Engineering Commons^™

Field Evaluation Of Ultrasound Enhancement Of Permeable Treatment Walls, Aamod Sudhakar Sonawane

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this research was to demonstrate the application of ultrasound to field sites having problems with precipitation build up and corrosion. PTW s are passive reactive walls containing zero-valent iron metal for in-situ remediation of contaminated groundwater. However, loss of reactivity over time due to build up of corrosion and other precipitates on the iron surface is a major concern. Ultrasound energy has been established as an effective tool for revitalizing iron surface. This research applied ultrasound energy to a zero-valent iron wall constructed below the ground surface to remove precipitates and iron corrosion, increasing iron reactivity. Two …

Nonlinear Modeling Of Concrete-Filled Frp Tubes Using The Finite Element Method, Kenneth T. Zagers

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

Fiber reinforced plastic (FRP) has in recent years emerged as an alternative reinforcement for structural concrete. The properties that make FRP appealing to the construction industry include its resistance to electro-chemical corrosion, high strength-to-weight ratio, and electrical insulation. An efficient use of FRP is in the form of concrete-filled tubes, where the tube not only protects the concrete against environmental factors, but also provides confinement and external reinforcement. Since use of fiber composites for confining concrete is relatively new, analytical work in this area is limited to the models that were originally developed for transverse steel reinforcement. However, it has …

The Effect Of Varying Temperature, Flux And Pretreatment On The Microfiltration Of Lake Michigan Water, Karen Linda Kopp

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated microfiltration of Lake Michigan Water for the production of drinking water. A 60 gpm Memcor microfiltration pilot plant was operated for nine months at Manitowoc, Wisconsin to determine and model the performance characteristics of a microfiltration pilot plant for varying surface water conditions. Statistical regression and modeling was used to determine and develop quantitative relationships between time of operation and several operational variables for water quality and productivity. Modifications of Darcy's Law and flux decline data were used to develop a model relating temperature and flux to cleaning frequency. Statistical hypothesis testing and associated modeling were used …

The Effects Of Glucose And Fatty Acids On Enhanced Biological Phosphorus Removal Using A Sequencing Batch Reactor, Tarek Zaki Khouri

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

Two anaerobic/aerobic sequencing batch reactors (SBRs) were used to evaluate enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR). The first SBR, designated the Glucose SBR, was run for a period of four months. It received a synthetic wastewater plus glucose as a supplemental carbon source. The second SBR, the Isovaleric SBR, was run for three months. During the first month, isovaleric acid was its supplemental carbon source while for the remaining time period, no supplemental carbon source was added to the feed. Steady-state data from the SBR receiving isovalerate yielded the highest phosphorus (P) removals observed during the study, with a mixed liquor …

Phosphorus Accumulation In Bottom Sediments Of Retention/Detention Ponds, Kriss Young Kaye

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

Laboratory and field studies were conducted to characterize phosphorus in bottom sediments for retention/detention ponds. The laboratory studies, including batch and column experiments, were conducted to assess possible removal processes. Sediment core samples were collected from detention ponds receiving urban runoff. These cores were analyzed for phosphorus at different layers including accumulated top sediments and the lower parent soil beneath it at a depth of 1, 3, 5, 10 and greater than 10 cm. The phosphorus accumulation rate was found to decline with calculated overflow rates from an average storm. Also attenuation of phosphorus with sediment depth followed an exponential …

Consumption And Loss Of Formaldehyde In Electroless Copper Plating, Peter John F. Sutch

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

The objectives of this research were to quantify formaldehyde consumption due to plating and parasitic reactions and determine the magnitude and distribution of formaldehyde losses from the electroless copper plating process. Plating and rinse bath samples obtained from three electroless copper plating operations were analyzed for formaldehyde and copper in order to develop a mass balance analysis about the plating bath for periods of active production and no production. Fugitive air and stack releases of formaldehyde were estimated using emission factors developed from air sampling at the three facilities. It was determined that approximately 90% of the formaldehyde added to …

Emissions Of Hexavalent Chromium From Hard Chromium Plating Operations, Mitchell Scott Hall

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

This research addresses emissions of hexavalent chromium mist from hard chromium electroplating operations. Most of these emissions are typically captured by a ventilation stack and directed to a pollution control device; those which escape capture are called fugitive emissions. Releases of toxic materials such as hexavalent chromium must be reported annually to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under provisions of the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) Title III of 1986 via the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI), Form R. The objectives were: (1) to provide estimates of fugitive hexavalent chromium emissions for the completion of Form R; and (2) to …

