Civil Engineering Commons^™

Bs News January/February

Building Services Engineering

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Development Of A Test Level 3 Transition Between Guardrail And Portable Concrete Barriers, Robert W. Bielenberg, David Gutierrez, Ronald K. Faller, John D. Reid, Phil Tenhulzen

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Faculty Publications

Road construction often requires that work zones be created and shielded by portable concrete barriers (PCBs) to protect workers and equipment from errant vehicles as well as to prevent motorists from striking other roadside hazards. For an existing W-beam guardrail system installed adjacent to the roadway and near the work zone, guardrail sections are removed so a PCB system can be placed. A study was done to develop a crashworthy transition between W-beam guardrail and PCB systems. Design concepts were developed and refined through computer simulation with LS-DYNA. Additionally, a study of critical impact points was conducted to determine impact …

Study Of Liquefaction Mechanism In Chiang Rai Province, Lindung Zalbuin Mase

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

ทางภาคเหนือของประเทศไทยได้เผชิญภัยแผ่นดินไหวครั้งใหญ่ถึง 2 ครั้งคือ แผ่นดินไหวที่ศูนย์กลางอยู่ ที่เมืองทาร์เลย์ในประเทศเมียนมาปี ค.ศ. 2011 และแผ่นดินไหว ที่อ.แม่ลาว จ.เชียงรายในปี ค.ศ. 2014 งานวิจัยนี้จึงดำเนินการศึกษาการเกิดทรายเหลวระหว่างการเกิดแผ่นดินไหวโดยเฉพาะในจังหวัดเชียงราย งานวิจัยนี้เริ่มจากการวิเคราะห์ด้วยสูตรเชิงประสบการณ์โดยใช้ข้อมูลในหลายพื้นที่ในภาคเหนือ การศึกษาผลตอบสนองแผ่นดินไหวสามารถนำไปใช้ประเมินผลของการแผ่ขยายของคลื่นแผ่นดินไหวในชั้นดินได้ นอกเหนือจากนี้ มีการสำรวจพื้นที่ด้วยการทดสอบไมโครทริมเมอร์และการวิเคราะห์สเปกตรัมคลื่นผิวดินบริเวณพื้นที่ที่เคยเกิดทรายเหลวในระหว่างแผ่นดินไหวทั้งสองครั้ง การวิเคราะห์ผลตอบสนองต่อการเกิดทรายเหลวแบบหนึ่งมิติเพื่อสังเกตพฤติกรรมพลศาสตร์ของชั้นดินพบว่า ชั้นทรายชั้นแรกและชั้นที่สองของบริเวณที่ทำการศึกษามีโอกาสการเกิดทรายเหลวค่อนข้างสูง นอกเหนือจากนี้ ผลวิเคราะห์การแผ่ขยายของคลื่นพบว่า ที่บริเวณอ.แม่สาย ชายแดนไทย-เมียนมา อาจเกิดความเสียหายต่ออาคารความสูงปานกลางจากการขยายตัวของคลื่นแผ่นดินไหวได้ เนื่องจากการสั่นพ้องระหว่างดินและโครงสร้าง ส่วนผลการสำรวจพื้นที่ยังพบว่าสภาพทางธรณีวิทยาประกอบไปด้วยชั้นดินตะกอนของแม่น้ำที่มีความต้านทานต่อแรงเฉือนค่อนข้างต่ำ พฤติกรรมของดินพวกนี้ระหว่างการแผ่ขยายคลื่นน่าจะโอกาสเกิดทรายเหลวได้ง่าย การศึกษานี้น่าใช้แนะนำวิศวกรท้องถิ่นเพื่อให้ตระหนักถึงความไม่ปลอดภัยต่อแผ่นดินไหวและการเกิดทรายเหลวในพื้นที่ภาคเหนือโดยเฉพาะในจังหวัดเชียงรายได้

Optimum Patch Design For Repairing Cracked Steel Plates Using Genetic Algorithm, Bach Kim Do

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

This research presents a design optimization process that combines the finite element (FE) method, genetic programming (GP), and optimization solvers, i.e., genetic algorithm (GA) and nonlinear programming, for double-sided fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) patches used to repair center-cracked steel plates under tension fatigue. An optimization statement is to minimize the patch volume and reduce the stress intensity factor (SIF) range at crack tips below the fatigue threshold range. A detailed three-dimensional (3D) FE model of patch-repaired cracked plates is developed to compute SIF. A total of 864 FE models of patch-repaired cracked plates with different combinations of design parameters are then …

Autocatalytic Pyrolysis Of Wastewater Biosolids For Product Upgrading, Zhongzhe Liu, Patrick J. Mcnamara, Daniel Zitomer

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

The main goals for sustainable water resource recovery include maximizing energy generation, minimizing adverse environmental impacts, and recovering beneficial resources. Wastewater biosolids pyrolysis is a promising technology that could help facilities reach these goals because it produces biochar that is a valuable soil amendment as well as bio-oil and pyrolysis gas (py-gas) that can be used for energy. The raw bio-oil, however, is corrosive; therefore, employing it as fuel is challenging using standard equipment. A novel pyrolysis process using wastewater biosolids-derived biochar (WB-biochar) as a catalyst was investigated to decrease bio-oil and increase py-gas yield for easier energy recovery. WB-biochar …

