Engineering Commons^™

Frictional Performance Of Pavements And Estimates Of Accident Probability [Dec. 1980], James L. Burchett, Rolands L. Rizenbergs

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Objectives of this study were to evaluate standard and experimental surfaces throughout Kentucky in terms of skid resistance and effects of traffic, and to provide criteria for judging suitability of these surfaces to satisfy requirements for skid resistance and economics. The effects of traffic were quantified by regression analysis and scatter of data. Criteria included an estimate of accident risks, effects of speed on skid resistance, and seasonal variations in skid resistance.

Pavements on low volume roads (less than 1,000 vehicles per day) maintained adequate skid resistances. Open-graded friction courses, with the possible exception of sections using phosphate slag aggregate, …

The V-Process: An Innovative Foundry Technique, Thomas John Miller

Graduate Research Papers

The V-Process is an innovative foundry technique that is relatively unknown in the United States (Dreger, 1976, p. 63). The V-Process, known as vacuum sealed molding of unbonded sand, is a patented industrial foundry practice. Plastic film, unbonded sand, and vacuum are used to encapsulate the mold cavity.

Initially, the V-Process was used to produce intricate ornamental and- art castings. The V-Process has been used to produce castings of all sizes and shapes including castings having thin section curtain walls. Other castings include 2600 pound iron ore crusher mills and eight ton ship anchors. V-Process castings weigh as little as …

The Performance Of Crossed-Vane Swirl Meters, H. L. Lee, William W. Durgin

Office of the Provost Scholarship

Vortimeters consisting of vanes rotating about pipe axes are frequently used to indicate the swirl present in pump columns and feedlines from sumps and in piping networks. Since the design of such devices varies widely, the study described herein was undertaken to identify salient design parameters and to evaluate a device designed according to information available in the literature.

An apparatus which could produce known amounts of angular momentum in a pipeline was verified by direct measurement of axial and tangential velocity profiles. By using the assumption that a vortimeter, with vanes spanning only the rotational core, responded to an …

Interstate Safety Improvement Program, Jerry G. Pigman, Kenneth R. Agent, Charles V. Zegeer

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The purpose of this paper was to prepare prioritized rankings of recommended improvements which could implemented for the Interstate Safety Improvement Program in Kentucky. Considerable detail is presented which documents analysis procedures used to determine sites, sections, and elements of the roadway in need of improvement. The average number of accidents per interchange, bridge, 1.6-km (1.0-mile) section, and 0.48-km (0.3-mile) spots were summarized for large urban, medium urban, and rural sections of the interstate system. At specified levels of statistical significance, critical numbers of accidents and critical accident rates were calculated to assist in identifying high-accident locations. A limited field …

Use Of Economic Analyses And Dynamic Programming In The Selection Of Projects For Resurfacing, Charles V. Zegeer, Kenneth R. Agent, Rolands L. Rizenbergs

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The objective of this paper was to develop a dynamic programming procedure using economic analyses to assist in optimizing expenditures in pavement resurfacing programs. Benefit relationships were determined from expected accident reduction, improved comfort, time saving, fuel savings, and maintenance savings. The only cost input to the program was the resurfacing cost of each project.

Dynamic programming was adapted to the selection of projects for resurfacing in Kentucky. Over $8.4 million of additional user benefits would have been realized in 1976 if dynamic programming had been used in selecting projects. The benefit-cost ratio of sections selected for resurfacing by the …

An Abstract Model Of Unstratified Database System, Takayuki D. Kimura, Jerome R. Cox Jr., Will D. Gillett

All Computer Science and Engineering Research

A semantic data model is introduced with the following capabilities: (1) Abstraction mechanisms for aggregation, generalization and classification, (2) Unstratified control of the database content, (3) Refined control of intentional and extensional information, and (4) Extensive semantic consistency checking. The basic features of the model are illustrated through a scenario of interactions between the user and the database system (using the proposed model) for constructing a simple database on technical publications.

