Engineering Commons^™

Laboratory Evaluation Of Warm Mix Additives At Lower Than Traditional Compaction Temperatures, Abdelrahman Mahmoud Waheish Ali

Theses and Dissertations

The study aims to evaluate the impact of warm mix additives (WMA) on the rheological and performance properties of asphalt binders and mixtures. For this purpose, PG 76-28 and PG 58-28 were obtained with one organic (Sasobit Redux) and three chemical WMA (Rediset, Evotherm, and Zycotherm). All WMA-modified asphalt binders were aged at three different aging levels. Laboratory tests such as performance grade (PG), critical temperature differential (ΔTc), asphalt binder cracking device (ABCD), linear amplitude sweep test (LAS), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were performed. In addition to the binder testing plan, this study also evaluated the impact of …

Developing A Smart And Sustainable Public Transportation System: A Case Study In Camden, New Jersey, Zahra Vafakhah

Theses and Dissertations

The transportation sector is a major contributor to air pollution and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions. As a significant source of emissions, public transportation presents an opportunity for mitigation through electrification. However, transitioning to an electric bus fleet necessitates substantial investments in bus procurement and charging infrastructure. To address the associated costs, this study introduces a mixed-integer linear mathematical model developed to optimize the location of on-route fast charging stations within bus networks. The central objective of this optimization formulation is to minimize the overall cost of establishing the charging infrastructure. The study employs a real-world case study focusing on a …

Evaluation Of Digital Twin Approaches For Thermal Modeling And Energy Optimization For Existing Buildings, Jason Bastie Muermann

Theses and Dissertations

Residential, commercial, and industrial building sectors in the United States were responsible for 42% of the nation’s consumption of 100.2 quadrillion BTUs of energy in 2019 [1]. 80% of the nation’s energy is sourced from fossil fuels, including coal, natural gas, and petroleum. Fossil fuels are known contributors to carbon emissions and climate change, making energy reduction vital. Consequently, New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (NJDMAVA) is tasked with evaluating energy consumption and efficiency in all New Jersey Army National Guard (NJARNG) facilities, as mandated by TAG Policy Letter 18-5, Executive Order 13990, and the Energy Independence and …

Evaluating Frozen Soil Properties With Electrical Resistivity Measurement And Electro-Magnetic Induction Methods, Rui Liu

Theses and Dissertations

Electromagnetic induction was utilized in the past by the United States Army Corps of Engineers as a method of detecting unexploded ordinance, while it has the potential to act as a novel method of investigating frozen soils in cold regions. In this study, we performed lab-scale 1D electrical resistivity measurements under freeze-thaw circumstances on frost-susceptible soils with varied soil properties. We implemented an empirical model from our experiments into a COMSOL finite element model at both laboratory and field scales to simulate soil electrical resistivity response under both short-term and long-term sub-freezing conditions. Dynamic temperature-dependent soil properties, most notably unfrozen …

Evaluating The Permeability Of Porous Aggregate Concrete Using Electrical Resistivity-Based Measurements, Ariel Miguel Mendez Aragoncillo

Theses and Dissertations

Recycled concrete aggregates (RCA) and lightweight aggregates (LWA) are popular alternative aggregates for concrete. However, due to their highly porous structure, concrete with RCA and LWA shows a different microstructure and higher permeability than conventional concrete. Thus, the existing relationships used to evaluate the permeability and, consequently, the durability of concrete are not applicable in concretes with RCA and LWA. This research examined the permeation properties of recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) and lightweight aggregate concrete (LWAC). The relationships between electrical resistivity-based measurements in RAC and LWAC and their permeation properties were determined and compared to that of normal weight aggregate …

Evaluating The Impact Of Oxidation On Moisture Resistance Of Asphalt Components And Mixtures, Ahmad Alfalah

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the effects of asphalt oxidation and testing temperature on moisture damage in asphalt mixtures, using AASHTO T283 and Surface Free Energy (SFE) testing. The study assessed the impact of three asphalt binder grades (PG 64-22, PG 76-22, and PG 52-34) and three test temperatures (ALT, AIT, and CIT) on the susceptibility to moisture damage. Additionally, three oxidation levels (OTC, STOC, and LTOC) were evaluated to determine the optimal level of oxidation and testing temperature for AASHTO T283 to detect moisture damage. Load-displacement curve parameters and IDEAL-CT were analyzed to better understand the effects of oxidation and moisture …

