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RECENT PUBLICATIONS
Compiled by Zac Ellis
Researchers,
academicians, and managers alike should find this department useful. Whether
you're looking for information on cathodic protection of bridges, human
factors guidelines for automated highway systems, or minimum retroreflectivity
requirements for traffic signs, this may be the place for you.
Chances are that these
brief descriptions of reports recently published by the Federal Highway
Administration's (FHWA) Office of Research, Development, and Technology,
may fit your needs. All the publications are available from the National
Technical Information Service (NTIS). In some cases, limited copies of
the publications are available from the Research and Technology (R&T)
Report Center.
Please Note: Contact NTIS for current pricing at www.ntis.gov or at Telephone: (703) 605-6000.
When ordering from
NTIS, include the NTIS PB number (or publication number) and the publication
title. You may also visit the NTIS Web site at www.ntis.gov
to order publications online. For customers outside the United States,
Canada, and Mexico, the cost is double the listed price. Address requests
to:
National
Technical Information Service
5285 Port Royal Road
Springfield, VA 22161
Telephone: (703) 605-6000
Requests for items
available from the R&T Report Center should be addressed to:
Federal
Highway Administration
RD&T Report Center, HRTS
9701 Philadelphia Court, Unit Q
Lanham, MD 20706
Telephone: (301) 577-0906
Effects of Wheel-Load Spatial
Repeatability on Road Damage: A Literature Review
Publication No. FHWA-RD-97-036
Concerns
about growing governmental deficits and the awareness of the economic
advantages associated with a safe and well-maintained road infrastructure
are two of the main reasons for investigating the problem of pavement
wear caused by heavy vehicles. The objective of this report is to conduct
a review of the present and previously developed work devoted to the study
of vehicle/road interaction. In particular, two of the most pressing issues
in the area of heavy vehicle-generated road damage are: (1) the spatial
repeatability of dynamic wheel loads produced by heavy vehicles, and (2)
the use of wide-base dual tires. The outcome of this review, which is
part of FHWA's Truck-Pavement Interaction research program on truck size
and weight, plays a determining role in assessing heavy-truck suspension
systems, tire configurations, and their contribution to pavement damage.
The NTIS number is
PB99-107435; the cost is $27 for a paper copy or $12 for the report on
microfiche.
Influence of a Trailer's
Axle Arrangement and Loads on the Stability and Control of a Tractor/Semitrailer
Publication No. FHWA-RD-97-123
To
thoroughly examine the stability and control properties of a basic vehicle
type, researchers must evaluate its behavior over a wide range of loading
conditions, component selection, and operation variables. These variables
include the wear level of the tire tread and pavement friction. While
the scope of this study did not permit such a detailed evaluation, the
results do show the safety-related dynamic performance effects of varying
a trailer's axle arrangement (tandem vs. tridem), suspension type (steel
vs. air), tire type (dual vs. wide-base single), and axle loading level.
Typical five- and six-axle tractor/semitrailers (483-cm tractor and 14.6-m
van-semitrailer) were used in this study. Vehicle safety-related dynamic
performance was examined using a recent version of the constant-speed
yaw/roll model developed by the University of Michigan Transportation
Research Institute.
The NTIS number is
PB99-107385; the cost is $44 for a paper copy or $17 for the report on
microfiche.
OECD DIVINE Element 1: Accelerated
Dynamic Pavement Testing
Publication No. FHWA-RD-97-138
The
weight of a truck's load affects the life of pavements and bridges and,
therefore, affects the total cost of maintaining and repairing the nation's
roads. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
Road Transport Research Programme has found that dynamic pavement loading
is increasing in OECD countries, resulting in an increase in the rate
of road wear. Although researchers recognize the relationship between
the weight of a truck's load and wear on a roadway, many questions regarding
the nature and influence of dynamic loading and the interaction between
the vehicle and pavements and bridges remain.
To address some of
these issues, the OECD Road Transport Research Programme launched a major
two-year study examining the relationship between heavy-vehicle dynamic
loading and pavement and bridge wear, known as the Dynamic Interaction
of Vehicle and Infrastructure Experiment (DIVINE) project.
Element 1 of the DIVINE
project is an accelerated pavement testing project undertaken at the Canterbury
(New Zealand) Accelerated Pavement Testing Indoor Facility. The study
was conducted to determine how the quality of two different suspensions
- an airbag with a shock absorber and a multi-leaf steel spring suspension
- was affected. Researchers measured the primary pavement response and
the rate of damage in a flexible pavement after it was subjected to accelerated
loading. This report describes Element 1 of the program, which consists
of the design of the experiment, testing method, method of data collection,
results of the data analysis, and major findings and recommendations.
The NTIS number is
PB99-107401; the cost is $33 for a paper copy or $17 for the report on
microfiche.
Stress Cracking Potential
of HDPE Geogrids
Publication No. FHWA-RD-97-142
This
report describes the development of a testing protocol designed to measure
the potential for stress cracking of high-density polyethylene (HDPE)
geogrids used for soil reinforcement. The collected data demonstrate that
local stress cracking in the unoriented transverse node of HDPE geogrids
can occur as a result of construction-induced damage. Undamaged geogrids
are not prone to stress cracking at load levels below their 100-year limiting
creep load.
The NTIS number is
PB99-105512; the cost is $44 for a paper copy or $23 for the report on
microfiche.
Corrosion Protection - Concrete
Bridges
Publication No. FHWA-RD-98-088
Premature
corrosion of reinforcing steel has caused many concrete bridges in the
United States to deteriorate before their design life was attained. Recognizing
the burden that reinforcing-steel corrosion imposes on natural resources,
FHWA established Corrosion Protection for Concrete Bridges as one of the
high-priority areas (HPAs) in its Structures Research Program. This HPA
had two main objectives: (1) to develop effective and economical methodologies
for arresting or reducing the extent of steel corrosion due to chloride-contamination
of concrete bridges, thereby reducing maintenance costs of existing concrete
bridges and minimizing interruption to traffic; and (2) to develop sound
design and construction practices and materials for preventing corrosion
of reinforcement in new structures, hence minimizing future deterioration.
To meet these objectives, researchers developed and pursued several research
programs under this HPA. This report summarizes the progress made through
research efforts conducted under these programs.
The NTIS number is
PB99-114340; the cost is $29.50 for a paper copy or $12 for the report
on microfiche.
Implementing Bicycle Improvements
at the Local Level
Publication No. FHWA-RD-98-105
This
implementation manual is intended for local governments who want to make
improvements to existing conditions that affect bicycling. Researchers
considered 13 of the most typical situations or factors that impact bicycle
use. For each situation or factor, the manual provides (as appropriate)
a problem overview, a solution overview, implementation strategies, objectives,
resource requirements, subtasks, a schedule, specifications, and references.
This report is intended to make it easier for local public works or transportation
departments to identify specific problems and deal with them as part of
the agency's routine functions.
The NTIS number is
PB99-114316; the cost is $33 for a paper copy or $17 for the report on
microfiche.
Articles & Departments
"Doing
Futures" - Creating a Preferred Future in Highway Safety
Improving
Safety Through Peer Exchanges
National Transportation Week, May 16-22
An Immediate Payoff From FHWA's NDE Initiative
Designing Highway With Older Drivers in Mind
FHWA's
Driver Performance Laboratory
The National Driver History Initiative
What's a Work Zone?
The National Work-Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse
Safety Is Our North Star
1999 International Highway Transportation Safety
Week, June 1-5
Human Factors Recommendations for TMC Design
FHWA's International Geotechnical Engineering Scan
Does Asset Management Deserve a closer Look?
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