Digital Commons Network^™

A Review On Connection Forms Between Bridge Guardrails And Bridge Decks, Li Wei, Li Rutao, Jia Ning, Lu Jian

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

In recent years,with the continuous expansion of highway bridge construction in China,there has been a growing public demand to enhance road safety and the protective capabilities of highway bridges.To meet the engineering application requirements of various bridge forms and bridge guardrails,diverse connection structures between bridge guardrails and bridge decks have been studied both domestically and internationally.However,in current engineering practice,the selection of these connection forms remains challenging,lacking clear reference criteria.Using the analytic hierarchy process and supported by experimental data,this paper comprehensively analyzed the advantages and disadvantages of these connection forms by considering factors such as guardrail protection effectiveness,load-bearing reliability,construction convenience,and ease …

Research On Construction Monitoring Of Continuous Rigid Frame Bridge Based On Knn Algorithm, Liu Jianlin, Pan Kai, Yang Gang, Wang Junming

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

To address common issues in bridge construction monitoring,such as sensor damage and failure in strain and displacement measurements,this study took the Nanliu Jialing River Bridge as a case and proposed a method based on the K-nearest neighbor (KNN ) algorithm to reconstruct missing construction monitoring data.ANSYS Workbench was used to establish a finite element model (FEM ) of the bridge construction process to verify the effectiveness of the KNN algorithm in the presence of missing bridge construction monitoring data.The results show:① KNN algorithm can assist in filling short-term data gaps caused by damage to strain and displacement sensors during bridge …

Field Measurement And Analysis Of Wind Characteristics At Xuefenghu Bridge Site, Yu Wenhao, Yi Lu

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

Wind field parameters at bridge sites serve as an important basis for wind-resistant bridge design.The terrain surrounding the Xuefenghu Bridge is unique-mountains flank both sides in the bridge-aligned direction,and the bridge spans the wide surface of the Zhexi Reservoir.In order to investigate the wind field characteristics under such complex topographic conditions,an observation,acquisition,and wireless data transmission system was established at the bridge site.A one-year in-situ wind measurement campaign was conducted,and the characteristics of average wind and fluctuating wind were deeply analyzed.The results show that the average wind speed at the bridge site generally follows a Weibull distribution,and the average wind direction …

Shear Strength Test Of Uhpc-Nc Bonding Surface, Zhang Shichang, Yan Donghuang, Liu Yun, Yuan Sheng, Wang Shuo

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

As a cement-based composite material with excellent mechanical properties,ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC ) demonstrates outstanding performance in tensile and compressive strength,durability,and impermeability.This material is suitable for the reinforcement and repair of normal concrete (NC) bridge structures.To study the shear behavior of the UHPC-NC bonding interface and its reinforcement effect,this paper conducted interface shear tests using Z-shaped specimens and designed a total of six sets of comparative specimens.The influence of parameters such as the planted bar ratio,implantation depth,and bonding surface size on the shear strength was explored.Through experiments,the load –slip curve and the shear strength data were obtained.The results show that:① …

Analysis And Control Of Impact Of Wide Waterway Excavation On Adjacent Bridge Pile Foundations, Zhang Peisheng, Qiao Lyu, Sheng Jianchao, Sheng Haoxiang, Liu Hanchen, Wang Zhe

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

When excavating a waterway beneath an existing bridge,the pile foundations are subjected to unloading from excavation and the loading from the superstructure,which may lead to excessive displacement and potential safety hazards.Based on the underpass project of the Desheng Expressway Bridge along the Zhejiang section of the Beijing ‒ Hangzhou Canal,this study established a three-dimensional finite element model (FEM ) and combined it with field monitoring to investigate the impact of wide waterway excavation on adjacent bridge pile foundations and corresponding control measures.A novel combined control method involving a retaining wall with supporting piles and fully enclosed isolation piles was proposed.The …

Experimental Study On Shear Resistance Of Existing Prestressed Concrete Hollow Slabs, Lu Youfu, Di Jin, Qin Fengjiang, Sun Yifei

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

Prestressed concrete hollow slabs are widely used in small- and medium-sized span highway bridges in China.With the increase in load ratings,many hollow slab bridges built in early periods fail to meet the current specifications for shear bearing capacity.Nevertheless,these hollow slabs continue to function adequately under existing vehicle loads,making it essential to conduct an in-depth investigation into their shear bearing capacity.Shear bearing capacity tests were conducted on five 16 m-span hollow slabs dismantled from a renovation and expansion project,including three top slabs with a 15 cm cast-in-place concrete structural layer.Various parameters,such as load-displacement curves,web concrete strain,cracking loads,crack development patterns,failure modes,and ultimate …

