Water Distribution Influenced by Pavement Alignment Design

Abstract

To obtain the water distribution influenced by pavement alignment design under the current situation of highway reconstruction and extension in China, a simulation model for predicting pavement flow fields and water depth distribution is optimized based on a hydrodynamic method. Two-dimensional shallow water equations were applied to investigate the pavement water by considering the factors of rainfall, topography, and fluid resistance. This model was validated by the field monitoring data and the measured depth and velocity. Pavement terrain models were performed to analyze the water depth distribution of the straight and superelevation, and specifically, the inundation areas and the depth difference of the same lane at the transition are compared. Results show that the water depths are influenced by the pavement widths. Water depth distribution on the cross section of zero cross slope (ZCS) and the range of the inundation areas increase as the pavement broadens. Besides the distribution of submerging areas, the depth difference between wheel traces also should be considered for evaluating driving safety.