Engineering Commons^™

Apparatus And Method For Dispersing Nano-Elements To Assemble Device, Craig A. Grimes, Elizabeth Dickey

Chemical and Materials Engineering Faculty Patents

An apparatus for dispersing a first plurality of conductive elongated nano-elements distributed within a carrier-fluid to assemble a conductive device made of a first charge-receptive area of a support surface to which at least one nano-element has attached, including: a nozzle through which the elongated nano-elements are directed such that the nano-elements pass through an electromagnetic field for imparting a preselected charge thereto, and toward at least the first charge-receptive area. The charge-receptive area is given a charge such that it attracts a first end-portion of one of the nano-elements. Also, a method of assembling a conductive device. Steps include: …

Processes For Nanomachining Using Carbon Nanotubes, Robert Ryan Vallance, Apparao M. Rao, M. Pinar Mengüç

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Patents

Novel methods and devices for nanomachining a desired pattern on a surface of a conductive workpiece are disclosed. In one aspect, the method comprises using an electron beam emitted from one or more nanotubes to evaporate nanoscale quantities of material from the workpiece surface. The surface of the workpiece to be machined may be excited to a threshold energy to reduce the amount of power required to be emitted by the nanotube. In another aspect, a device is described for nanomachining a desired pattern on a surface of a conductive workpiece, comprising a vessel capable of sustaining a vacuum, a …

Assessing The Benefits Of Misting-Cooling Systems For Growing-Finishing Swine In Kentucky As Affected By Environment And Pig Placement Date, Thomas C. Bridges, R. S. Gates, Douglas G. Overhults, Larry W. Turner

Agricultural Engineering Extension Publications

The growth performance of animals is often affected by extreme environmental conditions. In the case of swine, generally a cold environment will increase feed intake as the pig strives to maintain body temperature, while warmer environments may reduce growth, increase body maintenance demands, and subject the animal to environmental stress. Confinement houses are widely used as a primary means of modifying the environment to improve conditions for the growth of swine. Environment in these structures is usually controlled by natural or mechanical ventilation and by insulation for cold climates and limited use of evaporative cooling for summertime conditions.

Fiscal Year 2003 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 …

Evaluation Of Foam Fractionation Column Scale-Up For Recovering Bovine Serum Albumin, Czarena L. Crofcheck, Kelly Gillette

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

Foam fractionation is an adsorptive-bubble separation method that, according to researchers, is a feasible technique for the separation and/or concentration of proteins. The foam fractionation of bovine serum albumin (BSA) in laboratory-scale foam fractionation columns (750 and 1250 mL) and the relationship between the two laboratory-scale columns and a pilot-scale column (5000 mL) were investigated. Recovery, enrichment, and performance factor values were experimentally determined with three different column volumes with varying pore sizes, gas superficial velocities, and, in the case of the 750 mL column, foam column height. As the pore size decreased, the amount of protein recovered from the …

Temperature Control Of A Solid Substrate Cultivation Deep - Bed Reactor Using An Internal Heat Exchanger, Mari S. Chinn, Sue E. Nokes

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

The solid substrate cultivation (SSC) process is often limited by rapid increases in temperature as a result of metabolic activity and poor heat transfer properties of the solid substrate. High temperatures can adversely affect microbial growth and product formation. Reduction of substrate temperatures is important for improved productivity, yet effective and efficient control of heat transfer in a deep-bed SSC reactor has proven difficult. An internal cooling water coil was incorporated into a deep-bed reactor system and evaluated for its ability to reduce substrate temperature. Three operating treatments were investigated: cooling water circulation whenever the center bed temperature was above …

Pavement Evaluation, I-265 Jefferson County Mp 15.0-19.0, Brad Rister, R. Clark Graves, David L. Allen

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The Transportation Center conducted a field survey of the pavement conditions located on I-265 in Jefferson County from MP 15.17 to 18.34, in both the eastbound and westbound directions. The existing pavement structure consists of 10″ of PCC pavement and 6″ of DGA. The field survey involved testing the 3.17 mile segment with a Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD), Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), and taking core samples of the pavement structure.

