Highway Engineering Research Articles

Dynamic Modeling and Analysis of Multi-Span Timoshenko Beams Under Moving Loads

Dynamic response analysis of multi-span beams is one of the important topics in the field of highway and railway engineering, which provides valuable guidance for the design, operation and maintenance of multi-span bridges. It is worth considering how to calculate the dynamic characteristics of multi-span beams quickly and conveniently. In this study, an effective analytical method is developed for the dynamic modeling and investigations of multi-span Timoshenko beams under moving loads by employing the assumed mode method (AMM). Based on Hamilton’s principle, the equation of motion of the Timoshenko multi-span beam subjected to moving loads is formulated and the natural frequencies are calculated. A comprehensive investigation is conducted on the dynamic responses of the multi-span Timoshenko beam considering different factors, including the length-to-thickness ratio, disorder degree, arrangement order, number of spans and related parameters of moving loads. In addition, the influence of the interval and velocity of the moving load series on the dynamic responses, including displacement, velocity and acceleration of the multi-span beam, are analyzed in detail. The theoretical calculation results of multi-span Timoshenko beams under moving loads are compared with numerical results obtained from ANSYS software, and the results are in good agreement. This demonstrates that the developed method, which utilizes the AMM to analyze the dynamic characteristics of multi-span beams subjected to moving loads, significantly simplifies the calculations and is well-suited for practical engineering applications.

Automated Recognition of Snow-Covered and Icy Road Surfaces Based on T-Net of Mount Tianshan

The Tianshan Expressway plays a crucial role in China’s “Belt and Road” strategy, yet the extreme climate of the Tianshan Mountains poses significant traffic safety risks, hindering local economic development. Efficient detection of hazardous road surface conditions (RSCs) is vital to address these challenges. The complexity and variability of RSCs in the region, exacerbated by harsh weather, make traditional surveillance methods inadequate for real-time monitoring. To overcome these limitations, a vision-based artificial intelligence approach is urgently needed to ensure effective, real-time detection of dangerous RSCs in the Tianshan road network. This paper analyzes the primary structures and architectures of mainstream neural networks and explores their performance for RSC recognition through a comprehensive set of experiments, filling a research gap. Additionally, T-Net, specifically designed for the Tianshan Expressway engineering project, is built upon the optimal architecture identified in this study. Leveraging the split-transform-merge structure paradigm and asymmetric convolution, the model excels in capturing detailed information by learning features across multiple dimensions and perspectives. Furthermore, the integration of channel, spatial, and multi-head attention modules enhances the weighting of key features, making the T-Net particularly effective in recognizing the characteristics of snow-covered and icy road surfaces. All models presented in this paper were trained on a custom RSC dataset, compiled from various sources. Experimental results indicate that the T-Net outperforms fourteen once state-of-the-art (SOTA) models and three models specifically designed for RSC recognition, with 97.44% accuracy and 9.79% loss on the validation set.

Application of UAV airborne LiDAR technology in highway engineering construction

Abstract The airborne LiDAR technology of UAVs is an efficient and high-precision spatial information acquisition technology. This paper introduces the airborne LiDAR technology of UAV in detail and studies the application of airborne LiDAR technology of UAV in highway construction based on the sixth section of the Leibokahalo-Yongshan connection line of G4216 Yibin Xinshi to Panzhihua Section. Engineering application practice shows that this technology can solve the difficult problem of obtaining basic geographic information data, and verify the rationality of the scheme and the matching degree with the field environment. In addition, compared with traditional survey technology, the technology has obvious advantages in the construction of highways in complex terrain, which helps to improve the quality of survey and design.

Analysis of the Current Situation of Cost Management and Control of Highway Construction Projects

The highway engineering process is complex, coupled with a relatively long construction period, hence requires increased coordination between participating units to prevent economic disputes and efficiency losses. The main body of the construction project needs to strengthen the management and control of funds. In this regard, this paper analyzes the importance of cost management in highway projects by clarifying and analyzing the current cost management status quo problems and causes. The highway engineering cost control strategy and implementation methods are summarized to provide references for improving the quality of highway engineering.

