Nov. 2, 2005 -- Two faculty members with the College of Engineering at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro have been awarded a $60,000 contract from the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department to validate the design of bridge railings in Arkansas to meet new federal guidelines.

Dr. Brad Edgar and Dr. Tom Parsons will use both experimental analysis and computer simulations to assist the AHTD with the design of the new railing systems to meet the approval of the Federal Highway Administration.  

The use of computer simulation for virtual design in lieu of actually crash testing a proposed barrier can be very cost effective, with the actual crash test of a single proposed barrier costing approximately $25,000.  

The project began on July 1 of this year and is slated to run through November 2006. In addition to the two faculty members, the project will employ the assistance of four undergraduate students.

For more details, contact Dr. Brad Edgar via email at bedgar@astate.edu or call 870-972-3304.