Temperature, Stress, And Corrosive Sensing Apparatus Utilizing Harmonic Response Of Magnetically Soft Sensor Element (S), Craig A. Grimes, Keat Ghee Ong

Chemical and Materials Engineering Faculty Patents

A temperature sensing apparatus including a sensor element made of a magnetically soft material operatively arranged within a first and second time-varying interrogation magnetic field, the first time-varying magnetic field being generated at a frequency higher than that for the second magnetic field. A receiver, remote from the sensor element, is engaged to measure intensity of electromagnetic emissions from the sensor element to identify a relative maximum amplitude value for each of a plurality of higher-order harmonic frequency amplitudes so measured. A unit then determines a value for temperature (or other parameter of interst) using the relative maximum harmonic amplitude …

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

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The safety improvement project for a section of US 119 across Pine Mountain in Letcher County was initiated as an interim effort to address safety issues related to roadway geometrics and specific problems related to truck traffic. The project involves sections of the road being improved over a 7.2-mile length at a cost of approximately $36 million.

The Transportation Center at the University of Kentucky was requested to perform an evaluation of the safety improvement project on US 119 to determine whether the types of improvements undertaken have affected the overall safety of the roadway. Specific objectives were as follows; …

Evaluation And Analysis Of Highway Pavement Drainage, Kamyar C. Mahboub, Yinhui Liu, David L. Allen

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report presents an analysis of pavement drainage using various finite element models. The analysis included a range of pavement materials and drainage parameters. The computational tool in study was the SEEP/W option in the GEOSLOPE computer program. A steady-state saturated flow analysis was employed to generate flow paths and flux quantities through the cross-sectional area of the pavement. Finite element models in this study covered various drainage practices and quantified their relative drainage advantages. Finally, recommendations were provided for optimum drainage practices as well as future research topics in this area.

Evaluation Of Methods To Protect Water Quality In Karst Areas: Phase I, Jennifer Webster, Dhandayudhapani Ramalingam, Sudhir Palle

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The primary focus of this report is two-fold; to provide a literature review on what has been previously learned about highway runoff in relation to karsts aquifers and to characterize a karsts highway site in Kentucky that can be used to evaluate a variety of best management practices. From research findings, the main sources of pollutants in highway runoff came from vehicles, atmospheric fallout, and precipitation. The behavior of pollutants and their interaction with the environment can dictate where they will be found and how to best minimize their effects. Although it would seem that traffic volumes would greatly influence …

Simulation Of Fixed– And Variable–Rate Application Of Granular Materials, John Patrick Fulton, Scott A. Shearer, Timothy S. Stombaugh, Michael E. Anderson, Thomas F. Burks, Stephen F. Higgins

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

Research has shown that application errors exist with variable–rate technology (VRT) systems. Consequently, using prescription maps for economic and agronomic analyses can generate misleading results. The intent of this article was to develop and validate a spatial data model for generating “as–applied” maps to support the advancement of precision agriculture practices. Previous research modified ASAE Standard S341.2 to include a 2–D matrix of collection pans to assess fixed–rate and variable–rate (VR) deposition of granular fertilizers and agricultural lime from a spinner disc spreader. The “as–applied” spatial data model uses GIS functionality to generate “as–applied” surfaces by merging distribution patterns and …

Analysis Of Traffic Crash Data In Kentucky (1998 – 2002), Kenneth R. Agent, Jerry G. Pigman, Monica L. Barrett, Eric R. Green

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report documents an analysis of traffic crash data in Kentucky for the years of 1998 through 2002. 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 Kentucky’S “Buckle Up Kentucky: It’S The Law & It’S Enforced” 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” campaign in Kentucky. The campaign involved a combination of earned media, paid media, and enforcement. The earned media started about three weeks prior to Memorial Day 2003 and continued through the enforcement period. The paid media started about two weeks prior to Memorial Day. The enforcement period was a two-week period including the week before and the week of Memorial Day.

The evaluation of the campaign included documenting the activities associated with the program (publicity and enforcement) and evaluating …

The Use And Performance Of Geogrids In Kentucky, Aric Cowne, Richard Reitenour, David L. Allen, R. Clark Graves

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report will investigate the history and usage of geogrids, a subfamily of geosynthetics, in Kentucky. The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM - 1994) has defined a geosynthetic as a planar product manufactured from a polymeric material used with soil, rock, earth, or other geotechnical-related material as an integral part of a civil engineering project, structure, or system. Geogrids, geosynthetics primarily used for reinforcement, are formed by a regular network of tensile elements with apertures of sufficient size to interlock with surrounding fill material. Geogrids are used as reinforcement by adding tensile strength to a soil matrix, thereby …

2003 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 2003 safety belt and child safety seat usage rates in Kentucky. The 2003 su rvey continues to document the results after enactment of a statewide mandatory safety belt law in 1994 and safety belt enforcement campaign. Data were collect ed 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 2003 (65.5 percent) was higher than that in 2002 (62.0 percent). This compared to 61.9 …

