Digital Commons Network^™

Demonstration Of Zero Speed Inertial Profilers, Dwayne Harris, Steve Karamihas

JTRP Technical Reports

The Indiana Department of Transportation currently, uses inertial profilers for pavement smoothness quality control and quality assurance. However, this profilers face limitations in urban environments characterized by slow speeds and stop and go traffic. Currently, equipment vendors are developing new profiler platforms that include improved spatial and temporal filters, additional sensors, and novel computational methods to enhance performance in urban environments. This research is to evaluate the performance of these updated systems in urban slow speed environments.

Research Support To Indot On I-465 Southeast Variable Speed Limit And Ramp Meter Project, Jairaj Desai, Christopher Gartner, Rahul Suryakant Sakhare, Edward D. Cox, James Sturdevant, Darcy M. Bullock

JTRP Technical Reports

Traditionally, crash data, crash risk models, video recordings and user surveys have been utilized by agencies to measure the safety benefits of ramp metering technology. Connected vehicle data can now provide an agile evaluation alternative for quantifying impact of ramp meter deployments. Furthermore, in contrast to crash data, connected vehicle near miss events occur much more frequently, so the before-after evaluation can be conducted over a much shorter time period consisting of a few months, or perhaps even a few weeks.

Indiana deployed ramp meters on the southeast section of I-465 around Indianapolis, on or around May 14, 2024, which …

202502-02, 02/13/2025, I-65 S, Mm 126.8, Marion Co., Myles W. Overall, Rahul Suryakant Sakhare, Justin Mukai, Jairaj Desai, Deborah Horton, Darcy M. Bullock

After-Action Reports for Traffic Incident Management (TIM)

No abstract provided.

202501-06, 01/17/2025, I-65 S, Mm 75.7, Bartholomew Co., Myles W. Overall, Rahul Suryakant Sakhare, Justin Mukai, Jairaj Desai, Deborah Horton, Darcy M. Bullock

After-Action Reports for Traffic Incident Management (TIM)

No abstract provided.

202503-03, 03/19/2025, I-465 Ol, Mm 15.3, Marion Co., Myles W. Overall, Rahul Suryakant Sakhare, Justin Mukai, Jairaj Desai, Deborah Horton, Darcy M. Bullock

After-Action Reports for Traffic Incident Management (TIM)

No abstract provided.

202502-03, 02/14/2025, I-65 S, Mm 135.0, Boone Co., Myles W. Overall, Rahul Suryakant Sakhare, Justin Mukai, Jairaj Desai, Deborah Horton, Darcy M. Bullock

After-Action Reports for Traffic Incident Management (TIM)

No abstract provided.

202501-03, 01/15/2025, I-69 N, Mm 222.8, Madison Co., Myles W. Overall, Rahul Suryakant Sakhare, Justin Mukai, Jairaj Desai, Deborah Horton, Darcy M. Bullock

After-Action Reports for Traffic Incident Management (TIM)

No abstract provided.

202501-11, 01/29/2025, I-94 W, Mm 15.5, Lake Co., Myles W. Overall, Rahul Suryakant Sakhare, Justin Mukai, Jairaj Desai, Deborah Horton, Darcy M. Bullock

After-Action Reports for Traffic Incident Management (TIM)

No abstract provided.

202501-01, 01/01/2025, I-65 N, Mm 28.5, Scott Co., Myles W. Overall, Rahul Suryakant Sakhare, Justin Mukai, Jairaj Desai, Deborah Horton, Darcy M. Bullock

After-Action Reports for Traffic Incident Management (TIM)

No abstract provided.

202503-02, 03/13/2025, I-65 N, Mm 126.2, Marion Co., Myles W. Overall, Rahul Suryakant Sakhare, Justin Mukai, Jairaj Desai, Deborah Horton, Darcy M. Bullock

After-Action Reports for Traffic Incident Management (TIM)

No abstract provided.

