Engineering Commons^™

Innovative Methods To Strengthen Internal Kytc Communications, P. Gayle Marks, Jeff Jasper

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Communication is the linchpin of every organization. Poor communication leads to inefficiencies, frustration among staff, and employee disaffection and disengagement. Although some state transportation agencies have adopted comprehensive strategic plans for internal communications, many have taken a more piecemeal approach, with some Offices and units (e.g., incident management) developing their own plans that apply only to their operations. The latter approach is less than ideal because establishing a comprehensive communications plan provides an organizing framework for all communications within an organization and is critical for uniting staff around a shared sense of purpose and equipping them with the tools they …

Design And Validation Of A High-Power, High Density All Silicon Carbide Three-Level Inverter, Zhongjing Wang

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Transportation electrification is clearly the road toward the future. Compared to internal combustion engine, the electrified vehicle has less carbon-dioxide emission, less maintenance costs and less operation costs. It also offers higher efficiency and safety margin. More importantly, it relieves human’s dependence on conventional fossil energy. In the electrification progress, the revolution of electric traction drive systems is one of the most important milestone. The traction system should keep high efficiency to avoid performance reduction. Moreover, the motor drive should be designed within limited space without sacrificing output power rating. Based on the road map from US Drive Electrical and …

Nebraska Data Collection, Keyvan Zare Rami, Yong-Rak Kim

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

Automated pavement performance data collection is a method that uses advanced technology to collect detailed road surface distress information at traffic speed. Agencies are driven to use automated survey techniques to enhance or replace their current manual distress survey because of the advantages of objective measurements, safety benefits, and reduced measurement time. As agencies move toward the transition to fully automated data collection methods, there are common concerns regarding how the output of the new method will match the current manual survey ratings and how they will be adopted into the existing Pavement Management System (PMS). This study evaluates the …

Situation Awareness And Maritime Traffic: Having Awareness Or Being In Control?, Fulko Van Westrenen, Gesa Praetorius

Gesa Praetorius

Situation awareness (SA) is generally seen as a mental representation of the system state, an objective measure of the ‘situation out there’. In this article, the authors make an argument that SA can only have a meaning in relation to the task of the user and characteristics of the system. This will be argued with the help of a specific environment: vessel traffic monitoring. The long-time constants and the complex constraints imposed on the ship require that the operator monitoring the traffic has a good SA: the operator must make long-term predictions about possible traffic developments. For this, being in …

Safety Performance Evaluation Of The Non-Blocked Midwest Guardrail System, Kevin D Schrum, Karla A. Lechtenberg, Robert W. Bielenberg, Scott K. Rosenbaugh, Ronald K. Faller, John D. Reid

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

No abstract provided.

Effects Of Aggregate Angularity On Mix Design Characteristics And Pavement Performance, Leonardo T. Souza, Yong-Rak Kim

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

No abstract provided.

Effects Of Aggregate Angularity On Mix Design Characteristics And Pavement Performance, Yong-Rak Kim, Leonardo T. Souza

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

This research targeted two primary purposes: to estimate current aggregate angularity test methods and to evaluate current aggregate angularity requirements in the Nebraska asphalt mixture/pavement specification. To meet the first research objective, various aggregate angularity tests were estimated with the same sets of aggregates and were compared by investigating their characteristics on testing repeatability, cost, testing time, workability, and sensitivity of test results. For the second objective, the effect of aggregate angularity on mixture performance was investigated by conducting laboratory performance tests (the uniaxial static creep test and the indirect tensile fracture energy test) of five mixes designed with different …

Safety Performance Evaluation Of The Nebraska Open Bridge Rail On An Inverted Tee Bridge Deck, Karla A. Polivka, John R. Rohde, Dean L. Sicking, Ronald K. Faller, James C. Holloway M.S.C.E., E.I.T.

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

No abstract provided.

Compaction At The Longitudinal Construction Joint In Asphalt Pavements (Kyspr-00-208), L. John Fleckenstein, David L. Allen, David B. Schultz Jr.

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the level of compaction at the construction joint in HMA pavements on new and existing projects; to determine the level of water infiltration and segregation at the joint and its effect on joint performance; to determine the most promising joint construction methods around the nation and worldwide by reviewing specifications, experiences, and construction practices for joint construction and the prevention of joint segregation; to develop specifications and construction methods to ensure the level of density necessary at the joint for proper performance; and to review special paving equipment (attachments) for improving densification …

Long-Term Monitoring Of Experimental Features, Subtask 2: Alexandria-Ashland Highway (Ky 9) Pavement Performance Monitoring, L. John Fleckenstein, Monica L. Osborne, David L. Allen

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Construction on the AA Highway began in late 1985 and was completed in late 1990. Prior to construction, 30 different test sections had been designed into the highway for evaluation. The test sections contain 23 different characteristic qualities and different segment lengths. The segment lengths range from 1.28 to 9.13 miles and took one and a half to four years to complete each segment.

The sections were constructed from various pavement and shoulder designs. The designs are varied by parameters such as the type of subgrade stabilization, drainage type, surface class, surface aggregate, and more. The purpose for monitoring the …

Field Performance Report On 1219 Mm Hdpe Pipe On Us 127, Owen County, L. John Fleckenstein, David L. Allen

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report documents the installation and performance of a 1219 mm (48-inch) corrugated smooth lined polyethylene (HDPE) pipe installed during reconstruction of US 127 in Owen County. The pipe installed was manufactured by Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc., and is designated as ADS N-12. pipe.