Determination Of The Total Grain Size Distribution In A Vulcanian Eruption Column, And Its Implications To Stratospheric Aerosol Perturbation, P. J. Murrow, William I. Rose, S. Self

Department of Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences Publications

Grain size analysis of samples representing all sampleable portions of the airfall deposit produced by the Fuego volcano in Guatemala on 14 October 1974 form the basis for estimating the total grain size distribution of tephra from this eruption. The region enclosed by each isopach has a particular average grain size distribution which can be weighted proportionally to its percentage volume. The grain size of pyroclastic avalanche deposits produced during the eruption are also included. The total grain size distribution calculated as a sum of weighted distributions has a median grain size of 0.8∅ (0.6mm) and a sorting coefficient (σ∅) …

Wood Fuels In Power Generation, Yildirim Omurtag, Larry Wetzel, Michael Mcevilly

UMR-MEC Conference on Energy / UMR-DNR Conference on Energy

In order for wood to be considered a feasible energy source for power generation, it must prove to be economical, meet society's pollution criteria, and provide sufficient energy to meet its regional demand applications or requirements. This report looks at wood's availability, its potential as a fuel source, the different methods of energy conversion, and lastly, submits conclusions and recommendations concerning wood-fueled power generation.

The information and background was supplied and supported by actual application, government publications and documentations, and other sources. The availability report includes living biomass, wood residues, and potential biomass expansion. Once availability was determined, the portion …

The Price Of Oil, R. W. Clack

UMR-MEC Conference on Energy / UMR-DNR Conference on Energy

An examination of major forces in the petroleum market with primary emphasis on the decade of the 1970s. The market force (s) responsible for the factor-of-ten increase in the price of crude oil is isolated, if not identified. The market's "message" is set forth for energy policy planners.

Umr Minerals Building: An Innovative Approach To The Construction Of Underground Buildings, Bruce H. Green, David A. Summers

UMR-MEC Conference on Energy / UMR-DNR Conference on Energy

The original intent of the exercice was to develop a design for a new minerals engineering building which would demonstrate the applicability and feasibility of an underground building complex to our administration and to the Board of Curators. Two major advantages were foreseen for such a building. Not only would it be immensely superior, in terms of energy demand, to the conventional aboveground buildings previously constructed by the University, but it also would have highly significant symbollic and educational effects on the students of the several disciplines comprising the UMR "School of Mines and Metallurgy". It would also serve as …

Determination Of Washability And Flotation Characteristics Of Important Missouri Coal Seams, Hayri Erten

UMR-MEC Conference on Energy / UMR-DNR Conference on Energy

Most of the 14 workable coal seams in the State of Missouri are considered to be high in ash and sulfur contents and need beneficiation in order to meet customer and Environmental Protection Agency requirements. If proper beneficiation methods can be designed, more Missouri coal will be mined and used within the state.

The objectives of this research are (1) to draw the washability curves of important Missouri coal seams in order to determine their washability characteristics, and (2) to determine the flotation characteristics of the same seams.

Tests conducted on 20 samples taken from Bevier, Croweburg, Mulky, and Summit …

The Energy Conservation And Safety Dilemma, Burns E. Hegler

UMR-MEC Conference on Energy / UMR-DNR Conference on Energy

Since the beginning of the energy crisis, efforts to conserve energy often have seemed to be diametrically opposed to the precepts of safety. This is true if conservation is not planned and conducted properly. However, energy and safety can be quite compatible and may work to their mutual advantage if effectively managed.

The Oil Industry And Antitrust Merger Policy, Pauline Weber

UMR-MEC Conference on Energy / UMR-DNR Conference on Energy

This paper examines the trends in merger activity in the petroleum industry in light of over-all merger activity and of the Justice Department's merger guidelines. Supreme Court precedents and economic conditions within the petroleum area are discussed. Some conclusions concerning the Justice Department's merger policy are included.

Managing In An Energy Scarce Environment, John Amos

UMR-MEC Conference on Energy / UMR-DNR Conference on Energy

Present engineering management principles, operations research techniques, and economic theories were mainly developed dealing with only one scarce resource -- capital. Today, the engineer manager must consider another scarce resource -- energy. In the past, energy was never considered a major factor; i.e., equipment was considered a good investment if labor was reduced, regardless of energy cost. Many other managerial decisions are similar; therefore, the engineer manager must understand why many decisions based on traditional techniques may be misleading. The engineer manager must now utilize more complex engineering management techniques instead of evaluating only one factor or using rules of …

Superconducting Magnetic Energy Storage: A Cost And Sizing Study, Haur D. Shaw, J. Derald Morgan, Max Darwin Anderson

UMR-MEC Conference on Energy / UMR-DNR Conference on Energy

Two applications for superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES) devices in power systems are studied. One is for peak shaving, and the other is for load leveling. Consideration is given to placing these devices near load centers to reduce the line losses. For (SMES) cases studied using smaller size devices at several load centers, the line losses are lowered. However, the efficiency of SMES is proportional to its size, and the capitol cost per MWH is much greater for a smaller size SMES unit when compared to a larger SMES unit. Once the location or locations for SMES have been selected, …

