Engineering Commons^™

Research On Fatigue Of Asphalt Mixtures And Pavements In Nebraska, Francisco Thiago S. Aragao, Yong-Rak Kim, Junghun Lee

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

No abstract provided.

Optimized Scheduling Of Highway Work Zones, Yimin Tang

Dissertations

Highway maintenance activities usually require lane closures and disrupt traffic operations. Because of budget constraints, project deadlines, and the resulting traffic impact, the objective of this dissertation is to improve the efficiencies of traffic operation and maintenance work, and minimize the total project cost (i.e., agency cost and road user cost) by optimizing work zone schedules.

This dissertation focuses on the maintenance projects on multiple-lane highways. The objective total cost function is formulated while considering a discrete maintenance time-cost function and time-dependent traffic diversions. However, the work zone scheduling problem is a combinatorial optimization problem and difficult to solve analytically. …

Dynamic Impact Testing Of Crt Wood Posts In A Rigid Sleeve, Steven W. Arens, Ronald K. Faller, John R. Rohde, Karla A. Polivka

Mid-America Transportation Center: Final Reports and Technical Briefs

Dynamic impact testing was performed on 152-mm x 203-mm (6-in. x 8-in.) CRT wood posts placed in a rigid sleeve at various angles. A total of nine bogie tests were performed with three tests each at 0, 90, and 45 degree rotation angles relative to the strong axis of bending. For each bogie test, the raw acceleration data was obtained from accelerometers and was filtered. Then, force-displacement and energy-displacement graphs were plotted. Based on the results, the properties and strengths of the CRT wood posts at the different impact angles were determined. The results of this study will be the …

Evaluation Of The Effectiveness Of Pavement Rumble Strips, Adam Kirk

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report analyzes the effectiveness of continuous shoulder rumble strips (CSRS) and center line rumble strips (CLRS) on rural two lane roads in Kentucky. This study evaluates the safety benefits, and design details associated with the application of the CSRS and CLRS. The recommended practices proposed as a result of the crash analysis have the potential to reduce both run off the road and opposite direction crashes on rural two lane roads in Kentucky. These recommendations provide benefits for narrow roadways with little to no shoulder as well as larger roadways with wider paved shoulders.

Use Of Edge Line Markings On Rural Two-Lane Highways, Kenneth R. Agent, Eric R. Green

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The objective of this study was to review roadway characteristics and crash data in Kentucky and determine if revisions should be made to current guidelines for the use of edge lines. Recommendations were made concerning the use of edge lines, centerlines, and paved shoulders on rural, two-lane roadways with varying pavement widths.

Kentucky Traffic Collision Facts 2008 Report, Kentucky Transportation Center, Kentucky State Police

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

KENTUCKY’S TRAFFIC COLLISION FACTS report for 2008 is based on collision reports submitted to the Kentucky State Police Records Branch. As required by Kentucky Revised Statutes 189.635, “every law enforcement agency whose officers investigate a vehicle accident of which a report must be made...shall file a report of the accident...within ten days after investigation of the accident upon forms supplied by the bureau.” The stated purpose of this requirement is to utilize data on traffic collisions for such purposes as will improve the traffic safety program in the Commonwealth. Data contained in this report are based solely on the observations …

Measuring The Value Of Kentucky Vehicle Enforcement Activities, Jennifer R. Walton, Joseph D. Crabtree, Candice Y. Wallace, Jerry G. Pigman

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The responsibility for monitoring commercial vehicles on Kentucky’s roadways and enforcing the applicable laws and regulations falls primarily on Kentucky Vehicle Enforcement (KVE). KVE personnel are involved in a variety of activities including commercial vehicle size and weight enforcement, work zone speed enforcement, and general traffic monitoring and enforcement. The objectives of this study were to identify, describe, and (where possible) quantify the benefits associated with the activities of KVE. The primary benefits provided by the activities of KVE are: reductions in crashes, injuries, and fatalities; protection of the revenue streams that replenish Kentucky’s Road Fund; reduced damage to Kentucky’s …

Crash History After Installation Of Traffic Signals (Warranted Vs. Unwarranted), Kenneth R. Agent, Eric R. Green

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The objective of this study was to determine the change in crash history at intersections after installation of a traffic signal. Signals installed based on the warrants from an engineering study resulted in a decrease in angle collisions with an increase in the less severe rear end collisions. At intersections where signal warrants were not met, there was a smaller decrease in angle collisions and a larger increase in rear end collisions. The removal of unwarranted traffic signals did not result in a crash problem. The analysis shows that the warrants given in the MUTCD should be followed when determining …

Evaluation Of Rigid Hazards Placed In The Zone Of Intrusion, Mitchell J. Wiebelhaus, Ronald K. Faller, Dean L. Sicking, Karla A. Polivka, John R. Rohde, Robert W. Bielenberg, James C. Holloway, John D. Reid

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

No abstract provided.

