Engineering Commons^™

Streambank Stabilization Using Traditional And Bioengineering Methods:A Literature Review, David M. Admiraal

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

No abstract provided.

Blowout Penstemon (Penstemon Haydenil) Endangered Species, James Stubbendieck, Kay Lynn Kottas

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

No abstract provided.

Context Sensitive Solutions For Construction And Maintenance, Theodore Hopwood Ii, Donald L. Hartman, Jerry G. Pigman

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The objective of this research was to conduct a survey to assess the state of practice related to state highway agencies (SHAs) implementing context sensitive solutions including its application in Construction and Maintenance and to prepare a workshop enabling SHA officials to adopt practices promoting context sensitivity beyond Planning and Design.

Deliverables from the study efforts include a survey summary of context sensitive solutions and workshop materials/presentation suitable for use in training a wide range of SHA personnel working in Construction and Maintenance.

Improving Arterial Performance Measurement Using Traffic Signal System Data, Michael Wolfe, Christopher Monsere, Peter Koonce, Robert L. Bertini

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

The characterization of the performance of freeways in real time and on a historical basis has been successfully achieved for many years. The ability to characterize arterial performance has been more elusive. Currently numerous applications of traffic management and traveler information systems include freeways but lack the ability to extend their operation to major arterials. This paper describes methods for quantifying arterial performance using data from signal system loop detectors. Included in the array of metrics are traffic density, total delay, predicted travel time, and signal coordination effectiveness. Methods for determining performance in these areas are adapted for use in …

Internet Enabled Remote Driving Of A Combat Hybrid Electric Power System For Duty Cycle Measurement, Jarrett Goodell, Marc Compere, Wilford Smith, Mark Brudnak, Mike Pozolo, Et Al.

Publications

This paper describes a human-in-the-loop motion-based simulator interfaced to hybrid-electric power system hardware, both of which were used to measure the duty cycle of a combat vehicle in a virtual simulation environment. The project discussed is a greatly expanded follow-on to the experiment published in [1,7]. This paper is written in the context of [1,7] and therefore highlights the enhancements. The most prominent of these enhancements is the integration (in real-time) of the Power & Energy System Integration Lab (P&E SIL) with a motion base simulator by means of a “long haul” connection over the Internet (a geographical distance of …

Prevention Of Voc Releases From Bridge Painting Operations, Theodore Hopwood Ii, Rick Younce, Sudhir Palle

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Bridge maintenance painting employs solvent-based coatings that generate volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that contribute to air-quality problems. Methods for capturing VOCs during normal Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) maintenance painting operations were investigated. One method, activated carbon adsorption, is adaptable to KYTC operations. Related factors including area of bridge, coating systems, containment volumes and VOC out gassing rates were reviewed. A commercial source of activated carbon adsorption equipment was identified and issues related to employing that technology for bridge painting were identified.

Retrofit Of The Louisa-Fort Gay Bridge Using Cfrp Laminates, Ching Chiaw Choo, Tong Zhao, Issam E. Harik

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report details the processes pertaining to the repair and strengthening of the Louisa-Fort Gay Bridge, Lawrence County, KY, using advanced composite materials. Site inspections revealed flexural cracks in the reinforced concrete girders of the continuous bridge structure. To determine the cause of these cracks, an evaluation was initiated based on vehicle classification and truck weight data. The results confirmed that certain reinforced concrete girders were stressed beyond the limits allowed by the AASHTO Code. A retrofit scheme using carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composite was devised and the amount of CFRP laminates needed for flexural strengthening was determined from …

Improve Safety Of Workers During Highway Construction And Maintenance, Donn E. Hancher, Kenneth Bussey, Robin Meagher, Jonathan Ross, Kristin Smith

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

There is an inherent risk of injury or fatality in all occupations. Even secretarial occupations face jobsite hazards such as carpal tunnel and back injury. The nature of the construction industry combined with the required physical demand and rigorous work processes, make it an industry with higher risk of injury or fatality. In an effort to decrease that inbuilt jobsite risk that construction workers face, this study will analyze the current best safety practices, examine new safety technologies, and collaborate with construction workers themselves to gain a better perspective of what jobsite hazards they face.