Lessons Learned System For Kentucky Transportation Projects, Paul M. Goodrum, Mohammed F. Yasin, Donn E. Hancher

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

A system of collecting, archiving, and disseminating lessons learned is a critical component of experienced-based processes, such as the design and construction of roadway and bridges. This report examines the development of a centralized, web-based Lessons Learned System for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. The research developed a working prototype of a lessons learned system that functions off of centrally located databases making it easier to administer and update. The Lessons Learned System was designed to accept both text and attachments through file uploads while maintaining relationships between these items of information in terms of a lesson learned. The report describes …

Evaluation Of Non-Nuclear Density Gauges, David L. Allen, David B. Schultz Jr., David Allen Willett

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

For the past several decades, density of freshly laid hot mix asphalt (HMA) mats has been measured by contractors, consultants or governmental agencies using nuclear density gauges. However, use of these devices requires the user to maintain an inordinate amount of records on the use of the equipment. These requirements include calibration and recalibration records, certification records of the operators, records on radiation badges, and periodic testing of the operator’s badges for radiation exposure. In addition, there is always the concern about possible accidents with the gauges that might expose the radiation source to the operators or other bystanders. Because …

Crash Rates At Intersections, Eric R. Green, Kenneth R. Agent

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The objectives of this study were to develop a database of intersections, match traffic crashes to these intersections, calculate crash rates for various types of intersections, and identify intersections with the highest crash rates. A procedure was used to: a) identify intersections, b) assign crashes to these intersections, c) determine entering traffic volume, d) calculate a crash rate for each intersection, and e) calculate a critical rate factor (CRF) for each intersection.

About 7,000 intersections were identified with almost 19,000 crashes related to these intersections for the three-year period of 2000 through 2002. The analysis identified 428 intersections that had …

Evaluation Of Working Capacity For Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (Dbe) For Highway Construction In Kentucky, Fy 2004 Update, Brad W. Rister, Raymond F. Werkmeister, Paul E. Toussaint

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The Kentucky Transportation Center gathered the appropriate information, performed a series of computations and analyses, prepared the attached documentation, and makes the following recommendations to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet for their DBE goal for Federal Fiscal year 2004 (October 1, 2003 - September 30, 2004).

KTC recommends an overall DBE goal of 9.26%, of which 1.931% is anticipated to be satisfied by race/gender neutral prime contracts, and the resultant 7.33% should established as race/gender conscious subcontracts. The overall DBE goal figures stated here addresses an adjustment of 1.326% for the positive historical goal variance observed for the past eight years.

Polymethylmethacrylate Augmented With Carbon Nanotubes, David A. Pienkowski, Rodney J. Andrews

Center for Applied Energy Research Faculty Patents

An augmented synthetic resin is provided. That resin includes carbon nanotubes dispersed in a polymethylmethacrylate matrix. The method of preparing this synthetic resin includes the mixing and disaggregating of the carbon nanotubes.

A.M.I.S. And The Partitioning Of Preference, Ted H. Grossardt

Kentucky Transportation Center Presentations

This presentation reviews work by the researchers that combines group dialogic techniques with analytic hierarchy and GIS to bring the knowledge of large groups of people to bear on a highway routing problem. A significant question is how technical knowledge and local information can be combined, either dialogically or mathematically, to provide the most faithful and practical version of a collaborative preference surface, what we call the Analytic Minimum Impedance Surface, or AMIS. While all preferences can be summed directly for this purpose, it may be more accurate and effective to partition the preference contribution to the landscape by knowledge …

Reinforcement Alternatives For Concrete Bridge Decks, Chris Hill, Choo Ching Chiaw, Issam E. Harik

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report investigates the application of various reinforcement types in concrete bridge decks as potential replacements or supplements to conventional steel reinforcement. Traditional epoxy coated reinforcement (ECS), stainless steel clad (SSC) reinforcement, MMFX microcomposite reinforcement, and carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) reinforcement were evaluated. Tests were conducted to determine the material properties of each reinforcement type. Full-scale two-span reinforced concrete deck specimens were load tested to evaluate their performance. CFRP reinforcement was deployed in a single-span bridge located on Elkin Station Road in Clark County, KY. The SSC and MMFX reinforcements were each placed in a separate span in a …

Survey Of Welding Processes, Theodore Hopwood Ii

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The current KYTC “SPECIAL PROVISION NO. 4 WELDING STEEL BRIDGES” prohibits the use of welding processes other than shielded metal arc welding (SMAW) and submerged arc welding (SAW). Nationally, bridge welding is codified under ANSI/AASHTO/AWS D1.5M/D1.5:2002 Bridge Welding Code. That document allows the use of other welding processes including flux core arc welding, gas metal arc welding, electroslag welding and electrogas welding after passing qualification tests.

