Engineering Commons^™

Implementation Of Lessons Learned From Change Orders: A Supplement To Kyspr 09-384, Paul M. Goodrum, Timothy R. B. Taylor, William Lester, Alex Mccoy, Mohammed M. Uddin, Yongwei Shan

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Which change orders tend to have the greatest impact on Kentucky transportation projects? How can I avoid them on future projects? If I do have a change order, what process can I follow to estimate a fair price for both the Cabinet and the Contractor? These are some of the questions that were addressed by research project Change Orders and Lessons Learned (KYSPR 09‐384) at the University of Kentucky’s Kentucky Transportation Center.

Why the Need for this Supplement?

Traditional research reports through the Kentucky Transportation Center contain a significant amount of scientific and technical discussion regarding the research activities and …

Optimal Design Of Work Zone Median Crossovers, Karen Schurr, Brian R. Garnder, Shashwat Rijal

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

No abstract provided.

Siphoning Sea Water Back Into The Engine In Fast Boats, Osman Azmi Ozsoysal

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

A failure investigation has been conducted on the exhaust system of a high speed marine diesel engine in Turkish ambulance boats. Premature failures were reported on the poor starting, on the loss of power, on the lubricating oil leakage and on the engine overload. It was observed some significant tracks of sea water found its way into the exhaust passages from condensation of the salt water vapour and also from entering some sea water into the exhaust system. In order to initiate a more accurate cause investigation, the engine went through an overhaul inspection, in which it was determined that …

Risk Evaluation Of Ship Dynamic Stability In Regular Waves, Zhan-Jun Long, Seung-Keon Lee, Han-Suk Choi

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

In this paper, a method combined with the existing approaches is proposed for evaluating and predicting the safety of ship rolling in regular waves. Based on the uncoupled equation of a single degree of freedom, the nonlinear ship rolling in waves is presented and the differential equation is integrated in the time domain by the fourth order Runge-Kutta algorithm. The erosion of the safe basins of a ship roll equation is simulated and the survival probability of a typical ship is studied according to the statistical and simulation results. The numerical results show that the survival probabilities of ship excited …

Bottom Flange Reinforcement In Nu I-Grinders, George Morcous, Kromel E. Hanna, Maher K. Tadros

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

No abstract provided.

Development Of A Low Cost, Energy-Absorbing Bridge Rail, Dean L. Sicking, Robert W. Bielenberg, Ronald K. Faller, Karla A. Lechtenberg, Scott K. Rosenbaugh, John D. Reid

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

No abstract provided.

2010 Driver Attitudes And Awareness Survey, Kenneth R. Agent, Eric R. Green, Ronald E. Langley

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

A basic set of questions were developed that could be used in periodic surveys that track drivers attitudes and awareness concerning impaired driving, seat belt use, and speeding issues. The objective of the survey was to learn the knowledge, views, and behaviors of drivers in these areas. The objective of this report is to document the results of the 2010 baseline survey.

The method used to conduct the survey was a telephone survey. In addition to questions for the three major highway safety areas of impaired driving, seat belt use, and speeding, an additional question was added which dealt with …

Analysis Of Traffic Crash Data In Kentucky (2005 - 2009), Eric R. Green, Kenneth R. Agent, Jerry G. Pigman

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report documents an analysis of traffic crash data in Kentucky for the years of 2005 through 2009. A primary objective of this study was to determine average crash statistics for Kentucky highways. Average and critical numbers and rates of crashes 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 crashes.

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

Development Of Advanced Finite Element Material Models For Cable Barrier Wire Rope, John D. Reid, Karla A. Lechtenberg, Cody S. Stolle

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

An improved LS-DYNA model of ¾-in. (19-mm) diameter 3x7 wire rope commonly used in roadside cable guardrail installations has been developed. A Belytschko-Schwer beam element was selected along with material *MAT_166. Numerical noise was reduced using part stiffness damping with a coefficient of 2%, and frequency range damping with a coefficient of 12%. The optimum element length based on timestep, accuracy, and computational cost was determined to be between 0.4 and 0.8 in. (10-20 mm). Dynamic component tests were conducted on wire rope to determine material properties. These tests were simulated and the results compared to the physical tests. The …

Load Rating Of Complex Bridges, George Morcous, Kromel E. Hanna, Maher K. Tadros

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

No abstract provided.

2010 Safety Belt Usage Survey In Kentucky, Kenneth R. Agent, Eric R. Green

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The objective of this study was to establish 2010 safety belt and child safety seat usage rates in Kentucky. The 2010 survey continues to document the results after enactment of the original “secondary enforcement” statewide mandatory safety belt law in 1994 and the subsequent change to “primary enforcement” which was enacted in 2006. Data were collected at 160 randomly selected sites in 18 counties across Kentucky. Data from the individual sites were combined into a statewide percentage considering roadway functional classification, county, and vehicle miles traveled.

