Engineering Commons^™

Harmonizing Asphalt Mix Selection With Pavement Structural Design, Mahdi Saghafi

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The state-of-the-practice in asphalt concrete (AC) mix design and pavement structural design are based on two divergent concepts. The laboratory tests that are used for mix design, especially under the balanced mix design concept, are pragmatically accelerated surrogate tests developed to ensure the stability or ranking of mixes. Pavement structural design methods, being empirical or mechanistic, ignore these laboratory test results, in favor of other mechanical parameters. As such, the selection of the type of mix to be placed on a project is based on the local experience, and a set of consensus limits, rather than the demand of the …

Assessing The Impact Of Health Benefits And Carbon Footprint In Student Parking Decisions At A University Campus, Emiliano Ruiz

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

In the student parking location problem, traditionally, the parking permit cost, the last-mile travel time, and the ease of finding an available parking stall are the only decision criteria driving permit purchases. However, a studentâ??s choice of parking location has associated walking health benefits and sustainability impacts. These impacts are related to the walking distance from the parked vehicle to the final destination on campus, in addition to the location effect on the carbon footprint of a vehicle-trip taken to campus. As such, this Thesis examined a multi-criteria decision approach to a university studentâ??s choice of parking location. This approach …

Evaluation Of Electrodialysis Desalination Performance Of Novel And Conventional Ion Exchange Membranes, Ahm Golam Hyder

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

It was revealed from relevant recent literature that the electrodialysis (ED) desalination performance of commercial and laboratory-made ion exchange membranes (IEMs) had been studied previously but not in a systematic way so that the planners, designers, and engineers can evaluate a trade-off in selecting the suitable IEMs and optimum ED experimental conditions for their desired outcomes such as high ion selectivity, high salinity removal, high water recovery, low energy consumption, or low water transport. Furthermore, the existing conventional and laboratory-made IEMs reported previously showed various technical and economical limitations with respect to permeability, permselectivity, ion selectivity, electrical resistance, stability (mechanical, …

Impact Of Geomaterial Properties And Roller Parameters On Intelligent Compaction Measurement Values Using Lumped Parameter Modeling, Jesús Castro Pérez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Roads consist of layers of geomaterials and asphalt or concrete to provide an optimal service life according to their exposure to traffic and the environment. Each layer that forms a pavement structure requires achieving specific quality and mechanical properties that are often obtained only through a proper compaction process. Traditionally, compacted layers are tested using spot methods, which rely on the assumption that the properties measured from a small sample of material represent an entire section. This limitation has led to quality management techniques that continuously monitor the acceleration records from a sensor installed on the roller's drum. These techniques …

Geotechnical Aspects Of Martian Regolith Simulant Jsc Mars-1, Jesus Baca

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The primary objective of this research was to mechanistically characterize the physical and mechanical properties of the JSC Mars-1 regolith simulant to better understand its physical, mechanical, and physio-chemical properties. JSC Mars-1 is a regolith simulant developed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) at the Johnson Space Center (JSC) based on the data collected by instruments on the Viking and the Pathfinder landers. A comprehensive experiment matrix was devised to simulate the extraterrestrial compaction characteristics of unbound simulants in the laboratory. The resilient properties, strength parameters, and deformation potential were of primary interest in this effort. In addition, …

Application Of Machine Learning In Flood Depth Prediction, Armando Esquivel

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Machine learning technologies have helped provide answers for problems with a high degree of complexity. Machine learning has been utilized by various disciplines within the Civil Engineering profession and has proven to be efficient in solving complex problems. Although machine learning is being used in the Civil Engineering profession, a formal framework on developing and integrating machine learning has not been developed for flood depth prediction. The proposed word uses machine learning to predict the depth of flood at Houston, TX, due to a 100-year 24-hour storm. The proposed work can be used to collect, store and analyze data to …

