Engineering Commons^™

Kentucky Traffic Collision Facts 2020, Eric Green, Paul Ross, Christopher Blackden, Michael Fields, Kenneth Agent

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

KENTUCKY’S TRAFFIC COLLISION FACTS report 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.

2021 Safety Belt Usage Survey In Kentucky, Erin Lammers-Staats, Kenneth Agent, Eric Green

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The objective of the survey summarized in this report was to establish a statewide safety belt usage rate in Kentucky for 2021. This rate can be compared to those determined from previous surveys. The 2021 statewide survey documents the continued effect associated with law enforcement, related education, and general public attitude.

The Behaviour Of Rare Earth Elements From South African Coal Fly Ash During Enrichment Processes: Wet, Magnetic Separation And Zeolitisation, Mero Lee Ursula Cornelius, Alechine Emmanuel Ameh, Chuks Paul Eze, Olanrewaju Fatoba, Asel Sartbaeva, Leslie Felicia Petrik

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Rare earth elements (REEs) are essential raw materials in a variety of industries including clean energy technologies such as electric vehicles and wind turbines. This places an ever-increasing demand on global rare earth element production. Coal fly ash (CFA) possesses appreciable levels of REEs. CFA, a waste by-product of coal combustion, is therefore a readily available source of REEs that does not require mining. CFA valorization to zeolites has been achieved via various synthesis pathways. This study aimed to evaluate one such pathway by monitoring how REEs partition during CFA processing by the wet, magnetic separation process and zeolitisation. South …

Comparative Evaluation Of Two Glass Polyalkenoate Cements: An In Vivo Pilot Study Using A Sheep Model, Leyla Hasandoost, Daniella Marx, Paul Zalzal, Oleg Safir, Mark Hurtig, Cina Mehrvar, Stephen D. Waldman, Marcello Papini, Mark R. Towler

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) is used to manage bone loss in revision total knee arthroplasty (rTKA). However, the application of PMMA has been associated with complications such as volumetric shrinkage, necrosis, wear debris, and loosening. Glass polyalkenoate cements (GPCs) have potential bone cementation applications. Unlike PMMA, GPC does not undergo volumetric shrinkage, adheres chemically to bone, and does not undergo an exothermic setting reaction. In this study, two different compositions of GPCs (GPCA and GPCB), based on the patented glass system SiO₂-CaO-SrO-P₂O₅-Ta₂O₅, were investigated. Working and setting times, pH, ion release, …

Stabilization Of Energy Level Sets Of Underactuated Mechanical Systems Exploiting Impulsive Braking, Nilay Kant, Ranjan Mukherjee, Hassan Khalil

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Recent investigations of underactuated systems have demonstrated the benefits of control inputs that are impulsive in nature. Here we consider the problem of stabilization of energy level sets of underactuated systems exploiting impulsive braking. We consider systems with one passive degree-of-freedom (DOF) and the energy level set is a manifold where the active coordinates are fixed and the mechanical energy equals some desired value. A control strategy comprised of continuous inputs and intermittent impulsive braking inputs is presented. The generality of the approach is shown through simulation of a three-DOF Tiptoebot; the feasibility of implementation of impulsive control using standard …

Coalescence Characteristics Of Bulk Nanobubbles In Water: A Molecular Dynamics Study Coupled With Theoretical Analysis, Eric Bird, Eric Smith, Zhi Liang

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The Coalescence of Two Nanobubbles (NBs) in Water is a Process of Great Importance to Many Industrial Applications. in This Work, We Study the Coalescence of Two Equal-Sized Nitrogen NBs in Water using Molecular Dynamics (MD) Simulations and Continuum-Based Theoretical Analysis. We Vary the NB Diameter from 30 to 50 Nm and Study the Coalescence Characteristics Including the Expansion Speed of the Capillary Bridge between Two Coalescing NBs, the Dynamic Regime of NB Coalescence, the Diameter of Fully Merged NBs, and the Temperature Variation of NBs during the Coalescence Process. for All Cases, We Show the MD Simulation Results Can …

Simulation Of Anisoplanatic Lucky Look Imaging And Statistics Through Optical Turbulence Using Numerical Wave Propagation, Michael A. Rucci, Russell C. Hardie, Richard K. Martin