Water Balance Analysis For A Nebraska Sand Hills Wetland Mitigation Site, Kyle Hoagland, F. Edwin Harvey, Timothy Arkebauer, Wyatt R. Webster

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

No abstract provided.

Development And Validation Of A Dynamic Model Of The Maglev Transportation System At Old Dominion University, Ajinkya Deodhar, Sebastian Bawab, Aravind Hanasoge

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

A dynamic model of the vehicle/guideway coupled with a controller is developed for the maglev demonstration system currently being developed at ODU, using the MAthematical DYnamic MOdeling software - MADYMO. The fundamental characteristics of the vehicle and guideway are obtained from detailed finite element analyses using MSC-NASTRAN. As a result, the vehicle is modeled in MADYMO as a 21- degree-of-freedom spring-mass-damper system. A three span concrete guideway is modeled using 3D solid Hex8 elements. The air gap is modeled as a penetration of the magnets into the guideway. Decentralized colocated PD controllers are used for controlling the penetration of each …

Identification Of Factors In Road Accidents Through In-Depth Accident Analysis, Mouyid B. Islam, Kunnawee Kanitpong

CUTR Faculty Journal Publications

The rising trend of motorization and improving socio-economic status of Thai people directly influences the aggravating road safety situation with fatalities and permanently disabled injuries of about 130,000 and 500,000 respectively over the past decades. An estimated annual cost from road crashes amounts to about US$2,500 million, 3.4 percent of Gross National Product (GNP), undoubtedly inflicts Thailand with a burning public health concern in the South East Asian region. This paper addresses an in-depth study through crash investigation and reconstruction which has not yet been practised in Thailand to identify the contributory factors in road crashes by the concerned authorities. …

Fiscal Year 2007 Fhwa-536 Report For The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Steven Douglas Kreis

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) requires state transportation agencies to submit a biennial report on local highway finances. The purpose of these reports is to provide FHWA with the data it needs to capture the financing of highway activities at the local level. Based on this information, it can identify trends in revenue, expenditures, investments, and program development, and in turn make decisions about future investments. The report, FHWA-536, asks agencies to report on four areas of local highway finance: 1) disposition of highway-user revenues; 2) revenues used for roads and streets identified by source and funding type; 3) road …

Rideability Issues For Asphalt And Concrete Specification Modifications, Brad Rister, Clark Graves

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Concerns have been raised regarding the differences between the incentive/disincentive determination procedures as well as the pay adjustments for rideability between asphalt and concrete projects. This report will attempt to do the following:

1. Address the differences between concrete and asphalt rideability specifications by looking at Kentucky’s historical rideability specifications and the specifications of peer states.
2. Review the necessity to revise current specifications based on historical rideability data, peer states rideability specifications, technological advancements in placement of roadway materials, and technological advancements in measuring rideability after construction.
3. Evaluate the monetary impact of a revised rideability specification on the latest year’s data. …

Evaluation Of The Role Of Driver’S Knowledge Of Who Has The Right-Of-Way Contributes To Interstate On-Ramp Crashes, Deogratias Eustace, Vamsi Krishna Indupuru

Civil and Environmental Engineering and Engineering Mechanics Faculty Publications

The knowledge of drivers on who has the right-of-way between the one on mainline lanes of a freeway and the one entering the freeway through on-ramp junction lane was evaluated. In addition, drivers’ opinions on how to make the on-ramp junctions safer were collected. A survey instrument with 21 items requesting drivers’ information in regard with demographics, freeway driving experience, knowledge of right-of-way and merging practices was used for data collection. The results show that crashes are relatively rare events and for some reasons, most of them never happen but result into near misses, which can not be reported and …

Phase Iii Development Of A Short-Radius Guardrail For Intersecting Roadways, Cody S. Stolle, Karla A. Polivka, Robert W. Bielenberg, Ronald K. Faller, Dean L. Sicking, John R. Rohde, John D. Reid

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

No abstract provided.

Development Of A Tl-5 Vertical Faced Concrete Median Barrier Incorporating Head Ejection Criteria, Scott Rosenbaugh, Dean L. Sicking, Ronald K. Faller

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

No abstract provided.

Resilient Modulus Of Compacted Crushed Stone Aggregate Bases, Tommy C. Hopkins, Tony L. Beckham, Charlie Sun

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

In recent years, the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO) has recommended the use of resilient modulus for characterizing highway materials for pavement design. This recommendation evolved as result of a trend in pavement design of using mechanistic models. Although much progress has been made in recent years in developing mathematical, mechanistic pavement design models, results obtained from those models are only as good as the material parameters used in the models. Resilient modulus of aggregate bases is an important parameter in the mechanistic models. The main goal of this study was to establish a simple and efficient …

Midwest Guardrail System For Long-Span Culvert Application, Robert W. Bielenberg, Ronald K. Faller, John R. Rohde, Dean L. Sicking, James C. Holloway, Karla A. Polivka, John D. Reid, Erin M. Allison

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

No abstract provided.