Evaluation of Flexible Pavement Friction Coefficients: A Case Study of East-West Highway Near Mahendranagar City, Nepal

Friction is a crucial factor in highway engineering, as it affects the traction between a vehicle's wheels and the road surface. This traction significantly influences the movement, speed, and efficiency of vehicles on highways. The coefficient of friction depends on various factors, such as pavement materials, traffic volume, road age, temperature, and weather conditions. The Skid Resistance Test Method is adopted for the study, which involves using a Portable Skid Resistance Tester to measure the British Pendulum Number (BPN) and then calculating the coefficient of friction by dividing the BPN by 10. An evaluation of a 5 km stretch of the East-West highway near Mahendranagar Bazaar revealed a longitudinal coefficient of friction of 0.354 and a lateral coefficient of friction of 0.184 under both dry and wet conditions. These findings were relevant for design speeds ranging from 60 to 80 km/h and considered an Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT) of 10,321 Passenger Car Units (PCU) during the year 2023/2024. The assessment also indicated a variance of 0.19% and a poor International Roughness Index (IRI) value of 2.05. These aggregates had specific gravities ranging from 2.6 to 2.67 and were sized at 13.2 mm. The application rate for the aggregates ranged from 12 to 15 kg per square meter. It is important to note that a higher coefficient of friction leads to reduced vehicle efficiency. Thus, it is crucial to carefully consider the coefficient of friction values and detailed specifications to ensure traffic safety and road integrity.

A multi-objective method for large multi-lane roundabout design through microscopic traffic simulation and SSAM analysis

Urban traffic congestion poses a significant challenge, impacting both economic efficiency and environmental sustainability. Roundabouts, recognized for their ability to improve traffic flow and reduce collisions, have become a focal point in traffic management strategies in urban areas. Different types and sizes of single and multi-lane roundabouts can be used, including conventional and innovative roundabouts with small, medium or large size diameters. Many optimization models are available for designing conventional roundabouts but not large roundabouts. To partially cover this gap, the present paper introduces a novel approach integrating simulation-based analysis with a goal programming method to optimize large roundabout design. By leveraging advanced traffic simulation tools like AIMSUN Next and Surrogate Safety Assessment Models (SSAMs), this methodology evaluates multiple design scenarios to enhance traffic flow, safety, and environmental performance. A case study of a complex large roundabout in the Italian greenest and sustainable city demonstrates the efficacy of this methodological approach. The findings provide valuable insights for traffic and highway engineers, emphasizing a data-driven, holistic approach to sustainable traffic management and roundabout optimization.

Utilization of Tunnel Waste Slag for Cement-Stabilized Base Layers in Highway Engineering.

The rapid expansion of highway infrastructure in the mountainous regions of China has led to a significant increase in tunnel construction, generating substantial amounts of tunnel waste slag. Concurrently, the development of transportation infrastructure has created a critical shortage of natural aggregates, necessitating the exploration of alternative sustainable sources. This study aimed to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the physical and mechanical properties of tunnel waste slag and explore its potential for utilization in cement-stabilized base courses for highway engineering applications. The uniaxial compressive strength of the parent rock (tunnel waste slag) ranged from 81 MPa to 89 MPa in the desiccated state, indicating its suitability for use as a construction material. This study also determined the maximum dry density (2.432 g/cm3) and optimal moisture content (5.4%) of cement-stabilized mixtures incorporating recycled aggregates derived from tunnel waste slag. The splitting tensile strength of these mixtures at 28 days varied from 0.48 MPa to 0.73 MPa, demonstrating robust mechanical performance. Moreover, the unconfined compressive strength of these mixtures escalated from 7.0 MPa at 7 days to 11.0 MPa at 90 days, signifying a substantial enhancement in strength over time. These results validate the viability of utilizing tunnel waste slag in highway engineering and furnish valuable insights for designers, concrete manufacturers, and construction firms engaged in the development of cement-stabilized aggregate base courses.

