Federal Highway Administration

The following are brief descriptions of selected reports recently published by the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Office of Research and Development. All publications are available from the National Technical Information Service (NTIS). In some cases, limited copies of publications are available from the R&T Report Center.

When ordering from NTIS, include the NTIS PB number (or publication number) and the publication title. 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) 487-4650

Requests for items available from the R&T Report Center should be addressed to:

Federal Highway Administration
R&T Report Center, HRD-11
9701 Philadelphia Court, Unit Q
Lanham, MD 20706
Telephone: (301) 577-0818

Sources of Exposure Data for Safety Analysis
Publication No. FHWA-RD-97-025

This report describes existing and emerging sources of exposure data for highway safety analysis. The NTIS number is PB97-152383; the cost is $28 for a paper copy or $14 for the report on microfiche.

Safety Evaluation of Ultraviolet-Activated Fluorescent Roadway
Publication No. FHWA-RD-97-033

A new technology — the use of ultraviolet (UV) headlights in combination with fluorescent traffic control devices — is being developed to improve visibility for nighttime driving. This publication details the results of a field test examining the effectiveness of using UV headlights with fluorescent pavement markings to increase the visibility of roadway delineation. The NTIS number is PB97-185623; the cost is $19.50 for a paper copy or $10 for the report on microfiche.

Rural Applications of Advanced Traveler Information Systems: User Needs and Technology Assessment
Publication No. FHWA-RD-97-034

This is part of a series of interim documents for the rural applications of Advanced Traveler Information Systems (ATIS) project. This document describes the research design and findings from rural traveler surveys to identify and prioritize traveler information needs. It also examines technologies that are available or under development and that are applicable to rural advanced traveler information systems. The NTIS number is PB97-185698; the cost is $28 for a paper copy or $14 for the report on microfiche.

CAD-Integrated Real-Time Control for Robotic Excavation and Pipe-Laying: Development and Testing
Publication No. FHWA-RD-97-044

This paper discusses the dangerous operation of trenching excavation and pipe-laying in construction. It studies the possibility of using machines to reduce or eliminate human exposure to these risks. The goal of this experiment was to prove the technical feasibility and effectiveness of laser-based spatial position control under real-world conditions. The NTIS number is PB97-203491; the cost is $25 for a paper copy or $10 for the report on microfiche.

Safety Performance Evaluation of the MELT2 Terminal Using an 820C Vehicle: FOIL Test Numbers 96F025 and 96F026.
Publication No. FHWA-RD-97-051

This report details the results from two high-speed crash tests conducted at the Federal Outdoor Impact Laboratory (FOIL) at the Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center (TFHRC). These tests were part of a later test matrix to certify an updated version of the metric or circular modified eccentric load terminal (metric-MELT) know as the MELT2 terminal. The NTIS number is PB97-160881; the cost is $44 for a paper copy or $19.50 for the report on microfiche.

Contract Management Techniques for Improving Construction Quality
Publication No. FHWA-RD-97-067

State highway agencies are using alternative contract management methods to improve construction quality. This report discusses meeting comprehensive quality goals such as improved performances at lower life-cycle costs, enhanced efficiency and productivity, and optimal cost and delivery time. It also investigates innovative contract management techniques and delivery methods, bidding procedure, and specifications used in the highway construction industry to improve quality, save costs and time, and reduce risk. The NTIS number is PB97-185722; the cost is $21.50 for a paper copy or $10 for the report on microfiche.

Analysis of Pavement Structural Variability
Publication No. FHWA-RD-97-072

This document details the variation analysis in the construction of highway pavement. During construction, variations in layer material quality, environmental influences, homogeneity, and variations in construction technique contribute to nonuniform spatial variations in the layer material properties and layer thicknesses. The study aimed to distinguish the development of pavement distress resulting from initial variations in materials properties and layer thicknesses from the variations in the dynamic wheel forces imposed on the pavement because of the tire-suspension dynamic. This study tested to determine whether such differences in the level of these two phenomena are detectable. The NTIS number is PB97-171961; the cost is $21.50 for a paper copy or $10 for the report on microfiche.

