Engineering Commons^™

Analysis Of Accident Data In Kentucky (1982-1986), Kenneth R. Agent, Jerry G. Pigman

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Kentucky has a systematic procedure to identify locations that have abnormal rates or numbers of accidents. This procedure utilizes average accident rates and numbers. A primary objective of this study was to determine average accident statistics in Kentucky. An annual safety program for Kentucky, which includes the identification, programming, budgeting, and evaluation of safety projects, is prepared each year. The data presented in this report may be included as the problem identification portion of Kentucky's Annual Highway Safety Plan.

Average and critical accident rates were calculated by highway type for rural and urban highways. A summary of results and recommendations …

Transaction Network: A Parallel Computation Model Based On Consume/Produce Paradigm, Takayuki Dan Kimura

All Computer Science and Engineering Research

This report introduces a new parallel computation model that is suitable for pursuit of large scale concurrency. Our goal is to develop a semantically clean paradigm for distributed computation with fine-grained parallelism. Our approach is to demote the notion of process as the key concept in organizing large scale parallel computation. We promote, instead, the notion of transaction, an anonymous atomic action void of internal state, as the basic element of computation. We propose to organize a computation as a network, called a transaction net, of databases connected by transactions. A transaction, when it is fired, consumes data objects from …

A Turbulence Model For The Heat Transfer Near Stagnation Point Of A Circular Cylinder, Mounir B. Ibrahim

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

A one-equation low-Reynolds number turbulence model has been applied successfully to the flow and heat transfer over a circular cylinder in turbulent cross flow. The turbulence length-scale was found to be equal 3.7y up to a distance 0.05δ and then constant equal to 0.185δ up to the edge of the boundary layer (wherey is the distance from the surface and δ is the boundary layer thickness).

The model predictions for heat transfer coefficient, skin friction factor, velocity and kinetic energy profiles were in good agreement with the data. The model was applied for Re ≤250,000 and Tu_{∞ …}

Size Distribution Of Sediment As Affected By Surface Residue And Slope Length, John E. Gilley, S. C. Finkner, G. E. Varvel

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Runoff samples for determination of size distribution of sediment were collected under simulated rainfall conditions at selected downslope distances on plots covered with sorghum and soybean residue at rates ranging from 0.00 to 6.73 t/ha . The effects of surface residue and slope length on size distribution of sediment were evaluated. Substantial movement of sediment in the form of aggregates was found for each of the residue treatments. Significant differences in size distribution of sediment occurred between residue treatments. For a given residue rate, differences in sediment size distribution were found between sorghum and soybean residue. Size distribution of sediment …

Decision-Directed Multivariate Empirical Bayes Classification With Nonstationary Priors, Wynn C. Stirling, A. Lee Swindlehurst

Faculty Publications

A decision-directed learning strategy is presented to recursively estimate (i.e., track) the time-varying a priori distribution for a multivariate empirical Bayes adaptive classification rule. The problem is formulated by modeling the prior distribution as a finite-state vector Markov chain and using past decisions to estimate the time evolution of the state of this chain. The solution is obtained by implementing an exact recursive nonlinear estimator for the rate vector of a multivariate discrete-time point process representing the decisions. This estimator obtains the Doob decomposition of the decision process with respect to the a-field generated by all past decisions and corresponds …

Advanced Communications Systems, Jonathan S. Turner

All Computer Science and Engineering Research

The Advanced Communication Systems Project is concerned with new communication technologies that can support a wide range of different communication applications in the context of large public networks. Communications networks in common use today have been tailored to specific applications and while they perform their assigned functions well, they are difficult to adapt to new uses. There currently are no general purpose networks, rather there are telephone networks, low-speed data networks and cable television networks. As new communications applications proliferate, it becomes clear that in the long term, a more flexible communications infrastructure will be needed. The Integrated Services Digital …

The Development Of Technical Instructional Materials For Industrial Technology Students, David D. Bradney

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of the research was to develop a usable reference document for graduate students, graduate assistants, undergraduate students, and others who must write technical instructional materials.

Acuta Enews August 1987, Vol. 16, No. 8

ACUTA Newsletters

In This Issue

President's Message

Party Line

PBX Helps University Provide Voice and Data

The Dangers to your Telecommunications System

A Chronicle Of The Kentucky Transportation Research Program, Robert C. Deen, Ronald D. Hughes

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The basis for the Kentucky Transportation Research Program (KTRP) was established more than 45 years ago and some of the current staff members have over 35 years experience in transportation research. Over the years, principal investigators have developed expertise in major areas of transportation and have made significant contributions in highway safety, pavement design and performance, embankment analyses, fatigue detection in bridges, noise abatement, traffic control and operations, voidless concrete, pavement texture and skid resistance, structural design and analyses of culverts, traffic forecasting, and numerous other areas.