Study on Fracture Delay of High-Strength Bolts in Road Bridge Maintenance

In the maintenance work of highway and bridge engineering structures, the fracture delay of high-strength bolts is a content that needs to be focused on and researched. Based on this, the paper analyzes the fracture delay of high-strength bolts in highway bridge maintenance, including an overview of the fundamental research on fracture delay and related specific studies. It is hoped that this study can provide scientific reference for the reasonable maintenance of high-strength bolts, so as to ensure the overall maintenance effect of highway bridge projects.

Total capacity and LOS estimation of innovative and conventional roundabouts through macroscopic fundamental diagrams

Traffic congestion remains a significant problem, especially in urban areas. To avoid congestion phenomena, several measures can be adopted, including the construction of roundabouts and the control of the measures of effectiveness (MOEs) at intersections. This article compares different types of roundabouts by estimating the deterministic fundamental diagram (MFD) and using microscopic traffic simulations. The deduction of MFD for different roundabout types (single and double-lane, flower and turbo-roundabout) is based on reasonably simplified traffic and boundary conditions. MFDs are estimated through several OD traffic matrices, considering as outputs the values of the macroscopic traffic variable deduced in time intervals of 5 min and 1 h. The findings from this research, in terms of total capacity, travel times, and level of service (LOS) estimation, may be useful for traffic and highway engineers in many realistic applications to partially face congestion phenomena in urban areas. MFDs allow us to determine the best roundabout type based on the traffic demand and represent a parsimonious method for monitoring and controlling traditional and unconventional or smart roundabouts, even in the presence of connected and automated vehicles (CAVs).

An approach to risk of rockfalls on roads. Case study of the Rafael Caldera Highway

In recent times, significant advancements have been made in the development of road safety, making it a key focus for Highway Engineers. To ensure the safety of road users, various methodologies have been established for assessing vulnerability, threat, and risk in both road infrastructure and vehicles. This article proposes an evaluation of the risk associated with rockfall on roads, incorporating the analysis of geotechnical and road parameters, verification of risk and vulnerability criteria, statistical analysis of vehicle vulnerability, and the assessment of kinematic slope stability. Additionally, the classification of rock masses in terms of threat is considered, leading to the development of a novel methodology for risk assessment. The evaluation of threat, vulnerability, and risk utilizes conventional methods such as assessing rock mass quality, kinematic stability analysis, and statistical parameters. This methodology has been implemented on the Mérida-El Vigía Highway, giving results consistent with those observed on the ground, unlike the others implemented in the area.

Calculation Method of New Assembled Corrugated Steel Initial Support Structure of Highway Tunnel

The assembled corrugated steel initial support structure is a new prefabricated structure in highway tunnel engineering, achieving a balance between economy and safety. This study proposes a simplified calculation method and elucidates the mechanical mechanisms of assembled corrugated steel initial support structures. Firstly, the stiffness characteristics of corrugated steel plates were studied based on full-scale tests. A general equivalent stiffness coefficient table was established. Numerical simulations of corrugated steel flange joints were conducted to explore their bending mechanical properties. A two-stage rotational stiffness model for corrugated steel flange joints was proposed. Finally, a plane strain-spring simplified calculation method for the assembled corrugated steel initial support structure was developed, and the monitoring data from the Qipanshan Tunnel validated the correctness and reliability of the proposed method. The results demonstrate that (1) the plane strain-spring simplified model consists of the planar strain equivalent calculation method for corrugated steel plates and the two-line stiffness equivalent spring of the corrugated steel flange joint. The simplified model was validated as effective by monitoring data. (2) Corrugated steel plates exhibit two stages under loading, namely gap elimination and elastic stages. The elastic stage stiffness of corrugated steel plates decreases with increasing ratio of depth to pitch (RDP), positively correlating with plate thickness when the RDP exceeds 0.333 and otherwise negatively correlated. (3) Corrugated steel lining flange joints exhibit distinct elastic and plastic stages in their linear moment–rotation curves under loading.