Bridge Prioritization And Preservation Along Route 66, Sarah Ballard

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Eligible bridges around the United States receive federal funding every year for replacement or rehabilitation. The main criterion for allocation of this funding is based on engineering aspects (e.g., life safety, condition, functionality), often leaving the historical value of the bridge at the bottom of the importance level. One of the main historical roads known in America is Route 66, also known as the â??Mother Road.â?? This route was the road to opportunity in the 1930s. Many bridges with historical significance carry the route and represent an integral part of the history of the Mother Road. This research analyzes bridges …

Digital Twin Technology Applications For Transportation Infrastructure - A Survey-Based Study, Hector Cruz

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

In the past couple of decades, various industries have taken advantage of emerging advanced technologies, such as digital twin (DT), to find more effective solutions in their respective areas. In the transportation infrastructure sector, the concept and implementation of DT technologies are slowly gaining traction but lagging behind other major industries. To better understand the limitations, opportunities and challenges for the adoption of DT in this sector, a survey questionnaire was distributed to collect information from industry professionals involved in transportation infrastructure projects. The purpose of this study is to understand how DT technology is being perceived by the industry. …

New Generation Of Performance-Engineered Asphalt Mixtures Based On Balanced Mix Design Concept, Victor Manuel Garcia

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Asphalt mixtures must ideally exhibit long-lasting durability and stability to perform wellin the field. However, improving the stability and durability of asphalt mixtures has become a major concern. Given that available design approaches rely mainly on stringent volumetric criteria for asphalt mixtures, design approaches and specifications that incorporate performance tests are needed to follow a performance-engineered mix design (PEMD) process, especially with the introduction of the balanced mix design (BMD) concept

This Dissertation study presents a comprehensive investigation of a feasible designapproach that can be implemented to develop PEMD specifications and produce BMD mixtures. An experimental evaluation of different mix …

Implementation Of Hma Design Tool To Develop Balanced Mix Design Based On Gradation Parameters, Prathmesh Deepak Jichkar

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

With the rapid paradigm shift of pavement design methodology from an empirical-based approach toward a more mechanistic-based approach, the existing mix design processes also need a radical shift from the conventional volumetric-based methods to performance-based methods. The use of a volumetric-based design methodology has become more challenging due to the increasing use of recycled materials, modified binders, warm mix asphalt additives, compaction aids, and rejuvenators. A shift toward the more fundamentally sound â??balanced mix designâ?? (BMD) concept is envisaged to produce asphalt concrete mixtures with acceptable performance in terms of durability and stability. Aggregate gradation plays a crucial role in …

Extracting Mechanical Properties Of Compacted Geomaterials Using Intelligent Compaction Technology, Aria Fathi

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The primary tool currently used for quality management of earthwork and unbound aggregates is the nuclear density gauge (NDG) to ensure appropriate density and moisture content. Measurement of moisture content and dry density, even though quite practical and straightforward, does not directly tie the construction quality with the mechanistic-empirical design processes where stress and modulus are employed. With the recent popularity of the mechanistic pavement design procedures, research efforts have been undertaken to understand and develop procedures for implementing modulus-based quality control (QC) procedures of compacted geomaterials. These procedures involve the use of in-situ nondestructive testing (NDT) devices that estimate …

Development Of A Framework For The Calibration Of Rpas, A 3d Finite Element Analysis Tool For Rigid Pavements, Abbasali Taghavighalesari

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The accurate analysis of rigid pavements requires a reliable modeling procedure based on integrating mechanistic analysis methods (i.e. closed-form solutions or numerical methods) and empirical observations (i.e. field measurements and laboratory test results). The use of the finite element method to model the response of rigid pavements has increased in recent decades due to its capability to incorporate the complexity of material behavior, traffic information, and environmental condition. Researchers from the University of Texas at El Paso developed the software Rigid Pavement Analysis System (RPAS) to comprehensively analyze the response of concrete pavements under different geometric configurations, foundation models, temperature …