Both the KYTC Special Provision and the Bridge Welding Code were reviewed. Representatives from 14 state highway agencies, fabrication shops, universities and welding equipment firms were questioned regarding the wider use of the welding …

Highway Crash Site Management, Monica L. Barrett, Jennifer R. Walton

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Traveler delay is the problem most often associated with highway crashes, but by far the most serious problem is the resulting secondary crashes that occur. Another related issue is the danger posed to response personnel serving the public at the scene of a crash. The longer a crash is in place, the longer the responders are vulnerable and exposed to injury.

The Kentucky Transportation Center, in cooperation with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, developed a checklist and interagency workshop to address ways to secure and coordinate the resources necessary to restore the roadway’s operation in a safe and timely manner. The …

Constructibility Issues On Kytc Projects, Donn E. Hancher, Joseph J. Thozhal, Paul M. Goodrum

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Constructibility is defined by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials Subcommittee on Construction as “a process that utilizes construction personnel with extensive construction knowledge early in the design stages of projects to ensure that the projects are buildable, while also being cost-effective, biddable, and maintainable” A successful constructibility review process for a transportation agency must follow an established methodology similar to value engineering. The process must be flexible and address the critical issues impacting transportation construction projects, such as ease of construction, environmental factors, construction phasing and scheduling, project safety, and accommodation of future maintenance and operations. …

Development Of Procedures For Identifying High-Crash Locations And Prioritizing Safety Improvements, Kenneth R. Agent, Lenahan O'Connell, Eric R. Green, Doug Kreis, Jerry G. Pigman, Neil Tollner, Eric C. Thompson

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The objectives of this study were to review and analyze the current procedures for identifying high-crash locations and evaluating and prioritizing roadway safety improvements at high-crash locations, and to recommend improved methods. Several tasks were undertaken to accomplish these objectives, including the following:

• Review of program guidelines and procedures used by other states to prioritize improvements at high-crash locations
• Review and documentation of Kentucky’s current procedures
• Update of Kentucky’s Crash Buildup Program software to be compatible with the 2000 crash report form
• Development of new software to assist in estimating the benefits and costs of potential projects for inclusion in …

Abandoned Railroad Corridors In Kentucky: An Inventory And Assessment, Lisa Rainey Brownell, Kentucky Transportation Center

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report provides an inventory of Kentucky's abandoned rail lines and a detailed assessment to highlight the lines that may be the most suitable for future trail use. A secondary purpose of the report was to inventory historic railroad structures. Over 125 different abandoned rail lines were identified, mapped using GIS technology, and assessed for their current use and condition. These abandoned rights of way exist in all regions of the state, in urban and rural areas.

Intelligent Transportation Systems Statewide Architecture, Joseph D. Crabtree, Jennifer R. Walton

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report describes the development of Kentucky’s Statewide Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Architecture. The process began with the development of an ITS Strategic Plan in 1997-2000. A Business Plan, developed in 2000-2001, translated the goals of the Strategic Plan into specific project recommendations. To develop the Statewide Architecture, the project team first inventoried all existing and planned ITS projects in the state. A project architecture was developed for each identified project, and these project architectures were then merged to form the Statewide Architecture. This report describes the background work that set the stage for the architecture, the actual architecture development …

Assessing The Benefits Of Misting–Cooling Systems For Growing/Finishing Swine As Affected By Environment And Pig Placement Date, Thomas C. Bridges, Larry W. Turner, Richard S. Gates, Douglas G. Overhults

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

The NCPIG swine growth model was used to evaluate swine growth performance for Wilmington, North Carolina; Bardstown and Mayfield, Kentucky; and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma as influenced by the use of a misting–cooling system. Five pig placement dates (Julian days 106, 126, 146, 166, and 186) were evaluated for each location using 22 years of weather data (1978–1999). The use of a misting system, while quite variable, was found to be generally profitable, reducing the length of the time to reach market weight. As the placement date increased, the average return to misting ($/pig/year) decreased from $8.12 to $1.98 for Oklahoma …