Integrating Turtle Graphics And Engineering Design: Enhancing Problem-Solving And Critical Thinking Through Digital And Physical Prototyping, Abigail Erskine

Indiana STEM Education Conference

This research brief is a review of literature on integrating Turtle Graphics and engineering design to enhance students' problem-solving and critical thinking through prototyping. Integrating Turtle Graphics with digital and physical prototyping engages students in the engineering design process, helping them bridge abstract mathematical concepts with real-world applications. By combining programming and engineering design, Turtle Graphics supports complex tasks like visualization and design modeling, which improves students’ critical thinking, design thinking, and problem-solving skills. Through iterative testing and refinement, students gain practical insights into engineering concepts such as modeling and creating prototypes.

Rebuilding The Spatial Visualization Test, Maerianna Artang, Maia Catterall, Yagmur Onder, Nrupaja Bhide, Dhinesh Balaji Radhakrishnan, Jennifer J. Deboer

Indiana STEM Education Conference

Literature demonstrates that spatial visualization skills are crucial for students entering engineering and are used as early indicators of success. Historically, studies stated that students of gender or cultural minorities in engineering scored lower than their White, male counterparts. However, recent studies critically question the research approaches used in such studies (Bartlet, 2023; Önder et. al, 2023). We investigate the possible reasons for this score discrepancy and explore the construction of an asset-based spatial visualization assessment. Our work expands the area of spatial visualization development as applied in engineering design, specifically for the scope of marginalized learner contexts. We incorporated …

Proceedings Of The Tenth Annual Indiana Stem Education Conference: Generational Advances Through Stem Education, William S. Walker Iii, Lynn A. Bryan, S Selcen Guzey

Indiana STEM Education Conference

The Proceedings of the Tenth Annual Indiana STEM Education Conference are edited by the Center for Advancing the Teaching and Learning of STEM (CATALYST, https://www.education.purdue.edu/catalyst/) at Purdue University. The theme for the 2025 conference is Generational Advances through STEM Education. This year’s conference provides opportunities to learn about effective STEM education strategies, curriculum, and resources to engage students by considering the advances and impact of STEM.

Ginger: The Effect Of Illustrated Storybooks On Children’S Response And Teachers’ Facilitation In Stem Education, Defne Yabas, Tugba Abanoz, M. Sencer Corlu

Indiana STEM Education Conference

This study aims to explore children’s and teachers’ responses to the integration of illustrated storybook content into STEM activities in early childhood. The correlation between STEM content and illustrations in children's storybooks conveying scientific information is a crucial aspect that can impact children's learning of STEM. Studies have reported the utilization of storybooks in STEM education for young children (Abanoz & Yabaş, 2022; Pantoya et al., 2015), yet an absence of research has been noted regarding the impact of illustrated storybooks on children's engagement in STEM education. There is substantial research evidence that early childhood teachers have low self-efficacy beliefs …

Thermo-Mechanical Behaviour Of Preloaded Low Cement Concrete Under Heating And Cooling Phase Of Fire Exposure, Mahadev Sitaram Rokade, James Lui, Yu Sheng, Tim Stratford, David Rush, Benny Suryanto

International Conference on Durability of Concrete Structures

Understanding the structural performance of concrete under fire, particularly during the cooling phase, is critical to ensuring post-fire safety. Concrete columns, as primary load-bearing elements, are especially vulnerable under such conditions. While Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) concrete has been widely studied in fire, limited research has addressed the behaviour of sustainable alternatives such as Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBS) concrete, particularly under realistic thermal decay scenarios. GGBS, a by-product of steel production, offers a low-carbon alternative to OPC, reducing embodied CO₂ while enhancing long-term durability. This study investigates the fire response of 100 mm × 200 mm cylindrical specimens …

Informal Education Experiences: Why Stem Camps Matter, Jeffrey A. Nowak, Dale Ruppert

Indiana STEM Education Conference

This research brief details some of the positive impacts of student participation in after-school STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) camps provided by universities and informal education centers as described in published literature. In addition, the authors reviewed 2,841 anonymous participant surveys of 1^st-12^th grade students involved in nineteen STEM camps held at Purdue University Fort Wayne from 2019-2024 for related findings. Findings indicate that providing an enjoyable and enriching learning environment for STEM camps can foster a mindset of curiosity and a love for learning. Students who attend STEM camps likewise often experience a range of …