The Principle and Application of Ground Penetrating Radar in Highway Engineering

The Principle and Application of Ground Penetrating Radar in Highway Engineering

Highway tunnel safety detection and management

Highway tunnel is an important part of highway engineering, and its safety detection and management play a pivotal role in the construction and maintenance process of the whole project. However, due to the particularity of the tunnel itself, the engineering quality is difficult to guarantee, and there are many safety risks. With the continuous development of China's traffic industry, there are more and more highway tunnel construction, so safety detection and management is particularly important.

Typical diseases and prevention measures of asphalt pavement in Xinjiang region

Asphalt pavement, with its good mechanical properties, durability, driving comfort, and aesthetic environmental protection, is suitable for various vehicles to pass through, and has solid, durable, flat, and good anti-skid, anti-seepage, fatigue resistance, and high-temperature cracking resistance. However, due to various reasons, early damage to asphalt pavement often occurs, which has been listed as one of the common problems in highway engineering quality, demonstrating its universality and severity. This article investigates typical diseases of asphalt pavement in Xinjiang region and proposes corresponding prevention and control measures, providing reference for the maintenance of asphalt pavement.

Site Management Strategy in Highway Project Management

Highway project management involves overseeing the on-site construction of a highway project, taking into account the specific circumstances and conditions of the site. This type of management requires a high level of expertise and is characterized by its dynamic and systematic approach. Effective on-site management can ensure the quality, cost-saving, smooth progress, and safety of highway construction. However, there are still some problems in the implementation of site management in some highway projects, which seriously affect the improvement of site management. This paper analyzes the characteristics and existing problems of highway engineering management, and puts forward the effective strategies of site management, hoping that this study will help to improve highway engineering site management.

Multi-objective optimization of construction management of expressway engineering based on improved particle swarm optimization algorithm

Engineering management is an extremely important aspect of construction engineering, and a better management approach can greatly enhance the production profits of enterprises. Traditional management optimization schemes cannot adapt to current technological needs due to their inability to effectively consider the impact of each factor. Therefore, a construction management optimization scheme combining improved particle algorithm and multi-objective optimization was proposed. The improved particle algorithm enhances its performance by introducing adaptive weight and multi-objective optimization ideas. These studies confirmed that the predicted direct cost savings for the project were around 1 million yuan. The total construction period of project was optimized to 380 days, saving 34 days. The optimization technology not only reduced construction costs, but also reflected the problems that could be improved during this construction process. This study contributes to achieving multi-objective balance in the construction management process, effectively improving project efficiency, reducing project costs and risks, and providing scientific support for construction decision-making.

Research on the Billing Standard of Highway and Water Transport Test and Inspection in Shandong Province

With the rapid development of China's economy, all sectors of society on the quality and safety of road and water transport projects have gradually increased the importance of road and water transport test, and inspection services market demand and cost share have also increased. Many test and inspection organizations have flooded the market, resulting in malicious competition and price confusion in the test and inspection market. Therefore, providing a set of scientific, reasonable, and standardized test and inspection billing standards is urgently needed to improve the test and inspection management of road and water transport projects and solve the existing problems. Based on this, the project will rely on Shandong Province highway and water transport engineering test and inspection billing standard research project, systematic analysis of Shandong Province highway and water transport engineering test and inspection factors. It is from the cost of scientific management and field research of the characteristics of the system research, for Shandong Province test and inspection charges to provide a more objective, accurate, scientific theoretical basis for calculating, for the further preparation of Shandong Province, highway and water transport engineering test and inspection Billing standards in Shandong Province to lay a solid theoretical foundation.

