Civil and Environmental Engineering Commons^™

Bioaerosol Size As A Potential Determinant Of Airborne E. Coli Viability Under Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation And Ozone Disinfection, Weixing Hao, Yue-Wern Huang, Yang Wang

Biological Sciences Faculty Research & Creative Works

Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) and ozone disinfection are crucial methods for mitigating the airborne transmission of pathogenic microorganisms in high-risk settings, particularly with the emergence of respiratory viral pathogens such as SARS-CoV-2 and avian influenza viruses. This study quantitatively investigates the influence of UVGI and ozone on the viability of E. coli in bioaerosols, with a particular focus on how E. coli viability depends on the size of the bioaerosols, a critical factor that determines deposition patterns within the human respiratory system and the evolution of bioaerosols in indoor environments. This study used a controlled small-scale laboratory chamber where E. …

Risk–Reward Share Allocation Under Different Integrated Project Delivery Relational Structures: A Monte-Carlo Simulation And Cooperative Game Theoretic Solutions Approach, Radwa Eissa, Mohamad Abdul Nabi, Islam H. El-Adaway

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Sharing of risks and rewards is considered to be one of the key benefits and principles of integrated project delivery (IPD). Despite its importance, risk–reward strategies are not implemented widely in IPD construction projects due to the lack of a well-defined basis for establishing adequate allocation plans. This paper fills this knowledge gap. This research followed a multistep methodology. First, the authors calculated the risk control valuations of all potential combinations of coalitions for IPD stakeholders. This was performed using interrelated steps of risk identification and quantification, risk assignment based on associated contractual analysis, establishment of a coordination network, and …

Improvement Of Subgrade California Bearing Ratio (Cbr) Using Recycled Concrete Aggregate And Fly Ash, Safkat Tajwar Ahmed, Mozaher Ul Kabir, Chowdhury Zubayer Bin Zahid, Tahsin Tareque, Seyedali Mirmotalebi

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

The study aims to understand the effect of different admixtures on improving the quality of flexible pavement subgrades. In this paper, recycled concrete aggregates (RCA) and Fly Ash were used as the admixtures in improving the maximum dry density (MDD), swelling potential, and California bearing ratio (CBR) of subgrade soil. The percentages of RCA and fly Ash used were 5%, 10%, and 15%. With the upscaling in fly ash dosage, the optimum moisture content and the California bearing ratio increased. However, the MDD of soil decreased for higher fly ash contents. On the contrary, the optimum moisture content (OMC) of …

Comprehensive Understanding Of Factors Impacting Competitive Construction Bidding, Muaz O. Ahmed, Islam H. El-Adaway, Aubrie Caldwell

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Construction competitive bidding has been studied by many researchers; however, their focus was mainly on certain bidding aspects. Thus, despite their value, existing bidding models have limited applicability for various reasons including the non-inclusion of some real-life factors that impact bidding-related decisions. As such, there is a need for identifying a comprehensive list of bidding factors that impact construction bidding-related decisions, studying their associations, and identifying understudied factors to direct future research efforts. This paper fills this knowledge gap. First, the authors conducted a systematic selection of 124 construction bidding-related articles published within the past 40 years. Second, the authors …

Cal Poly's Old Powerhouse Analysis Assessing Stakeholder Preferences, Marissa D. Burns

Construction Management

This research paper delves into the historical and cultural relevance of Cal Poly’s Old Powerhouse, the college’s oldest architectural landmark, which has remained in a state of disuse since the 1990s. Employing meticulous survey methodology; perspectives from faculty, staff, alumni, students, and community members are gathered to illustrate the significance of the Old Powerhouse within the various stakeholders. The study refrains from imposing interpretation but rather seeks to capture the sentiments expressed by stakeholders, providing valuable insights into the building’s perceived value. By centering on the community opinions, the research will underscore the building’s potential and expand on the collected …

Effects Of Rest Time And Curing Regime On Short- And Long-Term Strength Of Class C Fly Ash-Based Alkali-Activated Mortars, Cedric Kashosi, Ahmed Gheni, Eslam Gomaa, Mohamed Elgawady

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This study investigated how different rest times affect the strength development of fly-ash-based alkali-activated mortar (aam) over a period of 90 days. Two types of fly ash with varying calcium oxide contents of 37 and 21% were used. The rest times ranged from 2 to 36 h, and three curing methods (ambient, oven, and steam) were tested. The results showed that the rest time significantly influenced the compressive strength of the aam. The optimal rest time was found to be between 12 and 30 h depending on the curing method and fly ash type. Beyond this range, there were only …

Experimental Study On Fiber Reinforced Concrete (Frc) Beams With Splices, Mohie Eldin Salah Shoukry, Ahmed Mokhtar Tarabia, Nabil Youssef Nabil