Specifically, this study will focus …

Use Of Reflective Armbands To Improve Adolescent Pedestrian And Pedalcyclist Safety, Nancy Dunaway, Eric R. Green, Jerry G. Pigman, Monica L. Barrett

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The objective of this effort was to determine if elementary and middle school students could be educated to use reflective armbands to increase their visibility to motorists while walking or bicycling to school. The number of armbands and surveys distributed totaled slightly over 7,000. Responses were received from approximately 12 percent (873) of the pre-surveys and slightly over 3 percent (119) of the post-surveys. Respondents to the survey indicated nearly 15 percent of schoolchildren receiving reflective armbands were wearing the armband “every day” or “most days”. Of the parents responding, 21 percent indicated their children would continue to wear the …

Compaction Of Mixtures Of Hard Rocks And Soft Shales And Non-Durable Shales Using Impact Compactors, Tommy C. Hopkins

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Impact roller compaction has been used to improve embankment and highway subgrades in South Africa, Australia, Europe, and China and other areas of the world. In September of 2003, the International Technology Scanning Program, sponsored by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), and the National Cooperative Highway Research Program of the Transportation Research Board, identified this technology as one of several foreign technologies and innovations that could significantly benefit U.S. transportation systems. The technology was high-lighted at the Fifth International Conference on the Bearing Capacity of Roads and Airfields in 1998 …

Stockpiling Hydrated Lime-Soil Mixtures, Tommy C. Hopkins, Tony L. Beckham, Charlie Sun

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The concept and feasibility of stockpiling and reusing hydrated lime-soil mixtures to stabilize particular areas on stabilization projects after the mixing contractor has departed were examined. In chemical stabilization of subgrades, situations often arise where additional areas need to be stabilized after the specialty contractor and mixing equipment have left the project. Field and laboratory investigations were performed to determine if a soil mixed with hydrated lime during routine lime subgrade stabilization could be mixed, stockpiled, and used later. In laboratory studies, hydrated lime-soil mixtures were stockpiled loosely in the laboratory. CBR specimens of the stockpile material were remolded and …

Development And Evaluation Of A Simulation System Based Upon Standard Pedestrian Thoroughfare Methodologies, Charles O. Pringle

All Master's Theses

This study was undertaken to determine whether existing simulation and modeling systems could be used to analyze and model pedestrian traffic flows. The study incorporates the Highway Capacity Manual 2000 (HCM) (Transportation Research Board, National Research Council [TRB], 2000a) methodologies into a ProModel simulation and then compares and contrasts the results of the HCM calculations with the ProModel simulation.

Evaluating And Adaptive Signal Control System In Gresham, James M. Peters, Jay Mccoy, Robert L. Bertini

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Cities and Counties are faced with increasing traffic congestion due to rapidly increasing population. Like many agencies, the City of Gresham has struggled with how to manage the increasing congestion with limited funds for major roadway widening projects. Gresham has recognized the need to optimize existing system capacity to get the most out of their current transportation system infrastructure investment.

In 2005, the City of Gresham, in cooperation with numerous agencies in the Portland metropolitan area, evaluated a variety of signal control systems including traditional time-of-day coordination, traffic responsive, and adaptive signal control systems. Based on that evaluation, the steering …

Recycling Practices For Environmental Materials, Sudhir Palle, Steve Higgins, Theodore Hopwood Ii

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Two environmental materials, tree and brush debris and large animal roadkill carcasses were investigated. The disposal methods for these materials were reviewed as opportunities/methods for possible recycling. KYTC established several pilot composting operations in 2006. These were monitored during their preliminary stages of operation.

Analysis Of Truck Delays At Container Terminal Security Inspection Stations, Dae-Gwun Yoon

Dissertations

After September 11, 2001, special attention has been given to the vulnerability at container transportation to terrorist activities. United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has set up inspection stations for containers at seaport terminals to screen containers, but this practice affects the truck turnaround time in the seaport by generating additional processing delays.

This dissertation analyses the additional truck turnaround time incurred at the inspection stations under various levels of security. Queuing models were used to estimate truck delay as containers are inspected at two successive security inspection stages. Each stage may utilize one or more inspection equipment. The …

A Performance-Based Incentive Program For Asphalt Pavement, Tim Wentz, Satya Peruri, Wayne Jensen, Bruce Fischer

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

No abstract provided.

