Civil Engineering Commons^™

Integrating Off-Spec Scms Into Plc Blends, George A. Qubty

Civil Engineering Theses - Archive

Off-spec supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) remain underutilized due to variability in reactivity and non-conformance with existing standards. This study evaluates the hydration behavior and fresh-state and mechanical performance of these materials in Portland limestone cement (PLC) systems. One Class F fly ash (FA), one bottom ash (BA), and two calcined clays (HACC and LACC) were evaluated as 20 % replacements to PLC. Hydration behavior was characterized using isothermal calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), while fresh-state and mechanical performance were assessed through flow table, Vicat setting time, load–crack mouth opening displacement (CMOD) flexural testing, and compressive strength testing. HACC increased compressive …

The Development Of Sustainable Synthetic Fiber Reinforced Concrete Mix Design With Low Maintenance Cost, Kentesha L. High

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

This dissertation presents the mix design of polypropylene SYN-FRC as an alternative to traditional concrete mixtures in construction roadways. The primary scope of work was to develop and implement a pavement system at The University of Texas at Arlington, specifically designed for the Dallas area, to minimize long-term maintenance. Additionally, the project aimed for expeditious construction to avoid traffic closure during new construction and maintenance. It also involved evaluating the pavement performance, providing the City of Dallas with specifications for the mix design of SYN-FRC. The sustainability of the synthetic fiber mix design for concrete roadways, compared to traditional concrete, …

Assessment Of Long Term Durability Of Prefabricated Frp Strip Systems For The Rehabilitation Of Concrete, Karunya Kanagavel

Civil Engineering Theses - Archive

Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) composites provide an extremely effective means of rehabilitating deteriorating and understrength concrete elements due to their characteristics of high specific strength and stiffness, corrosion resistance, and potential long-term durability, lightweight nature, and ease of placement in the field. Despite significant use of these materials, there is still a lack of long-term durability data. With this in mind, the current study investigates the impact of environmental exposure and aging on 3 commercially available prefabricated carbon fiber reinforced composite strips and their recommended adhesives used in externally bonded rehabilitation with the aim of providing a comprehensive set of …

A Framework For Ai Implementation In Construction: Use Cases, Challenges, And Benefits For Contractors, Jaqueline De Aquino Leite Gomes

Theses and Dissertations--Civil Engineering

The construction industry is one of the most important sectors that contribute to the economy worldwide, but it has been very slow in adopting digital transformation. Artificial Intelligence is the backbone of digital innovation, and it can help solve inefficiencies, improve safety, and enhance decision-making in construction. This thesis reviews 85 academic papers, identifies 354 AI use-cases, 180 benefits, and 173 challenges. Key findings have looked at the role of AI in safety monitoring, design optimization, and operational efficiency, while barriers involve data scarcity, high costs, and readiness of the workforce.

All of these challenges have one very handy framework …

Flexural Post-Cracking Performance Of Macro Synthetic Fiber Reinforced Super Workable Concrete Influenced By Shrinkage-Reducing Admixture, Jingjie Wei, Nima Farzadnia, Kamal H. Khayat

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Most literature has focused on the effect of shrinkage-reducing admixture (SRA) in shrinkage mitigation resistance of concrete. This study aims to examine the impact of SRA on the efficiency of macro synthetic fibers (MSF) in enhancing the flexural post-cracking behavior of fiber-reinforced super workable concrete (FR-SWC). A comparative analysis of the influence of fiber combinations on the flexural post-cracking behavior of beams is also included. Results showed that a higher dosage of SRA, particularly at 5 % by mass of binder, had a noticeable negative impact on flexural post-cracking performance of beams while exhibiting positive effect on workability and shrinkage …

Seasonal Variation Of The Stream’S Autogenic Sediment Transport Regime, Melissa Beckman

Theses and Dissertations--Civil Engineering

This thesis investigates the autogenic sediment transport regime in a low-gradient stream system in the inner bluegrass region of central Kentucky, USA The seasonality of sediment transport seasonality was not well addressed in prior research for baseflow and low flow periods, to our knowledge, due to the assumption that low flows do not account for considerable fluid transport capacity to move sediment. The hypothesis is that during the autogenic regime the sediment transport in the low-gradient system is being driven by geophysical, biogeochemical, and biological processes. We hypothesize that crayfish are one mechanical driver of sediment transport during these periods. …

