Working in Excel

Author: Lydia Quinn | Major: Civil Engineering, Geography | Semester: Spring 2025

Nearing the end of my junior year, the pressure to find an honor’s thesis topic and mentor started to build. As I wasn’t involved in any labs in the civil engineering department, I was considering doing my project independently. Dr. Andrew Braham, the head of the University’s Asphalt Pavements lab, reached out to me to see if I wanted to work with him for my thesis. I agreed, and we started discussing topics that I could pursue. Over the summer, I started my literature review, getting more familiar with current asphalt mixes and terminology. Dr. Braham paired me with one of his PHD candidates, Amarjeet Tiwari, who was able to give me more individual help. The fall of my senior year, I applied for a SURF grant. The lengthy application process helped me to collect my thoughts and solidify my research objectives. While I did not receive a SURF grant, I am grateful that I applied. In addition to helping me advance in my understanding of my research topic, I also received an honor’s college research grant through my SURF application. While my research did not require much in terms of materials or travel, the honors college research grant has helped me to be able to dedicate a lot of time to my research, without having to worry much about my living expenses.

My research was primarily done through Microsoft Excel. After my literature review, I developed a spreadsheet that could mathematically combine aggregates in different percentages, and then test their adherence to the Bailey’s method of asphalt gradation. I received two different asphalt mix designs from APAC Central, the local asphalt company in Northwest Arkansas. Using the same aggregates as APAC, I developed 75 different aggregate mixtures that adhered to the principles of Bailey’s Method. I was then able to compare these mixes to APAC’s mixes.

The results of my research found that the Bailey’s method has the potential to reduce the necessary amount of asphalt binder in mixes, which is the most expensive part of asphalt. This could lead to significant cost savings – up to 5.1%. I had the opportunity to present my research to APAC Central, which was extremely rewarding. Additionally, while my research did not include any laboratory testing of asphalt, several graduate students intend to perform tests on the mixes that I found in order to strengthen my research and set it up for publication.

Overall, I am very grateful for Amarjeet, who worked very closely with me throughout this process, and for Dr. Braham, who was always very supportive of my work. Completing my research has certainly been challenging, but it has also been extremely rewarding and an excellent chance to grow both intellectually and personally. While my honor’s thesis topic differs greatly from the field that I plan to work in, I know that the skills that I learned this year will help me greatly in my career at Freese and Nichols Inc, a consulting engineering company in Rogers, AR.