Engineering Commons^™

Data-Driven Methods To Address Truck Parking Shortages For Long-Haul Commercial Truck Drivers, Sharif Mahmud

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Truck parking is a critical concern for both the trucking industry and the truck drivers. Long-haul commercial truck drivers rely on safe and adequate parking to support interstate commerce, which has become a challenge due to parking shortages. The recent electronic logging device (ELD) mandate, forcing a strict compliance to hours of service (HOS) regulations, are leading to higher demand for parking. A number of federal, regional, and local studies reveal that truck activity will increase and truck parking demand will outpace parking supply in the coming years. Such parking shortages likely disrupt freight flows and pose risks to truck …

Mitigating Calcium Oxychloride Damage In Cementitious Paste And Concrete Utilizing Supplementary Cementitious Materials, Casey Jones

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

It is understood among engineers in the United States (U.S.) that improvement is needed throughout the transportation infrastructure. In the 2021 Infrastructure Report Card produced by the American Society of Civil Engineers, the roadways of this nation merit a D. This leaves room for improvement in order to provide durable pavements throughout this nation. Areas with significant winter weather may have exacerbated effects in decreased roadway longevity due to freezing/thawing cycles and the use of chemical deicers to mitigate gelid roadway conditions. Much research focuses on surface scaling and reinforcement corrosion using these materials; however, joint deterioration, due to chemical …

Applications Of Masw And Mhvsr Techniques For Infrastructure Evaluation With A Focus On The Effects Of Different Transformation Techniques And Near-Field Effects On Derived Dispersion Data, Salman Rahimi

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation is aimed at understanding two aspects of active surface wave methods to improve the accuracy and reliability of this method. These include (1) the performance of four common wavefield transformation methods for the multichannel analysis of surface wave (MASW) data processing and (2) near-field effects. Toward this end, extensive field measurements were conducted considering different factors affecting these two topics. The MASW and microtremor horizontal to vertical spectral ratio (MHVSR) were then employed to examine their efficiency for infrastructure health monitoring.

Regarding the performance of the four common transformation techniques, it was observed that for sites with a …

Signal Processing And Data Analysis For Real-Time Intermodal Freight Classification Through A Multimodal Sensor System., Enrique J. Sanchez Headley

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Identifying freight patterns in transit is a common need among commercial and municipal entities. For example, the allocation of resources among Departments of Transportation is often predicated on an understanding of freight patterns along major highways. There exist multiple sensor systems to detect and count vehicles at areas of interest. Many of these sensors are limited in their ability to detect more specific features of vehicles in traffic or are unable to perform well in adverse weather conditions. Despite this limitation, to date there is little comparative analysis among Laser Imaging and Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) sensors for freight detection …

Frequency Effect On Peak Pressure Coefficients Using The Narrowband Synthesis Random Flow Generator (Nsrfg) Method, Zayuris Del Carmen Atencio Mojica

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The collapse of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge in Washington state in 1940 due to high wind forces gave structural engineers notice of the importance of understanding the behavior of wind forces on infrastructure. Wind forces play an important role in the design of buildings and other structures. ASCE 7-16 is the manual used for the design of these buildings and other structures throughout the country. These design criteria have been approved based on research projects involving experimental procedures. For the design of wind loads, ASCE 7-16 uses criteria based on wind tunnel (WT) tests. However, since the development of computing …

Shallow 3d Shear Wave Velocity Model And Revised Site Period Prediction Map For The Mexico City Basin, Rendon Martin Rieth

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The goal of this study was to revise the existing site period prediction map and to develop a shallow 3D shear wave velocity model of the Mexico City Basin. To accomplish this goal, an extensive literature review was performed to compile as much pertinent shear wave velocity and site period data for the region. In total, 75 sites were used to revise the site period prediction map and 40 sites were used to develop the shear wave velocity model. The 2004 Complementary Technical Standards of Mexico site period prediction map was adjusted with new site period measurements across the basin …

