Assistant Research Professor

Academic Degrees

• Ph.D., Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023
• M.S., Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2021
• B.S., Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2019

Areas of Research and Professional Interest

• Impact engineering, particularly for road safety structures
• Security engineering and threat mitigation
• Vehicle crash testing
• Dynamic, large-deformation finite element modeling with LS-DYNA
• Concrete damage models

Current Research Projects

• NCHRP 22-62: Tool for Estimating the Deflection of Temporary Traffic Barriers with Reduced Impact Angles (PI)
• PF FY2024 AUTO-1: LS-DYNA Investigation of Electric Vehicles and Roadside Safety Hardware (PI)
• PF FY2024 THRIE-1: Development of a Limited Deflection MASH TL-4 Thrie-Beam Guardrail System (PI)
• PF FY2024 CONC-5: Guidelines for Concrete Median Barrier Anchorage to Slabs (Co-PI)
• PF FY2025 CONC-1: Strength Requirements for Concrete Median Barrier Anchorages (Co-PI)
• PF FY2025 MGS-6: Development of Guardrail System to Accommodate Electric Vehicles (PI)
• ODOT 2025-17: Development of Small Wildlife Exclusion Fencing Incorporated into Guardrail (with Ohio University) (PI)
• WISDOT CABLE-1: Development of Field-Swaged Cable End Fittings for Cable Barrier Systems (PI)
• US Air Force Civil Engineer Center: Slip-Formable M50 Anti-Ram Concrete Barrier (PI)
• US Army Engineer Research and Development Center: Expeditionary M50 Anti-Ram Portable Concrete Barrier (PI)

Research Profiles

• Digital Commons

Courses Taught

• CIVE 441: Steel Design 1
• CIVE 894: Introduction to LS-DYNA (as guided independent study)

Honors and Awards

• Transportation Research Board 2024 AKD20 Best Paper Award: Vehicle Collision Load Design Demands for Deck Overhangs with Parapet Railings
• 2021 and 2023 Dwight D. Eisenhower Transportation Fellow
• International Road Federation Fellow

Selected Publications

• Loken, A. and Rosenbaugh, S., MASH TL-3 Crash Testing and Simulation of ILDOT Type SMX Steel Bridge Railing Modified to Prevent Bridge Deck Damage, Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, Transportation Research Board of the National Academies, Washington, D.C., 2026.
• Loken et al., Attaching Steel Bridge Rail Posts Directly to Bridge Decks: Design Procedures, Best Practices, and Case Studies, Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, Transportation Research Board of the National Academies, Washington, D.C., 2026.
• Loken et al., Vehicle Collision Load Design Demands for Deck Overhangs with Parapet Railings, Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, Transportation Research Board of the National Academies, Washington, D.C., 2024.
• Loken et al., Performance Case Study of Concrete Bridge Rail Post on Deck Overhang, Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, Transportation Research Board of the National Academies, Washington, D.C., 2023.

Selected Presentations

• MASH TL-3 Crash Testing and Simulation of ILDOT Type SMX Bridge Railing - TRB 2026 lectern session
• Attaching Steel Bridge Rail Posts Directly to Bridge Decks - TRB 2025 lectern session
• Vehicle Collision Load Design Demands for Deck Overhangs with Parapet Railings - TRB 2024 lectern session (AKD20)
• Performance Case Study of Concrete Bridge Rail Post on Deck Overhang - TRB 2023 lectern session (AKD20)
• Concrete Modeling Lessons with the Karagozian & Case and Continuous Surface Cap Models - TRB 2023 workshop (AKD20 computational mechanics subcommittee)