Effect of pavement surface properties on life cycle cost analysis

Life Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA) is one of the most well established methods used in determining the best alternative pavement project. The two main pillars of LCCA are user costs and agency costs. User costs are incurred during normal transportation operation and when there is a work zone present. Costs that occur during normal operating conditions are due to pavement surface profile, while costs that occur during work zone activities are due to agency decisions on work zone conditions. In traditional LCCA, it is assumed that work zones costs are the main part of user costs. The work zone costs include vehicle delay costs, vehicle operating costs, crash costs, and emission costs. On the other hand, costs associated with normal operating conditions, such as vehicle operating costs, are independent of project alternatives and thus they are negligible. However, recent studies have suggested that vehicle operating costs are more sensitive to roughness and texture profile than initially thought. Therefore, even slight changes in pavement surface profile may affect user costs. This study introduces a methodology that considers normal operating conditions in LCCA; including pavement surface properties. The approach is presented in a Microsoft Excel Visual Basic (VBA) tool. Finally, a case study is presented to illustrate the importance of user costs for normal operating conditions and their effect on LCCA. Analysis showed that for medium to low traffic roadways, the impact of normal operating costs is significant when compared to work zone costs. Furthermore, decreasing the number of treatment activities may increase the user costs because the pavement is less frequently improved. In addition, as would be expected, it was found that with increasing discount rates, the significance of normal operating costs further increase

Analisis Resource Based View Dalam Mencapai Keunggulan Kompetitif (Studi Kasus Pada Pijak Bumi Bandung)

Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah menganalisis sumber daya yang berpotensi menghasilkan keunggulan kompetitif yang berkelanjutan melalui pendekatan Resource Based View dan Analisis Rantai Nilai untuk mengetahui sumber daya apa saja yang dimiliki Pijak Bumi untuk mendapatkan kompetensi inti sebagai sumber Competitive Advantage. Alat analisis dalam penelitian ini menggunakan Kerangka VRIO (Valuable, Rarity, Imitability, Organization) dalam upaya mencapai Sustainable Competitive Advantage. Metode yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah kualitatif deskriptif dengan pendekatan studi kasus. Berdasarkan hasil penelitian diperoleh bahwa sumber daya berwujud (tangible) Pijak Bumi memiliki dua sumber daya yang bersifat competitive disadvantage, delapan sumber daya bersifat competitive parity, sepuluh sumber daya memiliki sifat temporary competitive advantage. Sumber daya tak berwujud (intangible) Pijak Bumi memiliki lima sumber daya bersifat competitive parity, sepuluh sumber daya memiliki sifat temporary competitive advantage, dan tiga sumber daya bersifat sustained competitive advantage. Sedangkan, hasil dari analisis kapabilitas diketahui sebanyak enam kapabilitas bersifat competitive parity, lima belas kapabilitas yang dimiliki bersifat temporary competitive advantage, dan tujuh kapabilitas sebagai sumber kompetensi inti untuk meraih sustained competitive advantage

Impact of New Generation Wide-Base Tires on Fuel Consumption

This study combined multiple approaches to evaluate the structural and economic impact of using new-generation wide-base tires (NG-WBT) in New Brunswick, Canada. A three-dimensional finite-element model of a typical pavement structure used in New Brunswick was used to predict critical pavement responses. The model includes measured tire-pavement contact forces among other variables overlooked in conventional flexible pavement analysis approaches. Using the model output, regression analysis was performed to predict the responses under various loadings to avoid performing the time-consuming finite-element analysis. Eight-year weight-in-motion data and critical pavement responses were used in transfer functions to predict pavement damage and the corresponding progression of an international roughness index (IRI) during a 60-year analysis period. Most pavement responses from NG-WBT compared with dual-tire assembly (DTA) were 20% and 30% higher in this case. The smallest difference was the vertical strain on top of the subgrade. The life cycle cost analysis (LCCA) considered a reduction in fuel consumption because of the use of NG-WBTs. Two scenarios were analyzed: (1) Case A, in which maintenance was performed periodically and independent of IRI values, and (2) Case B, in which the IRI threshold triggered maintenance. A reduction in fuel costs was significant in both cases. Maintaining a low pavement IRI would increase vehicle and truck fuel cost savings. The results indicate that the agency cost to maintain pavement used by NG-WBT is expected to be between CAD 7,703 to CAD 8,840 (2019 dollars) for 10% and 20% of all tandem axles using NG-WBT per one kilometer for a 60-year analysis period. The annual worth of such savings would be CAD 298 and CAD 342 (2019 dollars), respectively. In contrast, fuel savings per truck-km is expected to be CAD 30,471 to CAD 60,119 (2019 dollars) for 10% and 20% of all tandem axles using NG-WBT per one kilometer for the same analysis period, respectively. The annual worth of such savings would be CAD 1,100 and CAD 2,172 (2019 dollars) per one kilometer, respectively. Additionally, the trucks would save, annually, CAD 0.42 and CAD 0.107 per ton transported per kilometer for 10% and 20% NG-WBT market penetrations, respectively

Fluoride and aluminum release from restorative materials using ion chromatography

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the amounts of fluoride and aluminum released from different restorative materials stored in artificial saliva and double-distilled water. Material and METHODS: Cylindrical specimens (10 x 1 mm) were prepared from 4 different restorative materials (Kavitan Plus, Vitremer, Dyract Extra, and Surefil). For each material, 20 specimens were prepared, 10 of which were stored in 5 mL artificial saliva and 10 of which were stored in 5 mL of double-distilled water. Concentrations of fluoride and aluminum in the solutions were measured using ion chromatography. Measurements were taken daily for one week and then weekly for two additional weeks. Data were analyzed using two-way ANOVA and Duncan's multiple range tests (