Development Of An Ultraviolet Absorbance Assay To Estimate Air Entrainer Dosing For Concrete Containing Fly Ash, James Spencer

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Fly ash is a coal combustion byproduct that can be used as a supplementary cementitious material (SCM) in concrete, offering benefits such as increased workability, durability, and strength. Fly ash can be used as a partial replacement to cement, reducing concrete productions costs and decreasing disposal in landfills. However, variability of fly ash properties (e.g., carbon content, adsorption site density) confounds estimates of the air entraining admixture (AEA) dose needed to achieve a specified air content in concrete. Air entrainment is needed to improve freeze-thaw resistance and limit concrete cracking. The foam index (FI) test is currently used to estimate …

Comparison Of The Resistance Of Belitic Calcium Sulfoaluminate Cement And Portland Cement To Sulfate Attack And Sulfuric Acid, Rilye Dillard

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Microbially induced corrosion (MIC) is a fairly common concrete deterioration mechanism with many negative effects. MIC is a complex chemical and biological process that occurs in sewage systems and is nearly impossible to replicate in a laboratory setting. For this study, sulfate and sulfuric acid attack on concrete were studied to mimic two stages of the MIC process. The ASTM C1012, Standard Test Method for Length Change of Hydraulic-Cement Mortars Exposed to a Sulfate Solution and a modified ASTM C1012 accelerated method were used to compare the sulfate resistance of belitic calcium sulfoaluminate (BCSA) cement, portland cement (PC), and PC-fly …

Experimental Design And Preliminary Testing For Skewed Special Moment Frame Prequalification, Sara Alimirzaei

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Special moment frames having specially detailed connections are common in high seismic regions, providing architectural flexibility for passageways and views without brace obstructions. In situations where the building framing layout requires deviation from typical rectangular framing, skew in the moment frame connections may be required. Currently, the AISC prequalified connections only include testing of orthogonal moment frame connections and it is unclear whether the existing design methods can accommodate skew at the beam-to- column connections. To investigate the effect of out-of-plane skew on the performance of reduced beam section special moment frame connections, an experimental test is designed and a …

Behavior Of Concrete Structures Reinforced With High Strength Steel, Rahman S. Kareem

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The structural strength and corrosion resistance of concrete members are improved when A1035 steel is used as the main reinforcement. The enhancement of A1035 is achieved by the modification of the composition and microstructure of the steel. Therefore, the behavior of concrete structures reinforced with high-performance steel (A1035) is different from those reinforced with the regular steel (A615). Concrete bridge decks reinforced with different amounts of A1035 were studied in this research program. The structural behavior of twelve concrete bridge decks reinforced with A615 Grade 420 (60 ksi) and A1035 Grade 830 (120 ksi) steel was investigated at both service …

A Methodological Framework To Evaluate Community Perceptions Of Economic And Safety Impacts Attributed To Highway Bypass And Widening Projects, Karla Diaz-Corro

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Transportation practitioners have proposed the construction of highway bypass and widening projects in rural communities to address traffic-related problems that include noise pollution and congestion, among others. In the past, the construction of bypass projects has led community residents to raise concerns about potential decreases in business activity for businesses located along the bypassed road. For transportation organizations, it is essential to understand the economic, social, and safety impacts of transportation projects in terms of public perceptions as public input is a required part of the project planning phase. Moreover, it is recommended that agencies perform retrospective analyses of project …

Moisture Monitoring Of A Clt Structure In A Southern Climate, Elizabeth Poblete

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Understanding of moisture behavior in cross laminated timber (CLT) is critical to the widespread use of CLT in construction in the United States. Currently, very little data exists on the long-term impact of moisture on CLT. The objective of this research is to collect data regarding the long-term moisture variation in the CLT panel at the University of Arkansas Adohi Hall residence hall. The climate of Northwest Arkansas is different from previously monitored buildings, as they were in the Pacific Northwest. Comparatively, Northwest Arkansas has a warmer climate with higher average annual precipitation. Waterproofing efforts are usually employed to prevent …