Dry Stone Masonry Culvert Restoration, Rick Younce, Theodore Hopwood Ii, Jane M. Wooley, Neil Rippingale

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

A damaged dry stone masonry culvert on KY 1268 Jessamine County was restored by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. The work was performed by the Dry Stone Conservancy, a non-profit agency promoting dry stone masonry. The work included replacement of a retaining wall and widening of the culvert. The project also included a partnering effort to improve the skills of local stone masons.

Archived Data Management System In Kentucky, Mei Chen, Jingxin Xia

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Archived Data User Service (ADUS) was added to the national ITS architecture in 1999 to enable multiple uses for ITS-generated data. In Kentucky, ARTIMIS and TRIMARC are collecting volume, speed, occupancy, length-based classification, and incident data on a continuous basis. This study developed the Kentucky Archived Data Management System (ADMS) to archive and disseminate data collected by sensors in ARTIMIS and TRIMARC systems. This system is designed to be the prototype of ITS data clearinghouse in Kentucky.

The Kentucky ADMS operates on a web server that allows users to retrieve traffic data (i.e., volume, speed, lane occupancy) in 15 minute …

Internal Model Control Using Neural Network For Ship Roll Stabilization, Fuat Alarçïn

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

In this paper, a neural network (NN) based on internal model control (IMC) is developed to adjust control parameters for roll motions of a container ship. Controller architecture, which combines neural network with internal model control, has been outlined and its effectiveness demonstrated on the container ship roll stabilizer. The control signal error is used with back-propagation algorithm to update the weights of the neural controller. In conclusion, the neural network based on internal model control systems are analyzed, and compared to classical PID control results. As can be seen from numerical results, the NN based on IMC is implemented …

Rapid Runway Repair (Rrr): An Optimization For Minimum Operating Strip (Mos) Selection, David J. Duncan

Theses and Dissertations

Minimum Operating Strip (MOS) selection determines the exact placement of the MOS on the damaged runway, and therefore, the amount of munitions that need to be neutralized and the amount of damage that will need to be repaired. MOS selection, in essence, is the key determinant of the time required to attain an operational takeoff and recovery surface. Since the MOS selection stage determines the events and scope of work for all of the Rapid Runway Repair (RRR) stages that follow, it could be argued that this is the most important stage in the entire RRR process. The primary purpose …

Three Innovative Concepts For Short Span Steel Bridges, Aaron Jon Yakel, Atorod Azizinamini, Mohammadreza Farimani, Nazzanin Mossahebi

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

No abstract provided.

Evaluation Of Linking Pavement Related Databases, Yuhong Wang, David L. Allen

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

In general, the objectives of this study were to identify and solve various issues in linking pavement performance related database. The detailed objectives were: to evaluate the state-of-the-art in information technology for data integration and data mining, to review the existing KyTC databases and study their potentiality for being linked for pavement performance evaluation, to prepare data linking alternatives for the KyTC’s review, to prepare an implementation plan for linking pavement related databases. The study reviewed the current practices of data integration by other organizations that face the similar challenges as KyTC. In addition, a review was conducted of the …

Evaluation Of Geophysical Methods And Geophysical Contractors On Four Projects In Kentucky, David L. Allen

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report details four geophysical testing projects that were conducted in Kentucky for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. The four projects were as follows: KY 101, Edmonson and Warren Counties, US 31-W, Elizabethtown Bypass, Hardin County, KY 61, LaRue County, and US 27, Pulaski County.

Two contractors conducted the investigations for this study and they were as follows: KY 101 – (PELA) Electrical Resistivity and Microgravity, US 31-W – (CCKS) Microgravity, KY 61 – (CCKS) Electrical Resistivity and Microgravity, and US 27 – (CCKS) Electrical Resistivity and Microgravity.