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

This paper investigates anisoplanatic numerical wave simulation in the context of lucky look imaging. We demonstrate that numerical wave propagation can produce root mean square (RMS) wavefront distributions and probability of lucky look (PLL) statistics that are consistent with Kolmogorov theory. However, the simulated RMS statistics are sensitive to the sampling parameters used in the propagation window. To address this, we propose and validate a new sample spacing rule based on the point source bandwidth used in the propagation and the level of atmospheric turbulence. We use the tuned simulator to parameterize the wavefront RMS probability density function as a …

Optimization Of Interplanetary Transfer Trajectories Using The Invariant Manifolds Of Halo Orbits, Ryan Yedinak

Master's Theses

Traditionally, two-body dynamics have been used to design orbital trajectories for interplanetary missions using a series of Lambert’s transfers and gravity assists. Although these are reliable methods, they have extremely high fuel requirements, especially for missions to outer planets. From an orbital mechanics perspective, three ways of reducing fuel requirements for these types of missions are utilizing low energy transfer trajectories, applying low thrust engine parameters, and implementing orbit optimization techniques.

The goal of this thesis is to combine low energy transfers created from the dynamics of the Circular Restricted Three-Body Problem (CRTBP) with low-thrust orbit optimization techniques to develop …

Thermal Vacuum Chamber Modification, Testing, And Analysis, Jared C. Lehmann

Master's Theses

This work discusses the modification and analysis of the Blue Thermal Vacuum Chamber (TVAC) located at the Space Environments Lab at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. The modified design has a cylindrical test section and can accommodate 6U Cubesats or larger for educational or research purposes. The sizing process for the modified shroud cooling system and modular heating plates is discussed. The modified cooling system uses existing nitrogen plumbing into the chamber and control systems with a new copper shroud. The modified heating system uses modular heater plates, which utilize the existing three heater strips. The modified system …

Power Factor And Reactive Power In Us Residences – Survey And Energyplus Modeling, Hope C. Anderson, Abdullah Al Hadi, Evan S. Jones, Dan M. Ionel

Power and Energy Institute of Kentucky Faculty Publications

Electric power systems are experiencing a growing number of electronic loads in the residential sector as modern appliance technology progresses, and it has become increasingly more important to consider the total power factor (PF) of residential communities. This paper provides a survey based on literature and publicly available information of typical appliance PF values and effects at the residential level as well as a discussion on appliance energy use and corresponding operation schedules. A procedure for the calculation of equivalent PF is proposed and exemplified with minutely experimental data at 15-minute and hourly time intervals, which correspond to smart metering …

Guidelines For Structural Optimization And Sustainable Retrofitting Of Re-Purposed Buildings Using Bim, Mariam Ehab, Mina Maxi, Gehan Nagy

Civil Engineering

Nowadays energy problems resulting from the building industry become very polluting along with the high expenses of the building operation. Designers tend to propose another solution which is the refurbishment of old buildings to be energy-optimized and more efficient. As a result, some solutions are addressed to prioritize keeping the architectural theme of the city as well as reducing land use. An extensive investigation is conducted to review past research approaches regarding energy optimization requirements as well as scoping on structural optimization through building refurbishment. Structural optimization resulting from structural repurposing is not studied in depth recently, as a result, …

Applying Model-Based Systems Engineering And Fidelity Quantification To Support Fair Fight In A Distributed Simulation System, Nathaniel Erbe, David Lemmer

Theses and Dissertations

Current 5th and 6th generation fighter aircraft capabilities, and the DoD's push towards digital engineering have created an environment in which simulated testing using live, virtual, and constructive assets has increasing utility. These simulations need to be credible in the eyes of the stakeholders, which for distributed simulation systems includes establishing fair fight between simulation services. Fair fight is when multiple simulations interoperate without generating one-sided systematic advantages. Issues that impede fair fight can be categorized into interoperability issues at the simulations implementation level and incompatible representations of reality between underlying models. This research used model-based systems engineering to generate …

Pseudospectral Methods Of Robust Optimal Motion Planning For Multi-Aperture Space Systems With Motion And Vibration Compensation, Brian W. Bishop

