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Full-Text Articles in Engineering

A Framework To Predict High Risk Roadways For Pedestrians In Tennessee, Zane Hunter Pannell Dec 2013

A Framework To Predict High Risk Roadways For Pedestrians In Tennessee, Zane Hunter Pannell

Masters Theses

Pedestrians and bicyclists are a class of vulnerable road users that are often over-represented in incapacitating injury or fatal crash statistics. Because non-motorized trips are vital to many urban and rural residents for utility or recreation and exercise, it is essential to identify safety deficiencies in our existing transportation infrastructure to address rising injuries and fatalities among this group of road users. As the economy continues to struggle and fuel prices remain high, many cities and rural transportation agencies are seeing large increases in bicycling, walking, and transit ridership. While passenger car fatalities have shown sharp declines in the last …


An Automated Finite Element Analysis Framework For The Probabilistic Evaluation Of Composite Lamina Properties, Jonathan Phillips Weigand Dec 2013

An Automated Finite Element Analysis Framework For The Probabilistic Evaluation Of Composite Lamina Properties, Jonathan Phillips Weigand

Masters Theses

This thesis outlines the development of computational modeling tools used to predict the elastic properties of composite lamina from representative volume elements (RVE) using numerical methods. The homogenization approach involves the use of Gauss’s Theorem to simply the average volumetric strain integral into a surface integral containing which is defined by surface displacements and their direction. Simulations of RVEs under specific loading conditions (longitudinal tension or shear and transverse tension or shear) are then performed in the software package ABAQUS to obtain the surface displacements. It was found that obtaining quality meshes and applying periodic boundary conditions for each RVE …


Driver Behavior At Railway-Highway Grade Crossings With Passive Traffic Control: A Driving Simulator Study, Bryan Andre Bartnik Aug 2013

Driver Behavior At Railway-Highway Grade Crossings With Passive Traffic Control: A Driving Simulator Study, Bryan Andre Bartnik

Masters Theses

Research to evaluate driver behavior at railway-highway grade crossings with passive traffic control attempts to find an answer to a much debated subject. This study examines the difference in driver behavior and safety at several different types of passive traffic control at grade crossings utilizing a driving simulator. This project utilized the University of Tennessee’s high fidelity driving simulator to perform a study on passive highway-railway grade crossings. Although the crash rates at grade crossings have decreased in recent years, there is still more work to be done. Safety improvements can be made to both passive and active grade crossings. …


Strength And Deformation Of “Tunable” Clay-Polymer Composites, Matthew David Bishop Aug 2013

Strength And Deformation Of “Tunable” Clay-Polymer Composites, Matthew David Bishop

Masters Theses

There are many different types of clay that exist throughout the world, and many are characterized by undesirable engineering properties. Soil improvement techniques are often implemented on these soils such as solidification, reinforcement, etc. However, these solutions are a “static” approach, as the soil’s properties cannot be modified over time. The development of the specific clay-polymer composites used in this study was motivated by the idea of creating a geomaterial that could be modified over time by adjusting its fabric, namely in the form of controlling interparticle and interlayer spacings. Therefore, the composites that are used in this study are …