FFY 2009 Research Projects

NETC 09-1

PROJECT TITLE: Active Structural Control of Cantilevered Support Structures

STATUS: Project Dropped

ANTICIPATED COMPLETION: To be determined

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR(S): To be determined

PI E-MAIL: To be determined

OBJECTIVES:

1. To document the current state-of-the-art for: (i) vibration mitigation of cantilevered signal and sign supports, and (ii) active control of civil structures.
2. To conduct field instrumentation of cantilevered signal and sign support structures to identify the dynamic characteristics (e.g. natural frequencies and damping ratios) of actual signal and sign structures.
3. To perform analytical studies to examine the feasibility and performance of proposed active control strategies to mitigate wind-induced fatigue in cantilevered signal and sign supports.
4. To conduct full-scale experimental verification of these concepts on cantilevered signal and sign supports to demonstrate the feasibility and performance of the proposed active control strategy.

NETC 09-2

PROJECT TITLE: Effective Establishment of Native Grasses on Roadsides

STATUS: RFP pending

ANTICIPATED COMPLETION: To be determined

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR(S): To be determined

PI E-MAIL: To be determined

OBJECTIVES:

1. To document the current state-of-the-art on the establishment of grass species, particularly warm-season species, native to southern New England.
2. To test the germination and establishment of ecotypes from the Northeast under controlled conditions to determine the temperature range needed for successful establishment, tolerance to the herbicides commonly used to control crabgrass, and the efficiency of chemical treatments to enhance germination.
3. To examine the establishment of native grasses in the field with planting dates, planting method and species mix as variables.

NETC 09-3

PROJECT TITLE: Advanced Composite Materials: Prototype Development and Demonstration

STATUS: RFP pending

ANTICIPATED COMPLETION: To be determined

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR(S): To be determined

PI E-MAIL: To be determined

OBJECTIVES:

1. To design and fabricate, using fiber-reinforced composite materials, a standard drain system for bridges that can be produced economically for use throughout New England.
2. To install the drain system in 2 to 3 representative bridge applications in New England to provide information on its performance, ease of construction, and cost.