Development Of The Midwest Guardrail System (Mgs) W-Beam To Thrie Beam Transition Element, Ronald K. Faller, John R. Rohde, Robert W. Bielenberg, Karla A. Polivka, Dean L. Sicking, John D. Reid, Craig M. Eller, Erin M. Allison

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

No abstract provided.

A Comparison Of State Policies For Complying With The Endangered Species Act, Lenahan O'Connell, Ted Grossardt

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

In recent years the number of biological assessments (BAs) for the presence of endangered species conducted by KYTC has risen significantly. This was primarily due to new/additional restrictions imposed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) in 2005. The most consequential restriction was the listing of the Indiana bat as potentially present in all Kentucky counties. Previously BAs for the Indiana bat were only conducted when a project occurred in a county in which the Indiana bat had been observed (a known occurrence). This study reviewed the policies of the states adjacent to Kentucky, as well as those …

Implementation Of The Aashto Lrfd Code In Geotechnical Design, Andrzej S. Nowak, Marek Kozikowski,, Tomasz A Lutomirski, Piotr Paczkowski, Jordan Larsen

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

No abstract provided.

Analysis Of Procurement Processes And Development Of Recommendations For Intelligent Transportation Systems (Its) Procurements, Joseph D. Crabtree, Christopher W. Frost, Jennifer Walton, John Crossfield

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Traditional state procurement processes are not well-suited to the procurement of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS). The objective of this study was to analyze Kentucky’s existing procurement processes, identify strengths and weaknesses of each, and develop recommendations for a revised process (or processes) that would meet the unique requirements of ITS procurements. Four existing processes were identified, studied, documented, and assessed. The study also looked at design-build processes, both in Kentucky and in other states. Recommendations were developed for statutory changes to improve Kentucky’s ability to procure ITS technologies and systems.

Analysis Of Traffic Crash Data In Kentucky (2002 - 2006), 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 2002 through 2006. 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 …

Evaluation Of Us 119 Pine Mountain Safety Improvements (Final Report), Jerry G. Pigman, Kenneth R. Agent

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The Transportation Center at the University of Kentucky was requested to perform an evaluation of the safety improvement project over a 7.1-mile section of US 119 on the Whitesburg side of Pine Mountain in Letcher County to determine whether the types of improvements undertaken affected the overall safety of the roadway. Specific attention was given to the effects of a ban on truck traffic that was implemented in March 2001. In addition, there was a need to determine if the use of flexible design was successful after removal of the truck restriction by permitting trucks with dimensions up to the …

Developing A Byproduct Materials Information Systems For The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, David Q. Hunsucker, Justin Jones, Tom Hopkins, Charlie Sun

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Kentucky has numerous coal-fired, electric generating facilities and, as a result, there are abundant byproduct materials being produced from these facilities that have environmental, engineering, and economic potential as materials for use in common highway construction and maintenance related activities throughout the Commonwealth. Other byproduct materials are being produced and are available that may have potential uses as well. Although large quantities of byproduct materials are produced in Kentucky and many of those materials have positive or neutral environmental impacts and excellent engineering properties, a formal regulatory framework for selecting, characterizing, recovering, and recycling these material types does not exist. …

The Study On Inland Container Terminal Logistics System Simulation, Jun Wu

World Maritime University Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Design Aids For Threaded Rod Precast Prestressed Girder Continuity System, Maher K. Tadros, Leslie D. Martin

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

No abstract provided.

Evaluation Of Kentucky’S “Buckle Up Kentucky: It’S The Law & It’S Enforced” 2007 Campaign, Kenneth R. Agent, Eric R. Green, Ronald E. Langley

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The objective of this report was to document the results of the “Buckle Up Kentucky: It’s the Law & It’s Enforced” 2007 campaign in Kentucky. Data were also taken to document the change in usage after enactment of the primary enforcement law. The campaign involved a combination of earned media, paid media, and enforcement. The earned media started about five weeks prior to Memorial Day 2007 and continued through the enforcement periods. The paid media campaign was for the two weeks prior to Memorial Day while the enforcement period was a two-week period including the week before and the week …

2007 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 2007 safety belt and child safety seat usage rates in Kentucky. The 2007 survey continues to document the results after enactment of the original “secondary enforcement” statewide mandatory safety belt law in 1994 and the change to “primary enforcement” which was enacted in 2006. Data were collected at 200 randomly selected sites spread across Kentucky. Data from the individual sites were combined into a statewide percentage considering roadway functional classification, geographic region, and vehicle miles traveled. The data show that the usage rate in 2007 (71.8 percent) increased several percentage points compared …