PART IV: Summary of Comments - SCOR/RAC

PART IV: Summary of Comments17-May-10Reviewer Comments Distribution of RatingsOther■ [Rating: 1]■ Related to L10, L10abc, L07, and L09Topic area might be addressed using data from the SHRP 2 NDS in the future,but there is no duplication in the project.Item #98:C-05Structural Design Methods for Alternate Pipe MaterialsBased on Equivalent Risk Factors(17)(46)NR 0 1 2 3 4 5SCOR 2 3 6 3 3RAC 2 5 6 15 15 2 4Standing Committee on Research■ It is recommended to wait until NCHRP 15-29 is published before considering this as a higher priority. Properinstallation of any pipe, regardless of its constituitive materials, is as critical as the design. Choice of backfill materialsand proper construction are critical to load distribution and ultimately pipe performance.■ Pipe culverts of this type are rare in California.■ Combine this project with D-12 and broaden the scope to look at criteria for alternate pipe design selection, etc. Totalstudy budget should be limited to $500,000 to address both objectives.■ [Rating: 4] This is an important project, and somewhat related to the D-12 submittal. It might be beneficial to combinestatement C-05 into D-12.Research Advisory Committee■ If this research gets approved, it must address the very real issue of long term risk due to fire damage. In areas of thecountry where wildfires are very common (like Oklahoma), this risk to the various pipe materials must be considered inany legitimate research on the subject.■ Perhaps this research should be tied to D-12. They both address the problems with pipes made of different materials.■ The decision to perform this research should be based on the research finding of the recently completed NCHRP 15-29 “Design Specifications for Live Load Distribution to Buried Structures” research project.■ AASHTO Subcommitte on Bridges ranked this as a LOW priority item. I like the idea of looking into the effect ofbackfill materials on Alternate Pipe performance. However, there is no mention of how these same factors affect rigidpipe which makes up the majority of our existing drainage structures. Additionally, because backfill materials vary sodrastically across the nation, it is entirely possible that the research would not look into potential backfill materials thatwe have locally in Mississippi.Other■ [Rating: 2] Needs more detail in objective to be viable studyItem #99:C-13Development of Guidelines for Consideration ofTemperature Effects in Rigid Pavement DeflectionAnalysis(17)(46)NR 0 1 2 3 4 5SCOR 2 2 5 5 2 1RAC 1 9 6 10 12 8 3Standing Committee on Research■ For several years running this was the number one research priority for the VTRC PaveRAC committee. I agree the topicis important, but I'm not sure the proposed work adds to what we already know.■ The research will provide important data which is needed in Caltrans for deflection measuring.■ [Rating: 2] While the research objectives are good and needed in the long term, the need is not urgent. A recentlyIV-72