Award Data

The ability to monitor the integrity of a bridge structure and detect damage or condition changes at early stages is of significant importance for bridge operation safety. Currently, the most widely used damage detection methods rely on subjective, incremental visual assessments or localized testing techniques. In this proposal, we propose to develop and test a low cost and efficient bridge stru ...

Increasing population, vehicles, and the excessive traffic induced by urban sprawl is overburdening the existing highway system. Traffic delays and air pollution are often caused by ineffective traffic signal timing. Intelligent transportation systems (ITS) are adopted to better manage and control the surface transportation network in many cities. However, there is lack of an independent signal ...

This Phase II proposal develops a novel third rail insulator cleaner called the Vohrtex based.on the successfully completed Phase I project that developed the low water consumption, quick cleaning tool, the “Spin Wedge.” The Vohrtex slides on the third rail and is attached to a service vehicle that rides on the track. The Vohrtex has a pair of arms, which hang down on opposite sides of the t ...

This research focuses on the development of a real-time signal timing methodology and algorithms that balance safety and efficiency. This research consists of two phases: Phase I was completed in December 2009; it examined the relationships between signal timing and surrogate measures of safety, namely the frequency of rear-end, angle and lane-change conflicts. The FHWA Surrogate Safety Assessm ...

DUE TO THE DETERIORATION OF THE U.S. HIGHWAY SYSTEM'S PAVEMENTS AND BRIDGES, CONSTRUCTION REHABILITATION HAS BECOME A LARGE SCALE EFFORT. ONE OF THE SAFEST AND MOST EFFICIENT TECHNIQUES FOR TRAFFIC CONTROL DURING REHABILITATION OF DIVIDED HIGHWAYS IS TWO-LANE TWO-WAY OPERATION (TLTWO). IN THIS TECHNIQUE, ONE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY IS CLOSED OFF FOR REPAIR WHILE THE OTHER IS PUT INTO TLTWO WITH CHANNE ...

DUE TO THE DOWNSIZING OF AUTOMOBILES ON U.S. HIGHWAYS, MINI-CARS HAVE BECOME A MAJOR PART OF THE AUTO POPULATION. THE LIGHT WEIGHT AND HIGH CRUSH RATE OF THESE VEHICLES CAN CAUSEHIGH VELOCITY CHANGE LEVELS WHEN IMPACTING MOST EXISTING BREAKAWAY LUMINAIRE SUPPORTS. THIS INCREASES THE PROBABILI-TY OF INJURY TO OCCUPANTSOF MINI-CARS WHEN IMPACTING LUMI- NAIRE SUPPORTS. CONCEPTS HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED WH ...

NEW MATERIALS ARE BEING DEVELOPED EVERYDAY AND ARE REVOLUTIONIZING PRODUCTS AND PROCESSES AT AN ASTOUNDING RATE. IN RECENT YEARS, THE ROADSIDE SAFETY APPURTENANCE FIELD HAS BEEN AFFECTED AS WELL, AS NEW MATERIALS HAVE BEEN APPLIED TO PRODUCE IMPROVED DESIGNS IN A VARIETY OF SITUATIONS. IN RECENT YEARS PLASTICS, CERAMICS, HIGH STRENGTH FIBERS AND COMPOSITES HAVE BECOME MORE WIDELY USED IN INDUSTRY ...

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