Bond Behavior Of Magnesium Potassium Phosphate Cement (Mkpc) Coating For Steel Reinforcement, Eric Williams

Masters Theses

"This research investigates the bond behavior of magnesium potassium phosphate cement (MKPC) coated mild steel deformed bars in conventional concrete and concrete repair materials. For typical steel reinforcement in concrete, a thin “passive layer” develops around the reinforcement, which protects the reinforcement from corrosion. The concrete carbonates over time, reducing the protection of the passive layer and allowing chlorides, which corrode the reinforcement, to penetrate at an increasing rate. In some cases, to combat this corrosion, a protective layer is added to the reinforcement prior to installation. Common protective layers include epoxy coatings or zinc galvanization. MKPC is a novel …

System Design For Highly Accurate And Efficient Target Detection In Triaxial Testing, Qingqing Fu

Masters Theses

Accurate and automated recognition of coded targets is crucial for high-precision photogrammetry-based measurements in triaxial testing. Traditional recognition methods, including those based on deep learning and table decoding, often struggle with issues such as perspective distortion, rotation, and variable lighting, leading to unreliable results. While deep learning approaches offer some improvements, they remain computationally intensive and sensitive to environmental factors.

This thesis introduces an innovative system that replaces deep learning algorithms with a blob analysis-based method for efficient and robust recognition of coded targets. The system also employs newly designed solid points of varying sizes and patterns, eliminating the need …

พฤติกรรมความล้าของแผ่นพื้นคอนกรีตเสริมเหล็กที่ได้รับการเสริมกำลังด้วยแผ่นพอลิเมอร์เสริมแรงด้วยเส้นใยอารามิด, ภัทรพงษ์ ปุญจุบัน

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

ปัญหาความเสียหายของแผ่นพื้นคอนกรีตเสริมเหล็กจากแรงกระทำซ้ำ เป็นประเด็นสำคัญที่ส่งผลต่อความทนทานและอายุการใช้งานของพื้นสะพานคอนกรีตในสภาพแวดล้อมจริง งานวิจัยนี้จึงมุ่งศึกษาพฤติกรรมของแผ่นพื้นคอนกรีตเสริมเหล็กภายใต้แรงกระทำรวมศูนย์ ทั้งในสภาวะแรงกระทำแบบสถิตและแรงกระทำซ้ำ พร้อมประเมินประสิทธิภาพของการเสริมกำลังด้วยแผ่น AFRP strand sheet เพื่อพิจารณาความเหมาะสมของวิธีการเสริมกำลังดังกล่าวในงานบำรุงรักษาโครงสร้างสะพาน การทดสอบถูกออกแบบให้ครอบคลุมทั้งตัวอย่างที่ไม่ได้เสริมกำลังและตัวอย่างที่เสริมกำลัง โดยพฤติกรรมโครงสร้างที่สนใจประกอบด้วยความแข็งเกร็งหลังแตกร้าว การกระจายแรงภายในแผ่นพื้น พฤติกรรมรอยแตกร้าว การกระจายความเครียด และลักษณะการวิบัติภายใต้สภาวะที่ใกล้เคียงกับการใช้งานจริง จากผลการศึกษาพบว่าแผ่นพื้นที่เสริมกำลังด้วย AFRP มีพฤติกรรมโครงสร้างที่มีเสถียรภาพมากขึ้น สามารถควบคุมพัฒนาการของรอยแตกร้าวได้ดี และมีความทนทานต่อแรงกระทำซ้ำสูงกว่าแผ่นพื้นทั่วไป ความเสียหายสะสมลดลงอย่างมีนัยสำคัญ และโครงสร้างยังคงรักษาสมรรถนะได้ดีหลังผ่านการรับแรงกระทำซ้ำ ผลการวิจัยชี้ให้เห็นว่า AFRP strand sheet เป็นวิธีเสริมกำลังที่มีประสิทธิภาพในการเพิ่มความต้านทานต่อแรงกระทำซ้ำ เพิ่มความแข็งเกร็งหลังแตกร้าว นำไปสู่การยืดอายุการใช้งานของแผ่นพื้นคอนกรีตเสริมเหล็ก ซึ่งสอดคล้องกับความต้องการในการปรับปรุงความทนทานของแผ่นพื้นสะพานคอนกรีตเสริมเหล็กในงานวิศวกรรมโครงสร้างปัจจุบัน