Thermal Gasification Of Densified Sewage Sludge And Solid Waste, Samuel A. Vigil, George Tchobanoglous

Civil and Environmental Engineering

The disposal of sewage sludge in an economic and environmentally acceptable manner is a problem common to all communities that have municipal wastewater treatment facilities. Similarly, all communities are faced with the disposal of increasing quantities of solid waste. The co-disposal of sludge and solid waste in a common facility is a potential solution to both of these problems. The results of an experimental program to verify the feasibility of the gasification process for the co-disposal of densified sludge and source separated solid waste are presented in this paper.

Propane-Carbon Dioxide And Propylene-Carbon Dioxide Mixture Adsorption In 5a Molecular Sieves, Orrln K. Crosser, Bui V. Hong

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Measurements of the adsorption on 5A molecular sieves have established that, at 1 atm and 24.0 °C, both systems, propane-carbon dioxide and propylene-carbon dioxide, form Ideal solution adsorbed phases. Total mass adsorbed ranges from 112 to 207 mg/g of sorbent for propane-carbon dioxide and from 130 to 207 mg/g of sorbent for propylene-carbon dioxide. © 1980, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.

The Operation Of An Electrical Heating System For Bridge Decks, Wm. Vernon Azevedo, Robert C. Deen, James H. Havens

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The 9th-Street interchange with I 64 in Louisville, Kentucky, was designed and constructed with an automated electrical heating system for snow and ice removal. This report summarizes the operation of the heating system during the first four years. The system was capable of keeping the interchange free of ice and snow accumulation. The average daily slab temperature fell below 0°C (32° F) only on a few occasions. The average cost of electrical power for heating the interchange was $883 per day.

The Effect Of Lane And Shoulder Widths On Accident Reductions On Rural, Two-Lane Roads, Charles V. Zegeer, Robert C. Deen, Jesse G. Mayes

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of lane and shoulder widths on accident benefits for rural, two-lane roads and also to determine the expected cost effectiveness of widening lanes and shoulders. Information concerning geometries, accidents, and traffic volumes was obtained for over 25,000 km (15,000 miles) of roads.

Run-off-road and opposite-direction accidents were the only accident types found to be associated with narrow lanes and shoulders. Wide lanes had accident rates 10 to 39 percent lower than for narrow lanes. Wide shoulders (up to 2.7 m (9 feet)) were associated with the lower accident rates. Criteria …

Interpretation Of Dynamic Pavement Deflections, Gary W. Sharpe, Herbert F. Southgate, Robert C. Deen

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

In 1977, a methodology was .developed to evaluate pavement performance using dynamic (Road Rater) deflections. Since then, additional research has resulted in modifications ill the procedures. This paper presents the procedures presently used to evaluate flexible pavement structures. Background information is included on various procedures used by others. A sample set of data is presented and evaluated. A discussion is included on how the analyses of dynamic pavement deflections can be used to design overlays and in pavement management.

The Need For A Schema For The Classification Of Transitional (Shale) Materials, Robert C. Deen

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The need for comprehensive information on the characteristics and behavior of earth materials has been recognized for many years, perhaps for as long as significant construction has taken place in and on the surface of the earth. In recent years, however, the magnitude and complexity of engineered construction has greatly increased, resulting in a corresponding increase in the need for information on the engineering properties of soil and rock materials for use in site selection, design, construction, and maintenance of major structures. Probably the most pressing need for such data is for use in preliminary considerations of site selection and …

Evaluation Of The Fhwa Highway Traffic Noise Prediction Procedure (Snap 1) [Oct. 1980], Kenneth R. Agent

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Traffic noise prediction procedures are used in the design of new highways to determine if noise is limited to specific levels. A previous study evaluated the procedure outlined in NCHRP Report 117 and developed a correction factor which was incorporated into Kentucky's noise prediction procedure. This adjusted NCHRP 117 procedure has been used in Kentucky for the past several years. The Federal Highway Administration has developed a new procedure to predict traffic noise levels. The objective of this study was to evaluate the new prediction procedure, designated as SNAP 1.