The Use Of Point Cloud Data To Support Concrete Bridge Deck Condition Assessment, Issa Nidal Al Shaini

Theses and Dissertations

Bridge deck condition assessments are typically conducted through visual physical inspections, utilizing traditional contact sensors for Non-Destructive Evaluation techniques such as hammer Sounding and chain dragging which require the expertise of trained inspectors. However, the accuracy of these inspections is limited by the level of deterioration of the bridge deck, as the ability of the inspectors is proportional to the apparent level of damage. This study aims to improve the accuracy of bridge deck inspection processes by utilizing non-destructive evaluation techniques, including the analysis of point cloud data gathered via Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) as a geometry-capturing tool. The …

Estimating The Impact Of Intersection Traffic On Air Quality Emissions At Camden Cooper Medical Health Intersection Through The Integration Of Vissim/Moves Models, Kourtney Nicole Arena

Theses and Dissertations

Traffic emissions near intersections can increase significantly due to idling as well as stop-and-go traffic conditions. Increased emissions of pollutants like particulate matter (PM), nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) found in traffic exhaust deteriorate the health of the population that is exposed to them. Since general traffic emissions are increased by the stop-and-go conditions produced at intersections, PAH traffic emissions should also increase from intersection driving conditions. The intersection of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd and Haddon Ave in Camden, NJ was identified as an ideal site to study PAH traffic emissions. To …

Design Of A Non-Destructive System For Arctic Permafrost Detection Via High Frequency Electromagnetic Induction, Gray Dominic Thurston

Theses and Dissertations

Electromagnetic induction (EMI) sensors have been utilized in the past by the United States Army Corps of Engineers as a method of detecting unexploded ordnance (UXO). Recently, an EMI instrument was constructed that extended the traditional EMI frequency range from 100 kHz to 15 MHz to aid in the detection of nonmetallic ordnance, landmines, and improvised explosive devices. Building on this research, the iFROST mapper project aims to use the same high-frequency (HF) EMI technique to characterize arctic soil and subsurface permafrost deposits. Based on a device used by the US Army for UXO detection, an HF EMI instrument was …

Using Naming Conventions To Facilitate Data Transfer Between Asset Management Systems And Building Information Models, John D. Foster

Theses and Dissertations

An improvement to the workflow developed by Loeh et al. (2021) is proposed using a Revit template with BUILDER SMS naming conventions when creating the Sustainable Facility Management-enhanced BIM Model. The method presented by Loeh et al. (2021) is modified by integrating BUILDER SMS parameters and naming conventions into the BIM model during, as opposed to after, the creation of the model. Four building models created in 2020-21, four from 2021-22, and one building from 2019 were used in this study. Two groups of students were used to evaluate the effect of the building-specific BIM templates. Evaluating the 2020 and …

Investigating The Use Of 100% Rap In Airfield Mixtures For Contingency Pavement Repair In Remote Regions, Mahmoud Samara

Theses and Dissertations

The goal of this study was to present a procedure for performance-related mix design of 100% recycled asphalt pavement (RAP) mixtures used in repair applications. In addition, the impact of rejuvenators (Corn Oil, Tall Oil, Modified Vegetable Oil, and Aromatic Extract) on the RAP materials' properties were also investigated on both levels (binder, and mixtures). Performance grade testing, frequency sweep test, critical temperature differential (delta Tc), and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) tests were conducted to evaluate the rheological and chemical properties of extracted and rejuvenated RAP binders. Afterward, asphalt pavement analyzer (APA) and indirect tensile asphalt cracking (IDEAL-CT) tests …

Development Of Software Tools For Efficient And Sustainable Process Development And Improvement, Jake P. Stengel

Theses and Dissertations

Infrastructure is a key component in the well-being of our society that leads to its growth, development, and productive operations. A well-built infrastructure allows the community to be more competitive and promotes economic advancement. In 2021, the ASCE (American Society of Civil Engineers) ranked the American infrastructure as substandard, with an overall grade of C-. The overall ranking suffers when key infrastructure categories are not maintained according to the needs of the population. Therefore, there is a need to consider alternative methods to improve our infrastructure and make it more sustainable to enhance the overall grade. One of the challenges …

Laboratory Assessement Of Emulsion-Cement Paste And Cold Recycled Mixtures At Varying Amounts Of Emulsion, Cement, And Water, Ahmed Saidi

