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Andrew Loken

Assistant Research Professor Midwest Roadside Safety Facility, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering University of Nebraska-Lincoln

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)

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)