Comparisons of measured and predicted noise levels showed that predictions …

Mapping Of Fresnel’S Interface Reflection Coefficients Between Normal And Oblique Incidence: Results For The Parallel And Perpendicular Polarizations At Several Angles Of Incidence, Rasheed M.A. Azzam

Electrical Engineering Faculty Publications

The functions, w = ƒ(z), that describe the transformation of Fresnel’s reflection coefficients of parallel and perpendicularly polarized light between normal and oblique incidence, as well as their inverses, z = g(w), are studied in detail as conformal mappings between the complex z and w planes for angles of incidence of 15, 30, 45, 60, and 75°. New nomograms are obtained for the determination of optical properties of absorbing isotropic and anisotropic media from measurements of reflectances of s- or p-polarized light at normal and oblique incidence.

Determination Of The Optic Axis And Optical Properties Of Absorbing Uniaxial Crystals By Reflection Perpendicularincidence Ellipsometry On Wedge Samples, Rasheed M.A. Azzam

Electrical Engineering Faculty Publications

Given an arbitrarily cut uniaxial crystal wedge, a procedure is described using reflection perpendicular-incidence ellipsometry (PIE) for (1) locating the optic axis, and (2) determining the ordinary (N_o) and extraordinary (N_e) complex refractive indices. The optic axis is located by finding the principal directions of the two wedge faces and subsequently solving three spherical triangles. N_o and N_e are determined by two complex ratios of principal reflection coefficients (of light normally incident on and linearly polarized along the principal directions of each face) as measured by PIE. The solution for N_o and N …

Concepts In Passive Design #2: Devices For East And West Shading, Florida Solar Energy Center, Ross Mccluney

FSEC Energy Research Center®

A major source of heat in buildings is direct solar radiation through east and west windows--welcome heat energy in cold weather, but a summertime problem. Since Florida has such a long cooling season and generally a short heating season, it is especially important to protect east and west walls, windows, and sliding glass doors from the summer sun while allowing adequate light to enter the building year-round. From a lighting standpoint, natural daylight is on the whole quite good but it can produce unwanted heat and visual glare if not properly controlled.

Concepts In Passive Design #3 Passive Cooling Categorizations, Florida Solar Energy Center

FSEC Energy Research Center®

Editor's Note: While passive solar heating is relatively well evolved, passive cooling is only on the threshold of development, and many of its terms are new to the practicing professional. At the Fourth Annual Passive Cooling Conference this problem was addressed by William W. Holmes of the University of Nebraska with the presentation of a 10-point categorization of cooling techniques. We are indebted to Mr. Holmes for this contribution to the emerging field of passive cooling and present it here as a point of departure and working vocabulary for the design professional.

Frictional Performance Of Pavements And Estimates Of Accident Probability [Sept. 1980], James L. Burchett, Rolands L. Rizenbergs

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Objectives of this study were to evaluate standard and experimental surfaces throughout Kentucky in terms of skid resistance and effects of traffic, and to provide criteria for judging suitability of these surfaces to satisfy requirements for skid resistance and economics. The effects of traffic were quantified by regression analysis and scatter of data. Criteria included an estimate of accident risks, effects of speed on skid resistance, and seasonal variations in skid resistance.

The analysis indicated that pavements on low volume roads (less than 1,000 vehicles per day) maintained adequate skid resistances. Open-graded friction courses, with the possible exception of sections …

Kentucky Building Code 1980, Kentucky Library Research Collections

Research Collections

Kentucky Building Code (KBC) is the official referenced standards to ensure that a building is constructed in accordance with the approved construction documents.

Modulus And Damping Of Asphaltic Concrete Using The Resonant Column, David L. Allen, Robert C. Deen

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

When analyzing flexible pavements or predicting their behavior by such means as elastic-layered theory or by finite elements, it is necessary to know the parameters that govern the behavior of the pavement components. One of the most important factors to consider is the modulus of the asphalt bound layers.

In the past two decades, one method that has seen increasing use in the determination of the moduli of engineering materials (particularly soils) is the resonant column. However, its use in determining the moduli cf asphaltic concrete has not been widespread or well documented. In this study, which was part of …

Statewide Survey Of Skid Resistances Of Pavements (1979), Rolands L. Rizenbergs, James L. Burchett

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Statewide survey of skid resistances continued in 1979 with the testing of 3,060 miles (4,930 km) of roads, including interstate and toll roads. During the two-year (1978 and 1979) cycle of testing, over 7,000 miles (11,270 km) of roads have been tested. Altogether, 560 miles (902 km) of roads had an average skid number of 28 or less. These pavements, in particular, should be considered for deslicking.

In 1978 and 1979, 28 percent of the state-maintained roads were surveyed. These roads carried 72 percent of all traffic on state-maintained roads.