The data show that the usage rate in 2010 (80.3 percent) was almost identical …

Effects Of Chloride Contamination On Coatings Performance, Bobby W. Meade, Sudhir Palle, Theodore Hopwood Ii, Rick Younce

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Research indicates that chloride concentration as determined by currently available field test methods does not reliably predict protective coating performance on KYTC bridges. Laboratory testing of chloride charged panels also failed to relate chloride concentration to coating performance. The coatings industry provides recommendations for acceptable chloride levels for various exposure conditions but bridges are different than other structural steel and the exposure conditions for bridges are not adequately addressed. Effective chloride remediation strategies and protective coatings that perform best in the presence of chlorides need to be identified.

Using Micro-Simulation To Evaluate Transit Signal Priority For Lrt Operations In A Downtown Environment, Faisal Mahmud

Civil & Environmental Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Transit Signal Priority or TSP is an operational strategy that facilitates the movement of transit vehicles such as buses, light rail or streetcars, through traffic-signal controlled intersections. The benefits of TSP operations include improved schedule adherence and improved transit travel times with minimal impact to normal traffic operations. New advances in Global Positioning Systems, detection and communication, and control strategies have helped overcome many problems with early systems and increased interest in implementing TSP for Light Rail Transit (LRT) and other transit operations. The increased capabilities of these advanced systems have led to a dramatic increase in operational and planned …

Design Aids Of Nu I-Grinder Bridges, Kromel Hanna, George Morcous, Maher K. Tadros

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

No abstract provided.

Development Of A Temporary Concrete Barrier To Permanent Concrete Median Barrier Approach Transition, Mitchell J. Wiebelhaus, Karla A. Lechtenberg, Ronald K. Faller, John R. Rohde, Ryan J. Terpsma, Robert W. Bielenberg, Dean L. Sicking, John D. Reid

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

No abstract provided.

Assessment Of Kentucky's Historic Truss Bridges, Lenahan O’Connell, Ted H. Grossardt, John Ripy

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This study created an information base to improve decisions about the replacement or rehabilitation of historic truss bridges. During the first phase of the research, information on the history and design of the 109 bridges in the study was assembled. With the assistance of historic preservation professionals, 75 of those bridges were selected for further study for their potential for rehabilitation. During the second phase, the KTC research team, engineers from the KYTC bridge division, and 12 highway district engineers, who are responsible for the day-to-day care and maintenance of the bridges, evaluated the condition and functional context of the …

Travel Time Based Congestion Measures For Freeway Corridors, Mei Chen

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Travel time based mobility measures have been increasingly used in highway performance analyses. Among them, Travel Time Index (TTI), Planning Time Index (PTI), percentage of travel under congestion (PTC), and buffer index (BI)have been identified as measures of particular interests in Kentucky. The objectives of this study are: (1) Calculate TTI, PTI, PTC, and BI for freeways within the TRIMARC coverage; and (2) Explore potential correlation between the reliability measures and incident characteristics (e.g., number of incidents, duration, severity, etc.). These analyses were performed for the years 2006-8 for each monitored segment and freeway corridor as well as for the …

Foundation Design For High Tension Cable Guardrails, John R. Rohde, Ryan J. Terpsma, Ling Zhu

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

No abstract provided.

Review Of State Laws And Practices For Disposition Of Re-Aligned Or Bypassed Segments And Associated Row, Lenahan O'Connell, Ted Grossardt

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This study identified the laws and practices of 11 state DOTs in regard to the transfer of responsibility for re-aligned or bypassed state highway system roads to local jurisdictions - usually cities or counties. Each state's approach to such transfers was identified by obtaining and analyzing the relevant state statutes and then conducting telephone interviews with strategically placed individuals at the associated DOT. Four states require local approval before the state can abandon a road. These four have a policy of obtaining written consent for the transfer of responsibility for maintenance and do so most often prior to construction of …

Roadway Related Tort Liability And Risk Management, Kenneth R. Agent

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This workbook provides government employees background information related to tort liability and risk management. Past experience with lawsuits against government entities are summarized. The reasons for the lawsuits and results are analyzed. The objective is to provide an understanding of the basis for past claims so the number of future claims and awards can be reduced. This will result in the ultimate objective of reducing highway crashes.

Based on the results of the data analysis and the review of the background material, recommendations are made for consideration. Many of the recommendations deal with various types of documentation.

Improving Intersection Design Practices Final Report - Phase I, Nikiforos Stamatiadis, Adam Kirk

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The purpose of this report is to document the development of the Intersection Design Alternative Tool (IDAT) developed for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. IDAT provides an automated objective design and evaluation approach of 14 alternative intersection designs to assist in the conceptual design of at grade intersections. The tool evaluates intersection operations, safety performance, bicycle/pedestrian accommodation and has the ability to assist access management implementation.

Offset Right-Turn Lanes For Improved Intersection Sight Distance, Karen Schurr, Timothy J. Foss Jr.

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

No abstract provided.

Factors Affecting Asphalt Pavement Density And The Effect On Long Term Pavement Performance, Jonathan Fisher, Clark Graves, Phillip Blankenship, Salman Hakimzadeh-Khoee, R. Michael Anderson

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The Kentucky Transportation Center, the Asphalt Institute, and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet worked together in order to identify factors that affect asphalt pavement density, and to then evaluate their effect on long term pavement performance.

