CONNECTIONS: The VDOT Library E-Newsletter

Library Supported Research Leads To a Better Understanding Of Overlay Performance

Dr. Balakumaran and Dr. Weyers's ASCE article builds on their research for VDOT, and is freely accessible until 11-6-20.

Special congratulations to Soundar Balakumaran, Ph.D., P.E., M.ASCE, VTRC Associate Director for Structures and Richard Weyers, Ph.D., P.E., VTRC Senior Research Scientist!

Their technical paper "Service Life Performance of Preventive and Rehabilitative Overlays on Virginia Bridge Decks: An Observational Study" has been accepted for publication by the American Society of Civil Engineers and is getting national attention.

Dr. Balakumaran's and Dr. Weyers's research in this area started for VDOT back in 2016, leading to two studies published by the Virginia Transportation Research Council on the long-term performance of Bridge Deck Overlays in Virginia:

•  17-R17 - Performance of Bridge Deck Overlays in Virginia: Phase I: State of Overlays
•  20-R6 - Performance of Bridge Deck Overlays in Virginia: Phase II: Service Life Performance

That, in turn, led to the paper, which has been published in the Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities, one of many journals in the ASCE Library database. 

" The VDOT Research Library is my go-to place for gathering precise and relevant materials because our librarians consistently outclass the breakneck pace of this era of information overload. A special note of thanks to the library for finding information that is difficult to locate! "

 

Because their work has national implications, ASCE felt the paper warranted special attention. It was featured yesterday (October 29, 2020) in ASCE's SmartBrief, and will be available as a "free download" for the next week.

Since the VDOT Library has a full online subscription to all 37 ASCE peer-reviewed technical and professional journals in the ASCE Library database, VDOT employees can connect to this research and thousands of other peer-reviewed papers (ASCE alone has 155,000 papers) well beyond next Friday! 

To get started check out this Quick Start Guide to ASCE Library.

Questions?  We're here to help!

Ken Winter, VDOT Research Library