Express Transit Service For The University Of Central Florida, Arturo J. Perez

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

As one of the fastest growing universities in the State of Florida, the University of Central Florida (UCF) is faced with the hardships placed on higher learning institutions across the nation. The increase of students paralleled by the increase of motor vehicles on the university campus, and the shortage of funding needed to construct the necessary parking facilities to support this growth, has left the University with a big dilemma, whether to try to overcome the parking space deficit by building the needed spaces to accommodate the demand, or provide a mass transit system that would reduce the number of …

Closure Of Unlined Landfills, Brenda J. Westhorp

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Continuous Time Convolution Model For Generation Synthetic Hydrographs, Cheryl Brooks

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

Synthetic hydrographs are often used in stormwater management to provide estimates of peak rate, volume and time distribution of stormwater runoff. A hydrograph model based on the mathematical technique of convolution was developed using an exponential routing response function and the basic watershed continuity equation. After incorporating the model into a computer program, it was calibrated using hydrographs from four urban and three rural watersheds. The watersheds are located in regions of west and south Florida and range in size from 14.7 to 3500 acres. Two other hydrograph models, the Soil Conservation Service's Unit Hydrograph (SCS-UH) mode 1 and the …

Optimization Of Storm Sewer Construction Costs Using A Microcomputer Program, Dawn E. Fetter

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

When designing a storm sewer system there is a material and labor cost trade-off between changing pipe diameter for a specific flowrate while keeping physical pipe slope constant, and changing physical pipe slope for the same flowrate while keeping the pipe diameter constant.

To calculate costs associated with every possible combination of pipe diameters and excavation depth to find the optimum design for a storm sewer network without the use of a computer would be a very cumbersome task indeed. In fact, a minimum cost solution may never be found.

This paper presents a microcomputer program which assists the engineer …

Investigative Study Of The Reliability Of A Rotating Turbine Blade, William Stuart Beal

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

-Turbine blading incidents are a concern to electrical utilities since they can result in power plant unavailability. The reliability of a particular turbine blade is investigated in this report to determine if it can be replaced with a more reliable blade design. The majority of incidents concerning this blade have been attributed to stall flutter vibration that has been the result of unit operation at low load levels with high back-pressures in the steam condenser. Stall flutter can be avoided by limiting back-pressure levels during low load operation and is thus not a concern here. Another potential cause of unreliability …

Comparison Of Subsurface Cavity Investigations Using Earth Resistivity, Seismograph And Ground Penetrating Radar, Dennis M. Filler

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

Sinkhole formation in the Central Florida area has become a serious problem. The subsurface exploration method for cavity detection is indeed needed prior to sinkhole development. this research study compares the effectiveness of earth resistivity, seismograph and ground penetrating radar (GPR) methods in the detection of subsurface cavities. A resistivity instrument measures a material's resistance to electric currents. The seismograph measure the propagation velocity of a medium refracting compressional waves. The GPR transmits and receives electromagnetic pulses reflecting off subsurface interfaces.

Tests were conducted at two sites: a model test site at the University of central Florida, Orlando, and a …

A Study Of The Reaction Kinetics For The Thermal Oxidation Of Dilute N-Heptane Vapors In A Plug Flow Reactor, Steven Hunter Ramsey

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

During August through October, 1986, experiments were conducted with the aim of devel oping kinetic relationships for the thermal oxi dation of dilute n-Heptane vapors in air using a Lindberg tube furnace reactor. This project was designed to be the first step in the ultimate goal of research ing the effe cts upon the combustion of dilute organic vapors when certain chemicals are added to the combustion stream. These chemicals are postulated to form free radicals and thus enhance the oxidation of organ i cs . Comparison of the kinetics before and after the addition of t he free radical …

Finite Element Analysis Of A Glass Fiber Inclusion, Jeffery R. Southland

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

This analysis investigates the micromechanical behavior of a fiber-reinforced composite. Two realistic deviations from the typical set of simplifying assumptions are considered: nonhomogeneous matrix properties and imperfect fiber/matrix bonds. The stress effects due to a soft matrix interlayer at the fiber interface and the loss of a portion of the fiber/matrix interface bond are examined. The analysis is performed with the ANSYS finite element program. The effects of higher order shape functions and different mesh densities are studied. The final results are compared to a previous analysis performed at Florida Technological University (now University of Central Florida) which utilized a …

Axisymmetric Wave Propagation In A Finite Linear Elastic Cylinder, Brian D. Johnson

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

This work addresses the linear elastic analysis of axisymmetric wave propagation in a finite elastic cylinder. The waves are generated by the Fast Triaxial Device (FTRXD), which fails soil specimens at very rapid rates. The very short duration of the triaxial tests requires the consideration of wave phenomena in the analysis of the test results.

The soil specimens are modeled as linear elastic cylinders which are compressed in the axial direction. The resulting axisymmetric waves are analyzed with the wave equations which are cast in finite difference form, allowing the solution of displacements and stresses throughout the cylinder as a …

A 24-Hour Rainfall Distribution And Peak Rate Factors For Use In Southwest Florida, Geoffrey S. Dendy

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

The objectives of this research were to derive a design 24-hour duration rainfall distribution for use in southwest Florida, and peak rate factors for use in the Soil Conservation Service (SCS) unit hydrograph method for two watersheds, also in the southwest Florida area. The rainfall distribution is derived by applying a least squares polynomial curve fitting technique to National Weather Service hourly rainfall data collected in the study area. The screening criteria for data included in the curve fitting procedure are: storm duration of 18 to 26 hours, at least three inches of rainfall volume, and peak intensity period falling …

The Hydrology And Solids Removal Efficiency Of A Detention Pond With Groundwater Inflow, Cameron A. Boss

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

Most recently, research on stormwater detention ponds has focused on designs and operations that will improve the water quality of the discharge. Historically stormwater detention ponds were used to reduce the rate of runoff from the watershed area of using temporary storage to attenuate flow rates.

The study site was located near Orlando, Florida, and consisted of a detention pond, namely Lake Angel, which received stormwater runoff from a 131-acre area. Hydrologic data such as precipitation, runoff, and pond outflow were measured at the site. Total and suspended solids data for the pond outflow and stormwater runoff also were collected …

Fate Of Heavy Metals From Highway Runoff In Stormwater Management Systems, Harvey H. Harper

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

The movement and fate of heavy metal inputs (Cd, Zn, Mn, Cu, Al, Fe, Pb, Ni and Cr) from highway runoff were investigated in a three-year study on 1.3 hectare retention facility near the Maitland Interchange on Interstate 4, north of Orlando, Florida. Physical characteristics of the retention pond and surrounding watershed were defined and field instrumentation was installed. Stormwater samples were collected over a one-year period, representing a wide range of intensities and antecedent dry periods. Stormwater characteristics were compared with average retention pond water quality to determine removal efficiencies for heavy metals within the pond. A total of …

The Quantity Of Stormwater Entering The Drainage Wells Of Orlando, Florida, James M. Mcbee

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

An extensive literature survey revealed there have been no in-depth studies of the quantity of water entering Orlando area drainage wells. Previous values ranging from 30 to 85 MGD were based on water supply withdrawal information or gross drainage area estimates. This paper presents a detailed study of the quantity of water entering 208 drainage wells in the Orlando Ubran Stormwater Management Manual (OUSWMM) area. Extrapolation of results to the remaining wells in Orange County is discussed briefly. Field experiments on one 20 in drainage well yielded a mathematical relationship that was reasonable for estimating acceptance rates for drainage wells …

Sewer System Design For Camp Challenge And Determination Of Per Capita Wastewater Flows From Vacation Facilities, William C. Goucher

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

A sewer system was designed for Camp Challenge of the Florida Easter Seal Society, in Mount Plymouth, Florida, of polyvinyl chloride piping. Invert elevations were tabulized and necessary fittings determined for the system. Cost estimates were also included. The sewers were designed on a per fixture basis so as not to overdesign using per capita flow rates. A literature and records search was conducted to obtain design and actual wastewater flow quantities in gallons per capita per day (gpcd). Actual flows determined from 4 camps and 11 travel trailer parks gave average values of 39 and 33 gpcd, respectively, and …

A Computer Graphics Analysis Of A Freeway Merge Control System, Thomas Alan Risher

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

In 1975, C.S. Bauer completed a doctoral dissertation at the University of Florida which treated the Green Band Merging Control System on I-75 in Tampa, Florida. In this work, Bauer suggested the possibility for the use of computer graphics as a toll for analysis of the bands generated by the Green Band Control System Simulation developed in his dissertation. The use of computer generated movies of the bands displayed to ramp drivers by the system allows the comparison of various band control strategies without the need for field implementation and testing. With the goal of producing such films in mind, …