Engineering Commons^™

Life-Cycle Cost Study Of Ground Source Heat Pumps In Hot Humid Climate Zone, Cetin Canbek

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Ground source heat pump (GSHP) systems are gaining recognition as a cost effective and green heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) alternative in the United States. Still, this technology is not highly utilized due to factors such as high initial investment, lack of confidence and uncertainties in cost items.

This study focuses on the reflection of the variations in cost items on the feasibility and life-cycle cost of a typical GSHP system. For this purpose, life-cycle costs were calculated for a typical GSHP system and cost data was gathered for several projects. Possible variations on cost variables are defined. Then, …

An Improved Framework For Dynamic Origin-Destination (O-D) Matrix Estimation, Hongbo Chi

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation aims to improve the performance of existing assignment-based dynamic origin-destination (O-D) matrix estimation models to successfully apply Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) strategies for the purposes of traffic congestion relief and dynamic traffic assignment (DTA) in transportation network modeling. The methodology framework has two advantages over the existing assignment-based dynamic O-D matrix estimation models. First, it combines an initial O-D estimation model into the estimation process to provide a high confidence level of initial input for the dynamic O-D estimation model, which has the potential to improve the final estimation results and reduce the associated computation time. Second, the …

Improving Analytical Travel Time Estimation For Transportation Planning Models, Chenxi Lu

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation aimed to improve travel time estimation for the purpose of transportation planning by developing a travel time estimation method that incorporates the effects of signal timing plans, which were difficult to consider in planning models. For this purpose, an analytical model has been developed. The model parameters were calibrated based on data from CORSIM microscopic simulation, with signal timing plans optimized using the TRANSYT-7F software. Independent variables in the model are link length, free-flow speed, and traffic volumes from the competing turning movements. The developed model has three advantages compared to traditional link-based or node-based models. First, the …

Development Of Innovative Load Transfer Mechanism To Reduce Hurricane-Induced Failures In New And Existing Residential Construction, Sheikh Saad Ahmed

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Implicit in current design practice of minimum uplift capacity, is the assumption that the connection's capacity is proportional to the number of fasteners per connection joint. This assumption may overestimate the capacity of joints by a factor of two or more and maybe the cause of connection failures in extreme wind events. The current research serves to modify the current practice by proposing a realistic relationship between the number of fasteners and the capacity of the joint. The research is also aimed at further development of non-intrusive continuous load path (CLP) connection system using Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) and …