Engineering Commons^™

Narrow Grass Hedge Effects On The Transport Of Antimicrobials And Antimicrobial Resistance Genes Following Land Application Of Swine Slurry, Bhavneet Soni

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of manure amendment and narrow grass hedges on the fate and transport of antimicrobials and ARGs in runoff and in soil following the land application of swine manure slurry. Swine manure slurry was land applied to 0.75m wide by 4.0m long plots established on an Aksarben silty clay loam soil located in southeast Nebraska. The treatment factor manure amendment consisted of two levels: no manure application and manure application to meet the 3 year nitrogen (N) requirements for corn. The treatment factor of grass hedge was established for half of …

Drainage Structure Datasets And Effects On Lidar-Derived Surface Flow Modeling, Ruopu Li, Zhenghong Tang, Xu Li, Jessie Winter

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

With extraordinary resolution and accuracy, Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR)-derived digital elevation models (DEMs) have been increasingly used for watershed analyses and modeling by hydrologists, planners and engineers. Such high-accuracy DEMs have demonstrated their effectiveness in delineating watershed and drainage patterns at fine scales in low-relief terrains. However, these high-resolution datasets are usually only available as topographic DEMs rather than hydrologic DEMs, presenting greater land roughness that can affect natural flow accumulation. Specifically, locations of drainage structures such as road culverts and bridges were simulated as barriers to the passage of drainage. This paper proposed a geospatial method for producing …

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.

Passive Stormwater Samplers For Sampling Highway Runoff From Bmps: Feasibility Studies, Tian C. Zhang, John S. Stansbury, Massom Moussavi

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

No abstract provided.

Development And Evaluation If Best Management Practices For Highway Runoff Pollution Control, Tian C. Zhang, John S. Stansbury, Massom Moussavi

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

No abstract provided.

Implementation Of Precast Concrete Deck System Nudeck (2nd Generation), George Morcous, Maher K. Tadros

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

No abstract provided.

Fertilizer Effects On Attaining Vegetation Requirements, Walter H. Schacht, Carol Wienhold

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of Skew Angle On Average Queue Delay At Tee-Intersections: A Simulation Study Using The Texas Model, Manogna Kaluva

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This thesis explores the effect of intersection skew angle on average queue delay through simulation. The simulation model used is the TEXAS (Traffic Experimental and Analytical Simulation) model. This microscopic simulation model uses a general nonlinear car-following model. It simulates individual intersections and was designed to capture the interaction of traffic operations and intersection geometry.

Simulation models were developed for three stop-controlled, tee-intersections in Lincoln, Nebraska. Field data to develop and calibrate the simulation models were collected. All simulation models were calibrated by adjusting the car following parameters. An experimental design was developed to test the effect of skew angle …

Elementary Implantable Force Sensor For Smart Orthopaedic Implants, Rebecca A. Wachs, David Ellstein, John Drazan, Colleen P. Healey, Richard L. Uhl, Kenneth A. Connor, Eric H. Ledet

Biological Systems Engineering: Papers and Publications

Implementing implantable sensors which are robust enough to maintain long term functionality inside the body remains a significant challenge. The ideal implantable sensing system is one which is simple and robust; free from batteries, telemetry, and complex electronics. We have developed an elementary implantable sensor for orthopaedic smart implants. The sensor requires no telemetry and no batteries to communicate wirelessly. It has no on-board signal conditioning electronics. The sensor itself has no electrical connections and thus does not require a hermetic package. The sensor is an elementary L-C resonator which can function as a simple force transducer by using a …

Development Of A Field Test For Total Suspended Solids Analysis, Jessica Branigan

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Total suspended solids (TSS) are all particles in water that will not pass through a glass fiber filter with a pore size less than 2 μm, including sediments, algae, nutrients, and metals. TSS is an important water quality parameter because of its adverse effects on aquatic species and wildlife. The EPA has proposed a regulation for turbidity, a related water quality parameter, which has been stayed pending further testing. TSS is regulated through the EPA via the NPDES in many states. Since there are no accepted field tests for TSS, projects with TSS regulations must send samples to a laboratory …

Improving The Sweeping Efficiency Of Permanganate Into Low Permeable Zones To Treat Tce: Experimental Results And Model Development, Chanat Chokejaroenrat, Negin Kananizadeh, Chainarong Sakulthaew, Steve D. Comfort, Yusong Li

Nebraska Water Center: Faculty Publications

The residual buildup and treatment of dissolved contaminants in low permeable zones (LPZs) is a particularly challenging issue for injection-based remedial treatments. Our objective was to improve the sweeping efficiency of permanganate into LPZs to treat dissolved-phase TCE. This was accomplished by conducting transport experiments that quantified the ability of xanthan-MnO₄⁻ solutions to penetrate and cover (i.e., sweep) an LPZ that was surrounded by transmissive sands. By incorporating the non-Newtonian fluid xanthan with MnO₄⁻, penetration of MnO₄⁻ into the LPZ improved dramatically and sweeping efficiency reached 100% in fewer pore volumes. To quantify …

Implementation Of 0.7 In. Diameter Strands In Prestressed Concrete Girders, George Morcous

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

No abstract provided.