Theses and Dissertations

The main objective of this study was to assess the performance of cold recycled mixtures (CRMs) at: (1) binder level through evaluating the rheological and mechanical properties of emulsion-cement paste (ECP), and (2) mix level through characterizing the density and performance of CRMs. The testing program for ECPs included multiple stress creep recovery (MSCR), bending beam rheometer (BBR), linear amplitude sweep (LAS), penetration test, and isothermal calorimetry. For CRMs, a balanced mix design (BMD) approach was used to develop performance interaction charts to select optimum contents of emulsion, cement, and water maximizing the resistance of CRMs to rutting and cracking. …

A Comprehensive Evaluation Of Wastewater Grit Characteristics And Its Application In The Design Of A Facility-Specific Grit Removal Solution, Tetiana Kolsovska

Theses and Dissertations

Tailored solutions for wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are becoming more prevalent for optimization of treatment process, based on the unique quality of the influent received by each facility. In-depth evaluation of the influent properties is necessary for design of the most appropriate treatment system. In this study, wastewater grit was evaluated in terms of its quantity, particle size distribution, total organic carbon (TOC) content, including fats, oils, and grease (FOG), and settling velocity of the particles, over the course of one year at the headworks, collection network, and through the treatment stages of the Atlantic County Utilities Authority (ACUA) WWTP, …

Mechanical Properties Of Concrete With 100 Percent Coarse Recycled Concrete Aggregate (Rca), Mohsen H. Motlagh

Theses and Dissertations

Recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) is a crushed concrete with the original aggregates' features and old mortar adhered to the original aggregate which makes it necessary to know the mechanical properties of the RCA. The objectives of this thesis are (a) to characterize RCA from different sources and of different proportions, (b) to measure the mechanical properties of concrete made with 100% RCA as coarse aggregates, and (c) to evaluate how the RCA properties affect the properties of new concrete. The study uses RCA with three types of original aggregates (limestone, dolomite, and granite) in two water-to-cement ratios 0.48 and 0.38 …

Durability Properties Of Concrete With 100 Percent Coarse Recycled Concrete Aggregates, Tasnia Tarannum Khan

Theses and Dissertations

The supplies of concrete aggregates from natural sources are rapidly reducing. Recycled concrete aggregates (RCA) are produced by crushing the concrete obtained from demolished concrete structures. The purpose of this study is to determine the durability properties of concrete with 100% recycled concrete coarse aggregates and relate the durability of such concrete to the physical, mechanical, and durability properties of RCA and the RCA parent concrete. The correlations of several properties are determined by developing model equations to predict RCA properties. The parent concrete is crushed and graded at two nominal maximum sizes, 1" and 0.75", to determine the RCA …

Design And Analysis Of Flexible Insulated Pavement For Cold Region Applications, Zhuang Zhuo

Theses and Dissertations

Pavements in cold regions suffer from additional deterioration due to the influences of extreme climate on frost-susceptible subgrade layers. To address this problem, one efficient strategy is to add a thermal insulating layer above the frost-susceptible layer. This study aims to evaluate the insulating effects of four materials: XPS boards, tire chips, foamed glass aggregates, and foamed concrete. Large-scale insulated pavement boxes (1.2m×1.2m×0.8m) were constructed to compare the thermal performance of different materials. The thermal performance of each box was evaluated and graded based on indicators related to the short-term temperature decrease and long-term temperature variation.

Experimental results show that …

Unsupervised Learning For Anomaly Detection In Remote Sensing Imagery, Husam A. Alfergani

Theses and Dissertations

Landfill fire is a potential hazard of waste mismanagement, and could occur both on and below the surface of active and closed sites. Timely identification of temperature anomalies is critical in monitoring and detecting landfill fires, to issue warnings that can help extinguish fires at early stages. The overarching objective of this research is to demonstrate the applicability and advantages of remote sensing data, coupled with machine learning techniques, to identify landfill thermal states that can lead to fire, in the absence of onsite observations. This dissertation proposed unsupervised learning techniques, notably variational auto-encoders (VAEs), to identify temperature anomalies from …