Evaluation of I-FIT Results and Machine Variability using MnRoad Test Track Mixtures

The Illinois Flexibility Index Test (I-FIT) was developed to distinguish between different mixtures in terms of potential cracking. Several machines were manufactured and are currently available to perform the I-FIT. This report presents the results and findings from an experimental program developed to compare various I-FIT configurations. Three different I-FIT devices were compared in collaboration with Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT). The main focus of the study was the comparison of the two custom designs: an InstroTek screwdriven device with a spring rollers support system and a TestQuip servo hydraulic system with both spring and bearing rollers support systems. In addition, the Interlaken 100 kN servo-hydraulic universal testing frame equipped with an I-FIT fixture with spring roller support system was also evaluated. In total, eight asphalt concrete (AC) mixtures with varying design characteristics were analyzed by evaluating the difference in the mean values of fracture energy, slope, and overall patterns of load-displacement curves in addition to the statistical analysis. According to the results obtained, the various machines did not significantly affect the flexibility index (FI) calculated for each mixture in this study. In all cases, the results were within approximately one unit of FI for each machine and mixture. Statistical analysis conducted using the ANOVA analysis and t-test also supported the conclusion that the device configurations were found to have no significant effect on the FI results for the AC mixtures evaluated in this study, regardless of the loading system (hydraulic or screw-driven) and the configuration of the support system (spring or bearing rollers).IDOT-R27-SP31Ope

Effect of pavement surface properties on life cycle cost analysis

Life Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA) is one of the most well established methods used in determining the best alternative pavement project. The two main pillars of LCCA are user costs and agency costs. User costs are incurred during normal transportation operation and when there is a work zone present. Costs that occur during normal operating conditions are due to pavement surface profile, while costs that occur during work zone activities are due to agency decisions on work zone conditions. In traditional LCCA, it is assumed that work zones costs are the main part of user costs. The work zone costs include vehicle delay costs, vehicle operating costs, crash costs, and emission costs. On the other hand, costs associated with normal operating conditions, such as vehicle operating costs, are independent of project alternatives and thus they are negligible. However, recent studies have suggested that vehicle operating costs are more sensitive to roughness and texture profile than initially thought. Therefore, even slight changes in pavement surface profile may affect user costs. This study introduces a methodology that considers normal operating conditions in LCCA; including pavement surface properties. The approach is presented in a Microsoft Excel Visual Basic (VBA) tool. Finally, a case study is presented to illustrate the importance of user costs for normal operating conditions and their effect on LCCA. Analysis showed that for medium to low traffic roadways, the impact of normal operating costs is significant when compared to work zone costs. Furthermore, decreasing the number of treatment activities may increase the user costs because the pavement is less frequently improved. In addition, as would be expected, it was found that with increasing discount rates, the significance of normal operating costs further increase.U of I OnlyAuthor requested U of Illinois access only (OA after 2yrs) in Vireo ETD syste

Junctionless silicon nanotube tunnel field effect transistor based resistive temperature detector

A Junctionless Nanotube Tunnel Field Effect Transistor (JL-SiNT TFET) with platinum source and the aluminium gate electrode to enable band-to-band tunneling is proposed in this paper for significantly improved performance which is further used as an application of platinum resistive temperature detector according to earth’s environmental needs. The optimized device has been compared with the conventional Core-Shell Nanotube structure in view of analog parameters and electrical properties. High Ion/Ioff current ratio in the range of ~103, low subthreshold slopes, and high Ion current results in view of band-to-band tunneling induced in the device. Furthermore, we demonstrate that variations in the gate electrode work function, oxide thickness and silicon thickness can be used as design parameters to further upgrade the performance of the JL-SiNT TFET. The investigations showed that ON resistance of the sensor decreases in approximately by 2.3 times as the temperature increases from -200 °C to 200 °C. The resistance-temperature relationship shows high operability, high sensitivity, and the simulation is incongruent with the experimental results. The Nano Resistive temperature detector shows a sensitivity of −0.45%

Efficacy of a sugar-free herbal lollipop for reducing salivary Streptococcus mutans levels: a randomized controlled trial

sonmez, isil/0000-0002-3530-0244WOS: 000398710700014PubMed: 27129589The aim of our study was to evaluate the efficacy of an herbal lollipop containing licorice root extract on salivary Streptococcus mutans in caries-free and high-caries-risk children. The study was conducted in caries-free and high-caries-risk children, aged 5-11 years (n = 108). The groups were caries-free children (group A); high-caries-risk children whose dental treatment was completed before lollipop use (group B); and high-caries-risk children who did not comply with dental treatment (group C). The groups were divided into two subgroups: herbal (A-1, B-1, C-1) and placebo lollipops (A-2, B-2, C-2). Saliva samples were taken before dental treatment, before and after consuming lollipops, and at 3 months after consuming lollipops. The results were statistically analyzed with chi-squared test. Only in group C-1 (high-risk, using herbal lollipops) that significant reduction was observed in salivary S. mutans levels after lollipop use (p = 0.033), and only in the same group (C-1), there was significant difference between after lollipop use and third month levels (p = 0.006). Herbal lollipops could be recommended to children with high-caries risk who do not comply with dental treatment in place of high-carbohydrate snacks. The paper provides a perspective on using herbal products in high-risk children for reducing salivary S. mutans counts.Kirikkale University Scientific Research Projects Coordination UnitKirikkale University [2012/98]This study was funded by Kirikkale University Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit (project number 2012/98)