Evaluation And Modeling Of Electrodialysis For High-Recovery Brackish Water Desalination, Shahrouz Jafarzade Ghadimi

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This research investigates the feasibility of desalination of brackish water with electrodialysis (ED), using laboratory testing and mathematical modeling. Several experiments were performed to characterize ion-specific transport and to evaluate tradeoffs between salinity removal and specific energy consumption. A 200 cm2 Ameridia ED stack was used to perform desalination experiments with real brackish groundwater from the Kay Bailey Hutchison desalination plant in El Paso, Texas, and the results showed limiting current density of 160 A/m2 for 5 cm/s. A higher conductivity reduction was observed for flow velocity of 5 cm/s compared to 13 cm/s. Ion transport selectivity (based on relative …

Relating Surface Resistivity To Corrosion Of Rebar Embedded In Portland Cement Concrete, Luisa Alejandra Morales

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Reinforced concrete is widely used as a construction material known for its durability and proficiency of withstanding large forces in severe environments. Despite that the majority of these structures result in long-term performance, there is still a large number of failures of reinforced concrete structures as a result in corrosion of the reinforcement and concrete degradation. It is critical to assess the state of the corroded structure to decide on whether maintaining or replacing the structure is needed. The objective of this study is to characterize a relationship between the steel reinforcement corrosion and the concrete's resistivity. It is widely …

Assessment Of Hydraulic And Structural Behavior Of Inundated Pavements, Mojtaba Asadi

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Severe flooding events have increasingly inundated the transportation infrastructure, including road networks, across the world and the Unites States. Such extreme events induce significant ingress of water into the pavement layers, which in turn leads to structural defects due to the reduction of the shear strength and resilient moduli of the soil layers, asphalt stripping in flexible pavements, pumping effect in rigid pavements, migration of fines into drainable layers, and swelling of expansive soils. Consequently, premature pavement failure may take place that can impose unforeseen maintenance/rehabilitation costs to highway agencies. Although some experimental research studies have been conducted to assess …

Remediation And Prevention Of Harmful Algae Blooms (Habs) In Ascarate Lake At El Paso, Texas, Elizabeth Herrera Ortega

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Ascarate park in El Paso, Texas is an example of an urban ecosystem in the middle of a growing city. It is the largest public-use recreational park in El Paso county and it includes a 48-acre Ascarate lake. The purpose of this study was to prevent harmful algae growth in Ascarate lake using phytoremediation by analyzing different water quality parameters. We installed artificial islands on west cove of the lake with African iris plants to determine the feasibility of remediation to prevent algae blooms in Ascarate lake. Water samples were collected at different points close and away from the islands …

A Comparison Of Data-Driven And Process-Based Modeling For Nutrient Estimation In A Eutrophic Reservoir, Yohtaro Kobayashi

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

As land use around bodies of water changes, the need to model the body of water increases. Models help to educate, understand, and predict the state of water. Process-based models are commonly used in modelling bodies of water, but there are challenges with these kinds of models. They require data which can be difficult for certain communities to obtain due to logistics or cost, are computationally intensive, technically complicated, and require calibration. In contrast, a data-driven model simply connect relationships from the data, are not as computationally intensive nor technically complicated, and do not require calibration. This research compared a …

Quantifying Spatiotemporal Patterns Of Past And Future Urban Trends In El Paso, Tx And Their Impact On Electricity Consumption Using Nlcd Data And The Ca-Markov Model, Joanne Michelle Moyer

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

As cities continue to grow, their urban form continues to evolve over. Understanding this evolution allows for planners, engineers, and decision makers to plan for a sustainable community. Change analysis was conducted for El Paso, Texas county to determine the areas of growth within the past 15-years (2001-2016). The results indicate that growth has primarily occurred within the city of El Paso, in particular Districts 5 (east side), 1 (west side), and 4 (northeast), with District 5 experiencing substantial growth. Developed sub-categories medium and High intensity experienced the fastest growth, which represents single-family housing and compact/commercial areas. However, landscape metrics …