Cement Stabilized Crushed Stone Base Course Strength And Stiffness Analysis, Andrew Deschenes

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Approximately 70 – 80% of state departments of transportations (DOTs) utilize the 1993 AASTHO Guide for Design of Pavement Structures (1993 AASHTO) [1] for structural design of pavements. A growing portion of DOT’s are beginning to implement the Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide (MEPDG), referred to as AASHTOWare Pavement ME [2]. The 1993 AASHTO flexible guide applies empirically derived unitless strength values referred to as structural layer coefficients and structural numbers (SN) to pavement thickness and pavement types. The 1993 AASHTO rigid flexible guide utilizes the depth and strength of the concrete pavement, with the composite spring constant (kc), which is …

An Investigation Into The Effects Of Fly Ash On Freeze-Thaw Durability Prediction, Yancy Schrader

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Air is purposefully entrained into concrete primarily to improve resistance to freeze-thaw deterioration while saturated with water. Air entraining admixtures (AEAs) are chemical admixtures designed to entrain air into the concrete to provide adequate resistance to the effects of freezing and thawing. One of the challenges associated with air entrainment in concrete is the interaction of an AEA with supplementary cementitious materials present in the concrete, particularly fly ash. Fly ash is a by-product of the coal fired electrical generation industry, and often contains residual unburned carbon and other components that can increase the AEA demand of a particular concrete …

Effect Of Citric Acid On Slump, Compressive Strength, And Setting Time Of Belitic Calcium Sulfoaluminate Concrete, Israel Aguilar Rosero

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Belitic calcium sulfoaluminate (BCSA) cement has well established advantages related to fast setting time, fast strength gain, long-term strengths, shrinkage, and sustainability. Due to its fast setting and hardening, this type of cement has historically been used to repair concrete structures, highways, and runways. This work provides much needed guidance on establishing mix design criteria for BCSA cement. Guidance is also given on the effects of set retarders on strength, slump, and setting times. Citric acid and a phosphonic acid-based admixture were tested as retarders for different concrete mixtures. Three studies were performed. In the slump study five different water …

Using Bcsa Cement To Repair Waterway Transportation Structures, Anazaria Johanis Ortega Gonzalez

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Many maritime structures (e.g., locks, dams, ports) in the US are either reaching or are past their design lives, and there are limited funds for the necessary maintenance activities which can lead to repairs that requires closures. These structures are not easy to detour and often require dewatering before repairs can be made, closures can cause delays and business-related losses which can have a large effect on the nation’s economy. Thus, it is advantageous to reduce the repair time for maritime structures. BCSA (belitic calcium sulfoaluminate) cement is a promising material to perform this type of repair due to its …

Seismic Loading Effects Within Orthogonally Connected Steel Lateral Force Resisting Systems, Alhussin Faraj Aliwan

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Steel buildings located within seismically active regions require special design considerations to ensure public safety and prevent collapse during an extreme seismic event. Two commonly used steel systems are special moment frames (SMFs) and buckling-restrained braced frames (BRBFs). When two seismic systems share a common column in an orthogonal configuration (such as at a building corner), design specifications currently consider a 100+30 rule wherein the shared column is designed for 100% fuse demand in one direction, plus 30% fuse demand from the other direction. While this rule has been shown to be reasonable for elastic building response, a few studies …

Leveraging Biomimicry And Additive Manufacturing To Improve Load Transfer In Brittle Materials, Ana Paula Bernardo

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

With the emergence of Additive Manufacturing (i.e., 3D printing) in construction, new strategically designed shapes can be created to improve load transfer through structural members and foundations. Cross-sections can be optimized to carry load using less material, or even using weaker constituent materials, like soils, which are cheap and abundant. The goal of this research is to investigate the benefits of using cellular patterns which leverage biomimicry in civil engineering applications, since nature has perfectly engineered materials and patterns which carry loads with the least amount of material possible. Most of the periodic cellular work to date has focused on …

Comparison Of Additively Manufactured And Wrought 17-4 Ph Stainless Steels In Ultra Low Cycle Fatigue, Timothy Strasser

