Civil and Environmental Engineering Commons^™

Response Spectrum Estimation Using Support Vector Machines, Jale Tezcan, Qiang Cheng, Lincoln Hill

Qiang CHENG

This study investigates the applicability and efficiency of support vector machines for the problem of estimating the earthquake response spectra from the Fourier amplitude spectra of the ground motion acceleration. Two methods are commonly used for this purpose: time domain simulations, and the random vibration theory. The use of time domain simulations offers high accuracy at high computational cost, while the use random vibration theory, although not computationally intensive, requires knowledge of the statistical distribution of the response amplitudes. This study treats the task of estimating response spectra from the Fourier spectra as a nonlinear regression problem, and constructs a …

New Mixture Additives For Sustainable Bituminous Pavements, Gabriel Nsengiyumva, Kommidi Santosh, Yong-Rak Kim, Helan Xu, Yiqi Yang Phd

Gabriel Nsengiyumva

Integration Of A Prototype Wireless Communication System With Micro-Electromechanical Temperature And Humidity Sensor For Concrete Pavement Health Monitoring, Shuo Yang, Keyan Shen, Halil Ceylan, Sunghwan Kim, Daji Qiao, Kasthurirangan Gopalakrishnan

Daji Qiao

In recent years, structural health monitoring and management (SHMM) has become a popular approach and is considered essential for achieving well-performing, long-lasting, sustainable transportation infrastructure systems. Key requirements in ideal SHMM of road infrastructure include long-term, continuous, and real-time monitoring of pavement response and performance under various pavement geometry-materials-loading configurations and environmental conditions. With advancements in wireless technologies, integration of wireless communications into sensing device is considered an alternate and superior solution to existing time- and labor-intensive wired sensing systems in meeting the requirements of an ideal SHMM. This study explored the development and integration of a wireless communications sub-system …

Mathematical Model Of The Shell With The Infill For Retaining Structures, Alexander T. Bekker, Nikita Ya. Tsimbelman, Dmitriy A. Potyanikhin, Andrey I. Mamontov, Ömer Bilgin, Tatiana I. Chernova

Ömer Bilgin

A description of finite element model and analysis of a shell with an infill is performed. A large diameter thin cylindrical shell structure with the edge leaning against compressible foundation soil is analyzed. Different materials are considered individually for the models of each structure shell and infill component (metal or reinforced concrete shell, and granular or elastic infill in a shell and foundation soil loaded by the structure). Contact conditions between 1) the infill and the shell’s inner surface and 2) between the foundation material and the shell edge are analyzed. An example of calculating strain conditions in the shell …

A Computer Program For Optimal Control Of Water Supply Pump Stations: Development And Testing, Donald V. Chase

Donald V. Chase

This report presents an optimal control methodology designed to reduce the electrical consumption and operating costs at Army water supply pumping stations. The methodology, contained in a computer program called Optimal Control of Pumping Stations (OCOPS), enables water utility managers and operators to reduce the electrical consumption at pumping stations while maintaining adequate storage and system pressures for fire protection. OCOPS can be applied to any water distribution system and is not limited to any number of pumps, pump stations, or storage tanks within the system. The optimal control strategy developed is based on electricity unit charges, but can be …

Water Distribution Modeling, Thomas M. Walski, Donald V. Chase, Dragan A. Savic

Donald V. Chase

To effectively use water distribution models, the engineer must be able to link knowledge of basic hydraulic theory and the mechanics of the program with that of the operation of real-world systems. Water Distribution Modeling does just that. Written by industry experts, it provides a practical resource for engineers and modelers that goes well beyond being a how-to guide for typing data into a computer program. It contains straightforward answers to common questions related both to modeling and to distribution systems in general. This textbook walks the practicing engineer or student through the modeling process from start to finish — …

Performance Comparison Of A Roundabout Versus Two-Way Stop Controlled (Twsc) Intersections, Deogratias Eustace

Deogratias Eustace

The superior safety record of modern roundabouts is well known in Western Europe, Australia and in most British-influenced countries around the world. The experience from a single modern roundabout installed in the City of Manhattan, Kansas, some three years ago, also shares the same experience. A major study of the performance of Manhattan, Kansas, modern roundabout was conducted at Kansas State University (KSU) and was co-sponsored by Mac-Blackwell National Rural Transportation Study Center, Kansas State University, and the City of Manhattan. The study examined three intersections, one modern roundabout and two Two-Way Stop Controlled (TWSC) intersections with similar traffic conditions. …