Investigation Of Distracted Driving Events In New Jersey, Ahmed Sajid Hasan

Theses and Dissertations

Every year, thousands of people die in the United States due to crashes involving distracted driving, with this cause contributing to 25% of all fatal traffic crashes in New Jersey in particular. Over the past several years, various techniques (e.g., surveys, crash reports, videos, and simulations) were developed and implemented by the transportation safety community to identify and evaluate distracted driving events. However, these methods collect cross-sectional data on individual subjects and do not provide the actual number of distractions on the road. To fill this gap, this study collected longitudinal data on distracted driving events in the state of …

Laboratory And Full-Scale Pavement Sections Testing For Evaluating Frost Action In Cold Regions, Dorin Papuc

Theses and Dissertations

A comprehensive laboratory testing plan was conducted as part of this project to select two frost-susceptible soils for use in constructing three full-scale test strips. A total of 16 soils were obtained from various suppliers in NJ and were evaluated to determine their frost-susceptibility. The evaluation included conducting sieve analysis, hydrometer analysis, and specific gravity. Using these measures, two soils were selected (namely, Soil #2 and Soil #13) for constructing the test strips. The properties (Atterberg Limits, moisture-density relationships, California bearing ratio (CBR), Resilient Modulus among others) were determined through a laboratory testing plan. In addition, this study involved constructing …

A Laboratory Investigation Of High Polymer Modified Asphalt Mixtures With Softening Agent, Basel K. Al-Badr

Theses and Dissertations

This study was initiated to evaluate the impact of aging and High Polymer Modified Asphalt (HPMA) binders containing a bio-based-oil softening agent (SA) on the rutting, cracking, and durability of asphalt mixtures. One control asphalt binder (PG 52-34), Styrene-Butadiene-Styrene (SBS) polymer modifier, and corn-oil SA were used to produce four asphalt mixtures including a control prepared using PG 52-34 binder and three modified mixtures were produced by blending PG 52-34 binder with different dosages of SBS and SA. The mixtures were tested using the Dynamic Complex Modulus (|E*|), Hamburg Wheel Tracking Device (HWTD), Flow Number (FN), Indirect Tension Cracking Test …

An Evaluation Of Electrically Conductive Asphalt Mixtures For Electrically Heated Flexible Pavement Systems, Rahaf Hasan

Theses and Dissertations

The goal of this study is to develop Electrically Conductive Asphalt (ECA) mixtures with optimized electrical and mechanical properties for use in electrically heated asphalt pavements for anti-icing applications. Laboratory experiments were carried out to design ECA mixtures at varying dosages, using three graphite grades of different particle sizes, one virgin aggregate type, two binder grades, and one carbon fiber. The impact of graphite dosage and particle size on the volumetric properties and electrical resistivity of asphalt mixtures was assessed. Different factors with potential impact on the electrical properties were investigated, including the graphite particle size and dosage, the air …

Investigation Of The Load-Induced Cracking And Rutting Performance Of Specialty Hot Mix Asphalt Overlay Mixtures, Andrae Anthony Francois

Theses and Dissertations

This study was initiated with the aim of investigating the cracking performance, rutting performance, and cost effectiveness of specialty and composite HMA mixtures utilized in New Jersey to rehabilitate deteriorated rigid pavements. As such, four, plant-produced, specialty HMA overlay mixtures currently used in New Jersey were evaluated in this study. These overlay mixtures included: a dense-graded, 9.5-SP mixture, a gap-graded, 12.5-SMA mixture, a dense graded, 4.75-HPTO mixture, and a uniformly graded, 4.75-BRIC mixture. The 9.5-SP, 12.5-SMA, and 4.75-HPTO mixtures were produced using PG 76-22 binder while the 4.75-BRIC was contained a PG 70-28 binder. The laboratory cracking and rutting performance …

Development Of A Hurricane Recovery Function And Resilience Model For Single-Family Residential Homes, Uriel Robert Donald Clark

Theses and Dissertations

The resilience of communities, infrastructure, and the environment in the face of hurricanes has increasingly become of public interest in the wake of recent natural disasters and environmental activism. Previous methodologies have attempted to quantify resilience for various structures and scenarios. Many studies have primarily investigated the robustness of critical infrastructure (e.g., bridges, emergency facilities, and water systems) which are essential to the function of a community. However, few studies have applied this approach to individual residential buildings. Therefore, this research aimed to adapt the most recent recovery functions developed for residential homes by considering measurable factors that are known …

Evaluating The Effectiveness Of The Pedestrian Safety Intervention Program: Behavioral And Observational Approach, Deep Patel

