UA Civil Engineering Student Awarded Eisenhower Fellowship

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The Federal Highway Administration recently awarded an Eisenhower Graduate Fellowship to Nathan Klenke, a University of Alabama graduate student in civil engineering, as part of the Dwight David Eisenhower Transportation Fellowship Program.

Klenke, a native of Lebanon, Ohio, is interested in the study of concrete. In the past he has worked closely with Dr. Eric Giannini, assistant professor of civil, construction and environmental engineering, to test the reaction of alkali-silica reaction in concrete.

Since then he has worked on several additional projects under Giannini’s supervision. Most recently, he worked on a project sponsored by the Southeastern region of the Portland Cement Association in which he researched the use of carbonate coarse aggregates in concrete pavements.

Klenke said he intends to use his Eisenhower Fellowship to pursue research on diamond grinding, a concrete preservation technique that involves removing a pavement’s surface level using closely spaced diamond saw blades. For this project, he will produce 96 concrete slabs, each with different types of rocks and surface textures, and then test each slab’s friction after being exposed to simulated traffic wear.

“I think I was chosen [to receive the Eisenhower fellowship] because of the project we proposed,” Klenke said. “Engineers diamond-grind old concrete pavements to make a smoother and quieter experience for drivers and to improve pavement friction; we are trying to find ways to change how we diamond grind pavements to make the benefits last longer, and we’re specifically focusing on increases in pavement friction.”

Established by the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act in 1991, the Eisenhower Fellowship seeks to expand the number of qualified engineers in the transportation workforce. Through the program, the Federal Highway Administration allows undergraduate and graduate students to spend time at the U.S. Department of Transportation to participate in research, development and technology transfer activities. About 150 to 200 Eisenhower Transportation Fellowships are awarded each year.