Engineering Commons^™

Method And System For Gas Metal Arc Welding, Yuming Zhang, Liguo E

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Patents

An improved method of gas metal arc welding (GMAW) is disclosed. The method includes utilizing a pulsed current having a variable waveform to ensure the detachment of one-droplet-per-pulse of current. During the welding process, the current is sufficient to produce a droplet at the end of a consumable electrode wire. After the droplet reaches a desired size, the current is lowered to induce an oscillation in the droplet. The current is then increased which, in combination with the momentum created by the oscillation, effects droplet detachment. The oscillation may be monitored by observing the arc voltage to determine a preferred …

Method For Testing Field Programmable Gate Arrays, Charles E. Stroud, Miron Abramovici

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Patents

A method of testing field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) includes the step of configuring programmable logic blocks of the FPGAs for completing a built-in self-test. This is followed by the steps of initiating the built-in self-test, generating test patterns with the programmable logic blocks and analyzing a resulting response to produce a pass/fail indication with the programmable logic blocks. More specifically, the configuring step includes establishing a first group of programmable logic blocks as test pattern generators and output response analyzers and a second group of programmable logic blocks as blocks under test. The blocks under test are then repeatedly …

Traffic Safety Issues Opinion Survey, Kenneth R. Agent, Jerry G. Pigman

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

In recent years there have been several laws both proposed and enacted in the Kentucky legislature which have dealt with various traffic safety issues. There has been discussion of various types of legislation which may be proposed in the 2000 Kentucky legislature. As a means of determining public opinion on specific traffic safety issues, a public opinion survey was conducted.

The Dayton Its Demonstration Project: Simulating Existing Conditions, Jill A. Swaynos, Nikiforos Stamatiadis

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission is incorporating an Advanced Traveler Information System to alleviate real-time traffic problems associated with special events at the Ervin J. Nutter Center of the Wright State University. This study of the existing conditions is part of the evaluation plan and addresses two tasks: 1) documentation of the existing conditions; and 2) definition of measures of effectiveness. The existing conditions were depicted with the use of a computer simulation software package, Traffic Software Integrated System and separate scenarios were modeled for three existing conditions: ingress and egress for a special event and a major shopping …

Artimis Telephone Travel Information Service: Overall Public Awareness, Lisa Aultman-Hall

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report summarizes the results of a random telephone survey of households in the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky Area. The objective was to determine awareness of the traffic management center and its telephone travel information service. A secondary objective was to determine the public's preference for dialing and recalling phone numbers for travel information. The survey found that 39% were aware of a traffic management center while 55% were aware of a telephone traffic information service. Awareness varied by work location, household characteristics and personal attributes. Some households that could potentially benefit from the service were unaware of its …

Method For Testing Field Programmable Gate Arrays, Charles E. Stroud, Miron Abramovici

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Patents

A method of testing field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) includes the step of configuring programmable logic blocks of the FPGAs for completing a built-in self-test. Specifically, the FPGA under test may be configured to act as an iterative logic array wherein a first group of programmable logic blocks are configured as test pattern generators, output response analyzers and helper cells, and a second group of programmable logic blocks are configured as blocks under test. The blocks under test are then repeatedly reconfigured in order to completely test each block under test in all possible modes of operation. The first and …

Method Of Arc Welding Using Dual Serial Opposed Torches, Yuming Zhang, Shaobin Zhang

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Patents

An improved method of arc welding uses a single power supply connected to opposed welding torches placed on both sides of a workpiece. Each torch is connected to a different polarity lead of the power supply and forms a separate arc with the workpiece. When a current is supplied to the first torch, it is guided from the first electrode, through the first arc, the workpiece, the second arc, and to the electrode of the second torch. This guiding function improves the penetration, concentration, as well as the directional stability of the arc. This permits the effective and efficient welding …

Method Of Destroying Hazardous Organic Compounds, Dibakar Bhattacharyya, Susan Mawhinney

Chemical and Materials Engineering Faculty Patents

The present invention relates to a method of destroying hazardous vapor phase or aqueous phase organic compound(s) by providing a polymeric siloxane based solvent in a vessel and adding the hazardous organic compound(s) and ozone to the solvent. The solvent may also comprise a mixture of polymeric siloxane based solvent and fluorinated hydrocarbon solvent.