A Multi-Method Geophysical Approach For Complex Shallow Landslide Characterization, Mohammadyar Rahimi, Clinton Wood, Meersad Fathizadeh, Salman Rahimi

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

This case study demonstrates the value of combining multiple non-invasive geophysical methods to characterize a landslide along Highway 7 near Jasper, Arkansas, USA. Geophysical testing was conducted using Multichannel Analysis of Surface Waves (MASW), Horizontal to Vertical Spectral Ratio (HVSR), and Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT), supplemented by select soil borings. The geophysical investigation aimed to provide a high-resolution, near-continuous view of subsurface conditions, including bedrock depth and the location of the groundwater table or highly saturated zones within the slide area. These factors are important contributors to slope instability. The MASW results revealed a highly variable depth to weathered bedrock …

Accelerated Test Method (Atm) For The Evaluation Of External Sulfate And Chloride Attack On Concrete Using Artificial Climate Environment (Ace): An Assessment Of Methodology, Eli Walker

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This study seeks to investigate a testing methodology that utilizes accelerated testing methods (ATM) in conjunction with nondestructive testing methods (NDT) to assess destructive ion attacks on concrete. Through the testing of concrete samples, the impacts of chloride and sulfate ions on concrete will be tested by subjecting concrete to cyclic testing in an artificial climate environment. Electrical resistivity (ER) and ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) testing will evaluate the impact of the accelerated testing on the migration of destructive ions within the pore structure of the tested concrete. Based on this investigation, comparisons between accelerated, non-accelerated, and control samples will …

Groundwater Pumping Impacts On Stream Depletion In Humboldt County, Ca: Integrating Analytical Models And Field Data, Andy Hans Heise

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

This study addresses the significant concern of stream depletion from groundwater pumping in Humboldt County, CA. The objective of this study is to develop an analytical model for estimating stream depletion and integrating field data into model parameters.

The methodology involved conducting a field study near three operating wells by a stream, installing stream gages upstream and downstream of the wells, and recording pumping rates and schedules for two of the wells. The third well’s pumping data was synthetically generated, for privacy concerns of the well owner. The StreamDepletR package was used for estimating depletion rates in a stream in …

Effect Of Gluconate Molecules On The Reaction Kinetics Of C-(N)-A-S-H And N-A-S-H Gel Formation, Jiafeng Kong, Chao Sun, Zuhua Zhang, Chenglong Cai, Yubin Cao, Yanru Wang, Hongyan Ma, Xuesen Zeng, Hao Wang

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Organic ligands are widely used to regulate setting in cementitious binders, yet their chemistry-selective action in geopolymers (GPs) remains unclear. Here we isolate the role of sodium gluconate (SG) in early reaction kinetics across a Ca-rich GP that forms a calcium-(sodium)-aluminosilicate hydrate (C-(N)-A-S-H) gel and a Ca-poor GP that forms a sodium-aluminosilicate hydrate (N-A-S-H) gel. Four GPs spanning Ca/Si ≈ 1.01 to 0.01 were prepared with identical activator chemistry and dosages of SG up to 5 wt.% of precursors. Setting time, isothermal calorimetry, pore-solution speciation (TOC, ICP-OES, and pH), selective dissolution (reaction extent), low-field¹H NMR, XRD, FTIR, SEM-EDS, …

Every Publication Needs An Author Verified Tl;Dr Statement, Sarah Oerther, Daniel B. Oerther

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

No abstract provided.