A Simplified Method For Analyzing Factors Contributing To Motorcyclists’ Fatal Injuries In Ohio, Deogratias Eustace, Vamsi Krishna Indupuru

Deogratias Eustace

The aim of this paper was to analyze traffic crash data by using a simplified method in determining significant factors that increase the risk of a motorcyclist being fatally injured once involved in a motorcycle crash in Ohio. The concept of overrepresentation, which is similar to relative risk, was used in identifying significant variables associated with the elevated risk of a motorcycle crash resulting into a fatality. The overrepresentation factor (ORF) was calculated for each variable of interest. The ORF offers a simple but powerful procedure of determining whether a certain factor significantly occurs more or less frequently in one …

Low-Cost Rural Surface Alternatives: Demonstration Project, Cheng Li, Jeramy C. Ashlock, David White, Pavana Vennapusa

Jeramy C. Ashlock

A field demonstration project was conducted in Hamilton County, Iowa to compare the relative performance, durability, and costs of several stabilization methods for preventing or mitigating freeze-thaw damage to granular surfaced roads.

Low-Cost Rural Surface Alternatives: Demonstration Project, Cheng Li, Jeramy C. Ashlock, David White, Pavana Vennapusa

Jeramy C. Ashlock

The goals of this project were to implement several stabilization methods for preventing or mitigating freeze-thaw damage to granular surfaced roads and identify the most effective and economical methods for the soil and climate conditions of Iowa. Several methods and technologies identified as potentially suitable for Iowa were selected from an extensive analysis of existing literature provided with Iowa Highway Research Board (IHRB) Project TR-632.Using the selected methods, demonstration sections were constructed in Hamilton County on a heavily traveled two-mile section of granular surfaced road that required frequent maintenance during previous thawing periods. Construction procedures and costs of the demonstration …

International Conference On Short And Medium Span Bridges, Calgary, July 15-18, 2014, Barry A. Palynchuk Phd, Christophe Deniaud Phd

Barry A. Palynchuk PhD

The Jean River near Wabush, Labrador is crossed by two railways and an access road by twin 6m diameter culverts . They are heavily strutted inside their barrels to counteract some significant shape deformation, and are deemed not suitable to sustain the increased volume of rail traffic serving the development of the Bloom Lake mines. The owner requested the design and construction of a replacement scheme for an additional design life of 20 years with a time sensitive schedule for completion of the work during the 2013 construction season. This VE concept for the design of live load relief spans …

Design And Construction Of Rail And Road Live Load Relief Spans Over Existing Culverts, Barry A. Palynchuk Phd, Christophe Deniaud Phd

Barry A. Palynchuk PhD

DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF RAIL AND ROAD LIVE LOAD RELIEF SPANS OVER EXISTING CULVERTS

Development Of Preliminary Load And Resistance Factor Design Of Drilled Shafts In Iowa - Tech Transfer Summary, Kam W. Ng, Sri Sritharan, Jeramy C. Ashlock

Jeramy C. Ashlock

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) mandated utilizing the Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) approach for all new bridges initiated in the United States after October 1, 2007. To achieve part of this goal, a database for Drilled Shaft Foundation Testing (DSHAFT) was developed and reported on by Garder, Ng, Sritharan, and Roling in 2012. DSHAFT is aimed at assimilating high-quality drilled shaft test data from Iowa and the surrounding regions. DSHAFT is currently housed on a project website (http://srg.cce.iastate.edu/dshaft) and contains data for 41 drilled shaft tests. The objective of this research was to utilize the DSHAFT database and …

Analiza Rozwoju Fragmentu Zabudowy Miasta Torunia Na Podstawie Zdjęć Z Landsat7 Z Wykorzystaniem Map Granulometrycznych., Andrzej Szeszko

Andrzej Szeszko

Głównym celem niniejszej pracy było określenie rozwoju części zabudowy miasta Torunia

w latach 1999-2005, oraz sprawdzenie, jakie wyniki w takim zadaniu można uzyskać stosując mapy

granulometryczne wygenerowane ze zdjęć panchromatycznych o rozdzielczości przestrzennej rzędu

kilkunastu metrów. Analizę przeprowadzono na podstawie fragmentów scen satelitarnych Landsat7

zarejestrowanych przez skaner ETM+ w kilku zakresach spektralnych.