By determining which variables are most influential to pavement performance (i.e. roller pattern, temperature when rolled, etc.), and then monitoring the attention given to those variables, Kentucky would be able to increase the service life of asphalt roadways by at least 25%, therefore saving as much as $30 million annually on a resurfacing budget of $129.2 million (2007), while still maintaining the current roadway level …

Distracted Driving – Preliminary Analysis And Survey, Jerry G. Pigman, Kenneth R. Agent, Eric R. Green

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report primarily focuses on an attempt to document the level of driver distraction existing in Kentucky through an analysis of crash data and by conducting an observational survey of drivers. Additional research is cited as a means of comparing other studies with results from Kentucky, as well as establishing a definition of distracted driving. The status of laws related to use of cell phones in other states was summarized, and the recently passed legislation in Kentucky was noted by incorporation of the full text as an appendix.

It was determined from analysis of Kentucky data that if the three …

Safety And Driver Behavior Studies At Multiple Lane Approaches To Stop-Controlled Intersections, Karen Schurr, Daniel Sitorius

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

Multiple-lane approaches (MLAs) controlled by stop signs are becoming increasingly common in Nebraska. Installation of MLAs occurs when a single approach lane can no longer adequately serve the minor road traffic volume, and a signal is unwarranted because Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) warrants are not satisfied (7, FHWA, 2003). A common example of a location at which MLA stop-controlled intersections can occur in Nebraska is the rural intersection of two state or federal highways. Forty such intersections in Nebraska were available for study in this research. Additionally, such intersections are often located in suburban areas of Nebraska …

Freight Performance Measures: Approach Analysis, B. Starr Mcmullen, Christopher M. Monsere

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

This report reviews the existing state of the art and also the state of the practice of freight performance measurement. Most performance measures at the state level have aimed at evaluating highway or transit infrastructure performance with an emphasis on passenger transportation. Freight performance measurement ultimately requires evaluation of performance of the entire freight transportation system, which includes highways, waterways, rail, air, and modal connections. This requires considerable expansion of thinking beyond the traditional focus of state Departments of Transportation (DOTs) on highway performance.

This project builds upon past and current work in the area of freight performance measurement and …

A Risk Analysis Of Stevedoring Operations In Seaport Container Terminals, Kuo-Chung Shang, Wen-Jui Tseng

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

This research is a study of container terminals in Kaohsiung Harbor and investigates risk management in the loading and unloading of container terminals. The study shows that the top three factors associated with severity of accident risk are: “Moving the crane without raising the lifting arm of the gantry crane, resulting in damage to the pilot’s compartment,” “Transferring containers direct to the trailers,” and, “As a result of climatic factors (typhoons), the facility takes no action to prevent collisions.” The top three factors associated with frequency of accident risk are, “Ships go by and waves cause a declined-body, raised prow …

Ahp Model For The Container Port Choice In The Multiple-Ports Region, Chien-Chang Chou

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

In this paper, a theoretical analysis of the effect of surface roughness on the lubrication characteristics of inclined stepped composite bearings with micropolar fluid is examined. A generalized form of surface roughness is mathematically modeled by a stochastic random variable with non-zero mean, variance and skewness. The generalized average Reynolds type equation is derived for the rough inclined stepped composite bearings with micropolar fluid. The closed form expressions are obtained for the fluid film pressure, load carrying capacity, frictional force. These expressions can be utilized to obtain the performance characteristics of four different types of bearing system viz; rough plane …

Analyzing The Effects Of Led Traffic Signals On Urban Intersection Safety, Deogratias Eustace, Valerie E. Griffin, Peter W. Hovey

Civil and Environmental Engineering and Engineering Mechanics Faculty Publications

In 2002, there were 1,299,000 crashes at signalized intersections in the United States. These crashes account for approximately 21 percent of total crashes and about 24 percent of all fatal and injury collisions. The social and financial impact of this number of collisions is substantial. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and other agencies have recognized the detrimental effects of intersection crashes on our society and continue to fund research that will lead to a decrease in crash frequency. Numerous countermeasures have been tested for their potential to reduce crashes. Infrastructure improvements such as the construction of left-turn lanes, the removal …

Pavement Settlement Issues And Hydro-Geochemical Water Testing Results For The Cumberland Gap Tunnel, Brad Rister, Clark Graves, Jim Dinger

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Both Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) surveys and Hydro-Geochemical Water Testing (HGWT) have been performed at the Cumberland Gap Tunnel to determine why the reinforced concrete pavement has settled in various areas throughout both tunnels. To date, approximately 7,300 total square feet of pavement surface has voids beneath it that range from 0.05 to 40 inches in depth. Both GPR and HGWT results indicate that approximately 0.75 to 1.5 cubic yards of limestone sub-base material leaves the tunnel in solution form on a monthly basis. Furthermore, HGWT results indicate that the ground water beneath the tunnels is calcium deficient. Thus allowing …