Temporal Analysis Of Construction Safety Incidents In Southeastern U.S. Using Machine Learning Techniques, Mayowa O. Oladele

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Construction safety incidents remain a significant concern, particularly in the Southeastern U.S. due to the high-risk nature of the industry. Analyzing patterns in these incidents can help improve safety practices and reduce accidents. Machine learning (ML) techniques were employed in this study to identify temporal patterns in construction safety incidents, aiming to enhance proactive safety management. The machine learning methods used in this research included logistic regression, decision trees, random forest, support vector machine (SVM), and K nearest neighbors (KNN).

The objective of the study was to analyze temporal trends in safety incidents and identify the most effective machine learningtechnique …

Dynamic Modulus Of Sbs-Modified Asphalt Mixtures Added With Ground Tire Rubber Content, Azharul Islam

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The study investigates the improvement of the dynamic shear modulus in the base and styrene butadiene styrene (SBS) modified asphalt mixture by accumulating varying amounts of ground tire rubber through an Asphalt mixture performance tester (AMPT). This thesis specifically explores how different percentages of ground tire rubber (GTR) influence the mechanical properties and durability of the asphalt mixture articulated with two grades, PG 64-22 and PG 76-22. The experimental framework consisted of preparing asphalt mixtures blended with 10% to 15% of the binder for PG 64-22 and 3% to 8% of GTR for PG 76-22. The laboratory testing involved using …

Comparative Analysis Of Lidar And Close-Range Photogrammetry Techniques For Inspection Of Mse Walls In Two Georgia Bridges, Md. Mehrab Hossain

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE) retaining walls are durable, settlement tolerant, easy to install, and present cost-effectiveness, in highway bridges. Nevertheless, the cost of repairing MSE walls is high, and it is crucial to have an accurate, quantitative, and scalable inspection method for early detection of potential problems. This study aims to analyze and evaluate undesired displacements that may affect these walls over time. For this, two remote-sensing technologies are considered: Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) and 3D Close Range Photogrammetry (CRP). Their performances are compared against an accurate Robotic Total Station (RTS) device, serving as the benchmarking instrument. This work …

Mitigating Frost Heave And Thaw Weakening In Roads Using Wicking Geotextile, Javad Galinmoghadam

Doctoral Dissertations

"Excess water is known to be the primary cause of soil and foundation problems. In cold regions, water-related problems are exacerbated by seasonal freezing and thawing cycles. Frost heave and thaw weakening is the leading cause of premature pavement failure and consume considerable budgets of the Department of Transportations in cold regions. The first step to designing mitigation measures is the ability to predict frost heave under different conditions. This study aims to introduce a new method for quantifying frost heave using a prediction model based on the state surface approach. This proposed model addressed many inconsistencies and limitations of …

Exploring The Feasibility Of Innovative Integration Of Phase Change Materials For Thermo-Adaptive Asphalt Pavements, Farshad Saberi Kerahroudi

Doctoral Dissertations

"Current research examined the feasibility and efficiency of employing phase change materials (PCMs) in asphalt pavement materials to result in thermo-adaptive asphalt pavement. The PCM was introduced to the asphalt materials in three different scales, including asphalt binder, asphalt mastic, and asphalt mixture. After investigating asphalt at different scales, mix blending method was found as the easiest method without any complexity to mix asphalt binder with PCM. The testing results could reveal an improvement in the high temperature performance of asphalt binder without sacrificing the low temperature performance with the presence of PCM and Gilsonite. Also, introducing PCM to asphalt …

Evaluating And Relaxing The Limits On Flexural Reinforcement Ratio Of Masonry Shear Walls, Tousif Mahmood

Doctoral Dissertations

Reinforced masonry shear walls (RMSWs), essential for lateral and out-of-plane load-resisting systems in modern construction are constrained by TMS 402/602 code limits on reinforcement ratios ("ρ" _"max" ) and axial compressive stresses (≤10% of masonry compressive strength, f_m^'), undermining masonry’s inherent compression capacity under high axial loads. This dissertation investigates the seismic performance of reinforced masonry shear walls (RMSWs) subjected to high axial compressive stresses (10–20% of f_m^'), with a focus on walls violating the maximum reinforcement ratio ("ρ" _"max") and axial load limits of TMS 402-22. Through experimental testing of 30 large-scale fully grouted (FG) and partially grouted (PG) …