Analysis Of Flexural Bearin G Ca Pacity Of Concrete Box Girders Reinforced With, Cfrp Mesh End Anchorshu Guihua

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

Carb on fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP ) composite s have significant advantages in the reinforcement of concrete structures.It is worth systematically studying the effect and mechanism of applying this material in embedded end-anchored reinforcement of concrete box girders on improving the load-bearing capacity of the component.Based on the Abaqus finite element analysis (FEA ) platform,two numerical analysis models considering slip contact and full bonding contact between CFRP mesh and polymer mortar were established.A full-scale concrete box girder model test was conducted for validation.The results show that the FEA results are in good agreement with the experimental results.The FEA model that …

Wind Tunnel Test On Wind-Resistant Performance Of Suspended Monorail Cable-Stayed Bridge, Chen Yujiang

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

To investigate the wind-induced vibration of a suspended monorail bridge,a full-bridge aeroelastic model at a 1∶40 scale was designed and fabricated according to the geometrical parameters and dynamic characteristics of the real bridge.Wind tunnel tests on the bridge in both the completed state and the maximum cantilever state were conducted under different conditions,including uniform flow and turbulent flow,yaw angles of ± 45°,±30°,±15°,and 0°,and wind attack angles of ‒ 3°,0°,and + 3°.Both vertical and torsional displacements of the structure under different wind speeds were measured.The test results show that the vertical displacements and torsional responses of the cable-stayed bridge increase when …

Research On Autonomous Deviation Correction Of Tunnel Boring Machines And Parameters Based On Machine Learning, Zhang Jun, Li Maopeng

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

In order to solve the problem of realizing the autonomous deviation correction of tunnel boring machines (TBMs ), a TBM deviation correction control method that integrated the random forest (RF) algorithm with the genetic algorithm (GA) was proposed based on actual engineering data.The method combined a prediction model with an optimization model,using target deviation values as input to invert and output the required TBM deviation correction parameter values,thereby further improving the automation level of TBM deviation correction.By comparing it with the actual data,the feasibility of the model was verified.The results show that the RF algorithm-based prediction model achieves an R2 …

Study On Mechanical Effect Of Backfill Construction In Orthogonal Underpass Section Of An Open-Cut Interchange Tunnel, Li Qingda, Li Dexing, Yu Tingshun, Han Xi, Liu Jiansong

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

This study investigated the mechanical effects of backfill construction in the orthogonal underpass section of a full-section complex open-cut interchange tunnel.The research was based on the small-clear-distance interchange tunnel project at the extension section of Jinzhou Avenue and Xingguang Avenue in Chongqing.A combined approach of numerical simulation and on-site in-situ test measurement was adopted to analyze the influence of different backfill materials,tunnel cross-section types,and complex construction procedures on the mechanical behavior of the underpass tunnel.The mechanical effects of backfill construction in the orthogonal underpass section were determined.The following findings are revealed:During the backfill construction process,the displacement and internal force of …

Research On Automatic Review Method Of Highway Bim Based On Knowledge Graph, Wang Wuyu, Shao Kebo, Zhang Feng

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

Building information modeling (BIM ),characterized by multi-dimensional modeling and multi-source data integration,is becoming a key technology to promote the innovation and digital transformation of the highway design industry.Taking BIM as the design deliverable is an inevitable trend in the future development of highway engineering design.However,the current highway BIM review is mainly conducted manually,which brings about problems such as low efficiency,susceptibility to errors,and high subjectivity.This makes it difficult to adapt to the review requirements of the three-dimensional (3D) digital design mode.To this end,this study proposed an automatic review method of highway BIM based on a knowledge graph.By constructing the knowledge graph …

Research On Multi-Classification Prediction Of Traffic Accident Severity On Mountainous Expressways, Wang Hao, Yan Jie, Guo Jianmin, Zhang Yu, Sun Chengji

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

To enhance the safety level of mountainous expressways and establish an accurate and effective prediction model for traffic accident severity,this study analyzed 2 484 traffic accidents on mountainous expressways in Chongqing from 2010 to 2016.A total of 17 influencing factors were selected from four aspects:human,vehicle,road,and environment,to serve as explanatory variables.Partial proportional odds model,random forest algorithm,and XGBoost algorithm were used to construct multi-class prediction models for traffic accident severity.The model performance was evaluated using the confusion matrix,accuracy,and minority class recall rate.The results show that the XGBoost model achieves the highest prediction accuracy in multi-class prediction of traffic accident severity on mountainous …