Theses and Dissertations

For multi-body, flexible systems, the ability to achieve rapid reorientation maneuvers can be impacted by nonlinear dynamics and uncertainty in the model parameters impacting the ability to achieve an optimal trajectory computed using nominal parameter values. Trajectory sensitivity to parameter variations increases final pointing error and residual vibrational energy in the system. This manuscript explores using pseudospectral methods to generate robust optimal control trajectories minimizing trajectory sensitivity to parameter variations and derives maneuvers minimizing residual energy and pointing error. The robustness of open-loop optimal control is compared to a standard maneuver derived using traditional methods demonstrating the ability to simultaneously …

What’S Left Before Participatory Modeling Can Fully Support Real-World Environmental Planning Processes: A Case Study Review, Beatrice Hedelin, S. Gray, S. Woehlke, Todd K. Bendor, Alison Singer, R. Jordan, Moira Zellner, Philippe J. Giabbanelli, Pierre D. Glynn, Antoine J. Jetter, Multiple Additional Authors

Engineering and Technology Management Faculty Publications and Presentations

In environmental participatory modeling (PM), both computer and non-computer-based modeling techniques are used to aid participatory problem description, solution, and decision-making actions in environmental contexts. Although many PM case studies have been published, few efforts have sought to systematically describe and understand dominant PM processes or establish best practices for PM. As a first step, we have reviewed a random sample of environmental PM case study articles (n = 60) using a novel PM process evaluation instrument. We found that significant work likely remains for PM to fully support participatory and integrated planning processes. While PM reports systematically address knowledge …

Development Of Novel Ultra-High Performance Engineered Cementitious Composites (Uhp-Ecc) For Durable And Resilient Transportation Infrastructure, Gabriel A. Arce, Marwa Hassan, Daniel E. Game

Data

The objective of this study was to develop novel UHP-ECC materials utilizing readily available ingredients in Region 6 for the construction and repair of transportation infrastructure. Phase one of this study focused on the development of ultra-high strength cementitious matrices by evaluating the effects of ingredient selection and mixture proportioning on the materials’ compressive strength. Variables evaluated included the mass ratios of silica fume to fly ash (SF/FA), supplementary cementitious materials to cement (SCMs/C), and ordinary sand to microsilica sand (OS/MS). Phase two of the study focused on the development of UHP-ECC materials. To this end, based on the knowledge …

Multifunctional Corrosion Control System As A Sustainable Approach For Reinforced Concrete Elements, Homero Castaneda, Miladin Radovic, Brendy Rincon, Oladis Troconis, Arturo Montoya, Changkyu Kim, Loreto Dacio

Data

Corrosion inhibitors can be utilized to decrease the corrosion kinetics and therefore increase the durability of reinforced concrete structures. Recently, a green synthesized organic compound, 1-benzyl-4-phenyl-1H-1,2,3-triazole (BPT), was shown to be a successful green organic corrosion inhibitor for mild steel. Studies suggested that the BPT adsorbs chemically onto the steel and acts as a mixed inhibitor, suppressing both the anodic and cathodic corrosion kinetics of steel. In addition, microcapsules have shown to be an efficient way for a controlled inhibitor release in reinforced concrete structures. On the other hand, geopolymers (GPs) comprised of a long range of covalently bonded alumino-silicates, …

Multifunctional Corrosion Control System As A Sustainable Approach For Reinforced Concrete Elements, Homero Castaneda, Miladin Radovic, Brendy Rincon, Oladis Troconis, Arturo Montoya, Changkyu Kim, Loreto Dacio

Publications

Corrosion inhibitors can be utilized to decrease the corrosion kinetics and therefore increase the durability of reinforced concrete structures. Recently, a green synthesized organic compound, 1-benzyl-4-phenyl-1H-1,2,3-triazole (BPT), was shown to be a successful green organic corrosion inhibitor for mild steel. Studies suggested that the BPT adsorbs chemically onto the steel and acts as a mixed inhibitor, suppressing both the anodic and cathodic corrosion kinetics of steel. In addition, microcapsules have shown to be an efficient way for a controlled inhibitor release in reinforced concrete structures. On the other hand, geopolymers (GPs) comprised of a long range of covalently bonded alumino-silicates, …

Deep Reinforcement Learning-Based Project Prioritization For Rapid Post-Disaster Recovery Of Transportation Infrastructure Systems, Yongcheol Lee, Kunhee Choi Ph.D, Pedram Ghannad