Development of sustainable interlocking concrete paving blocks using bamboo leaf ash and metakaolin

Eco-friendly interlocking concrete pavement block was developed using the admixture of bamboo leaf ash and metakaolin. This was done to develop an eco-friendly interlocking paving block for sustainable pavement construction. Bamboo leaf ash and metakaolin were added as a supplementary cementitious material. The supplementary cementitious material (bamboo leaf ash and metakaolin) were admixed and added at 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 % replacement of cement. The workability of the fresh concrete (slump) at the varied percentage additions, and the mechanical properties of the concrete at 7, 14, 28, and 56 days of curing were assessed, including their microstructural characteristics. The outcome of the research showed that increasing the percentage of (bamboo leaf ash + metakaolin) reduces the workability of the concrete. With a 20 % addition of this cementitious material, the developed fresh concrete became unworkable. In addition, replacing up to 10 % of the concrete in the pavement with bamboo leaf ash and metakaolin increased the mechanical strength of the concrete by 28.7 %. At 30 % a percentage increase of 3.6 % was recorded. However, the strength at 5 % was still adequate for pavement construction with a 13.62 % increase in mechanical strength. The compressive strength at 5 % and 10 % addition of the supplementary cementitious material at maturity met the criteria for constructing a semi-rigid pavement, using IRC standards. The microstructural assessment showed that the number of pores in the mature concrete samples decreased at 10 % addition of bamboo leaf ash and metakaolin. The research data provides construction workers, researchers, and highway engineers with vital information regarding the viability of these sustainable materials for pavement improvement.

Rheological Properties of Silica-Fume-Modified Bioasphalt and Road Performance of Mixtures.

The objective of this research is to enhance the high-temperature antirutting and antiaging characteristics of bioasphalt. In this study, silica fume (SF) was selected to modify bioasphalt. The dosage of bio-oil in bioasphalt was 5%, and the dosage of SF was 2%, 4%, 6%, 8%, and 10% of bioasphalt. The high- and low-temperature characteristics, aging resistance, and temperature sensitivity of Bio + SF were evaluated by temperature sweep (TS), the multiple stress creep recovery (MSCR) test, the bending beam rheology (BBR) test, and the viscosity test. Meanwhile, the road behavior of the Bio + SF mixture was evaluated using the rutting test, low-temperature bending beam test, freeze-thaw splitting test, and fatigue test. The experimental results showed that the dosage of SF could enhance the high-temperature rutting resistance, aging resistance, and temperature stability of bioasphalt. The higher the dosage of SF, the more significant the enhancement effect. However, incorporating SF weakened bioasphalt's low-temperature cracking resistance properties. When the SF dosage was less than 8%, the low-temperature cracking resistance of Bio + SF was still superior to that of matrix asphalt. Compared with matrix asphalt mixtures, the dynamic stability, destructive strain, freeze-thaw splitting strength ratio, and fatigue life of 5%Bio + 8%SF mixtures increased by 38.4%, 49.1%, 5.9%, and 68.9%, respectively. This study demonstrates that the development of SF-modified bioasphalt could meet the technical requirements of highway engineering. Using SF and bio-oil could decrease the consumption of natural resources and positively reduce environmental pollution.

Review of Power Supply and Distribution Construction Technology for Highway Electromechanical Engineering

In recent years, China has made significant progress in the construction of highways, resulting in an improvedhighway network that has provided robust support for economic and social development. However, the rapid expansion of highway construction, power supply, and distribution has led to several challenges in mechanical and electrical engineering technology. Ensuring the safe, stable, and cost-effective operation of the power supply and distribution system to meet the diverse requirements of highway operations has become a pressing issue. This article takes an example of a highway electromechanical engineering power supply and distribution construction project to provide insight into the construction process of highway electromechanical engineering power supply and distribution technology.