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Additive manufacturing (AM) processes allow for creation of complex geometries that are otherwise impractical to fabricate with traditional subtractive methods. AM technology has potential to improve the optimization of seismic lateral force resisting components which dissipate seismic energy through large plastic strains; however, the ultra low-cycle fatigue performance of AM metals are not yet well understood. Void formation during the AM fabrication process has potential to affect performance. This study compares the performance of heat-treated and non-heat-treated AM and wrought 17-4PH stainless steel in Ultra Low Cycle Fatigue. To understand ULCF performance differences between the AM and wrought specimens, post …

Quantifying Workability, Compactability, And Cohesion Gain Of Asphalt Emulsion Cold In-Place Recycling, Sadie Casillas

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

To maximize the life and quality of a pavement, proper maintenance and rehabilitation are essential. Strategies for pavement rehabilitation with many sustainable benefits are pavement recycling. This dissertation focuses on two types of in-situ pavement recycling: Cold in-place recycling (CIR) stabilized with asphalt emulsion and full depth reclamation (FDR) stabilized with asphalt emulsion or foamed asphalt. One white paper (Chapter 2), two accepted peer reviewed journal articles (Chapters 3 and 4), and one submitted peer reviewed journal article (Chapter 5) are presented in this document to create better understanding of the unique material characterization of asphalt emulsion cold recycled materials, …

Verifying The Calcium Oxychloride Threshold In Cementitious Pastes, Fatoumata Traore

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Calcium oxychloride (CAOXY) formation is a serious deterioration mechanism known to cause joint damage in concrete pavements. CAOXY is the product of a chemical reaction between calcium chloride (CaCl2) or magnesium chloride (MgCl) deicing salts and calcium hydroxide in the cementitious matrix. Currently, the accepted CAOXY threshold at which deterioration is mitigated in cementitious paste is 15 g/100 g paste (15 oz/100 oz paste); however, this limit was developed using flexural strength testing. For this investigation, the current threshold was evaluated using compressive strength and mass change over time in paste specimens exposed to CaCl2. Fly ash is used to …

Commodity-Based Freight Activity On Inland Waterways Through The Fusion Of Public Datasets For Multimodal Transportation Planning, Magdalena I. Asborno

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Within the U.S., the 18.6 billion tons of goods currently moved along the multimodal transportation system are expected to grow 51% by 2045. Most of those goods are transported by roadways. However, several benefits can be realized by shippers and consumers by shifting freight to more efficient modes, such as inland waterways, or adopting a multimodal scheme. To support such freight growth sustainably and efficiently, federal legislation calls for the development of plans, methods, and tools to identify and prioritize future multimodal transportation infrastructure needs. However, given the historical mode-specific approach to freight data collection, analysis, and modeling, challenges remain …

Examining The Effects Of Reducing The Cement Content Of Portland Cement Concrete Pavement, Bryan Casillas

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Portland cement is a significant component in a concrete mixture. For concrete used in portland cement concrete pavement (PCCP), the Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) specifies a minimum cementitious material content of 564 lb/yd3 and a maximum water-cementitious material ratio of 0.45. Prior research conducted at the University of Arkansas, TRC 0603, indicated concrete mixtures used in five bridge decks throughout Arkansas achieved the required 28-day strength at seven days, and the measured compressive strength at 28 days was 30% greater than required. The use of high strength concrete in pavements throughout the state can increase cracking and consequently reduce …

Development Of Multi-Axial Fatigue Retrofits For Lock Gate Components, Logan Verkamp

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Lock gates are essential infrastructure components to the United State (US) supply chain. They create large cost savings and environmental benefits when compared with traditional methods of transport (freight and rail). Because of the large quantity of goods and dependence on these shipping chains, the US economy can be drastically affected by an unexpected gate closure. Unfortunately, many lock gates within the US have reached or exceeded their designed life. Due to the intensity of cyclic loads and the environment, fatigue cracks have become a prominent issue. Developed cracks near the pintle region (a joint which the gate rotates and …

