The Transport of Crude Oil Under Saline Ice
A mathematical model was developed to describe the forces acting on an oil slick under saline ice in the presence of a water current. The model was verified through a set of laboratory...
Expert Opinions and Expert Systems
The inference mechanism in most current expert (rule-based production) systems is based on exact matching of the antecedent or consequent of a rule with a fact or hypothesis. The rule...
Applications of Artificial Intelligence in Preliminary Structural Design
The field of Artificial Intelligence (AI) deals with the problems of modeling human intelligence. The application of AI to structural engineering has been limited, but potential applications...
Broke2: A Program for Broken Wire Analysis
A computer program to study the dynamic behavior of an electric transmission line system when wires suddenly break has been developed by the authors. All three of the line elements: the...
Measuring Dynamic Occupant Loads by Microcomputer
Present building codes regard live loads caused by human movement as deterministic; values are based upon experience and tests run in 1912, 1922, and 1932. An experimental project to statistically...
Engineering Optimization Via Genetic Algorithm
The application of a genetic algorithm (GA) to the optimal design of a ten member, plane truss is considered. Genetic algorithms are search procedures based upon the mechanics of natural...
Design Improvements Using Finite Elements and Optimizing with Approximate Functions
A design optimization module has been added to the finite element program ANSYS, designed to aid the engineer in reaching an improved or optimum design. The numerical technique employed...
Incorporating Uncertainty in a Dynamic Structural Analysis
A methodology has been developed and exercised for taking into account parametric uncertainties in a structural dynamics analysis and providing an approximation of the probability of response....
Study of Structural Behavior with Computer Simulation
The application of computer simulated testings of structural elements in the civil engineering undergraduate education is described. With a computer simulation a structural component may...
Equation Solving on a Parallel Computer
The application of computers to the analysis of large structural systems is examined. The analysis procedure is presented as three distinct phases: (1) element formulation, (2) equation...
Accuracy Control of Finite Element Analysis of Articulated Structures
An examination of the properties of two-node element models leads to data establishing the acceptable choices in discretization to insure the accuracy of finite element analysis of articulated...
Rebuilding Mexico City
After the September 19, 1985 earthquake in Mexico City, officials had to cope with a massive volunteer effort to inspect damaged and destroyed structures. Over a thousand engineers, contractors,...
Tiedback Walls Untie Intersection
The intersection of Gallows Rd. and Arlington Blvd. in Virginia's Fairfax County required separation. Tiedback retaining walls, which required only 18 in. instead of the 18-22...
Scenic Squeeze
Constructing a four-lane dual highway through the 12 miles of Colorado's Glenwood Canyon involves several engineering innovations: cantilevered roadways, unusual retaining...
Tort Liability in the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation
During the past decade many have questioned the propriety of the doctrine of sovereign immunity; numerous legal challenges and legislative changes have eroded the doctrine in most states....
Risk Management to Reduce Highway Tort Liability
This paper identifies common risk management techniques and processes. A brief review of tort law is presented along with the specific characteristics of a highway related negligence suit....
Effective Pedestrian Safety Programs
Pedestrian fatalities account for 16 percent of all highway-related deaths and about 129,000 pedestrians are involved in accidents each year. Analyses of pedestrian accident data and determining...
Safety Impacts of Installing Pedestrian Crosswalks
At-grade pedestrian crossovers (PXO's) have been installed at about 700 locations in Metropolitan Toronto to assist pedestrians in crossing busy streets at minimal delay to...
Economic Analysis of Highway Safety Projects
The most commonly used economic analysis for highway safety projects is the cost-benefit ratio. While this is a valid analytical tool, it must be used correctly to produce valid results....
Evaluation of Safety Alternatives by Benefit/Cost Analysis
There is an increasing awareness of the need to use limited highway safety funds on projects that offer the greatest benefits. This paper describes the development and application of a...
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