Tire-Pavement Interaction Modeling: Hyperelastic Tire And Elastic Pavement, Jaime Hernandez, Imad L. Al-Qadi

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

The interaction between deformable tire and pavement was studied using the validated finite element model; the full understanding of tire–pavement contact has implications for pavement damage prediction and pavement life-cycle assessment (fuel consumption estimation). The tire’s rubber and reinforcement were considered hyperelastic and linear elastic, respectively, with material constants obtained from the tire manufacturer (rubber) and laboratory testing (reinforcement). On the other hand, the pavement was assumed linear elastic supported by linear elastic springs. This assumption was made as a first step to examine the impact of using a deformable-on-deformable tire–pavement system to predict energy in the tire and contact …

Hydroshare Gis: Visualizing Spatial Data In The Cloud, Shawn Crawley, Daniel P. Ames, Zhiyu Li, David G. Tarboton

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Cloud-based data management systems are more conducive to collaborative efforts when they are integrated with cloud-computing tools that interact with their stored data. HydroShare, a web based data management system for climate and water data, has implemented an Application Programming Interface and a web application platform deployed using Tethys Platform to encourage the development of apps that interact with its data. HydroShare GIS is the result of one such development effort to provide cloud-based visualization of spatial data stored in HydroShare. It functions by accessing the spatial metadata contained within the HydroShare resource data model and overlaying datasets as layers …

Modeling Algae Powered Neighborhood Through Gis And Bim Integration, Florina Dutt, Steven Jige Quan, Erik Woodworth, Daniel Castro-Lacouture, Ben J. Stuart, Perry Pei-Ju Yang

Civil & Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

This paper aims to propose a modeling method for algae powered neighborhoods through GIS-BIM integration. In the first part of the paper, the applicability of different types of algae systems in an urban neighborhood are studied. The various systems of algae provide different strengths and weakness that affect their performance and suitability for given urban scenarios. Through extensive literature review, the variables that affect the performance of the micro-algae in the built environment are identified, with a focus on flat-panel photo bio-reactors and tubular photobioreactors. A previous GIS model for data management, performance analysis and design of the algae systems …

Cive 463: Traffic Engineering—A Peer Review Of Teaching Project Benchmark Portfolio, John Sangster

UNL Faculty Course Portfolios

This course portfolio documents the backward design of a senior-level design elective course in traffic engineering within the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Nebraska. An extensive discussion of stakeholder needs for the course is followed by an analysis of formative and summative feedback assessments that are designed to meet the needs of a heterogeneous group of students in the course. As a senior-level design elective, there is a wide variety of interest levels among participants in the course, varying from those who have experience with internships in the topic and offer letters to conduct work in this …

Characterization And Performance Of Eco And Crack-Free High-Performance Concrete For Sustainable Infrastructure, Iman Mehdipour

Doctoral Dissertations

"The main objective of this study is to develop, characterize, and validate the performance of a new class of environmentally friendly, economical, and crack-free high-performance concrete referred to as Eco and crack-free HPC that is proportioned with high content of recycle materials. Two classes of Eco-HPC are designed for: (I) pavement (Eco-Pave-Crete); and (II) bridge infrastructure (Eco-Bridge-Crete). Eco-HPC mixtures were designed to have relatively low binder content up to 350 kg/m³ and develop high resistance to shrinkage and superior durability. A stepwise mixture design methodology was proposed to: (i) optimize binder system and aggregate skeleton to optimize packing density …

Design And Performance Of Cost-Effective Ultra-High Performance Concrete For Prefabricated Elements, Weina Meng

Doctoral Dissertations

"This study presented in this thesis aims to: (1) develop a mixture design methodology for cost-effective ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) incorporating high volume of supplementary cementitious materials and conventional concrete and masonry sands; (2) developed UHPC with adapted rheology incorporating lightweight sand, hybrid fibers, and nanomaterials with improved properties; (3) design prefabricated UHPC panels with fiber-reinforced polymers (FRP) for enhanced flexural properties of stay-in-place panels made with optimized UHPC; and (4) explore potential applications of such UHPC elements. The proposed design methodology produced UHPC mixtures with 28-days compressive strengths higher than 125 and 168 MPa under standard water curing and 1-d …

Characterization Of Subgrade Resilient Modulus For Mepdg And The Effects On Pavement Rutting, Md Mostaqur Rahman

Theses and Dissertations

In 2008, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) released a modified pavement design method (i.e., the Mechanistic Empirical Pavement Design Guide (MEPDG)) based on Long Term Pavement Performance (LTPP) data from all over the United States. The MEPDG default design parameters developed from the LTPP database are expected to be significantly different than those for South Carolina material, traffic and weather conditions, thus the default design parameters may not be accurate for South Carolina. Therefore, the new pavement design method should be calibrated for South Carolina conditions by performing MEPDG local calibration.