The Transportation Research Building houses several fully equipped laboratories. Special effort was made …

Acoustic Emission Monitoring Of In-Service Bridges, Theodore Hopwood Ii, David W. Prine

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

An experimental acoustic emission (AE) device, the GARD Acoustic Emission Weld Monitor (AEWM), has been field tested on six bridges during this study. In addition, the device was used to test three other bridges under separate contracts from state highway agencies. The device was evaluated to determine if it could detect fatigue-crack growth on in-service steel bridges.

The AEWM employs a proprietary three-step model (filter) to reject noise-related AE activity and detect and locate defects subject to varying stress conditions. The unit uses built-in microprocessors to compare incoming data to the model. If defect-related AE activity is detected, the AEWM …

Evaluation Of Epoxy Thermoplastic Pavement Marking Material, Kenneth R. Agent, Jerry G. Pigman

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The objective of this study was to evaluate the field performance of epoxy thermoplastic (ETP) as a pavement marking material and to compare it to a control marking material, which was alkyd traffic paint. A test installation of ETP along with the regular traffic paint was placed on KY 841 in Jefferson County and evaluated over an 18-month period. Data collection consisted of daytime observations and rating of the material's appearance and durability and nighttime observations and rating of its nighttime visibility. Reflectivity measurements were also collected using a portable retroreflectometer.

The appearance (color) of the ETP remained good over …

Performance Survey Of Silicone-Sealed Concrete Pavement Joints, David Q. Hunsucker, Edgar E. Courtney

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report summarizes field inspections of various silicone-sealed concrete pavement joints. A list of silicone sealant projects was provided by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. Observations of performance were subjective and qualitative.

Nusat I Project: Final Report, Charles A. Bonsall

Robert "Bob" Twiggs STEM Education Collection

A report composed by Charles A. Bonsall titled "NUSAT I Project: Final Report" from August of 1987.

Chemically Driven Convection In A Porous Medium, Hendrik J. Viljoen, V. Hlavacek

Papers in Chemical Reactions

This paper is focused on the analysis of interaction of free convection and exothermic chemical reaction. As a consequence of the chemical reaction, free convection effects can result. It is difficult to perform an analytical bifurcation analysis of the full nonlinear governing equations; however, Fourier expansion combined with a Galerkin approximation results in a small set of ordinary nonlinear differential equations (initial value problem) that are amenable to analysis. Conditions for branching of the solution can be determined in an analytical way. A continuation algorithm makes it possible to calculate the branches of stability. The results of the approximate analysis …

Photodetector Arrangement For Measuring The State Of Polarization Of, Rasheed M.A. Azzam

University of New Orleans Patents

A photopolarimeter for the simultaneous measurement of all four Stokes parameters of light. The light beam, the state of polarization of which is to be determined, strikes, at oblique angles of incidence, three photodetector surfaces in succession, each of which is partially specularly reflecting and each of which generates an electrical signal proportional to the fraction of the radiation it absorbs. A fourth photodetector is substantially totally light absorbtive and detects the remainder of the light. The four outputs thus developed form a 4x1 signal vector I which is linearly related, I=A S, to the input Stokes vector S. Consequently, …

The Relationship Between Linguistic And Image Based Learning Approaches For Complex Problem Solving: A Case For Computer Generated Animation In Instructional Presentation Of Complex Technical Processes, Stanley T. Bissinger

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this study is to provide a rationale for development of new approaches to educating students about complex technical processes. This study may also prove helpful for determining what type of technical content is better suited for computer animated presentation.

An Investigation Of The Uses Of Scanning Electron Microscopy In The Analysis Of The Substructure Morphology Of Semiconducting Devices, Michael E. Courbat

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this study is to determine the technical requirements of SEM failure analysis in regard to its' inclusion in the Energy and Power curriculum of the Department of Industrial Technology, University of Northern Iowa.

Angular Sensitivity Of Brewster-Angle Reflection Polarizers: An Analytical Treatment, R. M.A. Azzam

Electrical Engineering Faculty Publications

The angular sensitivity of Brewster-angle reflection polarizers (BARP) is first studied approximately by determining the Taylor series expansion of the parallel reflectance R_p as a function of angle of incidence ø near the Brewster angle ø_B. Subsequently, exact and explicit equations are derived that determine the lower and upper limits, ø_l and ø_u, of the range of ø, that includes ø_B, over which R_p or the extinction ratioER is below a stated limit L. Examples are given of Ge and Si IR BARP for which ø_l and ø …

Acuta Enews July 1987, Vol. 16, No. 1987

ACUTA Newsletters

In This Issue

Stanford University switches to the Meridian SL-100

The Broadband Cable Network

Party Line

Microcomputers Found More Available -and More Often Required -at Selective Colleges

Construction And Performance Evaluation Of A Geocomposite Pavement Edge Drain Including Comparison With A 4-Inch Pipe Drain, L. John Fleckenstein, David L. Allen

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Construction and performance evaluations of Hydraway Drain and Conventional Pavement Edge Drain are presented. Construction procedures, laboratory tests, and discharge data, are included.