Data

Among various natural hazards that threaten transportation infrastructure, flooding represents a major hazard in Region 6's states to roadways as it challenges their design, operation, efficiency, and safety. The catastrophic flooding disaster event generally leads to massive obstruction of traffic, direct damage to highway/bridge structures/pavement, and indirect damages to economic activities and regional communities that may cause loss of many lives. After disasters strike, reconstruction and maintenance of an enormous number of damaged transportation infrastructure systems require each DOT to take extremely expensive and long-term processes. In addition, planning and organizing post-disaster reconstruction and maintenance projects of transportation infrastructures are …

Efficient, Low-Cost Bridge Cracking Detection And Quantification Using Deep-Learning And Uav Images, Chao Sun, Xiangyu Meng, Joshua O. Ogbebor, Shaopan Guo

Data

Many bridges in the State of Louisiana and the United States are working under serious degradation conditions where cracks on bridges threaten structural integrity and public security. To ensure structural integrity and public security, it is required that bridges in the US be inspected and rated every two years. Currently, this biannual assessment is largely implemented using manual visual inspection methods, which is slow and costly. In addition, it is challenging for workers to detect cracks in regions that are hard to reach, e.g., the top part of the bridge tower, cables, mid-span of the bridge girders, and decks. This …

Efficient, Low-Cost Bridge Cracking Detection And Quantification Using Deep-Learning And Uav Images, Chao Sun, Xiangyu Meng, Joshua O. Ogbebor, Shaopan Guo

Publications

Many bridges in the State of Louisiana and the United States are working under serious degradation conditions where cracks on bridges threaten structural integrity and public security. To ensure structural integrity and public security, it is required that bridges in the US be inspected and rated every two years. Currently, this biannual assessment is largely implemented using manual visual inspection methods, which is slow and costly. In addition, it is challenging for workers to detect cracks in regions that are hard to reach, e.g., the top part of the bridge tower, cables, mid-span of the bridge girders, and decks. This …

Rapid Repair Of Cracks On The Embankment Slopes Using Bio-Cement, Hai Lin, Guantao Cheng

Data

This research explored the feasibility of using Microbially Induced Carbonate Precipitation (MICP) to improve fine-grained soil mechanical properties, seal the soil cracks, and assess the improvement of MICP on slope stability. The conducted research tasks include (1) direct shear tests to investigate the mechanical behavior and biogeochemical reactions of low-plasticity silt treated by MICP, (2) cyclic wetting-drying tests to assess the feasibility of using MICP to seal and waterproof the soil cracks, and (3) SLOPE/W modeling of a slope treated by MICP. Direct shear tests were used to evaluate the shear responses of the low-plasticity silt under different overburden pressures …

The Identification Of Future Professional Skills For The Graduate Structural Engineer And The Co-Creation Of Their Definitions., Aimee Byrne, Una Beagon, Darren Carthy, Patrick Crean, Caitriona Depaor, Louise Lynch, Dervilla Niall

Conference Papers

Employers recognise that the future is changing and as such the structural engineer’s role is changing along with the skill set required. The skills gap has been acknowledged yet there is no consensus on which skills are most important for these engineers. This research presents the outcome of a project which proposes future professional skills needs for the structural engineer and the co-creation of their definitions. A review of the most recent relevant literature alongside chartership requirements of the Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE) and Engineers Ireland (EI), as well as consideration of three seminal consultation and analysis reports on …

Drift Reduction By Orienting Boom Sprayers’ Nozzles Against The Wind Direction, Medet Itmeç, Ali Bayat, Ömer Barış Özlüoymak

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

Wind drift is a very critical issue in pesticide applications. In recent experiments, the application of pesticides is focus on precision farming. In this study, a spraying system that could manipulate trajectories of droplets to decrease drift was tested in a wind tunnel. Three nozzles (XR11002, AIXR11002 and TTJ6011002) were used at three operating pressures (200 kPa, 300 kPa, 400 kPa), with four orientation angles of nozzles against wind direction (0°, 5°, 10°, 15°), and three wind velocities (1.5, 2, and 2.5 m s^-1) with three repetitions. A statistical factorial CRD was used with Tukey Post Hoc Test …

Analysis Of Traffic Crash Data In Kentucky 2016-2020, Eric Green, Paul Ross, Christopher Blackden, Michael Fields, William Staats

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report documents analysis of traffic crash data in Kentucky. A primary objective of this study was to determine average crash statistics for Kentucky highways. Where used, rates were calculated for various highway types and for counties and cities. Difference criteria were used for exposure.