Establishing Permanent Vegetation After Highway Construction, John C. Soper, Walter H. Schacht

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

No abstract provided.

Midwest Guardrail System With Southern Yellow Pine Posts, Karla A. Lechtenberg, Robert W. Bielenberg, Ronald K. Faller, Dean L. Sicking, David A. Gutierez, John D. Reid

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

No abstract provided.

Passive Stormwater Samplers For Sampling Highway Runoff From Bmps: Feasibility Studies, Mitchell R. Klein

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Pollution from highway stormwater runoff has been an increasing area of concern within the environmental field. To respond to the need for reduced contamination within runoff many Best Management Practices (BMPs) have been implemented. One difficult aspect of BMPs is monitoring their effectiveness along with determining effluent concentrations. The current methods for stormwater sampling include sending technicians or installing an auto-sampler to collect either grab or composite samples. These methods become costly, cumbersome and infeasible due to the potentially large amount of BMPs across a region and the irregularity and difficulty of predicting storms. Passive samplers have proven themselves as …

Post Weld And Epoxy Anchorage Variations For W-Beam Guardrail Attached To Low-Fill Culverts, Scott K. Rosenbaugh, Ronald K. Faller, Dean L. Sicking, Robert W. Bielenberg, Craig W. Price, John D. Reid

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

No abstract provided.

Reliability Analysis Of Shallow Foundations Bearing Capacity On Sand, Ali Alhajami

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Bearing capacity of shallow foundation is one of the most challenging problems for engineers. The difficulty comes from multiple sources of variability and uncertainty. There is an uncertainty in live load. Soil properties including: unit weight, cohesion, and angle of friction represent sources of variability in the determining bearing capacity. The current theories used in practice only estimate bearing capacity and does not give an exact value for it because of these sources of variability. Currently, there are Terzaghi, Meyerhof, Vesic, and Hansen theories for dealing with this problem. Based on previous research Terzaghi theory was found to be the …

Nanowell-Trapped Charged Ligand-Bearing Nanoparticle Surfaces – A Novel Method Of Enhancing Flow-Resistant Cell Adhesion, Phat L. Tran, Jessica R. Gamboa, Katherine E. Mccracken, Mark R. Riley, Marvin J. Slepian, Jeong-Yeal Yoon

Biological Systems Engineering: Papers and Publications

Assuring cell adhesion to an underlying biomaterial surface is vital in implant device design and tissue engineering, particularly under circumstances where cells are subjected to potential detachment from overriding fl uid fl ow. Cell–substrate adhesion is a highly regulated process involving the interplay of mechanical properties, surface topographic features, electrostatic charge, and biochemical mechanisms. At the nanoscale level, the physical properties of the underlying substrate are of particular importance in cell adhesion. Conventionally, natural, pro-adhesive, and often thrombogenic, protein biomaterials are frequently utilized to facilitate adhesion. In the present study, nanofabrication techniques are utilized to enhance the biological functionality of …

Finite Element Modeling Of Phosphorus Leaching Through Floodplain Soils Dominated By Preferential Flow Pathways, Ryan P. Freiberger, Derek M. Heeren, Garey A. Fox

Biological Systems Engineering: Papers and Publications

Phosphorus is a critical nutrient in soils, providing both positive and negative effects to different systems. While optimum crop growth requires a range of P above 0.2 mg/L, preventing surface water enrichment generally requires P to be below 0.03 mg/L. Proper application and control of phosphorus is important to increase farming efficiency and to protect freshwater systems from toxic algal growth. While the movement of phosphorus through many soil types has been well-documented, the presence of highly conductive, gravel outcrops and macropores in soil can have a significant, poorly-documented effect on phosphorus movement. In the Ozark ecoregion, for example, the …

Development Of A New Energy-Absorbing Roadside/Median Barrier System With Restorable Elastomer Cartridges, Ronald K. Faller, Dean L. Sicking, Karla A. Lechtenberg, Robert W. Bielenberg, Scott K. Rosenbaugh, James C. Holloway, John D. Reid, Jennifer D. Schmidt

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

No abstract provided.

Impact Of Measurement Scale On Infiltration And Phosphorus Leaching In Ozark Floodplains, Derek M. Heeren, Garey A. Fox, Daniel E. Storm, Brian E. Haggard, Chad J. Penn, Todd Halihan

Biological Systems Engineering: Papers and Publications

Increased nutrient loads have resulted in several adverse impacts on surface water quality, including excessive algal growth, fish kills, and drinking water taste and odor issues across the United States and especially in the Ozark ecoregion of northeastern Oklahoma and northwestern Arkansas. The significance of this problem has been highlighted by litigation, with one case even reaching the U.S. Supreme Court (Arkansas et al. v. Oklahoma et al., 503 U.S. 91) which required the upstream state to meet downstream water quality standards. The overarching objective of this line of research was to characterize phosphorus leaching to alluvial aquifers in the …

Driver Fatigue Enforcement Techniques And Their Effect On Crashes, Carrie Mohlman

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Fatigued driving is a type of driver impairment caused by a lack of sleep, sleep disorders, long drive times, etc. Fatigued driving enforcement aims to improve safety by removing impaired drivers from the roadway. While fatigued driving is detrimental to safety, there exists the issue of identifying fatigue. There is a range between being awake and asleep and, in order to improve safety, enforcement officers must be able to identify the point at which drivers are impaired.

