = 𝑹𝟐/𝟑 𝑺𝟏/𝟐
𝒏
Where n = Manning’s roughness coefficient
R = Hydraulic radius
S = Longitudinal slope of the channel

SUBSURFACE DRAINAGE SYSTEM

In subsurface drainage of highways, it is attempted to keep the variation of moisture in the

subgrade soil to a minimum.
This can be achieved:
1) Lowering of Water Table
The desirable minimum depth of water table from the formation level is 1.0
m. This depth can be achieved by either lowering the water table itself or
taking the road formation on the embankment.
The lowering of water table is achieved by:
o Construction of longitudinal drainage trenches with drain pipes and
filter materials in relatively permeable soil.

Clay Seal

Desirable Minimum
Original WT 1.0 – 1.25 m
1 – 1.25 m

Filter Material

Lowered Water Table due to

Longitudinal Drains

The depth of the trench will depend on

o The required lowering of ground water level
o Soil type
o Distance between the trenches
For relatively less permeable soil provide also transverse drain

 For less permeable soil – addition provision of transverse drains in

order to effectively drain off the water and thus lower the water table.

Clay Seal

Desirable Minimum
Original WT 1 – 1.25 m

Filter Material

Lowered Water Table due to

Longitudinal Drains
Section
 PLAN

2) Control of Seepage Flow

Filter Material Pavement

Zone of
Seepage Original
Flow Seepage Line

Sloping Stratum Perforated Drain Pipe

(Impervious) Lowered
Seepage Line
 3) Control of Capillary Rise

Granular Material Impervious Layer

Capillary Rise Capillary Rise

Water Table Water Table

4) Control of Vapour Movement

 This is controlled by an impermeable membrane beneath the pavement

5) Control of Water Entering Through Permeable Surface or Cracks

 A 100 – 150 mm layer of granular material should be interposed between
the subgrade and the roadbase

Granular Material

DESIGN OF SUBSURFACE DRAINAGE SYSTEM

In order to design adequate and economic subsurface drainage system, it is necessary to

collect the following information:
1) During preliminary soil investigation, determine the location of all seepage areas,
levels of water table
2) Determine the maximum rate of flow of water which may enter the structural
section from any seepage and infiltration areas.
3) Find the location of a source of aggregates suitable for filter material to prevent
clogging of drains by water borne soil or determine the suitability of using filter
fabric.
 4) Determine the source of aggregates which (if needed) may be used as drain rock to
remove water from beneath the pavement.
5) Obtain and evaluate climatic data with respect to frost heaving
In the design of subsurface drainage system the size and spacing would depend on:
1) The quantity of water to be drained
2) The soil type (permeability)
3) Type of drains (resistance to flow)
Mostly the size and spacing are decided upon based on EXPERIENCE. Filter material
should be used for backfilling the drainage trenches and also for use in all subsurface
drainage system.

DESIGN OF FILTER MATERIAL

The filter material used in subsurface drainage should have sufficient permeability
offering negligible resistance to flow.
Also the filter material should be designed to prevent flowing of foundation material
resulting into problems like piping.
The following criterion have been developed for soil materials used as filters:
o Permeability
o Piping

Permeability Criteria

𝐷15 (𝐹𝑖𝑙𝑡𝑒𝑟 )
≥5
𝐷15 (𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑆𝑜𝑖𝑙 )

Where D15 represents 15 percent size (mm) of either the filter material or the surrounding
protected soil

85

15

D15 D85 Sieve Size (mm)

Piping Criteria

𝐷15 (𝐹𝑖𝑙𝑡𝑒𝑟 )
𝑆ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 ≤ 5
𝐷85 (𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑆𝑜𝑖𝑙 )

𝐷15 (𝐹𝑖𝑙𝑡𝑒𝑟 )
𝑆ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 ≤ 20
𝐷15 (𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑆𝑜𝑖𝑙 )

𝐷50 (𝐹𝑖𝑙𝑡𝑒𝑟 )
𝑆ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 ≤ 25
𝐷50 (𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑆𝑜𝑖𝑙 )

𝐷60 (𝐹𝑖𝑙𝑡𝑒𝑟 )
If the soil is uniform i.e.𝐷 ≤ 1.5
10 (𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑆𝑜𝑖𝑙 )

𝐷15 (𝐹𝑖𝑙𝑡𝑒𝑟 )
≤6
𝐷85 (𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑆𝑜𝑖𝑙 )

𝐷60 (𝐹𝑖𝑙𝑡𝑒𝑟 )
If the soil is well graded i.e.𝐷 ≥4
10 (𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑆𝑜𝑖𝑙 )

𝐷15 (𝐹𝑖𝑙𝑡𝑒𝑟 )
≤ 40
𝐷85 (𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑆𝑜𝑖𝑙 )

Note: At no time should a filter material be gap graded (as it will tend to segregate
during placement). Nor should be more than 5% of its mass pass 75µm BS
sieve (as otherwise the filter fines will migrate into the pipes).

% Passing

55

15

D15 D55 Sieve Size (mm)

Collection Pipes

Size of the collector pipes depends on discharge and pipe gradient.

Location depends on whether the shoulders are to be drained