Research On Prefabrication Scheme Of Concrete Barrier Based On Anchorage In Cast-In-Situ Layer, Liang Xiaochong, Kang Hanjing, Luo Yongchuan, Wen Zhiquan, Deng Bao

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

In order to improve the on-site construction efficiency of bridge concrete barriers,a prefabrication scheme for bridge concrete barrier installation was proposed.A structure scheme was developed by anchoring transverse steel bars at the bottom of prefabricated wall panels into the integrated cast-in-situ layer,adopting tongue-and-groove connections between adjacent wall panels,and optimizing the structural configuration and reinforcement of the panels.According to the requirements of the Level VI protection standard,full-scale impact tests using a large bus and a large truck were organized in turn.The results show that the prefabricated concrete bridge barrier can effectively withstand continuous impacts from both large buses and trucks.Its structural …

Application And Analysis Of Energy-Conservation And Carbon-Reduction Technologies In Green Highways, Huang Xuewen, Wang Kai, Huang Shanqian, Xiong Xinzhu, Fu Jinsheng

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

To improve the low-carbon development level of highway engineering,this study relied on a typical green highway in Anhui Province and established a calculation model for energy-conservation and carbon-reduction in highway engineering based on the emission factor method.A combination of quantitative and qualitative approaches was adopted to evaluate the benefits of 33 energy-conservation and carbon-reduction technologies in reducing life cycle energy consumption and carbon emissions,based on life cycle assessment (LCA ) theory.The results show that during the material production stage,through channel resource coordination and the application of low-carbon,energy-saving materials,comprehensive reductions in the embodied carbon can be achieved.During the construction stage,energy consumption …

Influence Of Horizontal Curve Radius On Vehicle Fuel Consumption And Pollutant Emissions On Tw O-Lane Highways, Tu Shengwen, Lei Meimei, Guo Wenyu

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

To investigate the influence of horizontal curve radius on vehicle fuel consumption and pollutant emissions on two-lane highways,this study developed a model based on running speed theory,vehicle driving dynamics,and a fuel consumption and emission analysis system.Fuel consumption and emissions of CO2,CO,HC,and NOx were calculated for a passenger car traveling along horizontal curves under three design speeds:40 km/h,60 km/h,and 80 km/h.The results show that the horizontal curve radius has a significant effect on vehicle fuel consumption and pollutant emissions.The trends of fuel consumption,CO2,and NOx emissions vary consistently with curve radius,while CO and HC emissions follow a similar but different trend.At the …

Reference And Inspi Ration From Low-Carbon Development Experience Of Foreign Highway Infrastructure, Lu Chunying, Gao Shuohan, Du Xueyua N, Jian Li, Wang Xinjun, Kong Yaping

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

In order to provide supp ort for the scie ntific formulation of low-carbon highway infrastructure development policies in China,empirical analysis,comparative analysis,and other methods were utilized,and the construction goals and action strategies of low-carbon highway infrastructure in the United Kingdom,the United States,and Australia were sorted out.Advanced experience in the development of low-carbon highways abroad was summarized.On this basis,combined with the current situation and existing problems of low-carbon development of China ’s highway infrastructure,the following countermeasures and suggestions were proposed:① strengthening top-level design and formulating low-carbon development goals and paths;② implementing the concept of life cycle and strengthening the research and promotion …

Diagnostic Accuracy And Potential Triage Utility Of The Shetty Test In Foot And Ankle Trauma: A Cross-Sectional Study, Burcu Doğan, Seval Komut, Erdal Komut, Nezi̇h Kavak, Osmancan Güneş, Anilcan Tahsi̇n Karahan

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: Foot and ankle trauma represents a common reason for emergency department visits. While the majority of cases involve soft tissue injuries, radiographic imaging is frequently overutilized due to concerns about missed fractures, leading to increased costs and emergency department crowding. The Shetty test, a recently introduced clinical decision rule, may serve as a simpler alternative to established tools such as the Ottawa ankle rules. This study aimed to assess the diagnostic accuracy of the Shetty test and its potential role as a supportive tool within existing triage systems for patients presenting with foot and ankle trauma.