This thesis investigates potentially effective fatigued driving enforcement techniques for use by enforcement officers. These techniques were investigated through three primary means: a …

Velocity Measurements Of The Flow Over A Gate-Controlled Weir Structure, Mohamed M. Jalloh

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) uses G304 control structures to manage flow into and out of a large storm-water treatment area (STA). These structures consist of a lateral unsuppressed weir, a sluice gate and a corrugated culvert for flow control and transfer through an embankment. For better flow control in the STAs, it is imperative to accurately measure the discharge through the G304 control structures and to determine the approach velocity over the weir for different field scenarios.

Flow behavior of the G304 structure was examined in a prototype during two days of testing for two canal headwater …

Application Of Isothermal Calorimetry To The Study Of Phosphorus Sorption Onto Soils In A Flow-Through System, Chad J. Penn, Derek M. Heeren, Garey A. Fox

Biological Systems Engineering: Papers and Publications

The degree, mechanisms, and kinetics of phosphorus (P) sorption onto soils can have a significant influence on leaching losses of P from soil. The objectives of this study were to measure the impact of retention time (RT) on P sorption in a flow-through system intended to simulate downward movement of a P solution through two different riparian soils, and determine if isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) can provide useful information reflective of flow-through results. Topsoil from two riparian/alluvial soils was sampled and characterized for P concentrations and parameters related to P sorption. Flow-through P sorption experiments were conducted in order to …

Assessing The Impact Of Speed Limit Reduction Near Signalized High Speed Intersections Equipped With Advance Warning Flashers: A Case Study In Nebraska, Shefang Wang

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This thesis evaluated the effects of 5 mph and 10 mph speed limit reductions in the vicinity of high-speed, signalized intersections equipped with Advance Warning Flashers (AWF). The selected methodology involved a field study of the impact of speed limit reduction at 7 high-speed, signalized intersections with AWF, using quantile regression models developed for speed. The quantile regression models for speed indicated that reduction of the speed limit from 60 mph to 55 mph did not have significant impact on observed speed during the green time. However, it was found that speed limit reduction from 65 mph to 55 mph …

Structural Reliability Analysis Of Corroded Steel Girder Bridge, Mohammed S. Al Badran

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The natural aging, environmental impact, and appropriate design are certainly playing a serious role in safety of the bridges function. The functional safety of bridge constitutes a prime element of the transportation system serving commuters, passengers and freight. According to Federal Highway Administration, the steel bridges share represents a large amount of the United States’ bridges. In last century, the collapse of both the Silver Bridge at Point Pleasant, WV over Ohio River on December 15, 1967 and over the Mianus River Bridge in Connecticut on June 28, 1983 showed that steel corrosion has been the leading reason in these …

Cable Median Barrier Failure Analysis And Remediation Phase Ii, Cody S. Stolle, Dean L. Sicking, Ronald K. Faller, John D. Reid

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

Cable median barrier crashes from a total of 12 states were analyzed. Crash data included scene diagrams, photographs, and field measurements, crash narratives, although the availability of data in each crash varied.

Major contributors to penetration crash propensity were identified: diving underride, in which the front end of the vehicle dropped below the bottom cable; prying, in which the vehicle profile caused cable separation or lifting; override; bouncing override, in which the vehicle rebounded after contact with the back slope and bounced over the top of the barrier; system failure, in which one component failure or design failure prevented the …

Laboratory Evaluation Of A Turn Compensation Control System For A Ground Sprayer, W. M. Porter, J. A. Rascon, Yeyin Shi, Randal K. Taylor, Paul A. Weckler

Biological Systems Engineering: Papers and Publications

The ability to compensate sprayer nozzle flow across a horizontal boom has the potential to mitigate the problem of inaccurate chemical application rate due to lateral speed differences when sprayers are turning. A laboratory testing platform and procedure were developed and tested with a commercial turn compensation control system for a ground sprayer. Virtual paths consisting of simulated GPS signals representing right and left turns separated by straight segments were simulated with four turning radii (75%, 125%, 250%, and 500%) based on boom width. Actual application rates from 11 nozzles spread across the boom were measured using load cells in …

Pavement Quality Indicators, Connor Villanueva, Wayne Jensen

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

No abstract provided.

Optimized Aggregates Gradations For Portland Cement Concrete Mix Designs Evaluation, Wally Heyen, Lieska Halsey, Robert Rea, Mick Syslo

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

No abstract provided.