Engineering Commons^™

Self-Sensing And Self-Healing ‘Smart’ Cement-Based Materials – A Review Of The State Of The Art, Dhanada Mishra Phd, Jing Yu, Christopher Leung Phd

International Conference on Durability of Concrete Structures

The paper reviews recent research on self-sensing and self-healing cement-based materials as part of Smart Civil Engineering Infrastructures. Incorporated in Structural Health Monitoring systems, these materials are likely to play an important role in making future infrastructure robust, resilient and sustainable. Smart or intelligent cement-based materials have attracted extensive attention in the last decade or so with strong implications for improving structural durability and service life. Additions of carbon fibres, carbon nano-tubes and various nano-powders giving cement-based matrix electrical properties used for self-sensing have been known for over a decade and a half. In addition, the strong capacity of Strain-Hardening …

Analytical System For Planning Of Infrastructure Rehabilitation (Aspire), Purdue Ect Team

ECT Fact Sheets

ASPIRE stands for Analytical System for Planning of Infrastructure REhabilitation, a decision support system that can be used for all kinds of infrastructure facilities. It is based on a rehabilitation modeling theory developed by Professor Makarand Hastak at Purdue University.

Postdisaster Reconstruction Of Horizontal Infrastructure Systems: A Review Of The Christchurch Rebuild, Kristen A. Macaskill

International Institute for Infrastructure Resilience and Reconstruction (I3R2) Conference

This paper investigates the decision-making processes guiding postdisaster infrastructure reconstruction— concentrating on wastewater, water supply, stormwater and road networks (“horizontal infrastructure”). It draws on empirical analysis of the postearthquake reconstruction currently underway in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Restoring infrastructure services to provide at least a basic level of essential services after a disaster helps wider economic recovery. Subsequently, there is pressure to restore infrastructure services to predisaster levels as quickly as possible. Reconstruction programmes thus commence in highly uncertain decision-making environments and are reactive to perceived, immediate needs. The extent and nature of the work is later clarified and re-evaluated as …

Compression Testing And Failure Modes Of Steel-Concrete Composite (Sc) Structures For Nuclear Containment, Patrick Michael Wanamaker, Amit H. Varma

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

Although being able to provide much cleaner power than burning coal and other fossil fuels, nuclear power plants are still a tough sell to the general public due to their history of being spontaneously dangerous. The containment structures surrounding these nuclear plants, however, can play a huge role in reducing the risks associated with them. Relatively new designs for these containment assemblies, known as SC (steel-concrete composite) structures, aim to increase the strength and durability of the containment facilities while keeping costs down. By varying the spacing between shear studs, the ratio of concrete to steel, and the ratio of …

Needs Assessment For Local Roads And Streets 2009, Indiana Ltap

Indiana Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) Publications

This report presents the results of a study whose objective was to use the condition of local transportation infrastructure to identify the funding level required to maintain the infrastructure and then compare this with existing funding to determine the adequacy of the current funding. The basic finding of the study is evidence that there is a severe shortage of funds to adequately maintain local transportation facilities.

Hybrid Computerized Decision Support System For Infrastructure Assessment, Purdue Ect Team

ECT Fact Sheets

Currently, assessment techniques are performed subjectively, time consuming, and rely mostly on human visual inspection. Such subjective assessment methods have been identified as a critical obstacle to effective infrastructure management. The hybrid computerized decision support system for construction quality assessment applies concepts in the fields of machine learning, pattern recognition, and image processing. The system will automate the assessment process by acquiring digital images of the areas to be assessed and analyzing the images to identify and measure defects. Moreover, sample images will be used to train the system to acquire expert knowledge in identifying the defects and using this …

Needs Assessment For Local Roads And Streets 2001, Indiana Ltap

Indiana Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) Publications

The objective of this study was to investigate the needs of and resources available to local public agencies to construct and maintain their transportation infrastructure. Components of the infrastructure included in this study are roads, bridges and culverts, traffic and traffic safety, and operational and administrative costs. The results of the study indicate there exists a significant shortfall in funding in most of these areas.