Ana Pruneda
UTRGV Civil Engineering student Ana Pruneda completed her UTCRS REU experience at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln. Ms. Pruneda showed an active interest in geometric design, in particular when applied to highways and highway-railway grade crossings (HRGCs). As a result, her summer research project work focused on calculating the actual side friction and centripetal force at curve intersections with HRGCs. As it is known, maximum design coefficients of friction were established in the 1940’s as a function of super elevation, radius of curvature, and speed limits in curves. However, these coefficients of friction and the centripetal forces felt by the travelling vehicles have considerably changed since, due to the evolution of vehicles, tires and pavement materials. Through simple surveying and the use of data acquisition systems, Ms. Pruneda evaluated four problematic sites in the state of Nebraska. Her work exposed the differences between the design side friction and centripetal force and the actual values obtained through measurements. It also highlighted the need to constantly revise these design parameters. Furthermore the values she obtained were used by UTCRS REU participant Ms. Cassandra Lozano in her own summer research project.