Different input variables should …

Performance Assessment Of Hsrm Concrete Ties Through Finite Element Model Simulations, Adam I. Zeitouni

Theses and Dissertations

Concrete ties have become a promising alternative to timber ties for freight lines with increased curvature, high annual traffic, and large axle loads. They are also widely adopted in passenger lines. High strength (HS) concrete is the material of choice in the fabrication of prestressed concrete railroad ties. The higher strength of the concrete is directly related to higher values of the Elastic Modulus, thus increasing the rigidity of the material. The combination of increased strength, rigidity, and the material brittleness may lead to the development of high amplitude stresses with high gradients, which appears to be a common underlying …

Intermodal Network Design And Expansion For Freight Transportation, Fateme Fotuhiardakani

Theses and Dissertations

Over the last 50 years, international trade has grown considerably, and this growth has strained the global supply chains and their underlying support infrastructures. Consequently, shippers and receivers have to look for more efficient ways to transport their goods. In recent years, intermodal transport is becoming an increasingly attractive alternative to shippers, and this trend is likely to continue as governmental agencies are considering policies to induce a freight modal shift from road to intermodal to alleviate highway congestion and emissions. Intermodal freight transport involves using more than one mode, and thus, it is a more complex transport process. The …

Influence Of Crumbed Para Rubber Modifier In Aggregate Blend On Deformation Resistance Properties Of Hot Mix Asphalt, Hatthaphone Silimanotham

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

This research presents the influence of crumbed para rubber which is added into a portion of aggregate in hot mix asphalt (HMA) during the batch mixing process or called "Dry Process". The dry process has an advantage on its simplicity of quality inspection and less modification in the hot mix plant production process. This study has investigated the effects of adding crumbed para rubber particles on the engineering properties related to permanent deformation resistance of asphalt concrete. In this study, the asphalt mixture is prepared via Marshall Mix design, which contained with limestone and asphalt cement of Pen 60/70 at …

Multi-Layered Elastic Medium Under Axisymmetric Loading And Surface Energy Effects, Kanin Tarntira

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Multi-layered nano-scale structures have been found in a wide range of applications these days. Since the surface energy effect is presented at the nano-scale level, a novel calculation scheme is required to accurately capture the mechanical behaviors of such structures. In this study, a solution scheme for analysis of a multi-layered elastic medium with influence of surface energy effects subjected to axisymmetric loading by adopting Gurtin-Murdoch surface elasticity theory is presented. The standard Love's representation and Hankel integral transform are employed to derive the general solutions, and the obtained solutions are employed in the determination of the stiffness matrix for …

Factors Affecting Building Damage And People's Preparedness For Earthquake In Chiang Rai, Narongdej Intaratchaiyakit

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

On May 5, 2014, an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.3 on the Richter scale occurred in Chiang Rai, Thailand. This earthquake was the strongest earthquake in Thailand at the Mae Lao District region. It also caused building damage and casualties. In this research, 277 participants living in village no.2 and village no.7 of Dong Mada, a sub-district at Mae Lao district in Chiang Rai, were selected. A questionnaire was used to interview these participants, and the data were analyzed by Chi-square, Fisher's exact test, a Mann-Whitney U test, and a Kruskal-Wallis test. The objective of this study was to …

Weakly Singular Boundary Integral Equation Method For Analysis Of Generalized T-Stresses Of Cracks In 3d Coupled-Field Media, Naruethep Sukulthanasorn

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

This thesis presents the development of a weakly singular boundary integral equation method for the analysis of the generalized T-stress of isolated cracks embedded in a coupled-field whole space. A pair of weak-form integral equations, one for crack-face generalized traction and the other for the gradient of the crack-face generalized displacement, is established in a general framework allowing various types of materials including elastic, piezoelectric, piezomagnetic and piezoelectromagnetic solids, general crack geometry and loading conditions to be handled in a unified fashion. In addition, the final governing integral equations contain only weakly singular kernels and this, as a result, renders …

An Application Of Geosynthetic Cementitious Composite Mat For Slope Stabilization, Phong Tan Ngo

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

In recent years, soil erosion and slope instability caused by seepage and rainfall are major problems, especially in the mountain area. Many research studies have focused on finding a new technology or material to stabilize the soil slope. In this study, a novel material called geosynthetic cementitious composite mat (GCCM) is selected to study its performance on soil slope stabilization. A series of 1-g physical model tests and numerical simulation (Plaxis 2D) on sandy soil slopes stabilized with and without GCCM are performed under seepage condition. In addition, centrifuge modeling of soil slopes is performed under 25-g in seepage and …

Quantification Of Seismic Performance Factors For Circular Concrete-Filled Steel Tube Diagrid Structures, Nattanai Kuangmia

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

In 21st century, diagrid structures become more popular lateral force-resisting systems for high-rise buildings world-wide. It consists of several grids of diagonal members on building perimeter serving as both lateral bracing and vertical-load carrying members. Since the diagrid structure is a relatively new type of lateral force-resisting system, current building codes do not explicitly provide the seismic performance factors (SPFs) for this system to use in design process. This thesis aims to determine appropriate SPFs for the diagrid structure incorporating circular concrete-filled steel tube to enable structural engineers to design this system according to seismic performance expected in building codes. …