Light Backscatter Of Milk Products For Transition Sensing Using Optical Fibers, Frederick A. Payne, Czarena L. Crofcheck, Sue E. Nokes, Klat C. Kang

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

Transition sensors are needed, particularly in the dairy industry, for detecting transitions in pipe flow systems from product-to-water or product-to-product (such as from chocolate to vanilla ice cream mix). Transition information is used to automatically sequence valves to minimize product waste. Optical fibers were used to measure light backscatter between 400 and 950 nm as a function of milk concentration in water and milkfat concentration in milk. The normalized response (100% for product and 0% for water) as a function of product concentration in water was approximately logarithmic for skim milk between 400 and 900 nm and approximately linear for …

Optimization Of Solid-State Fermentation Parameters For The Production Of Xylanase By Trichoderma Longibrachiatum On Wheat Bran In A Forced Aeration System, Elizabeth R. Ridder, Sue E. Nokes, Barbara L. Knutson

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

The effect of aeration on the production of xylanase by Trichoderma longibrachiatum on wheat bran in a solid-state fermentation (SSF) system has not been investigated. This study was conducted to investigate the interactive effects of aeration, initial moisture content of the substrate, and depth of the substrate on xylanase activity produced in a tray fermenter. The experiment was conducted as a split plot experiment with factorial treatments and three replications of each treatment combination. The whole plot treatment was aeration rate (0, 2.9, 5.7 L/min/kg bran). Initial moisture content (45, 55, 65% w.b.) and depth of substrate (1.0 and 2.5 …

Runoff From Fescue Plots Treated With Trimec, Cristopher G. Moss, Dwayne R. Edwards, Stephen R. Workman, R. Michael Williams

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

Runoff of herbicides can promote adverse impacts in receiving waters. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of rainfall delay, herbicide application rate, rainfall intensity, and pre-application rainfall on runoff of TRIMEC (a combination of 2,4-D, dicamba, and mecoprop), a herbicide that is commonly used in central Kentucky. The levels of rainfall delay were 0, 2, and 4 d following application; and the levels of herbicide application rate were 0, 0.5, 1 and 2 times the recommended rate. Simulated rainfall was applied at intensities of 64, 102, and 140 mm h^-1; and the depths of …

Seismic Evaluation Of The Us41 Northbound Bridge Over The Ohio River At Henderson, Ky, Issam E. Harik, Chelliah Madasamy, Denglin Chen, K. Vasudevan, Leonong Zhou, Kevin Sutterer, Ron Street, David L. Allen

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report presents the seismic evaluation of the US41 Northbound bridge over the Ohio River connecting Evansville, Indiana and Henderson, Kentucky. The main bridge is a four-span cantilever through-truss type. The approach bridge has 8 spans on the Evansville, IN side and 35 spans on the Henderson, KY side. Although this bridge has not yet been subjected to a moderate or major earthquake, it is situated within the influence of the New Madrid and Wabash Valley Seismic Zones.

The seismic evaluation program consisted of field testing and seismic response analysis. The modal properties of the main bridge were determined through …

Evaluation Of The Adaptir System For Work Zone Traffic Control, Kenneth R. Agent

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The ADAPTIR system (Automated Data Acquisition and Processing of Traffic Information in Real Time) uses variable message signs (VMS) equipped with radar units, along with a software program to interpret the data, to display appropriate warning and advisory messages to motorists approaching a work zone when certain speed and delay thresholds are met. The overall conclusion of the evaluation is that the ADAPTIR type system is an effective method to provide real time information to motorists approaching a work zone. The information relates to speed reductions, delay, and possible diversions. Drivers who traveled through the work zone when the VMS …

1999 Safety Belt Usage Survey In Kentucky, Kenneth R. Agent

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The objective of this study was to establish 1999 safety belt and child safety seat usage rates in Kentucky. The 1999 survey continues to document the results after enactment of a statewide mandatory safety belt law in 1994. Data were collected at 200 sites spread across Kentucky. Data from the individual sites were combined into a statewide percentage considering function classification, geographic region, and vehicle miles traveled.

The data show that the usage rate increased in 1999 after a few years where the rate had remained at a stable level below the highest value which occurred in 1994 immediately after …

Seismic Evaluation Of The Us41 Southbound Bridge Over The Ohio River At Henderson, Ky, Issam E. Harik, K. Vasudevan, Chelliah Madasamy, Denglin Chen, Leonong Zhou, Kevin Sutterer, Ron Street, David L. Allen

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report presents the seismic evaluation of the US41 Southbound bridge over the Ohio River connecting Evansville, Indiana and Henderson, Kentucky. The main bridge is a four-span cantilever through-truss type. The approach bridge has 9 spans on the Evansville, IN side and 20 spans on the Henderson, side. Although this bridge has not yet been subjected to a moderate or major earthquake, it is situated within the influence of the New Madrid and Wabash Valley Seismic Zones.

