Summary and Recommendations of Recycled Materials in Roadside Safety Devices


Book Description

In response to the increased interest in the use of recycled materials such as plastics, rubber, paper, and glass, etc., the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) sponsored project 0-1458, entitled "Recycled Materials in Roadside Safety Devices." The purpose of this project was to investigate and explore the use of recycled materials in roadside safety applications with the goal of product implementation. This report summarizes a three-phase research program intended to evaluate the use of recycled materials in roadside safety devices. In the first phase, information regarding recycled material manufacturers and their products was acquired through an extensive literature review and survey of research organizations, state and federal transportation agencies, professional and trade societies, and manufacturers. In the second phase of this project, products were further evaluated through a series of static and dynamic laboratory tests. The testing focused on the applications of Type III barricades, guardrail posts, guardrail offset blocks, and sign supports which were identified as areas with high potential that lacked suitable recycled alternatives. The products showed a wide range in behavior due to different material compositions. Phase III consisted of full-scale crash testing of selected products to validate laboratory results, verify their crashworthiness, and assist with the development of performance specifications. Three products were evaluated for use as temporary sign supports. Another product was evaluated for use as guardrail posts and offset blocks in strong post W-beam guardrail. Performance specifications were prepared for these applications and are included as appendices in the summary report




Advanced Composites


Book Description

This book presents a comprehensive collection of reviews and experimental research findings in the realm of composite materials. It explores manufacturing technologies and applications, as well as recent breakthroughs in nanomaterial-based composites, polymer-based composites, titanium matrix composites (TMCs), conducting polymers, natural polymers, graphene polymers, graphene composites, and organosulfur polymeric composites, alongside reinforced aluminum matrix composites. The mechanical and tribological aspects take center stage, with a focus on aluminum alloy composites as a superior alternative to traditional gear materials. The book also addresses cutting-edge composite materials developed for drug removal via adsorption techniques, radiation shielding, and their use as shielding absorbers for ionizing radiation. Furthermore, the significance of electrical contact materials and their performance is explored. The book unveils fabrication methods, sample preparation techniques, properties, and various applications of these remarkable composites. Topics range from additive manufacturing to solid-phase extraction and solid-phase microextraction utilizing diverse composites as adsorbents. Additionally, the inverse vulcanization process, a novel technique involving the copolymerization of elemental sulfur with different monomers based on their resource origins, is discussed. Technologies such as powder metallurgy (PM), mechanical alloying (MA), self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS), and rapid solidification processing (RSP) are described. The book further delves into the preparation techniques of zeolite using both conventional and advanced methods, along with the synthesis of various zeolite-based composites, particularly their application in environmental remediation. The book culminates with a summary of analysis and modeling techniques used in composite materials, including those employed in ballistic applications.