Steel Fiber Dosage In Magnesium Potassium Phosphate Cement Effects On Mechanical And Durability Properties, Zheng Wang, Yanfeng Guan, Minghao Mu, Hongyue Zhu, Chen Yan, Zhenwei Dong, Pengkun Hou

International Conference on Durability of Concrete Structures

Magnesium potassium phosphate cement (MKPC) plays a significant role as a rapid repair material in road and bridge infrastructure, owing to its fast-setting and high early strength properties. However, its crack resistance and bonding performance still pose challenges, which can impact both the repair effectiveness and the long-term service life of MKPC-based repairs. The addition of steel fibres can improve its strength and toughness. In this paper, the effect of steel fibre dosage on the processing performance and bonding properties of MKPC is investigated. The results show that the flow properties of MKPC remain stable at a dosage of 1%. …

Mathematical Modeling For Interdisciplinary Stem Problem-Solving, Dayat Hidayat, Signe Kastberg

Indiana STEM Education Conference

STEM education supports students’ real-world problem solving by utilizing connections between STEM disciplines. Yet teachers have questions about how to provide such support. Mathematical modeling involves the use of mathematics content and processes to solve problems in integrated STEM contexts. In this research brief we illustrate how mathematical modeling can support students’ integrated STEM problem solving.

Strength And Non-Steady-State Chloride Migration Of Concrete Incorporating Fly Ash-Based Artificial Aggregate, Ayesha Ferdous Mita, Yao Luan, Tiao Wang, Tetsuya Ishida

International Conference on Durability of Concrete Structures

This study explores the mechanical performance and chloride resistance of concrete incorporating artificial aggregate (AA) synthesized from low-calcium fly ash using an environmentally friendly process. The AA was produced by combining fly ash with a small amount of Portland cement and a low concentration of sodium hydroxide, followed by mild heat curing. The hardened material was crushed and used as coarse aggregate in artificial aggregate concrete (AAC). Concrete mixes were prepared with two water-to-cement (W/C) ratios (0.49 and 0.67), and their performance was compared with that of natural aggregate concrete (NAC). Compressive strength tests at 28 days showed that AAC …

Enhancing The Performance Of Road Repair Materials With Polyacrylic Acid Ester In Sulfate Aluminate Cement, Zheng Wang, Yanfeng Guan, Minghao Mu, Shimao Song, Chen Yan, Zhenwei Dong, Qinfei Li

International Conference on Durability of Concrete Structures

Sulfate aluminate cement (SAC) is an ideal material for emergency road repairs due to its excellent properties, such as rapid setting and early strength development. However, the strength of SAC gradually decreases over time, and its workability during construction is insufficient, leading to poor quality in the repaired pavement. The addition of redispersible polymer powders (RPP) can improve the rheological properties of the cement and reduce its porosity, significantly enhancing the performance of the repair material. This study investigates the effects of adding 0-2% RPP (based on polyacrylic acid ester, VAE) to SAC. The aim is to systematically assess the …

Ripples Of Change: Middle School Students Navigating The Future Of Our Watershed Through Eco-Stem, Elizabeth Andrew Thiel

Indiana STEM Education Conference

Ripples of Change is an eco-STEM unit designed to address Indiana’s environmental education goals by fostering environmental literacy and informed decision-making among middle school students. By engaging students in community-based learning activities that empower students to address watershed issues, this eco-STEM unit promotes culturally sustaining integrated STEM education. Preliminary findings indicate increased student awareness and responsibility for their impact on local ecosystems using evidence-based reasoning, highlighting the potential for Ripples of Change to inspire global citizenship in students and scalable eco-STEM approaches.

Leveraging Algebraic Thinking In Stem Education To Equip The Next Generation Of Problem Solvers, Asenath Odondi, Comfort Temitope Aje

Indiana STEM Education Conference

Algebraic thinking is a critical skill in mathematics education, involving pattern recognition, generalization, symbolic manipulation, and problem-solving. It is essential for success in STEM fields and should be developed throughout education, starting in early grades. This literature review synthesizes research on algebraic thinking, focusing on problem-based learning. The review indicates that incorporating algebraic thinking into problem-based learning with non-routine activities enhances students' understanding and real-world problem-solving in STEM.