Materials and methods: …

Teacher Perceptions Of Instructional Coaching Impacts On Instructional Practice And Student Learning, Alpaslan Ozdogan

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

This exploratory study investigates the role of instructional coaching in elementary education through the lens of teacher perceptions, with a focus on its influence on professional development, instructional methodology, educator well-being, and student academic achievement. The research pivots around four key questions examining the perceived impact of instructional coaches on:

1. Teachers' professional growth within elementary educational settings.
2. The evolution of instructional strategies and classroom practices.
3. The emotional and mental well-being of educators.
4. The academic performance and learning outcomes of students.

A narrative research approach was adopted, collecting and analyzing data through elementary teacher surveys, in-depth interviews with both teachers and …

The Fermat Quartic X4 + Y4 = 2m In Quadratic Number Fields, Jayanth Athipatla

Mathematics Faculty Publications

In this paper, we generalise to the family of Fermat quartics X4+Y4=2m,m∈Z, a result of Aigner [‘Über die Möglichkeit von x4+y4=z4 in quadratischen Körpern’, Jahresber. Deutsch. Math.-Ver. 43 (1934), 226–228], which proves that there is only one quadratic field, namely Q(−7−−−√), that contains solutions to the Fermat quartic X4+Y4=1. The m≡0(mod4) case is due to Aigner. The m≡2(mod4) case follows from a result of Emory [‘The Diophantine equation X4+Y4=D2Z4 in quadratic fields’, Integers 12 (2012), Article no. A65, 8 pages]. This paper focuses on the two cases m≡1,3(mod4), classifying for m≡1(mod4) the infinitely many quadratic number fields that contain solutions, …

Exploring Different Metal-Oxide Cathode Materials For Structural Lithium-Ion Batteries Using Dip-Coating, David Petrushenko, Thomas Burns, Paul Ziehl, Ralph E. White, Paul T. Coman

Faculty Publications

In this study, a selection of active materials were coated onto commercially available intermediate modulus carbon fibers to form and analyze the performance of novel composite cathodes for structural power composites. Various slurries containing polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), active material powders, 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) and carbon black (CB) were used to coat carbon fiber tows by immersion. Four active materials—lithium cobalt oxide (LCO), lithium iron phosphate (LFP), lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC), and lithium nickel cobalt aluminum oxide (NCA)—were individually tested to assess their electrochemical reversibility. The cells were prepared with a polymer separator and liquid electrolytes and assembled in 2025-coin …

Analyzing The Global Changes In The Seasonal Cycle Of Sea Level, Storm Surge, And Ocean Waves, Amanda Barroso

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Changes in the seasonal cycle of extreme sea level components can modulate the flooding risk along coastlines. This dissertation evaluates the changes in and potential co-occurrence of the seasonal cycles of mean sea level, storm surge, and ocean waves. Seasonal cycles characterize the generally expected climate conditions throughout the year with distinct high and low patterns. These regular and predictable cycles have shown non-stationarity in some locations across the globe. This means the timing of the expected peak may shift to occur earlier or later. Shifts in the timing of the maximum sea level impact coastlines with increased risk of …

Numerical Evaluation Of A Novel Transpiration Cooling Scheme For Use In Dynamic Control Of Atmospheric Entry System, Caroline J. Anderson

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Future space exploration missions require sustainable, efficient thermal protection systems for atmospheric entry, instead of disposable ablative shields. Transpiration cooling has interest as a long studied method but never used for missions to date, prompting further study to address concerns of flow transition downstream. In consideration of additional need for aerodynamic maneuvering for greater landing accuracy, a novel asymmetric scheme of transpiration cooling is presented as a method of using onboard coolant to meet entry trajectory maneuvering requirements. This numerical study creates a coupled model of vehicle-scale flow domain and material-scale thermal response to converge on accurate vehicle surface values.

Design And Development Of A Laser Diagnostic System For Ammonia And Nox Measurements In A Toroidal Jet Stirred Reactor At Atmospheric Pressure, Marzuqa Ahmed

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

The need for more sustainable fuel alternatives in the modern aircraft industry is growing. SAF is the current sustainable fuel in use, but still produces harmful carbon emissions. A promising alternative to SAF is ammonia, which produces zero carbon emissions. By decomposing ammonia (NH₃) into its constituents of N₂ and H₂ using a chemical catalyst, a hydrogen-ammonia fuel mix is created. H₂/NH₃ mixtures still have the desired characteristic of burning without carbon emissions, but are less reactive than pure hydrogen. Additionally, ammonia is a widely used compound, so infrastructure already exists for production, …

Morphology, Evolution And Host-Driven Convergence In Ichneumonidae (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonoidea), Davide Dal Pos