Average and critical numbers, SPFs, and crash rates were calculated for various highway types in rural and urban areas. These metrics rely on crashes identified on highways where Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT) volumes were available. Data in this report may be used to help identify problem areas.

The other primary objective of this study …

Crash Data Analysis Tool 2.0 Research Report And User Guide, Eric Green, Paul Ross

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

No abstract provided.

Improving Overweight And Over-Dimensional Logistics And Truck Routing, Jerry Kissick, Jerry Pigman, Jennifer Walton

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

In 2012, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s (KYTC) Division of Motor Carriers (DMC) issued 98,196 overweight or over-dimensional (OW/OD) permits. To determine whether a route can accommodate an OW/OD vehicle, analysts must have current and accurate data on construction schedules, road conditions, and detour routes, among other factors. This study documents processes used by DMC for permitting and routing OW/OD vehicles. It includes detailed flowcharts that capture each aspect analysts follow during the decision-making process. As part of this project, state transportation agency representatives from states bordering Kentucky (Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee, and Missouri) were interviewed to identify …

In-Cab Alert System For Commercial Motor Vehicle Drivers, Brian Howell, Jennifer Walton, Jeeyen Koo

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

In-cab telematic devices use an increasingly robust data platform and can be used to share safety alerts with other commercial vehicle drivers (CMV) drivers. Real-time alert data can come from state transportation agencies as well as from private companies. To address common quality and coordination issues among differing data sources, the Kentucky Transportation Center (KTC) partnered with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) and a private vendor, PrePass, to share its App used to send information to CMV drivers. The project demonstrated a proof of concept for the delivery of timely in-cab alerts to warn CMV drivers of approaching roadway hazards. …

Fourth-Order Adjoint Sensitivity And Uncertainty Analysis Of An Oecd/Nea Reactor Physics Benchmark: I. Computed Sensitivities, Ruixian Fang, Dan Gabriel Cacuci

Faculty Publications

This work extends the investigation of higher-order sensitivity and uncertainty analysis from 3rd-order to 4th-order for a polyethylene-reflected plutonium (PERP) OECD/NEA reactor physics benchmark. Specifically, by applying the 4th-order comprehensive adjoint sensitivity analysis methodology (4th-CASAM) to the PERP benchmark, this work presents the numerical results of the most important 4th-order sensitivities of the benchmark’s total leakage response with respect to the benchmark’s 180 microscopic total cross sections, which includes 180 4th-order unmixed sensitivities and 360 4th-order mixed sensitivities corresponding to the largest 3rd-order ones. The numerical results obtained in this work reveal that the number of 4th-order relative sensitivities that …

Tools And Strategies For The Patterning Of Bioactive Molecules And Macromolecules, Daniel J. Valles

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Hypersurface Photolithography (HP) is a printing method for fabricating structures and patterns composed of soft materials bound to solid surfaces and with ~1 micrometer resolution in the x, y, and z dimensions. This platform leverages benign, low intensity light to perform photochemical surface reactions with spatial and temporal control of irradiation, and, as a result, is particularly useful for patterning delicate organic and biological material. In particular, surface- initiated controlled radical polymerizations can be leveraged to create arbitrary polymer and block- copolymer brush patterns. Chapter 1 will review the advances in instrumentation architectures from our group that have made these …

Conversion Of Soluble Recalcitrant Phosphorus To Recoverable Orthophosphate Form Using Uv/H2O2, Kaushik Venkiteshwaran, Eileen Kennedy, Caitlin Graeber, Synthia P. Mallick, Patrick J. Mcnamara, Brooke K. Mayer

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Soluble non-reactive phosphorus (sNRP), such as inorganic polyphosphates and organic P, is not effectively removed by conventional physicochemical processes. This can impede water resource reclamation facilities’ ability to meet stringent total P regulations. This study investigated a UV/H₂O₂ advanced oxidation process (AOP) for converting sNRP to the more readily removable/recoverable soluble reactive P (sRP), or orthophosphate, form. Synthetic water spiked with four sNRP compounds (beta-glycerol phosphate, phytic acid, triphosphate, and hexa-meta phosphate) at varying H₂O₂ concentration, UV fluence, pH, and temperature was initially tested. These compounds represent simple, complex, organic, and inorganic forms of …