On The Seismic Performance Of Skewed Special Moment Frame Reduced Beam Section Connections, Damaso Daniel Dominguez

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Special Moment Frames (SMFs) are frequently used in high seismic areas for architecturally constrained designs, as they provide lateral system stiffness without the use of braces which often obstruct views and architectural features. Reduced beam section (RBS) connections are popular SMF connection details developed following the Northridge earthquake to limit brittle fractures within connection welds. Current American Institute of Steel Construction (ASIC) provisions (i.e. AISC 341-16) provide prequalified SMF RBS connection details (including welding requirements); however, all prequalified details only consider orthogonal connections between the beam and column. This dissertation investigates the effect of adding skew within SMF RBS connections …

Numerical Simulations Of Spread Foundations Supported On Stone Columns Using The Discrete Element Method, Anibal Enrique Santos Marin

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The implementation of stone columns as a ground improvement technique has become more popular in geotechnical construction practice as a result of their ability to improve strength, stiffness and permeability characteristics of weak clayey soil deposits. There are several analytical and empirical approaches to estimate the bearing capacity of stone column foundation systems; however, there is notable variation in the performance of these existing methods when compared with full-scale experimental results. For very weak cohesive soils (i.e., undrained shear strength less than 15 kPa), the use of conventional stone columns becomes restricted because of the insufficient confinement that these types …

Numerically Modeling Steel Continuous Bridges For Early Age Concrete Deck Cracking, Abdul Aziz Nabil Salah

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Early age bridge deck cracking is a common problem throughout the United States. Early age cracking develops shortly after the deck is poured. It reduces the serviceability and lifespan of bridges. Early age cracking can be typically attributed to either of two factors, 1) construction practices, and 2) shrinkage. The Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) has experienced early age bridge deck cracking. ARDOT currently specifies a sequence deck pour on most of their bridges; however, contractors prefer continuous deck pours because of ease and construction time. During the period of this TRC1903 research project, ARDOT has only approved a few …

Best Practices For Asphalt Emulsion Particle Size Analyses Using A Coulter Counter, Logan P. Kiihnl

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

As asphalt pavements develop distresses, pavement preservation, maintenance, and rehabilitation treatments are used to mitigate distresses and extend the life of the pavement. Many of these treatments utilize asphalt emulsion. Previous research has linked particle size to material properties including viscosity and storage stability. General statements have also been made about particle size influencing emulsion performance while other researchers have identified a trend between particle size and prime coat penetration. Even though literature discusses the importance of particle size, there is little guidance on the best practices of asphalt emulsion particle size analyses, specifically with a Coulter counter.

Data collected …

Development Of Vs Profiles And Site Periods In The Mexico City Basin, Landon Joel Woodfield

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study presents dynamic site characterization measurements at 25 sites within the Mexico City Basin. The primary focus of the testing was along the western edge of the Mexico City Basin. At each site, active source Multi-channel Analysis of Surface Waves (MASW) arrays and passive source Microtremor Array Measurements (MAM) L-arrays and circular arrays were used to acquire dispersion data. Horizontal to Vertical Spectral Ratio (HVSR) data was collected to determine site periods at each location. These experimental dispersion data and site periods were fit using a joint inversion of Rayleigh and Love wave dispersion data and HVSR site period …

Weigh-In-Motion Auto-Calibration Using Automatic Vehicle Identification, Fu Ren Zhang Zhang Durandal

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Weigh-in-Motion (WIM) sensors are installed on mainline lanes at highway locations to record vehicle weights, axle spacing, vehicle class, travel speed, vehicle length, and traffic volume. These data elements support effective transportation planning, infrastructure design, and policy development. Therefore, it is important that WIM sensors supply accurate data. After initial installation and calibration, WIM systems may experience measurement drifts in weight and axle detection. Recalibration takes two general forms: (a) On-site calibration involving running trucks of known weight over WIM scales and (b) Auto-calibration methods involving comparisons to assumed reference weights. Auto-calibration can be more cost and time effective than …