Implementation Of A Pavement Management Program In Lexington-Fayette County, Kentucky, Gary W. Sharpe, Robert C. Deen, Ronald R. Sewell

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Lexington, in central Kentucky, is the second largest city in the state. Local government is by a mayor and council of elected representatives from twelve districts and three at-large representatives. The Department of Public Works headed by a Commissioner, who reports to the mayor and city-county council, administers the streets and roads system.

The street and road network in Lexington consists of approximately 720 centerline miles. Approximately 100 miles are rural in nature and 620 miles are urban. Approximately 95 percent are bituminous surfaced roads; a majority of the remainder is constructed of portland cement concrete.

Increasing costs for constructing …

Road Base Construction Utilizing Coal Waste Materials, David Q. Hunsucker, Gary W. Sharpe, Jerry G. Rose, Robert C. Deen

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The paper describes the development and implementation of a no-cement concrete mixture containing pulverized fuel ash (PVA) and atmospheric fluidized bed combustion (AFBC) by-products as the cementitious components for combination with conventional limestone aggregates used as bulk filler. The paper presents a summary of laboratory evaluations and the application of those results to the design of a base for roadway construction. The paper also describes the construction, evaluation, and performance of a pilot application of this material used as a base for a thin bituminous pavement.

Nucleation And Growth Of Zinc Electrodeposited From Acidic Zinc Solutions, A. C. Beshore, B. J. Flori, G. Schade, Thomas J. O'Keefe

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The nucleation and initial crystal growth kinetics by electrodeposition from acidic zinc solutions was studied in the absence and presence of antimony and glue on a glassy carbon electrode. Zinc exhibits instantaneous nucleation under the experimental conditions employed in the potential region from -1600 to -2000 mV (mercurous sulphate reference). At low overpotentials antimony and glue increase the number of nuclei. © 1987 Chapman and Hall Ltd.

A Survey Of Material, Process, And Operator Requirements Of Midwestern United States Laser Job Shops, Eric Jaeckel

Graduate Research Papers

Managers of seven (7) midwestern United States laser job shops were interviewed to assess the material, process, and operator requirements of each particular shop. The seven shops were located in a six (6) state area including Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin,

It was found that mild steel and ceramic were the most common materials processed. Cutting, marking/scribing/etching, and drilling were the most common types of processing and gas lasers were six times more popular than solid state lasers. Operator training should include materials science, electronics, optics, and computer programming.

Computational Aspects Of Chance‑Constrained Regional Modeling, R. R.A. Cantiller, Richard C. Peralta

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

A methodology that incorporates the stochasticity of an aquifer parameter in a chance-constrained steady-state groundwater management model is presented. Results and computational aspects of the modeling effort are discussed.

Development Of Linear Water Quality Constraints For Optimal Groundwater Management, Richard C. Peralta, J. Solaimanian, S. A. Prathapar, C. L. Griffis

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Proposed is a procedure for incorporating solute transport as linear constraints within computer models for optimizing regional groundwater extraction strategies. . MODCON procedure uses linear goal programming. embedded linearized equations for flow and solute transport. and MOC simulation model. Assumed is 20 flow and solute transport. and a dispersed conservative contaminant.

Expert Potentiometric Surface Modification For Groundwater Contaminant Management, R. L. Ward, Richard C. Peralta, J. R. Brashar

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

An expert system is linked to an previously reported optimization program. The expert system prompts the user for information about a groundwater contamination problem. The expert system determines whether pumping is a suitable containment strategy. If appropriate. it selects several well arrangements to be evaluated by an optimization algorithm.

Maximizing Reliable Crop Production In A Dynamic Stream/Aquifer System, Richard C. Peralta, K. Kowalski, R. R.A. Cantiller

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Reliable production of a dynamic stream/aquifer system is determined through an implicitly stochastic optimization model. Adequate representation of the inflow process and dynamic modeling of the stream/aquifer system results in optimum crop yield at specified reliability levels. Results include optimal spatial and temporal allocation of groundwater and diverted river water use. These can be used for planning cropping patterns and evaluating potential diversion systems.

Expanding The Automated Centralized Control System At The Des Moines Area Community College, Mark David Baethke

Graduate Research Papers

DMACC currently has over $1,200,000 invested in the ACCS which is connected to 21 campus buildings. The ACCS is used to save an estimated $300,000 per year in energy costs through energy conserving control of heating, ventilating, and air conditioning equipment. The ACCS also improves building life safety functions through fire alarm monitoring and serves as a significant trouble shooting tool for the mechanical maintenance staff. The initial installations of the ACCS were done after lengthly audits and studies by professional consulting firms which resulted in the recommendations for installation and expansion. These studies were limited to only a few …

Surabaya Indonesia: Options In Solid Waste Management, Samuel A. Vigil

Civil and Environmental Engineering

The Government of Indonesia requested assistance from the United States Trade and Development Program (TDP) regarding improvements to the solid waste management system of the City of Surabaya. TDP retained the author to prepare a Preliminary Feasibility Study which will enable TDP to make an informed decision on the desirability of funding further engineering work leading to solid waste projects.