The seismic evaluation program consisted of field testing and seismic response analysis. The modal properties of the main bridge were determined through field …

Preparation Of Monolithic Carbon Fiber Composite Material, Geoffrey M. Kimber

Center for Applied Energy Research Faculty Patents

A process for preparing an activated carbon fiber composite material includes the steps of mixing carbon fibers, binder and water to form a slurry, molding the slurry to produce a green monolithic body, curing the monolithic body, carbonizing the cured monolith to produce a carbon fiber composite with an open, permeable structure and activating the composite. If pre-activated carbon fibers are utilized in the mixing step the carbonizing and activating steps are eliminated.

Modeling Surface And Subsurface Pesticide Transport Under Three Field Conditions Using Przm-3 And Gleams, Robert W. Malone, Richard C. Warner, Stephen R. Workman, Matt E. Byers

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

Contaminant transport models should be evaluated over a wide range of conditions to determine their limitations. The models PRZM and GLEAMS have been evaluated many times, but few studies are available in which predicted movement in runoff and percolate were simultaneously evaluated against field data. Studies of this type are essential because pesticide leaching and runoff are mutually dependent processes. For this reason, PRZM-3 and GLEAMS were evaluated for their ability to predict metribuzin concentrations in runoff, sediment, subsurface soil, and pan lysimeters under three field conditions (yard waste compost amended, no-till, and conventional-till) on a Lowell silt loam soil. …

Evaluation Of Superpave In Kentucky, L. John Fleckenstein, David L. Allen, Richard Reitenour

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Approximately 93 percent of all pavements in the United States are surfaced with hot-mix asphalt (HMA). For many decades, most asphalt pavements were designed using the Marshall mix design method. In 1987, the Strategic Highway Research Program was established with 50 million dollars being allocated for asphalt pavement research. From that research, a new asphalt mix design procedure, called Superpave, was developed. Many states have adopted, or are in the process of adopting, this procedure, including Kentucky. In 1995, Kentucky placed its first Superpave mixture on KY 676 in Franklin County. In 1998, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet requested that the …

Analysis Of Traffic Accident Data In Kentucky (1994 - 1998), Kenneth R. Agent, Jerry G. Pigman

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report includes an analysis of traffic accident data in Kentucky for the years of 1994 through 1998. A primary objective of this study was to determine average accident statistics for Kentucky highways. Average and critical numbers and rates of accidents were calculated for various types of highways in rural and urban areas. These data can be used in Kentucky's procedure to identify locations that have abnormal rates or numbers of accidents.

The other primary objective of this study was to provide data which can be used in the preparation of the problem identification portion of Kentucky's Annual Highway Safety …

Economic Impact Of Heavy Loads On The Highway Infrastructure, Brad W. Rister, R. Clark Graves, David L. Allen

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

During the 1986 General Assembly the Extended-Weight Coal Haul Road System was created by the Kentucky State Legislature. This system was defined to include those highways where more than 50,000 tons of coal had been hauled during the previous year. Trucks hauling coal on the extended-weight system were authorized to exceed the normal weights limits through the payment of an annual decal fee.

In efforts to identify the benefactors of the extended coal haul system legislation, this study has been conducted to identify the overall economic impact of hauling heavier total gross weights by coal truck on the highway infrastructure …

An Analysis Of Wastewater Generated During Water Jetting Tests On The I-65 John F. Kennedy Bridge At Louisville, Bobby W. Meade, Theodore Hopwood Ii, Sudhir Palle

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

High pressure water jetting was evaluated as a surface preparation tool for bridge maintenance painting. The tests were conducted on the John F. Kennedy Bridge, which has lead containing existing paint system. The primary concerns were the surface preparation and the lead levels of the wastewater. Test areas were washed at 10,000 psi, 15,000 psi, and 20,000 psi and wastewater was collected for analysis. Lead tests were conducted on unfiltered wastewater and wastewater filtered through a variety of filter fabrics. High-pressure water jetting produces and excellent surface for painting but, on bridges with existing lead paint, the wastewater lead levels …

Correlation Of Rock Quality Designation And Rock Scour Around Bridge Piers And Abutments Founded On Rock, Tommy C. Hopkins, Tony L. Beckham

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Local scour around the base of a bridge pier or abutment occurs as the result of flow acceleration around the obstruction, formation of a vertical pressure gradient along the upstream end, and generation of vortices at the base of the structure. The flow patterns around piers and abutments are complex in detail, and the complexity increases as a scour hole forms in the bed around the structures. The potential for local scour at a bridge pier or abutment needs to be estimated so that foundations can be designed to resist failure during large floods. While procedures have been suggested for …

Triboelectric Separator With Mixing Chamber And Pre-Separator, John M. Stencel, John L. Schaefer, Heng Ban, James K. Neathery, Tianxiang Li