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Understanding the functional and evolutionary significance of morphology is fundamental to interpreting the tree of life. In recent years, emerging tools have enabled broad-scale analysis of discrete morphological data and facilitated the study of entire phenomes, helping to re-establish morphology as a central component of evolutionary research. These advances allow us not only to examine individual traits in detail but also to compare them across taxa and explore their evolutionary trajectories. This approach is particularly critical when studying hyperdiverse groups that exhibit both high levels of morphological convergence and complex life cycles intricately tied to host use. A prime example …

Effects Of Body Armor On Respiratory Muscle Fatigue And Muscle Blood Flow During Progressive Treadmill Marching, Kathryn Bell

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Introduction: Torso-borne loads such as body armor are essential for modern military operations but impose mechanical and metabolic strain. These physiological stressors can trigger the inspiratory metaboreflex, which redirects blood flow from locomotor to respiratory muscles, further reducing muscle oxygen and endurance. While aerobic fitness has been shown to alleviate these effects, the interaction between sex, aerobic capacity, and oxygenation under load is not well understood. This study examined the physiological effects of torso-borne load carriage on respiratory muscle fatigue, skeletal muscle oxygenation, and exercise performance to volitional exhaustion and the degree to which sex and aerobic capacity influence these …

The Compositional And Dynamical Properties Of Exoplanets, Cody James Shakespeare

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The solid surface density profile of protoplanetary discs, and the composition of these solids, can be formed through sequential condensation models of dust precipitating from the cooling gas of the solar nebula. I continue developing a code that reproduces the chemical compositions of most chondrites as well as the bulk compositions of the rocky planets using our partial condensation model with an evolving disc. I extend this validated code to exoplanet systems with different initial elemental ratios, like the carbon-to-oxygen ratio and estimated stellar abundances over the age of the universe. I have improved this dust condensation code to include …

Evaluating Nfl Quarterback Decision Making Through Tracking Data, Jesse N. Melville

Theses and Dissertations

Quarterback decision-making is one of the most critical determinants of success in the National Football League (NFL), yet traditional statistics fail to account for the spatial, temporal, and contextual factors influencing each play. This thesis proposes a data-driven methodology for evaluating quarterback decisions using NFL player tracking data from the 2022 season. We replicate and extend the DeepQB framework by training deep learning models to estimate expected completion probabilities and expected yards gained for each receiver at the moment of the throw. Our extension applies the approach to a newer dataset with additional contextual features, enabling a more detailed evaluation …

Walking Each Other Home: A Social Work Portfolio Of Healing, Justice, And Becoming, Serah Lander

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

Abstract

This portfolio documents the integration of lived experience, academic training, and professional practice in the pursuit of a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree. Grounded in a personal history shaped by chronic illness, solo motherhood, and economic precarity, this work reframes individual challenges as symptoms of structural neglect and systemic inequity. Through reflective narrative, I explore identity development across intersecting contexts—white, queer, neurodivergent, Jewish by choice, and chronically ill—connecting personal transformation to professional readiness.

Section I: Living the Questions chronicles my evolution from navigating institutional barriers to becoming a systems thinker, crisis counselor, policy advocate, and coalition leader. This …

Beyond The Bruise: Understanding Injury Risk Factors Among Livestock Workers In Cattle Feedyards And Animal Handling Farms And Ranches, Rishad Ahmed

Theses & Dissertations

Cattle feeding and livestock production are central to U.S. agriculture and represent some of the most hazardous occupational environments. Workers in feedyards and on cattle farms and ranches face elevated risks of injury due to physically demanding labor, frequent animal handling, and exposure to environmental and ergonomic hazards. Many feedyard workers are Hispanic/Latino immigrants who may experience additional barriers related to language, healthcare access, and job security. Similarly, injury risks among cattle producers are compounded by seasonal workload fluctuations, limited rest opportunities, and psychosocial stressors. Beyond individual impacts, agricultural injuries also pose a substantial economic burden. Recent estimates indicate that …

The Characterization Of Per- And Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (Pfas) In Nebraska Drinking Water And Human Health Impacts, Sarah Tucker

Theses & Dissertations

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are synthetic compounds that have been detected in water sources of urban and rural environments with evidence of adverse human health effects from exposure. Humans are primarily exposed through ingestion of contaminated water and food. PFAS exposure has been linked to negative multi-system health outcomes (liver, kidneys, cardiovascular, reproductive, and immune). PFAS occur as persistent mixtures in environmental media with decades long consequences to water quality. While national agencies have launched large-scale PFAS water quality monitoring studies, limited data exists for contamination of rural water in Nebraska, especially private wells. The aims of this study …