Theses and Dissertations

Pedestrians are considered as the most vulnerable road users. On a nationwide scale, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 6,075 pedestrian fatalities and more than 85,000 pedestrian injuries as a result of traffic crashes in 2017. This study provides national and state pedestrian fatality statistics, a systematic literature review of pedestrian injury severity, observational (video-based) & behavioral (survey-based) evaluation of the Street-Smart NJ pedestrian safety intervention campaign. Street-Smart NJ is a public education, awareness, and behavioral change campaign program that aims to improve pedestrian safety by increasing awareness of pedestrian safety risks and improving compliance with …

Evaluation Of Impact Of Fiber Type And Dosage Rate On Volumetrics And Laboratory Performance Of Asphalt Mixtures, Ahmad G. M. Alfalah

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of fiber types, binder content, and dosage rates on the volumetric properties and laboratory performance of asphalt mixtures. One asphalt mixture (control) and four fiber types (Fiberglass, Basalt, Carbon, and Polyolefin/Aramid) were used to evaluate the impact of fiber types and dosage rates. Two mixing procedures for introducing fibers into asphalt mixtures were also evaluated: dry and proportional dispersion methods. To evaluate the impact of fiber types, 0.16% by total mix weight was used. Rutting, cracking, and durability performance tests were evaluated. Furthermore, using 0.15% and 0.3% fiber dosage rates, …

Laboratory Evaluation Of The Impact Of Additives On Asphalt Binders Used In Cold Regions, Neirouz Bouhrira

Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this research study is to evaluate the effect of additives (polymers, nanomaterials, and softening agents) on rutting, cracking, and fatigue performance of asphalt binders commonly used in cold regions (PG 52-34 and PG 64E-40). In this study, the first phase consisted of using polymers (Styrene-Butadiene-Styrene, Ground-Tire-Rubber) and nanomaterials (TiO2 and SiO2) to modify two asphalt binders used in cold regions (PG52-34 and PG64E-40). The second phase of the study consisted of adding a combination of softening agents (Corn oil or Sylvaroad) with polymers (SBR, Epoxy, and SBS) to PG52-34 asphalt binder. The performance evaluation was conducted using …

Remediation Of Desiccation Cracking In Clayey Soils Through Bio-Cementation And Bottom Ash, Mark Vail

Theses and Dissertations

Desiccation cracking considerably impairs the hydraulic and mechanical properties of clayey soils and is critical to the long-term performance of infrastructure foundations and earth structures. Classical crack remediation methods are associated with high labor and maintenance costs or the usage of environment-unfriendly chemicals. Recycling waste materials and developing bio-mediated techniques have emerged as green and sustainable soil stabilization solutions. The objective of this study is to investigate the feasibility of soil crack remediation through the usage of microbial-induced calcite precipitation (MICP) and bottom ash admixtures. We carry out monotonic drying and cyclic drying-wetting tests to characterize the effects of bottom …

Evaluating Cracking Performance Of Polymer Enhanced And Fiber Reinforced Microsurface Mixtures Using Asphalt Laboratory Testing, George Joseph Shackil

Theses and Dissertations

This study presents a method to improve and evaluate the cracking resistance of microsurfacing mixtures using common asphalt laboratory testing. A preliminary optimal timing study and a study to evaluate improvements to cracking performance were conducted. The control mixture was based on NJDOT standard mix design specifications. Three mixtures were tested in this study: a fiber reinforced mixture using one-quarter inch glass fibers, an emulsion with increased SBR (polymer) contents, and a mixture using the one-quarter inch glass fibers combined with the increased polymer contents. Three laboratory tests were used to evaluate three different cracking resistance parameters: crack initiation (Semi-Circular …

Enhancing Facility Management For Existing Facilities With Building Information Modeling, Ryan Loeh

Theses and Dissertations

Building information modeling (BIM) refers to the process of creating a comprehensive three-dimensional (3D) model that allows for a seamless transition from design and construction to operation & maintenance during a building's lifecycle. While a majority of past research for building information modelling was focused on design and construction, research has shifted to operation, maintenance and renovation. This study investigates the feasibility of integrating BIM (Autodesk Revit) and facility management (BUILDER SMS). BUILDER SMS is currently used at the sponsor's facilities to encourage proactive maintenance and provide updated condition assessments. While both datasets have their own benefits, this study investigates …