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Volume 11, No. 22Journal 22

DOI:https://doi.org/10.15517/3fer9y28

Published October 24, 2025

Scientific Papers

  1. Javier Zamora Rojas, Rosendo Pujol Mesalles (Author)

    Analysis of the Occurrence of Different Types of Traffic Accidents in Pérez Zeledón County, Costa Rica

    In Costa Rica, road accidents occurrence is one of the most serious problems in the transport system. In the county of Pérez Zeledón, there has been an additional increase due to the widening of 7.7 kilometers of the National Route 2. This road has an inappropriate design for an urban environment, and it doesn't have the adequate safety measures. A total amount of 825 road accidents were located, of the year 2005 in the districts of San Isidro and Daniel Flores, by using Geographic Information Systems (GIS). The first part of the analysis (descriptive analysis), was made relating the main variables between them. After that, a more specific analysis took place along the 23 kilometers of this road that goes through San Isidro and Daniel Flores. Then, with regards to the identification of critical risky points, 27 points were located along the National Route 2, 19 of them along the widened section. Finally, a statistical analysis was made, using the "odds ratio" (OR) and relative risk (RR) methods. This analysis verifies that this section of National Route 2 has a very high dangerous index, giving a partial solution to the cars' mobility, without considering pedestrians' and cyclists' mobility.

  2. Carlos Eduardo Poveda Salamanca, Jaime Andrés Rojas López, Edgar Eduardo Muñoz Díaz (Author)

    Experimental Estimation of the Friction Coefficients Due to Deviation (k) and Curvature (μ) in Post-Tensioned Cables through Electronic Instrumentation

    This paper conducted a pilot estimate of the friction coefficients for deviation and post-curvature of wires of different pipeline materials, of galvanized metal and plastic, through its electronic instrumentation. 

    For this purpose, two post-stressed concrete beams were built, whose instrumentation was performed using a data acquisition system and strain gages, the ones which were used to determine the variation of the unit strain values, and therefore the tension losses of the cables, along their length. The designe was conceived as a slab-beam type pedestrian crosway.  

    Knowing the geometry and the tension at each point of the cables, the ranges of the friction coefficients were estimated for both, unintentional deviation (k) and curvature (μ), which were compared with national and international standards. In this research, it was concluded that the ranges of the friction coefficients of metallic pipelines for unintentional deviation (k) are similar to those recommended by the standards, while the coefficients for curvature (μ) are higher. 

    For plastic products, the values of their coefficients of friction (µ k), estimated in this research are innovative, because they are not included in the standards, thus it is a contribution to the national engineering. This work is the base for further research and also to update the national standards. This project was possible thanks to the support of VSL International and CEMEX, generating innovation and technology transfer to the industry and the society. 

  3. Federico León Castaño Martínez, Jorge Mario Herrera Betín, Jose Gómez Sáenz, Fredy Reyes Lizcano (Author)

    Qualitative Analysis of Infiltration Water Flow for the Drainage Control of a Flexible Pavement Structure in the City of Bogotá D.C.

    This article describes the objective, methodology, interpretation and conclusions of a qualitative and experimental analysis to determine the viability of a drainage system that contemplates the inclusion of opened gradations in the pavement structure, and evaluate the improvement on the conventional structure of pavements. 

    The methodology used for the development of the research was conducted at different stages. In the first, it was obtained the asphalt layers of the Av. 13A with St. 79, in the sector of the Lake of the Bogotá D.C., then made a tour by the area near the place, with the purpose to make a photographic registry of cases where the study situation appears, with the purpose of selecting a support material that allowed to evidence the phenomenon of possible deterioration of some flexible pavements in the city from the standpoint of internal drainage. As second part, it was made the characterization of the base material, subbase and open base; as third stage, it was built two experimental models: the model of a conventional flexible structure of pavement and the model of flexible structure of pavement with addition of a open base to serve as the internal drainage; finally, it ended with the interpretation and conclusions of the results.  

  4. René García Depestre, Domingo Delgado Martínez, Eduardo Díaz García (Author)

    Road Safety Analysis in the Central Region of Cuba

    Traffic accidents are a global concern. They are the primary cause of death of children and young adults. Cuba is no exception. Villa Clara province, located in the central territory of Cuba, is identified as the region having the most unsafe roads. Thus, it is necessary to analyze the causes of accidents considering the information presented in accident reports. In this research, accident occurrence is characterized by using indices which reflect the vehicular composition of the traffic volume. These indices prove that the vehicle type classified as "other" (by the Cuban Highway Traffic Control Act) has a great influence in the occurrence of accidents due to speed differences and vehicular volume in relation to the rest of vehicle types. A riskiness scale is also established which is used to prioritize the road safety measures considering the risk, as well as the relationship between accident occurrence versus vehicular composition. Tne maintenance state of road infrastructure is also analized. 

  5. Breno Salgado Barra, Leto Momm (Author)

    Evaluation of the Physical and Chemical Characteristics of Limestone Mineral Fillers and Stone Dust in the Formulation of Asphalt Mortars

    The objective of this project is to emphasize the importance of studying fill materials of different mineral origins, which are used in the formulation of bituminous mixtures, specifically of mastics. Even after several different approaches in scientific circles, this context is still under discussion among researchers, mainly regarding the physical and chemical effects involved, which have a great influence in the mechanical performance of the mastics, and consequently of the asphaltic mixtures. This research was developed from the use of mineral fill materials that come from lime rock (lime powder) and granite rock (rock powder) of the mineral deposits in the Pará state, as well as the samples of asphaltic cement (CAP) 50/70 that come from the refinery LUBNOR, located in Fortaleza (Ceará). Several aspects were evaluated, including: semi-quantitative chemical fluorescence x-ray analysis, low angle laser ray emission grading, scanning electron microscopy, high resolution image capture. ring and ball softening point, and aggregate-asphalt and aggregate mastic penetration and adhesivity. Even considering that the tests regarding mastic analysis were empirical, the results obtained on the whole indicated convergent trends. This means that the activity component exerted by a mineral fill material in the formation of a mastic subdivides the concept of activity in two aspects: physical (rigidity) and chemical (adhesivity), independent of its fineness, but dependent of its form, texture, specific surface and nature.