These two methods preformed well and this report recommends that these geophysical methods …

Centerline Curbing Treatment At Railroad Crossings For Improved Safety, Aemal Khattak, Dwight L. Mosby Jr., Gregory Mcknight, Brian Gardner

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

The objectives of this research were to study unsafe actions of motor vehicle drivers at railroadhighway grade crossings, to evaluate centerline barriers in reducing those unsafe driver actions, and to note any maintenance or other issues with the barriers. Driver actions were observed at two railroad crossings before and after installation of centerline barriers. A comparison of observed driver actions in the pre- and post-barrier periods provided information on the effectiveness of the barriers in reducing unsafe driver actions while periodic inspection of the centerline barriers provided information on maintenance needs. A major concern of the Nebraska Department of Roads …

Safety Performance Evaluation Of Minnesota's Temporary Rigid Panel Sign Stand Systems, Karla A. Polivka, James C. Holloway, Ronald K. Faller, John R. Rohde

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

No abstract provided.

Design And Evaluation Of An Open Combination Traffic/Bicycle Bridge Railing System, Jason A. Hascall, John R. Rohde, Dean L. Sicking, Karla A. Polivka, Ronald K. Faller, James C. Holloway M.S.C.E., E.I.T.

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

No abstract provided.

The International Fuel Tax Agreement (Ifta) And International Registration Plan (Irp): Allocating Commercial Fuel Tax And Registration Fee Payments Across Multiple Jurisdictions, Lenahan O'Connell, Juita-Elena Wie Yusuf, Merl Hackbart

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report provides: (1) an overview of the IFTA and IRP processes for allocating fuel tax revenues across jurisdictions; and (2) an assessment of these systems in regard to their effectiveness at allocating the tax and fee burden among commercial carriers in an efficient and accurate manner. Three aspects of the system were assessed by answering the following questions: (1) Is the system effectively fostering cooperation among the 58 jurisdictions governed by the IFTA and IRP agreements? (2) Is it effectively promoting the allocation of tax burdens and payments among the jurisdictions? and (3) Is it effectively collecting tax payments …

Evaluation Of An Existing Steel Post Alternative For The Thrie Beam Bullnose Guardrail System, Robert W. Bielenberg, Ronald K. Faller, John R. Rohde, John D. Reid

Mid-America Transportation Center: Final Reports and Technical Briefs

Recently, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) funded a research project through the Midwest States Regional Pooled Fund to evaluate an existing steel post alternative for the thrie beam bullnose barrier system previously developed at the Midwest Roadside Safety Facility (MwRSF). MnDOT had an interest in the replacement of the wooden breakaway posts used in the current bullnose system with proprietary breakaway steel posts. The research project consisted of evaluation of current breakaway steel post designs, investigation and selection of a candidate post design, and full-scale testing of the bullnose system with a steel post alternative. The full-scale testing was …

Dynamic Impact Testing Of W152x13.4 (W6x9) Steel Posts On A 2:1 Slope, Gopi Dey, Ronald K. Faller, John A. Hascall, Robert W. Bielenberg, Karla A. Polivka, Kirk Molacek

Mid-America Transportation Center: Final Reports and Technical Briefs

Dynamic impact testing of W152x13.4 (W6x9) steel posts at various embedment depths has been detailed, and the results stated. A total of 17 bogie tests have been performed on a 2:1 slope, with post lengths varying from 1,829 mm (6 ft) through 2,743 mm (9 ft). A total of four bogie tests were performed on level terrain using 1,829-mm (6-ft) long steel posts at two different impact speeds. For each bogie test, raw acceleration data, obtained from accelerometers, was filtered and then force-displacement and energy-displacement graphs were plotted. From the energy-displacement graphs, the average post-soil forces were calculated for a …

Route Disruption Analysis, Adam Kirk, Mei Chen

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

In today’s society, transportation has become a vital component of our economy, our national defense, our emergency response systems, and our day-to-day life. Disruption of major highway systems can have serious social, health, economic, security, and environmental consequences. Disruption of highway systems can result from natural or man-made causes, and it may be intentional or unintentional. Examples of the wide-ranging causes of highway disruption include weather, natural disasters, vehicle crashes, hazardous material spills, barge impacts with bridge piers, and acts of terrorism. Disruption of key transportation chokepoints, such as bridges or tunnels, could have disastrous impacts on Kentucky. With this …