Center for Applied Energy Research Faculty Patents

A triboelectrostatic separation apparatus includes a mixing chamber having opposed first and second charging ports, a separator having a separation chamber, first and second electrodes, and a variable voltage source for applying respective positive and negative voltage potentials to the electrodes. First and second particle streams are delivered through the first and second charging ports resulting in the impingement of the particle streams upon each other within the mixing chamber, thus enhancing the electrostatic charging of the particles contained within the particle streams. The apparatus may also include a pre-separator having a pre-separation chamber, a charged particle collection chamber and …

Apparatus And Method For Triboelectrostatic Separation, John M. Stencel, John L. Schaefer, Heng Ban, James K. Neathery

Center for Applied Energy Research Faculty Patents

A triboelectrostatic separation apparatus includes a separator with an inlet, a separation chamber, first and second electrodes, a variable voltage source for applying respective positive and negative voltage potentials to the electrodes, a pair of separated particle outlets and a curtain gas flow generation system. The curtain gas flow generation system includes a source of curtain gas at positive pressure, a metering valve for matching curtain gas flow velocity to particle flow velocity and flow straighteners for eliminating eddy currents. A method for separating electrostatically charged particles is also described.

Conversion Of New Circle Road To A Limited Access Highway, Steven M. Henderson, Nikiforos Stamatiadis

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The objectives of this study were to first evaluate the existing traffic conditions along the NE part of New Circle Road and investigate the use of unconventional left turn treatments, as well as other access restrictions to improve the operating conditions of New Circle Road. The alternatives examined include a do-nothing alternative, the addition of one through lane per direction, the use of median U-turns at various locations, and combinations of them. Restrictive left turn strategies proved to be a more successful tool for traffic management on New Circle Road than simply adding a lane in each direction. Using median …

Predicting The Cutting Time Of Cottage Cheese Using Backscatter Measurements, Czarena L. Crofcheck, Frederick A. Payne, Sue E. Nokes

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

An automated system for monitoring culture growth and determining coagulum cutting time is needed for cottage cheese manufacturing. A light backscatter measurement system was designed and installed in a local cottage cheese manufacturing plant. A cutting time prediction algorithm was developed using parameters generated from the backscatter profile. The cutting time prediction algorithm, T_cut = T_max + β₂ S, used two time-based parameters generated from the backscatter profile (T_max and S) and one operator selected parameter, β₂, to predict the coagulum cutting time, Tcut. The standard error of prediction for the algorithm was 6.4 …

Experimental Maintenance Painting By Overcoating On The I-64, I-71 And Ky-22 Bridges, Theodore Hopwood Ii, Bobby W. Meade

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

In 1995, KYTC let three experimental maintenance-painting projects. Two of those projects involved the painting of multiple bridges along interstate routes. Those projects encompassed four mainline steel bridges on 1-64 in Franklin County, 16 mainline and overpass steel bridges along 1-71 in six counties, and 660 steel rockers on 36 concrete bridges on 1-71. The steel projects included mainline deck girder structures on the 1-64 project and a mix of mainline and overpass deck girder structures and steel bearings on concrete bridges in the 1-71 project. The third project entailed the painting of a single steel truss bridge, KY -22 …

Assessment And Modeling Of Stream Mitigation Procedures, Bobby W. Meade, Bernadette Dupont, Sudhir Palle, Theodore Hopwood Ii

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This study evaluates the construction and performance of KyDOH stream disturbance mitigation projects. The initial study tasks were to conduct a literature search, review of stream performance models, a review of Kentucky's and other agency's regulations pertaining to stream mitigation, identification of representative stream mitigation projects, and evaluation of those sites. Th results of this study will produce a tool for evaluating stream mitigation projects after they are constructed.

Procedures For Determining A Working Capacity For Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (Dbe) For Highway Construction And Consulting Projects In Kentucky, Brad W. Rister, Donn E. Hancher, Paul E. Toussaint

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report documents the working capacity of the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) community performing on federal aid highway projects over the last four federal fiscal years 1995- 98. This includes the work performed by Minority Business Enterprises (MBE), Minority Women Business Enterprises (MWBE) , and Women Business Enterprises (WBE) construction firms serving both as a prime contractors and subcontractors. The work of DBE design consultants was not included as part of this study. The impact of five DBE firms who should be graduating from the program is also discussed. In addition several different scenarios are discussed relating to the adjustment …

Kentucky's Road Fund Tax Structure, Ron Zimmer, Merl Hackbart, Steve Calabrese, Susana Luzuriaga

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

In recent years, there has been a great deal of discussion of whether the incoming Road Fund revenue is sufficient to meet the needs of Kentucky's Highways System. Many have suggested a policy of raising the current tax rates on motor fuels as a way of enhancing the financial health of the Road Fund. This current study examines the sources of the Road Fund and evaluates the sources of revenue in terms of stability, equity, competitiveness, and adequacy. Finally, the study examines the impact various changes in motor fuel taxes would have on revenue.