Performane Characterization Of Stabilized Materials In Pavement Foundations, Mohammad Rashidi

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Cementitious Stabilization has been widely used to improve the strength and durability of granular materials for the construction and rehabilitation of pavement structures. Improved mechanical properties and durability of the stabilized materials combined with relatively low cost makes it an attractive method for design engineers. Although this technique appears simple and straight forward, engineering properties of individual soils and aggregates may alter widely due to heterogeneity in soil composition, difference in micro structure among soils, heterogeneity of geologic deposits and differences in chemical interactions of water with soil particles. These differences necessitate the comprehensive study in order to provide the …

A Performance-Based Analysis Of Balanced Mix Designs, Elias Aaron Castillo

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The Superpave design procedure was established to provide a more representative design methodology and to minimize typical pavement distresses such as fatigue cracking and permanent deformation. This Superpave design methodology was developed on the premise that the voids in mineral aggregate can evaluate the quality and constructability of asphalt mixture during the design and production phases. With the increased use of recycled materials, recycling agents, modified binders and warm mix asphalt additives, several highway agencies including the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), have investigated whether the Superpave volumetric-based design method is enough to ensure appropriate performance of the final product. …

Life Cycle Studies To Evaluate The Physiological And Biochemical Effects Of Copper Oxide And Surface-Coated Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles On Green Onion (Allium Fistulosum) And Carrot (Daucus Carota L.) Plants: Insights Utilizing Two-Photon Microscopy And Spectroscopy, Yi Wang

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

With the recent increase of nanomaterial production, nano copper oxide (nCuO) and surface-modified titanium dioxide nanoparticles (nTiO2) are among the most widely applied nanoparticles in industry and daily lives. Their use has resulted in accumulation in soils as a consequence of their direct or indirect release. Hence, these NPs may raise a potential risk to crops cultivated in soils. Moreover, the physiological effects of nCuO on green onion (Allium fistulosum) and surface-coated nTiO2 on full-grown carrot (Daucus carota L.) are still unknown. Green onion is characterized by its high content of the antioxidant allicin, and carrot is a worldwide economic …

Performance Measure Methodology Of Project Management Practices In Local Government Agencies, Johanes Johanes Makahaube

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Local government agencies have adopted project management practices to deliver public work projects. The agencies need to measure project management performance to ensure the consistency, control, and monitoring of the project delivery process. However, local government agencies have not adopted a systematic method to measure the organization's project-management performance. At present, there is a gap regarding methods to measure project management performance in delivering construction projects. This study aims to assist local government agencies in improving their project management processes by implementing a comprehensive methodology to assess project management's performance. This dissertation is organized into three major chapter-papers: the first …

Impact Of Interface Condition On Performance Of Thin Asphalt Overlays, Cheng Zhu

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Asphalt overlay has been widely used in the United States as a cost-effective maintenance approach to keep the pavement in a satisfactory condition. In recent years, many studies have been conducted to investigate the overlay asphalt mix design, overlay pavement design, and quality control/quality assurance for the asphalt overlay pavement. In Texas, thin overlays (lift thickness less than 2 in.) and ultra-thin overlays (lift thickness of 0.5 in. to 0.75 in.) seem to be more beneficial than conventional asphalt overlays. For this type of overlay, the bonding condition between the overlay and existing AC layer is crucial for the pavement …

Rpas: An Enhanced Finite Element Code For The Mechanistic Analysis Of Rigid Pavements, Nancy Aguirre

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Significant amount of research has been conducted to improve the design of rigid pavements through the development of mechanistic analysis tools capable of accurately modeling the performance of such pavements. The use of the finite element (FE) method as a comprehensive tool for modeling the responses of rigid pavements has been limited in the past because of the complexity of calculations in modeling nonlinear behaviors, which are difficult to describe mathematically and computationally. Researchers from The University of Texas at El Paso developed NYSLAB, an FE modeling tool, for the analysis of rigid pavements subjected to traffic and environmental loading …