Analiza składała się z trzech następujących etapów:

· wyodrębnienia zabudowy w latach 1999 i 2005

· określenie zmian w zabudowie na podstawie zasięgu zabudowy w latach 1999 i 2005

· określenie dokładności wyznaczenia zabudowy i zmian w zabudowie

Do wyodrębnienia zabudowy posłużono się klasyfikacją map granulometrycznych. Wybór map …

Active Tuned Mass Damper Control Of Wind Turbine Nacelle/Tower Vibrations With Damaged Foundations, Breiffni Fitzgerald

Breiffni Fitzgerald

The aim of this paper is to develop an active structural control scheme to control wind turbine nacelle/tower out-of-plane vibration. An active tuned mass damper (ATMD) is designed an placed inside the turbine nacelle. An EulerLagrangian wind turbine model based on energy formulation is developed for this purpose, which considers the structural dynamics of the system and the interaction between in-plane and out-of-plane vibrations. Also, the interaction between the blades and the tower including the ATMD is considered. The wind turbine is subjected to gravity and turbulent aerodynamic loadings. A three-dimensional (3D) model of a wind turbine foundation is designed …

Tunnel Detection Using Cross Borehole Radar, Clay Kurison, Arvin M. Farid, Akram N. Alshawabkeh, Carey M. Rappaport

Akram N. Alshawabkeh

Shallow tunnels present both military and homeland security threats. Smugglers with intentions of avoiding border security have turned tunnels into transit routes for trafficking weapons, people, drugs and other illegal materials. Shallow tunnels are also used by prisoners to escape prisons. While drug and human trafficking have long been border concerns, the threat of international terrorism has transformed the effort to detect tunnels into a national security priority. Imminent threats include assailants entering military fortifications by burrowing under buildings, detonation of high grade explosives from foundations of high security facilities, and high level prisoners escaping detention centers through tunnels. Real-time …

Tunnel Detection Using Cross Borehole Radar, Clay Kurison, Arvin M. Farid, Akram N. Alshawabkeh, Carey M. Rappaport

Carey Rappaport

Shallow tunnels present both military and homeland security threats. Smugglers with intentions of avoiding border security have turned tunnels into transit routes for trafficking weapons, people, drugs and other illegal materials. Shallow tunnels are also used by prisoners to escape prisons. While drug and human trafficking have long been border concerns, the threat of international terrorism has transformed the effort to detect tunnels into a national security priority. Imminent threats include assailants entering military fortifications by burrowing under buildings, detonation of high grade explosives from foundations of high security facilities, and high level prisoners escaping detention centers through tunnels. Real-time …

Economic Design Of Retaining Wall Using Particle Swarm Optimization With Passive Congregation, Mohammad Khajehzadeh, M R., Taha, A., El-Shafie, Mahdiyeh Eslami

Dr. Mahdiyeh Eslami (مهدیه اسلامی)

No abstract provided.

Masw Tests For Detection Of Decayed Buried Timber Within Railway Embankments, Barry A. Palynchuk Phd, Chris Bunce Phd, Steve Sather M.Eng

Barry A. Palynchuk PhD

No abstract provided.

Approaches To Mitigating Decayed Buried Timber Within Railway Embankments, Barry A. Palynchuk Phd

Barry A. Palynchuk PhD

During the last three years, several sinkholes have been observed along CPR railway lines in Southern Ontario. The sinkholes have formed as a result of the decay of buried timber trestles in railway embankments. Although it has not occurred the sinkholes could result in hazardous changes in track geometry under load. This study summarizes the site investigation results and remedial methods implemented at five sites in southern Ontario. Remedial methods include placement geosynthetic reinforcement, soil-cement column reinforcement and grouting of voids at the trestle bents. The design, installation methods and construction constraints for the remedial options are described in this …

Computational And Experimental Modeling Of Dynamic Foundation Interactions With Sand, Phd Thesis, Jeramy C. Ashlock