The culvert was installed in a 6-meter (20-foot) high embankment. The culvert pipe was installed in two sequences. The first half of the structure was bedded and backfilled with No. 8 stone and the second half of the structure was bedded and backfilled with pipe sand (crushed limestone).

The pipe appears to be performing well. The …

Evaluation Of The Et2000 Guardrail End Treatment, Kenneth R. Agent, Jerry G. Pigman, Darrell Mcalister, Tim Gatewood

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The objectives of this study were to monitor and report the performance of the ET2000 guardrail end treatment design in traffic accidents. Data for a total of 34 collisions involving the ET2000 were identified. In most cases, an accident report was obtained and the damaged guardrail was inspected. The involved vehicle was inspected when available. Proper or improper performance of end treatments in the collisions were judged based on whether it performed as designed.

Field performance of the ET2000, as documented in traffic accidents, shows that, considering all the impacts, this end treatment has performed properly. In several instances the …

Subsurface Drainage Of Highway Pavements, David Q. Hunsucker, Bobby W. Meade

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Properly designed and constructed drainage layers can be used for effective control of surface water infiltration. Former pavement design methods often have resulted in base courses that have not drained well, thereby resulting in some premature failures of the pavement structure. The Kentucky Department of Highways is currently reviewing proposed guidelines for design of highway pavements. The guidelines propose the use of open graded, free draining, aggregate bases for controlling infiltrated surface water. However, interim design guidelines do not specifically address the design of aggregate drainage blankets. The purpose of this study was to develop recommendations relating to the specification, …

Performance And Cost Effectiveness Of Pavement Edge Drains, L. John Fleckenstein, David L. Allen

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

It is apparent from research conducted under this study that edge drains increase subgrade strength through the removal of water. It is also apparent in most cases that the edge drains increase pavement life by approximately seven years. Current cost benefit analysis indicates that edge drains can provide a cost savings of approximately $200,000 dollars a mile over the life of the pavement. Research also indicates that if edge drains are not properly installed and maintained they can doe more damage then good. It is evident that edge drains should be inspected with a pipeline camera prior to final acceptance …

Evaluation Of Superior Performing Portland Cement Concrete Pavements In Kentucky, Jerry G. Rose, Bobby W. Meade, David Q. Hunsucker

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This research report describes a program of study directed at determining common factors which have contributed to the superior performances of selected sections of Portland cement concrete (PCC) pavements in Kentucky. The program involved an extensive survey of Kentucky's interstate, partway and other primary routes to determine locations of PCC pavement sections greater than 15 years old that had performed satisfactorily with minimal maintenance. Twelve of the best performing PCC pavements with long service life and heavy traffic were selected for detailed evaluations. Initial designs were documented and a series of in-situ pavement tests were conducted including core dnlling and …

Evaluation Of Pavement Edge Drains And The Effect On Pavement Performance, L. John Fleckenstein, David L. Allen, Jack A. Harison

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report documents the performance of highway edge drains in Kentucky. Approximately eighteen high edge drain installations were inspected. The report also documents the laboratory testing, construction, short-term and long-term performance of these systems. Construction inspection and maintenance are addressed.

It is apparent that the panels are distressed more under the old method of installation using excavated trench material and dynamic type compaction. It is apparent that using the sand slurry reduces the chances of installation damage. Proper density needs to be achieved during installation of the sand backfill or damage will occur due to trench settlement. In most cases, …

Performance Of Experimental Highway Base And Subbase Layers Containing Coal-Fired Power Plant By-Product Materials: Ky Route 3074, Bleich Road, David Q. Hunsucker, R. Clark Graves

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Three 750-foot test sections of a 22-foot wide roadway were constructed on newly constructed subgrade in May and June, 1988. The three experimental sections contained experimental base and subbase layers comprised of mixtures utilizing by-product materials from a coal-fired power plant One test section included a base layer containing residue from an atmospheric fluidized bed combustion (AFBC) process, size No. 57 aggregate, and Class F fly ash. The second test section included a base layer constructed ponded fly ash, hydrated lime, and dense-graded aggregate. The third test section included a subbase layer constructed of pond ash stabilized with AFBC residue. …

Design And Performance Of A Bituminous Surface Mixture Containing Bottom Ash Aggregate, David Q. Hunsucker

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

A one-mile experimental bituminous surface overlay was placed in October 1987 on State Route 3 in Lawrence County, Kentucky. The experimental section utilized bottom ash aggregate from the Kentucky Power Company's Big Sandy Power Plant, near Louisa, Kentucky. Bottom ashes are generally angular and have very porous surfaces. Approximately 539 tons of the experimental bituminous surface material, containing 40 percent bottom ash (dry weight), were placed. Reported herein are results of laboratory tests and performance evaluations of the experimental surface mixture.

Performance of the experimental bottom ash surface has been excellent. Skid resistance tests indicate the surface is highly skid …

Performance Of Corrugated Polyethylene Entrance Pipe, Ronald D. Hughes

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Observations noted during inspections of 57 entrance pipe installations are summarized. Inspections were conducted in 1986 and 1989. It is recommended that corrugated polyethylene pipe be permitted routinely as an alternate to other materials for entrance pipe.

Performance Survey Of Silicone-Sealed Concrete Pavement Joints, David Q. Hunsucker, Edgar E. Courtney

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report summarizes field inspections of various silicone-sealed concrete pavement joints. A list of silicone sealant projects was provided by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. Observations of performance were subjective and qualitative.