Towards Multiple Model Approach To Bridge Deterioration, Jin A. Collins

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA) marked the start of a new era in transportation in the United States. ISTEA required transportation agencies to take a proactive approach to planning and management of their assets. This included requirements for managing pavement, bridges, safety, congestion, public transportation, and intermodal systems. For horizontal transportation assets (i.e., bridges and pavement), deterioration modeling is an essential tool (Yanev and Chen 1993). Since ISTEA, Bridge Management Systems (BMS) have been utilized to inform decision-making regarding bridge projects such as maintenance, rehabilitation, and replacement (MR&R) under financial limitations (Agrawal, Kawaguchi, and Chen 2010). …

Assessment Of Point Of Use (Pou) Systems For Reducing Health Risks Associated With Drinking Water Along The U.S.-Mexico Colonias In The Paso Del Norte Region, Varinia Viridiana Felix Parra

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

In the Paso del Norte Region along the U.S. Mexico Border, there are more than 5,000 families living in impoverished communities known as colonias that lack access to basic infrastructure services such as a public water system. These depend on hauling trucks that deliver water into their storage tanks. Water storage practices by colonia residents on both sides of the border pose an enormous risk for waterborne disease outbreaks and heavy metal contamination because the water quality can decrease rapidly due to volatilization of the residual chlorine, intrusion of rainfall and air-laden dust. Since connection to centralized water treatment and …

Quantifying Early-Age Concrete Mechanical Properties And Curing Conditions Utilizing An Automated System, Benjamin Arras

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The validation of concrete quality based on the 28-day strength is a lengthy process. Predicting concrete mechanical properties through early-age methods can streamline the construction process. Early-age concrete behavior consists of assessing the concrete curing as-related to setting stages, the hydration process, strength and stiffness development, while considering various environmental system parameters. This paper reports on a nondestructive method for observing the early-age strength and modulus development of concrete mixes over seven days in a controlled, laboratory setting. An apparatus was designed and built for continuous acquisition of seismic modulus data (using free-free resonant column) and heat of hydration/maturity information …

Decision Support Tools For Parking Management On University Campuses, Okan Gurbuz

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

University campuses generate and attract trips with unique characteristics. Most universities are constantly challenged by the parking congestion issues. To manage campus parking infrastructure, most universities have established parking departments. This department is referred as the University Parking Office (UPO) in this Dissertation. There is no methodology or tool to assist the UPOs in their decision-making process. This Dissertation focuses on student parking and has developed models and methodologies as decision support tools to assist UPOs in managing student parking on campuses.

This Dissertation answers six Research Questions related to parking management on university campuses: (1) How many students are …

System Dynamic Model Of 1-Dimensional Unsaturated Water And Solute Transport For Predicting Salinity Stress In Crops, Thomas Poulose

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

There is a complex non-linear system dynamic between the water and salt transport in the unsaturated vadose zone where the salt transport and accumulation affect the water fluxes and vice versa. In addition, factors such as precipitation, transpiration, water infiltration and solute transport in the unsaturated zone of subsurface soil further complicate the processes involved. We have developed a system dynamics model for simulating the one-dimensional unsaturated water and solute transport along with root water uptake in the vadose zone. The model uses finite difference method for solving Richard's equation with a sink term for water transport and root water …

Structural Design Of Complex Components, Armando Antonio Ochoa

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) and the Center for Space Exploration and Technology Research (cSETR) is determined to develop a launch vehicle that is made completely of additive manufacturing materials, has the capability to transport a 100 lb payload to low earth orbit (LEO) as well as completing the design of a strucutral steel mobile launch stand that has the capability of withstanding the launch vehicle's static and dynamic loadings. The project will consist of carbon composite components to reduce weight while maintaining efficiency, strucutral steel components to resist extreme loadings and maintain strucutral shape, and lastly …