UFTI Research News

UFTI Affiliate Evaluates Reflective Cracking Mitigation Treatments for Resurfaced Pavement

Dr. Reynaldo Roque, a professor from the Department of Civil and Coastal Engineering specializing in materials and pavements, recently completed a Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) project on the topic of reflective cracking in pavement. Reflective cracking is often regarded as the most common problem affecting resurfaced pavement. This cracking occurs when cracking in the original pavement appears in the new pavement surface. To mitigate reflective cracking, the FDOT specifies the use of a special layer of pavement – a rubberized asphalt interlayer – between the old pavement and the new one. Recent evidence has raised concerns that this asphalt rubber membrane interlayer (ARMI) is not adequately effective in preventing reflective cracking or rutting. The results of this project identified the mixtures that were the most fracture-tolerant and shear-resistant. This led to the creation of a set of preliminary design guidelines for FTSR interlayers which would be most likely to be effective in mitigating reflective cracking. These preliminary guidelines will form the basis of more testing using more aggregate types, gradations, and interlayer thicknesses to further refine the guidelines.

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Caption: This photo shows the difference of the original road surface (lower left), the interlayer (upper left), and the new pavement surface (right).

ISE Welcomes David Kaber, Human Factors Expert, as its New Department Chair

Dr. David Kaber has been named as professor and chair of the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering at UF. Prior to UF, he was at North Carolina State University in the Edward P. Fitts Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering since 2000. Kaber has been working on transportation human factors research since the mid-90s. His early research in this area was focused on understanding aircraft pilot situation awareness (SA) and workload effects of advance cockpit automation. This work led to design recommendations of intermediate levels of automation and adaptive automation for supporting pilot SA and moderating workload under both nominal and off-nominal flight conditions. Around 2003, Kaber’s transportation human factors work shifted to driver behavior and roadway facilities design. He was responsible for several studies examining the effects of cellphone use on driver distraction and mediating effects of automated driving systems (ADS), including adaptive cruise control. More fundamental research included identification of age-related effects on driver SA and performance in negotiating different types of roadway hazards (static and dynamic). At the same time, Kaber led research on the influence of driver emotional states, including perceived urgency, on safety margins under different driving conditions (freeway, school zone, congestion, etc.). More recently, Kaber and his research team have conducted extensive investigations of the influence of roadway specific service sign design on driver distraction and vehicle control. At UF, Kaber will be developing a replicate simulator as part of the new UF ISE Human-Systems Engineering Lab through substantial support from the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering.

Call for Abstracts! UTC Conference for the Southeastern Region

Abstract submission and registration is now open for the 6 ^th Annual University Transportation Centers Conference for the Southeastern Region hosted this year by the Center for Connected Multimodal Mobility (C2M2) at Clemson University. The conference is co-sponsored by the UFTI. Click here for more information .

Dream Big Now Streaming on Netflix

Dream Big: Engineering Our World , produced by MacGillivray Freeman Films and ASCE, is now available to view on Netflix. This documentary highlights the achievements of engineering from across the globe and inspires young people to consider careers in engineering. Dream Big originally premiered in museums and theaters in February 2017.