Observing Evidence Of Fixation During K-12 Engineering Design Challenges Using Variables Adapted From Post-Secondary Research, Sopheak Seng, William S. Walker Iii

Indiana STEM Education Conference

Design fixation is a phenomenon impacting students when they generate ideas for an engineering challenge and subsequently hesitate to consider alternative ideas throughout the design activity. Research into fixation with post-secondary students has shown that fixation can limit the quantity and the quality of design solutions. This research brief will describe how fixation has been measured at the post-secondary level and suggest the need for complementing quantitative with qualitative analyses.

Impacts Of Informal Stem Summer Camps On Middle School Student Stem Identity, Austin R. Jenkins, Joshua Faith, Steve Heinold

Indiana STEM Education Conference

Informal or out of school STEM spaces have been documented as sites of positive STEM identity development for youth historically marginalized in formal STEM spaces (Çolakoğlu et al., 2023). To increase the number of students who develop positive STEM identities during the critical juncture of middle school, Indiana GEAR UP offered summer camps to rising 7th and 8th grade students at selected middle schools across the state. Longitudinal interviews with students indicate the importance of informal STEM spaces, like summer camps, in fostering positive STEM identity development.

Innovative Stem Learning Through Solar Oven Design: Promoting Creativity And Teamwork In Stem Education, Humphrey Chinenye Ochulor, Abigail Erskine, Comfort Temitope Aje

Indiana STEM Education Conference

STEM education benefits significantly from integrating design-based learning (DBL) which fosters student creativity and teamwork. This research brief examines how solar oven design projects for K-12 students that involve DBL promote students' creative skills and teamwork. A literature review was done to investigate how solar oven design activities impacted student learning. Research has shown that students improve creativity and teamwork when these activities are carried out using DBL strategies.

Correction Of Temperature Effects On The Resistivity Of Ggbs Concrete Under Natural Environmental Exposure, Benny Suryanto, Asdam Tambusay

International Conference on Durability of Concrete Structures

Electrical resistivity is increasingly recognised as a practical indicator of concrete durability, particularly for assessing cover-zone properties and corrosion risk. However, interpretation of in-situ measurements is complicated by the influence of natural temperature fluctuations. This paper presents the application of a recently proposed temperature correction protocol for electrical resistivity measurements in newly batched concrete, enabling accurate evaluation of microstructural development under variable environmental conditions during both curing and post-curing periods. The proposed approach employs activation energy derived from in-situ measurements and implements an Arrhenius-based correction to normalise resistivity to reference temperatures of 10oC and 20oC. Experimental results demonstrate that the …

Feature Extraction Of Steel Corrosion Based On Xct Scanning And Deep Learning Model, Yuxi Zhao, Yuzhou Wang, Xu Miao, Hanjun Wan

International Conference on Durability of Concrete Structures

Accurate quantification and analysis of steel corrosion is crucial for reliability assessment studies of in-service reinforced concrete structures. However, the pixel-level cross-sectional data provided by X-ray computed tomography (XCT) proves difficult to quantify, especially for the amorphous corrosion products filled in mortar, due to the absence of robust feature extraction methods. In this study, multiple deep learning models were trained to automatically identify corrosion products from a large number of XCT images. The database comprised XCT images obtained from a RC component subjected to chloride-rich environment for four years. The results indicate that deep learning models can segment different regions …

202502-05, 02/19/2025, I-94 E, Mm 38.3, Laporte Co., Myles W. Overall, Rahul Suryakant Sakhare, Justin Mukai, Jairaj Desai, Deborah Horton, Darcy M. Bullock

After-Action Reports for Traffic Incident Management (TIM)

No abstract provided.

202502-06, 02/23/2025, I-465 Il, Mm 27.6, Marion Co., Myles W. Overall, Rahul Suryakant Sakhare, Justin Mukai, Jairaj Desai, Deborah Horton, Darcy M. Bullock

After-Action Reports for Traffic Incident Management (TIM)

No abstract provided.

202503-01, 03/06/2025, I-65 N, Mm 137.2, Boone Co., Myles W. Overall, Rahul Suryakant Sakhare, Justin Mukai, Jairaj Desai, Deborah Horton, Darcy M. Bullock

After-Action Reports for Traffic Incident Management (TIM)

No abstract provided.