Journal of Engineering Research

This paper presents the results of an experimental study involving nine simply supported beams featuring lap-spliced bars within the constant moment zone. All beams shared identical reinforcement details, including three longitudinal reinforcement bars (12 mm diameter) and two top reinforcement bars (8 mm diameter) for shear stirrup hanging. The lap-spliced specimens were created with a splice length of thirty times the bar diameter (360 mm). The study focused on two key parameters: the fiber content of hooked-end steel fibers used in the concrete mix and the presence of stirrups in the lap-splice region. The hooked-end steel fiber used was with …

Innovation In Egyptian Linear Construction Projects: Enablers, Obstacles, And Suggested Improvements, Saeed Ahmed Elshinawy, Mohammed Elsayed Elsharkawy Assis. Prof., Adel Ibrahim Eldosouky Emeritus Professor

Journal of Engineering Research

Abstract- This research aims to investigate the obstacles, enablers, and suggested improvements for innovation in the Egyptian linear construction projects. The study is motivated by the need to understand the dynamics of innovation within these projects and identify practical approaches to overcome obstacles to innovation.

Owners, contractors, and consultants involved in linear construction projects constituted the target population of the study. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from a representative sample of 70 participants.

It is found that time and budget constraints, along with traditional tendering and procurement methods were significant obstacles to innovation, while technological and technical …

Effect Of Corrugation Properties On The Flexural Behavior Of Small-Scale Mono-Symmetric Steel Girders With Corrugated Webs, Ahmed Elgendy, Ahmed M. El Hadidy, Dr. Mahmoud Hassan Elboghdadi

Journal of Engineering Research

Steel girders with corrugated webs have been extensively researched and used in a variety of applications during the last few decades, including bridges and industrial buildings. Many studies explored the behavior of double symmetric girders with corrugated webs, but only a few articles used unequal flanges. Furthermore, the majority of research focuses on large-scale girders such as bridge girders, with just a few publications considering small-scale girders that may be employed in traditional construction applications. Additionally, performed investigations that consider the flexural behavior focused their studies on the effect of varying the dimensions of flanges without considering the effect of …

Finite Element Investigation For The Flexural Behavior Of Small-Scale Mono-Symmetric Steel Girders With Corrugated Webs, Ahmed H. Elgendy, Ahmed M. El Hadidy, Dr. Mahmoud Hassan Elboghdadi

Journal of Engineering Research

In the last decades, steel girders with corrugated webs have been widely investigated and implemented in many applications such as bridges and industrial facilities. Many researchers investigated the flexural behavior of traditional doubly symmetric girders with corrugated webs, but a very limited number of investigations considered the usage of unequal flanges. In addition, for most cases the performed investigations focus on the behavior of large-scale girders similar to bridge girders, while few papers considered small-scale girders that could be used in traditional structures. Thus, the objective of this paper is to investigate the lateral torsional buckling behavior of small-scale unsymmetric …

Performance Evaluation Of Gravity Quay Walls Under Seismic Loads, Magdy Ali Fawzy, Bakenaz A. Zeidan, Yasser Elhakem, Ahmed I. Elshinnawy Dr.

Journal of Engineering Research

This study explores the seismic performance of a prototype block-type quay wall using the PLAXIS 2D software. The numerical model was forced by historical records of two earthquakes employing four soil types including sand, clay, gravel, and rock. The study investigated the influence of the earthquake seismic motion level, seismic motion configuration, peak ground acceleration (PGA) value, tidal range, and soil type on the structure behavior under the seismic action. Additionally, we assessed the accepted damage level of the structure based on the computed horizontal displacement and tilting. Results indicate that the structure behaves differently under the same seismic load …

Modelling Techniques For Slab Track Systems, Mohamed Hafez Fahmy Aly, Islam Mahmoud Abou El-Naga, Ahmed Abdul Hay Soliman, Muhammad Ahmad Diab

Journal of Engineering Research

The railway slab track has replaced the ballast material in the classical ballasted track with reinforced concrete slab or asphalt layer to cope up with the increasing axle loads, train high-speeds, and to reduce overall maintenance cost. This paper aims to investigate the linear and nonlinear behavior of the most common slab track systems (BÖGL, Shinkansen, and RHEDA 2000) using American (AREMA) loads for different soil types to recommend the most suitable analysis type for each component of the slab track systems. Slab track Finite Element models have been built using Midas GTS NX software. The geometric model for each …

Watercave: Virtual Reality For Engaging The Next Generation In Wastewater Management, Leeza Duller

Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Fellow Symposium

Within the next five to ten years, a significant portion of water and wastewater personnel are expected to retire, posing a substantial challenge for the utilities industry. The potential shortage of experienced workers poses inherent risks to the continuity of water services. WaterCAVE emerges as one of several tools designed to address this impending issue by engaging and inspiring the next generation to consider careers in the wastewater industry. This virtual reality (VR) simulation utilizes a ten-sided immersive display and was designed using Unity's 3D real-time development platform. Students from various educational levels, ranging from Pre-K to 12, are invited …

Performance Assessment Of Microencapsulated Phase Change Materials With Low To High Thermoregulation Range In Asphalt Binder, Anil Kumar Baditha, Ayyaz Fareed

Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Fellow Symposium

Asphalt pavements face significant challenges due to low temperature cracking and rutting caused by extreme temperature fluctuations and traffic loading. These issues result in higher maintenance costs and reduced service life of the pavements. To address this, researchers explored the use of Microencapsulated Phase Change Materials (MPCMs) to induce thermoregulation in asphalt pavements. However, the existing research focused on high-temperature performance of binders, highlighting the need of research on evaluating the low-temperature performance. Therefore, the study aims to evaluate the impact of incorporating MPCMs on low to high temperature performance of binders. Three types of MPCMs were incorporated into asphalt …

Use Of Waste Plastics In Asphalt Mixes: Addressing The Variability Of Source, Venkatsushanth Revelli, Anil Kumar Baditha

Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Fellow Symposium

Use of waste plastics in asphalt mixtures suffers from a serious problem of significant variability with global sources; preventing proper guidelines for field applications. The aim of this study is to address the variability in source of waste plastic and its impact on asphalt mixture design. The study was designed to provide a selection criterion to evaluate the suitability of waste polyethylene (PE) for asphalt pavements. PE obtained from five sources was used as a replacement for asphalt binder. Dry mixing of plastics with asphalt and aggregate was performed at the dosage levels of 3%, 6%, and 9%. The changes …

Drivers’ Hazard Avoidance During Vehicle Automation: Impact Of Mental Models And Implications For Training, Ganesh Pai Mangalore

Doctoral Dissertations

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) are vehicle automation systems that have become more accessible and prevalent in vehicles in recent years. But the introduction of such technologies introduces new human factors challenges. Past literature suggests that users of vehicle automation lack the necessary and appropriate knowledge about their automation system. This may play a negative role in their hazard avoidance abilities when driving with automation features. Improving mental models and knowledge could generally lead to safer interactions with vehicle automation systems, but any effort to develop hazard avoidance skills when driving with vehicle automation is impeded by the lack of …

Sanitation In Urban Areas May Limit The Spread Of Antimicrobial Resistance Via Flies, Drew Capone, Oliver Cumming, Abeoseh Flemister, Victor Ilevbare, Seth R. Irish, Ishi Keenum, Jackie Knee, Rassul Nala, Joe Brown

Michigan Tech Publications, Part 2

Synanthropic filth flies are common where sanitation is poor and fecal wastes are accessible to them. These flies have been proposed as mechanical vectors for the localized transport of fecal microbes including antimicrobial resistant (AMR) organisms and associated antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs), increasing exposure risks. We evaluated whether an onsite sanitation intervention in Maputo, Mozambique reduced the concentration of enteric bacteria and the frequency of detection of ARGs carried by flies collected in household compounds of low-income neighborhoods. Additionally, we assessed the phenotypic resistance profile of Enterobacteriaceae isolates recovered from flies during the pre-intervention phase. After fly enumeration at study …

Numerical Study Of Cone Penetration In Calcareous Sands: Investigating Cone Tip Resistance Correction Factors For Crushable Soils, Stephanie Michelle Hyder

Dissertations and Theses

The cone penetration test (CPT) is used to characterize the behavior and properties of soils, including the susceptibility to earthquake liquefaction triggering. The cone tip resistance relates to liquefaction susceptibility through relative density, where relative density is closely related to both cone tip resistance and liquefaction susceptibility. Currently, published methods of estimating liquefaction potential (i.e., cyclic resistance ratio) are based on silica sands and do not properly characterize calcareous sands. The measured cone tip resistance in calcareous sands is lower than in silica sands at the same relative density; this difference is generally attributed to the higher compressibility of calcareous …

A 4-Node Shell Finite Element Based On Assumed Bending And Membrane Strains For Static Analysis Of Plates And Shells, Sifeddine Abderrahmani

Emirates Journal for Engineering Research

In this paper the development of a new rectangular flat shell element is proposed. This element is called SBRPK-SBRIE. This element is used in the numerical analysis of thin structures based on the strain approach with linear elastic behavior. Combining bending and membrane elements yields the proposed element.The strain-based rectangular finite element for the thin plate bending element denoted SBRPK, and the strain-based membrane element denoted SBRIE. Several numerical examples have been conducted to assess the accuracy and reliability of the developed element compared with the theoretical results and other finite elements. Obtained results show its good performance compared to …

Investigating Gulf Coast Aquifer System: Stratigraphy Reconstruction, Inverse Modeling, And Groundwater Stress Assessment, Shuo Yang

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The Mississippi Embayment aquifer system (MEAS) and the Coastal Lowlands aquifer system (CLAS) provide substantial groundwater resources for human activities in the U.S. Gulf Coastal Plain. However, the overexploitation has led to groundwater depletion in the MEAS and the CLAS, threatening sustainable groundwater use. Such concern highlights the crucial need for an advanced understanding of stratigraphy and groundwater in these aquifer systems, which is essential for effective regional groundwater management. This dissertation presents a comprehensive investigation of MEAS and CLAS in the Louisiana and southwestern Mississippi region, encompassing three fundamental dimensions: stratigraphy reconstruction, groundwater modeling, and groundwater stress assessments. A …