Project Abstracts: 2008 to 2009
Construction Engineering and Management
Investigation of Highway Asset Inventory and Data Collection Methods
R. Kim, J. Hummer, M. Gabr, and D. Johnston;
NC Department of Transportation (04/01 to 12/08)
The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) is co-hosting a National Workshop on Highway Asset Inventory and Data Collection in September 2008. Four infrastructure elements have been identified as the focal areas for the workshop: 1) pavements, 2) bridges, 3) geotechnical features and drainage, and 4) roadside appurtenances. To evaluate the accuracy of various asset data collection technologies, vendors for these technologies will be invited and will test selected test sections. Research is needed to develop an experimental design for the vendor testing, to perform ground truth testing of the test sections, and to analyze the data from vendors to compare against the ground truth measurements.
Bridge Management System Criteria
D. Johnston;
North Carolina Department of Transportation (07/08 to 08/08)
Technical assistance project to develop criteria for development, revision, and update of NCDOT Bridge Management System.
Function Code Modifications of RESNEEDS Bridge Maintenance Software
D. Johnston;
North Carolina Department of Transportation (11/08 to 01/09)
Technical assistance project to revise RESNEEDS Bridge Maintenance Management software to accept new work function codes and associated unit costs and work quantities and to analyze for optimum use of funds.
Life Cycle Inventory and Impact Analysis Framework for Nonroad Construction Vehicles and Equipment Based
H.C. Frey and W.J. Rasdorf;
National Science Foundation (08/03 to 08/08)
The objectives of this work are to: (1) Characterize the second-by-second in-use emissions and energy use of nonroad construction vehicles and equipment, including emissions of nitric oxide, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide, and particulate matter, including real time sensing and monitoring where needed to fill data gaps; (2) Develop a life cycle inventory of conventional nonroad construction vehicles and equipment; and (3) Identify and recommend methods for reducing energy use, emissions, and impact.
Establishing Monitoring Programs for Travel Time Reliability (SHRP L-02)
G. List, B. Williams, and N. Rouphail;
Transportation Research Board (03/09 to 03/12)
The Institute for Transportation Research and Education (ITRE), in conjunction with Kittelson & Associates, Inc. (KAI), Berkeley Transportation Systems (BTS), the National Institute of Statistical Sciences (NISS), the University of Utah, and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) are partnering in Establishing Monitoring Programs for Travel Time Reliability. As part of the SHRP 2 program, this project focuses on travel time reliability, helping operating agencies develop systems hardware, software, and tactical strategies that enable them to better monitor travel time reliability and convey their findings to their customers and other data users.
Development of Traffic Data Input Resources for the Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Process
Y.R. Kim, G. List, J. Stone, and W. Rasdorf;
North Carolina Department of Transportation (07/07 to 06/09)
The Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide for New and Rehabilitated Pavement Structures uses nationally based data traffic inputs and recommends that state DOTs develop their own site-specific and regional values. NCDOT recently completed an implementation plan for adopting the MEPDG, and two of the critical implementation recommendations addressed new data collection requirements for site-specific truck classification counts, truck axle load spectra, regional average seasonal adjustment factors, and forecasting methods for axle loads, as well as truck class volumes. This research project addresses these NCDOT traffic data and forecasting needs for implementing the MEPDG.
Torsional Strengthening of Concrete Structures Using Near Surface Mounted Fiber Reinforced Polymers
R. Al-Mahaidi (Monash University) and S. Rizkalla;
Australian Research Council (07/07 to 07/10)
The proposed study focuses on the torsional strengthening of concrete flexural members in bridges and buildings using Fiber Reinforced Polymers (FRP). Since the mid 1980s, a significant number of studies on flexural and shear strengthening of beams and axial strengthening of columns have been performed. The area of torsional strengthening has received little attention and thus no reliable data exists to enable the incorporation of the topic in design guidelines. The proposed study will fill the gap that currently exists in the FRP strengthening of RC structures. It will also provide the engineering community with analytical tools for the design of FRPs in torsional strengthening applications.
Developing a Telematics Platform for Bridge Monitoring and Health Prognositcs
S. Rizkalla;
National Science Foundation (Supplement to RB2C Center); (07/07 to 06/09)
The approach proposed in this TIE project integrates the extensive research on physics of bridge damages and instrumentation of bridge monitoring system, conducted at the RB2C Center, with the feature-based smart prognostic agent, namely the Watchdog Agent® developed by the IMS Center, to accurately quantify and predict bridge deterioration. The major merit of this work will be the initiation of a combined physics-statistics-based prognostics approach, which expands and integrates the theories and tools developed in RB2C and IMS. The developed methodology will bring about innovation to predict bridge deterioration and provide a general framework for prognostic bridge health management for next-generation intelligent transportation maintenance systems.
Strengthening In-Fill Brick Walls with Composite
S. Rizkalla;
E. Fyfe Company (07/07 to 06/09)
This research is designed to examine the effectiveness of various strengthening techniques for In-fill brick walls using glass fiber reinforced polymer material. The experimental progress consists of fourteen full-scale In-fill brick wall unites subjected to uniform pressure to simulate the pressure and extreme wind loading conditions. Various constraints and anchorage systems were included.
I/UCRC Center, “Repair of Buildings and Bridges with Composites (RB2C)” – Three Year Extension
S. Rizkalla;
National Science Foundation (08/07 to 08/10)
The NSF Industry/University Cooperative Research Center entitled “Repair of Buildings and Bridges with Composites” (RB2C), is located at the Constructed Facilities Laboratory, North Carolina State University (NCSU). The Center is working in collaboration with the Center located at the University of Miami, Florida. The Center at NCSU focuses on the needs of the construction industry in development of new and innovative structural components as well as strengthening/repair methods for existing structures using advanced composite materials.
©Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering
