Architecture Commons^™

A Simple Method For Estimation Of Queue Length, S. P. Anusha, Lelitha Devi Vanajakshi, Anuj Sharma

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Faculty Publications

Urban arterials are characterized by frequent intersections. Queue length and delay are the two primary measures of performance of intersection. These measures play a primary role in determining the arterial performance. This article presents a methodology to determine the number of vehicles in queue at a signalized intersection for under saturated traffic conditions. The results obtained were validated using actual values that are manually extracted. The root-mean-square error is of the range 1.3 vehicles for estimation of number of vehicles in queue. The various aspects that have to be considered in accurate estimation of performance measures are also discussed.

The Cost Of Green Infrastructure: Worth The Investment?, Martha Sheils

Green Infrastructure

Is GI worth the investment?

• LID techniques often lead to cost savings when we look at WHOLE PROJECT COSTS

• Natural Infrastructure investments for flood control, drinking water protection and wildlife habitat can yield SIGNIFICANT AVOIDED COSTS and additional co-benefits to communitites

Plants As Bio-Indicators Of Subsurface Conditions: Impact Of Groundwater Level On Btex Concentrations In Trees, Jordan Wilson, Rachel Bartz, Matt Limmer, Joel Gerard Burken

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Numerous Studies Have Demonstrated Trees' Ability to Extract and Translocate Moderately Hydrophobic Contaminants, and Sampling Trees for Compounds Such as BTEX Can Help Delineate Plumes in the Field. However, When BTEX is Detected in the Groundwater, Detection in Nearby Trees is Not as Reliable an Indicator of Subsurface Contamination as Other Compounds Such as Chlorinated Solvents. Aerobic Rhizospheric and Bulk Soil Degradation is a Potential Explanation for the Observed Variability of BTEX in Trees as Compared to Groundwater Concentrations. the Goal of This Study Was to Determine the Effect of Groundwater Level on BTEX Concentrations in Tree Tissue. the Central …

Phytotechnologies - Preventing Exposures, Improving Public Health, Heather F. Henry, Joel Gerard Burken, Raina M. Maier, Lee A. Newman, Steven Rock, Jerald L. Schnoor, William A. Suk

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Phytotechnologies Have Potential to Reduce the Amount or Toxicity of Deleterious Chemicals and Agents, and Thereby, Can Reduce Human Exposures to Hazardous Substances. as Such, Phytotechnologies Are Tools for Primary Prevention in Public Health. Recent Research Demonstrates Phytotechnologies Can Be Uniquely Tailored for Effective Exposure Prevention in a Variety of Applications. in Addition to Exposure Prevention, Plants Can Be Used as Sensors to Identify Environmental Contamination and Potential Exposures. in This Paper, We Have Presented Applications and Research Developments in a Framework to Illustrate How Phytotechnologies Can Meet Basic Public Health Needs for Access to Clean Water, Air, and Food. …

Dynamic Nonlinearity And Nonlinear Single-Degree-Of-Freedom Model For Cable Net Glazing, Ruo Qiang Feng, Jihong Ye, Guirong Yan, Jin Ming Ge

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The Nonlinear Vibration Differential Equation and Vibration Frequency of Cable Net Glazing Subject to Earthquake Loading Was Determined, and a Geometrically Nonlinear Single-Degree-Of-Freedom Model for Cable Net Glazing Was Developed. the Nonlinear Response Spectra Were Established, and Nonlinear Time History Analysis with Finite Element (FE) Models Was Conducted to Verify Them. the Nonlinear Vibration Differential Equation and Frequency Obtained as Described in This Paper Provide a Basis for the Nonlinear Single-Degree-Of-Freedom Model for Cable Net Glazing. the Analytical Formula for the Nonlinear Frequency with a Simplified Expression is Highly Precise and Convenient for Use in Engineering Practice. for Larger-Amplitude Seismic …

Issue Brief: Saving By Mitigating, University Of Louisville, New England Environmental Finance Center

Sustainable Communities Capacity Building

Natural disasters can cause loss of life, inflict damage to buildings and infrastructure, and have devastating consequences for a community’s economic, social, and environmental well-being. Hazard mitigation means reducing damages from disasters.

Local governments have the responsibility to protect the health, safety, and welfare of their citizens. Proactive mitigation policies and actions help reduce risk and create safer, more disaster-resilient communities. Mitigation is an investment in your community’s future safety, equity, and sustainability.

Distribution And Accumulation Of Trichloroethylene And Trichloroacetic Acid In Hybrid Poplars, Lucas Odom, Joel Gerard Burken, Lee Newman

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Hybrid Poplar Trees Are Known to Take Up Trichloroethylene (TCE) into above Ground Tissues, Where It Degrades into the Metabolites Trichloroacetic Acid (TCAA), Dichloroacetic Acid, and Trichloroethanol and Where Parent Chlorinated Solvents Volatilize to the Atmosphere. based on This Knowledge, Numerous Phytoremediation Applications Have Been Implemented for TCE and Other Chlorinated Solvents. Sampling of Plant Tissues Has Proven Effective for Phytoforensic and Phytoscreening Applications in Assessing Sites and Evaluating the Efficacy of Phytoremediation. However, Little is Known About the Appropriate Exposure Times and Sampling Locations Required to Obtain an Accurate Assessment of TCE and Metabolites. in This Study, Hybrid Poplars …

Numerical Simulation Of Vortex-Induced Vibration Of Two Circular Cylinders Of Different Diameters At Low Reynolds Number, Ming Zhao, Guirong Yan

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Two-Degree-Of-Freedom Vortex-Induced Vibration (VIV) of Two Rigidly Coupled Circular Cylinders of Different Diameters at a Low Reynolds Number of 250 is Investigated Numerically. While the Diameter Ratio and the Mass Ratio Are Kept Constant, the Study is Focused on the Effect of the Position Angle of the Small Cylinder on the Lock-In Regime of the VIV. Simulations Are Carried Out for Position Angles Α of the Small Cylinder Ranging from 0° to 180° with an Interval of 22.5° and the Reduced Velocities Ranging from 1 to 15 with an Increment of 1. in Order to Find the Effect of the …

Directional Phytoscreening: Contaminant Gradients In Trees For Plume Delineation, Matt A. Limmer, Mikhil K. Shetty, Samantha Markus, Ryan Kroeker, Beth L. Parker, Camilo Martinez, Joel Gerard Burken

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Tree Sampling Methods Have Been Used in Phytoscreening Applications to Delineate Contaminated Soil and Groundwater, Augmenting Traditional Investigative Methods that Are Time-Consuming, Resource-Intensive, Invasive, and Costly. in the Past Decade, Contaminant Concentrations in Tree Tissues Have Been Shown to Reflect the Extent and Intensity of Subsurface Contamination. This Paper Investigates a New Phytoscreening Tool: Directional Tree Coring, a Concept Originating from Field Data that Indicated Azimuthal Concentrations in Tree Trunks Reflected the Concentration Gradients in the Groundwater Around the Tree.To Experimentally Test This Hypothesis, Large Diameter Trees Were Subjected to Subsurface Contaminant Concentration Gradients in a Greenhouse Study. These Trees …

Evaluating Satellite Products For Precipitation Estimation In Mountain Regions: A Case Study For Nepal, Nir Y. Krakauer, Soni M. Pradhanang, Tarendra Lakhankar, Ajay K. Jha

Publications and Research

Precipitation in mountain regions is often highly variable and poorly observed, limiting abilities to manage water resource challenges. Here, we evaluate remote sensing and ground station-based gridded precipitation products over Nepal against weather station precipitation observations on a monthly timescale. We find that the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) 3B-43 precipitation product exhibits little mean bias and reasonable skill in giving precipitation over Nepal. Compared to station observations, the TRMM precipitation product showed an overall Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency of 0.49, which is similar to the skill of the gridded station-based product Asian Precipitation-Highly Resolved Observational Data Integration Towards Evaluation of Water …

Wind-Induced Torsion Vibration Of The Super High-Rise Building Of Shenzhen Energy Center, Feng Ruo-Qiang, Ye Jihong, Guirong Yan, Li Qing-Xiang, Yao Bin

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The Synchronous Multipoint Scanning System Technique in Wind Tunnel Tests and Random Vibration Theory Method Were Used to Analyze the Wind-Induced Torsion Vibration of Some Irregularly Shaped Super High-Rise Buildings in Downtowns. the Torsion Vibration Modes and the Spectra of Torsion Wind Load Were Studied, and the Proportions of Mean Wind Torsion, Inertia Torsion and the Mass Eccentricity Torsion Caused by Horizontal Inertia Forces Are Discussed. the Following Conclusions Can Be Drawn. First, the Third and Fourth Modes Have Torsion Vibration Shapes, and their Frequencies Are in the High-Energy Area of the Spectra of the Torsion Wind Load; the Third …

Precast/Prestressed Concrete Truss-Girder For Roof Applications, Peter S. Samir

Department of Construction Engineering and Management: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Steel trusses are the most popular system for supporting long span roofs in commercial buildings, such as warehouses and aircraft hangars. There are several advantages of steel trusses, such as lightweight, ease of handling and erection, and geometric flexibility. However, they have some drawbacks, such as high material and maintenance cost, and low fire resistance. In this paper, a precast concrete truss is proposed as an alternative to steel trusses for spans up to 160 ft. without intermediate supports. The proposed design is easy to produce and has lower construction and maintenance costs than steel trusses. The proposed design is …

Pump Controller Design For Variable Primary Flow Configuration Systems, Yifan Shi

Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Dissertations, Thesis, and Student Research

Pump systems are utilized widely in Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) systems. There are mainly three configuration types: (1) the constant primary-only flow configuration, (2) the constant primary/variable secondary flow configuration, and (3) the variable primary-only flow configuration. This thesis focuses on finding the optimal control strategy for it and programming a controller for easy in-field usage.

In this thesis, the pump brake horse power (BHP) of the three pump configurations is simulated and compared using varying control methods. The best pump efficiency staging and DP reset control methods are implemented into the pump controller. A one month field experiment …

Precast Concrete Insulated Wall Panel Corbels Without Thermal Bridging, Mohamed Elkady

Department of Construction Engineering and Management: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The common practice in corbel design is to block out the insulation in order to provide a solid concrete area at the corbel location. This connection practice results in thermal bridging, which significantly reduces the energy performance of the panel. For example, the PCI Design Handbook indicates that the reduction in thermal resistance caused by a solid part with an area equal to 9% of the total panel surface area is as high as 42%. This paper presents a discussion of a new concept for corbel design of insulated wall panels with the thermal break totally preserved. Two different designs …

Parameters Influencing Pressure During Pumping Of Self-Compacting Concrete, Dimitri Feys, Geert De Schutter, Ronny Verhoeven

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The Main Difference between Conventional Vibrated Concrete (CVC) and Self-Compacting Concrete (SCC) is Observed in the Fresh State, as SCC Has a Significantly Lower Yield Stress. on the Other Hand, the Placement of SCC by Means of Pumping is Done with the Same Equipment and Following the Same Practical Guidelines Developed for CVC. It Can Be Questioned Whether the Flow Behavior in Pipes of SCC is Different and Whether the Developed Practical Guidelines Can Still Be Applied. This Paper Describes the Results of Full-Scale Pumping Tests Carried Out on Several SCC Mixtures. It Shows Primarily that the Slump or Yield …

Special Section On Natural Treatment Systems: More Than Just A Solution To Pollution, Joel Gerard Burken

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

No abstract provided.

Response Surface Method Based On Radial Basis Functions For Modeling Large-Scale Structures In Model Updating, Linren Zhou, Guirong Yan, Jinping Ou

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The Response Surface (RS) Method based on Radial Basis Functions (RBFs) is Proposed to Model the Input-Output System of Large-Scale Structures for Model Updating in This Article. as a Methodology Study, the Complicated Implicit Relationships between the Design Parameters and Response Characteristics of Cable-Stayed Bridges Are Employed in the Construction of an RS. the Key Issues for Application of the Proposed Method Are Discussed, Such as Selecting the Optimal Shape Parameters of RBFs, Generating Samples by using Design of Experiments, and Evaluating the RS Model. the RS Methods based on RBFs of Gaussian, Inverse Quadratic, Multiquadric, and Inverse Multiquadric Are …

A Novel Approach To Detecting Breathing-Fatigue Cracks Based On Dynamic Characteristics, Guirong Yan, Alessandro De Stefano, Emiliano Matta, Ruoqiang Feng

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

During the Service Life of Structures, Breathing-Fatigue Cracks May Occur in Structural Members Due to Dynamic Loadings Acting on Them. These Fatigue Cracks, If Undetected, Might Lead to a Catastrophic Failure of the Whole Structural System. Although a Number of Approaches Have Been Proposed to Detect Breathing-Fatigue Cracks, Some of Them Appear Rather Sophisticated or Expensive (Requiring Complicated Equipment), and Others Suffer from a Lack of Sensitivity. in This Study, a Simple and Efficient Approach to Detecting Breathing-Fatigue Cracks is Developed based on Dynamic Characteristics of Breathing Cracks. First, Considering that Breathing Cracks Introduce Bilinearity into Structures, a Simple System …

Campus-Wide Parking Vision Plan, Dennis Swinford, Niels P. La Cour, Vhb

Campus Planning Master Plans

The University of Massachusetts Amherst Parking Vision Plan is a key component of the University of Massachusetts Amherst Campus Master Plan 2012. With the campus in the midst of a $1 billion capital improvement program, the Campus Master Plan looks 40 years into the future, matching academic vision with upgraded facilities to strengthen the sense of community and enhance the campus's beauty. The Parking Vision Plan articulates a parking system vision and guiding principles that support the vision of the Master Plan; it institutes a blueprint for parking-related decisions and policies on the UMass Amherst campus. The report discusses …

University Of Massachusetts Amherst 2012-2021 Capital Improvement Projects, Douglas Vigneau, Juanita Holler, University Of Massachusetts Building Authority, John Mathews, Ludmilla Pavlova-Gillham, Ezra Small

Campus Planning Master Plans

In 2013 the University of Massachusetts, on behalf of the University of Massachusetts Building Authority and Massachusetts Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM), submitted an Expanded Environmental Notification Form for the University's 2012 - 2021 Capital Improvement Plan to the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EOEEA) Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act Office (MEPA).

Taken individually, the majority of the Projects, comprising of 13 building/space, 7 site/landscape, and 5 facility/ utility scale improvement projects, do not require MEPA review as most of the Project sites are confined to infill areas on campus that are currently or …

Umass Amherst Green Building Guidelines 2013, Ludmilla Pavlova-Gillham, Ted Mendoza, Ezra Small, Patricia O'Flaherty, Nariman Mostafavi, Mohamed Farzinmoghadam, Somayeh Tabatabaee Pozveh

Campus Planning Reports and Plans

Facilities & Campus Services, Sustainable UMass and Campus Planning support sustainability and energy conservation initiatives by providing in-house resources to campus staff as well as designers and contractors working with the University. The UMass Amherst Green Building Guidelines provide a framework for approaching new construction and major renovation projects at UMass Amherst that are undergoing LEED certification by focusing the conversation on green building aspects that are most important to the campus. They are intended to be the beginning of a dynamic conversation between designers, environmental consultants and constructors, university stakeholders, and users of new high performance buildings.

Rainwater To Flush Toilets On A Volcano, Robert A. Buchan

STAR Program Research Presentations

Objective: Investigate the feasibility of a rainwater collection system to provide for a sustainable source of non-potable or potable water at a potentially isolated solar observatory site (likely Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii).

Introduction: The National Center for Atmospheric Research/High Altitude Observatory (NCAR/HAO) proposes to build a solar observatory comprising a trio of instruments for studying solar coronal magnetism.

Methods: Each square foot of collection surface will experience approximately 0.62 gallons of runoff from 1 inch of rainfall (12 in x 12 in x 1 in = 0.62 gallons). Some water will be lost to evaporation, splashing, overflows, and other …

Plants As Bio-Indicators Of Subsurface Conditions: Impact Of Groundwater Level On Btex Concentrations In Trees, Jordan Wilson, Rachel Bartz, Matt Limmer, Joel Gerard Burken

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Numerous Studies Have Demonstrated Trees' Ability to Extract and Translocate Moderately Hydrophobic Contaminants, and Sampling Trees for Compounds Such as BTEX Can Help Delineate Plumes in the Field. However, When BTEX is Detected in the Groundwater, Detection in Nearby Trees is Not as Reliable an Indicator of Subsurface Contamination as Other Compounds Such as Chlorinated Solvents. Aerobic Rhizospheric and Bulk Soil Degradation is a Potential Explanation for the Observed Variability of BTEX in Trees as Compared to Groundwater Concentrations. the Goal of This Study Was to Determine the Effect of Groundwater Level on BTEX Concentrations in Tree Tissue. the Central …

Wind Loading On Trees Integrated With A Building Envelope, Aly Mousaad Aly, Alberto Zasso, Girma Bitsuamlak, Alberto Nicola Longarini, Arindam Gam Chowdhury

Faculty Publications

With the sustainability movement, vegetated building envelopes are gaining more popularity. This requires special wind effect investigations, both from sustainability and resiliency perspectives. The current paper focuses on wind load estimation on small- and full-scale trees used as part of green roofs and balconies. Small-scale wind load assessment was carried out using wind tunnel testing in a global-effect study to understand the interference effects from surrounding structures. Full-scale trees were investigated at a large open-jet facility in a local-effect study to investigate the wind-tree interaction. The effect of Reynolds number combined with shape change on the overall loads measured at …

Extension Of The Reiner-Riwlin Equation To Determine Modified Bingham Parameters Measured In Coaxial Cylinders Rheometers, Dimitri Feys, Jon E. Wallevik, Ammar Yahia, Kamal H. Khayat, Olafur H. Wallevik

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The Determination of the Exact Rheological Properties, in Fundamental Units, of Cementitious Materials Has Become Gradually a Necessary Step in the Domain of Concrete Science. Several Types of Rheometers and their Corresponding Transformation Equations Are Described in the Literature. in This Paper, the Reiner-Riwlin Transformation Equation, Valid for Coaxial Cylinders Rheometers, is Developed for the Modified Bingham Model, which is an Extension of the Bingham Model with a Second Order Term in the Shear Rate. the Established Transformation is Shown to Be Compatible with the Reiner-Riwlin Equation for the Bingham and Herschel-Bulkley Models. its Validation is Further Proven by Means …

Effect Of Fly Ash On Growth Of Mustard And Corn, Cailie Carlile, Snehalata Nadiger, Joel Gerard Burken

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Fly Ash is Generated as a By-Product of Coal Combustion and Contains Many Nutrients, Such as Ca, K, Na, Mg, and S, as Well as Toxic Metals Such as As, B, Cd, Cr, Hg, and Pb. for This Project, the Goal is to Optimize a Phytoremediation Technique to Stabilize the Toxic Metals and Produce Biomass Which Could Have Benefit for Example as Biofuel. the Hypothesis Was that Different Amendments Would Improve the Water Holding Properties of the Ash and Reduce Metals Availability and Toxicity. Flyash Was Combined with Leaf Mulch (1%, 3%, 5%, 10%, 20%), Wood Mulch (1%, 3%, 5%, …