Jeramy C. Ashlock

The subject of dynamic soil-structure interaction (SSI) is fundamental to the design of structures and foundations to withstand dynamic events such as earthquakes, explosions and vibrations from traffic, wind, waves and machinery. With the tools of modern experimental and computational methods, a critical evaluation of current concepts and capabilities for the dynamic characterization of both surface foundations and embedded piles in granular soils is the first target. Well suited for this kind of fundamental study, a variety of scaled-model surface and pile foundations are designed and tested in a large geotechnical centrifuge using dynamic forced excitations. Used as a rigorous …

Backend Framework And Software Approach To Compute Earthquake Parameters From Signals Recorded By Seismic Instrumentation System, Raman Attri

Raman K. Attri

Computation of seismic parameters and its interpretation from the recorded earthquake signal is empowered by digital data acquisition systems. This enables seismologist to automatically compute all the relevant parameters. Futuristic applications require extensive software development to implement seismic prediction and forecasting models. While developing such models, software developer prefer to write their own in-house analysis & modeling software with complete control over the required computations and models. This paper presents simplified mathematical framework of the seismic events and back-end computational software logic & algorithm to provide a simple framework to software engineers develop customized seismic analysis & computation software.

Non-Contact Detection Techniques And Technologies For Detection Of Objects In Air, Under-Ground And Under-Water, Raman Attri

Raman K. Attri

In this white paper, we will present review and compilation of various object detection techniques currently available in different scenarios and situations. Automatic Object detection in the air, beneath other materials, under water and under the earth surface as well as over the surface is one of the advanced sciences employing many principles of multiple engineering domains together. “See-through” methods – seeing beyond the visible objects, has been inherent desire of human being since the practice of science. Not only this, a craving to detect the objects without directly “seeing upon” them with naked eyes calls upon some automatic procedures …

Software For Seismic And Vibration Analysis, Raman K. Attri

Raman K. Attri

No abstract provided.

A Simplified Overview: How The Earthquake Parameters Are Computed From Recorded Seismic Signals?, Raman Attri

Raman K. Attri

The earthquake phenomenon is one of the unpredictable and complex geo-logical phenomenon happening under the earth surface. The recording and its interpretation of recorded earthquake signal have always been a prime concern of the seismologists. This paper discusses in a very simplified manner how these complex parameters are computed.

Emergency Response Canadian Pacific Railway Canadian Main Line, Barry A. Palynchuk Phd, Michael J. Loehr, Robert W. Badger, Robert P. Conroy, Clive H. Mackay

Barry A. Palynchuk PhD

In late June 1998, a major storm event occurred in the Adirondack Mountains in the vicinity of Keeseville, New York about 150 miles north of Albany. This storm resulted in unprecedented damage to the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) Canadian Mainline along the shores of Lake Champlain. The storm caused 14 major embankment failures and washouts, numerous minor failures, severe bridge foundation scour and a major mainline derailment.

Experimental And Theoretical Modeling Of Dynamically Loaded Surface Foundations On Granular Soils, Jeramy C. Ashlock

Jeramy C. Ashlock

The mechanical properties of a cohesionless granular medium are strongly dependent on the confining stress, which varies three-dimensionally under a surface foundation due to gravitational and surface loading effects. Success in predicting a foundation’s response to dynamic loading is therefore highly dependent on the appropriate choice of material properties for a given theoretical model. Presented in this thesis are critical results from an investigation of dynamically loaded square foundations on granular soil using a geotechnical centrifuge. From the results, it is shown that the characterization of the vertical mode of vibration of the square foundations via the homogeneous half-space theory …

Gsis: A Conceptual Model For Web-Based Integration Of Information Technology With Geo-Scientific Instrumentation, Raman Attri

Raman K. Attri

Since a long time leading organisations have been advocating the need of implementation of IT in a centralised manner on the distributed geological data monitoring centres. In the era of IT, it is highly important to access, share and analyse related data on a common platform for fast retrieval of information in centralised as well as in distributed mode. In this article a concept to integrate Geo-Scientific Instrumentation systems to Information Technology has been highlighted. The vision to create a Geo-Scientific Information System (GSIS) would be an approach where a centralised web-enabled database of the data acquired & transmitted by …