Pavement Primary Response to Dynamic Loading
Publication No. FHWA-RD-97-073

This paper discusses research known as Element 2 of the Dynamic Interaction Vehicle-INfrastructure Experiment (DIVINE) project, which examines the topic of pavement primary response testing to establish how a pavement -particularly a flexible, asphaltic pavement - responds to dynamic loading. The report includes the design, conduct, and findings of the Federal Highway Administration’s research. The NTIS number is PB97-172530; the cost is $21.50 for a paper copy or $10 for the report on microfiche.

Design Pamphlet for the Backcalculation of Pavement Layer Moduli in Support of the 1993 AASHTO Guide for the Design of Pavement Structures
Publication No. FHWA-RD-97-076

This design pamphlet details the procedures to backcalculate pavement layer moduli in support of the 1993 AASHTO Guide for the Design of Pavement Structures. The recommended procedure presented in this document was based on ASTM D5858 and on the procedure developed from the Long-Term Pavement Performance Program of the Strategic Highway Research Program. The NTIS number is PB97-201552; the cost is $21.50 for a paper copy or $10 for the report on microfiche.

Pendulum Testing of Fixed-End W-Beam Guardrail: FOIL Test Numbers 96P001, 96P002, 96P003, 96P004, 96P005, and 96P006
Publication No. FHWA-RD-97-078

This report details the test setup and results from six pendulum crash tests performed at TFHRC’s FOIL. The tests were conducted on steel w-beam rail elements rigidly anchored at both ends as part of an ongoing research effort to obtain baseline data on the dynamic properties of standard steel w-beam. This information will be used to develop a design envelope for a fiber-reinforced plastic rail element. The NTIS number is PB98-107022; the cost is $25 for a paper copy or $14 for the report on microfiche.

Guidelines for Repair and Maintenance of Bridge Coatings: Overcoating
Publication No. FHWA-RD-97-092

This document discusses the testing of various materials and methods for repair and overcoating of existing steel bridge paint systems. The experiment used 16 commercially available industrial maintenance coating systems that were applied in parallel test patches to four separate structures. The NTIS number is PB98-107030; the cost is $28 for a paper copy or $14 for the report on microfiche.

Long-Term Effects of Cathodic Protection on Prestressed Concrete Bridge Components
Publication No. FHWA-RD-96-029

This report reveals the findings of tests on the cathodic protection of prestressed steel in concrete. The NTIS number is PB97-122162; the cost is $28 for a paper copy or $14 for the report on microfiche.

Crash Testing and Evaluation of Retrofit Bridge Railings and Transition
Publication No. FHWA-RD-96-032

This document discusses the evaluation of designs of retrofit bridge railings and a retrofit transition. The full-scale crash testing involved several railing designs. The NTIS number is PB97-129670; the cost is $38 for a paper copy or $14 for the report on microfiche.

The following are brief descriptions of selected items that have been completed recently by state and federal highway units in cooperation with FHWA’s Office of Technology Applications. All publications are available from the National Technical Information Service (NTIS). In some cases, limited copies of publications are available from the R&T Report Center.

Seismic Bridge Design Applications, Part Two
Publication No. FHWA-SA-97-018

This publication is the second part of a summary of material used in two one-way national satellite seminars broadcasted from the University of Maryland to provide seismic design application instruction. The NTIS number is PB97-156889; the cost is $49 for a paper copy or $19.50 for the report on microfiche.

Quality Assurance Software for the Personal Computer, FHWA Demonstration Project 89, Quality Management
Publication No. FHWA-SA-96-026

This software package consists of several interactive programs. It enables the user to analyze both pass/fail and pay adjustment acceptance procedures, construct operating characteristic sets, demonstrate the unreliability of decisions based on a single test result, and explore the effectiveness of stratified random sampling. The NTIS number is PB96-502729; the cost is $97 plus $4 handling fee.