Civil Engineering Commons^™

Life Cycle Assessment And Life Cycle Cost Assessment Of A Floating Treatment Wetland In A Wastewater Lagoon Located In Copper Harbor, Michigan, Erin Browne

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

A full-scale floating treatment wetland was implemented in a wastewater treatment lagoon in Copper Harbor, Michigan. Copper Harbor is a small, rural community located in a cold climate. Many studies have focused on the performance of floating treatment wetlands in mesocosm studies in warmer climates, but there is not a lot of research conducted on the feasibility and performance of full-scale floating treatment wetlands in wastewater lagoons, specifically in cold climates. The 2024 treatment season was the first season with the floating treatment wetland implemented in the wastewater lagoon. A preliminary assessment of the cost and environmental impacts of a …

Estimating Unconfined Compressive Strength (Ucs) Of Rocks From Measurement While Drilling (Mwd) Data, Can Erdem

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Measurement-while-drilling (MWD) technology enables the real-time monitoring of drilling parameters during the drilling process. MWD data can provide valuable insight into the mechanical behavior of intact rocks and rock masses, which is essential for geotechnical applications such as foundation design and underground construction. The aim of this study is to correlate real-time drilling parameters, recorded using a laboratory-developed MWD system, with the unconfined compressive strength (UCS) of rocks. A custom laboratory MWD system was designed to simultaneously record four key drilling parameters: thrust (axial force, crowd), torque, penetration rate, and rotational speed. The custom-built MWD system was used to continuously …

Performance And Environmental Impact Of Waste Glass Asphalt In Cold Regions, Kai Xin

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

The reuse of waste glass in asphalt mixtures has significant potential in sustainable pavement engineering, yet its performance under cold, freeze–thaw conditions remain underexplored. This dissertation presents a first-of-its-kind comprehensive evaluation of glass asphalt for cold regions, simultaneously assessing its low-temperature cracking resistance, moisture susceptibility, field performance, and life-cycle environmental impacts. A series of laboratory tests were performed on asphalt mixtures incorporating various proportions of crushed waste glass aggregate, including Disk-Shaped Compact Tension (DCT) and Indirect Tensile (IDT) tests for low-temperature fracture resistance, and Tensile Strength Ratio (TSR) and Hamburg Wheel Tracking (HWTT) tests for moisture damage and rutting susceptibility. …

Enhancing Operational Efficiency Of Paratransit Services Using Predictive Models, Troyee Saha

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

Paratransit services play a vital role in supporting the mobility of older adults and individuals with disabilities, yet they experienced major disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic and continue to face ongoing operational issues such as trip cancellations. This dissertation explores these challenges through three distinct analyses using data from Arlington, TX. The first chapter investigates how COVID-19-related factors (policies, cases, and vaccination) and socio-demographics influenced paratransit usage from 2019 to 2021. Applying SARIMAX and Poisson regression models, the study finds a substantial drop in ridership—41% in 2020—and a shift toward essential medical travel. It also reveals that restrictive policies, such …

Development Of Supervised Machine Learning-Based Life-Cycle Cost Estimation And Prediction Models For Comparative Sewer System Rehabilitation Using Open-Cut And Trenchless Cured-In-Place Pipe Methods, Gayatri R. Thakre

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

Aging wastewater infrastructure in the United States demands renewal strategies that balance cost-effectiveness, sustainability, and minimal social disruption. Conventional open-cut pipeline installation (OCPI) involves extensive excavation and restoration, whereas trenchless alternatives such as Cured-in-Place Pipe (CIPP) Renewal Technology offer reduced surface disturbance and environmental impacts. However, existing studies primarily focus on Construction Costs (CC), neglecting integrated life-cycle evaluations that also account for Environmental Costs (EC) and Social Costs (SC).

The primary objectives of this research are to develop supervised machine-learning (ML) models to estimate and predict CC in 2025 US dollars (USD) per linear foot of OCPI and CIPP Renewal …

Development Of A Drone-Assisted Pavement Management Framework Based On The Pavement Condition Index For University Parking Lots, Omesh Pasuluru

Civil Engineering Theses - Archive

Efficient pavement management is essential for keeping university parking lots in good condition. At the University of Texas at Arlington, parking areas experience heavy use and environmental wear, which can cause damage if not addressed early. Traditional methods for assessing pavement conditions are time-consuming, interrupt daily activities, and are expensive. Hence, there is a need for better solutions. This study introduces a drone-based pavement management approach that uses the Pavement Condition Index (PCI) system. The PCI is a numerical scale from 0 to 100 that rates pavement quality based on surface condition. A high PCI score (85-100) indicates the pavement …

Structural Performance Of High-Rise Rc Buildings With Sfrc Columns And Shear Walls Subjected To Seismic Loading, Ali Azzawi

Civil Engineering Theses - Archive

To investigate the seismic performance of high-rise RC buildings with steel fiber reinforced concrete (SFRC) columns and shear walls, a detailed numerical analysis was established using RISA-3D software on twelve-story RC buildings subjected to earthquakes. The variables included in this research are steel fiber volume fraction (SFVF), number of stories with SFRC columns and shear walls, and concrete strength grade. The mechanical properties of the concrete for each mix are evaluated experimentally. Three types of concrete mix designs were performed in the Civil Engineering Laboratory Building (CELB) using different dosages of steel fibers (0, 25lb/cy, and 70lb/cy). The properties of …

Investigation Of Aluminum Hollow Shapes Subject To Torsion, Nora Frederick

Honors Theses

This research investigates the torsional strength of hollow aluminum shapes, specifically fairly stocky square and circular cross-sections made from 6061-T6 alloy. A total of six cross-sections were tested, with six specimens for each cross-section, resulting in 36 tests. Torque and angular deformation data were recorded for each specimen to determine the torque corresponding to full- yield of the cross-section. Additionally, Strand7 finite element models were created to simulate the experimental results and assess whether the torsional behavior could be accurately replicated through numerical analysis. This allows for future research to be conducted using Strand7 or similar finite element software.

The …

Using Electro-Peroxone Process To Remediate Soil Contaminated With Phenol, Elaheh Faghih Nasiri, Farhad Qaderi, S. Mustapha Rahmaninezhad

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications

Industrial processes are among human activities that cause production of a large volume of wastewater containing organic pollutants such as phenol and its derivatives. Soil remediation is crucial for enhancing environmental quality for both humans and other living organisms. This study investigate the use of an electro-peroxone system to remove environmental pollutants from soil. In conjunction with ozonation, the study employed electrochemically generated hydrogen peroxide using a carbon electrode, addressing concerns about transportation and storage. Experiments were structured using response surface methodology (RSM) with three variables: ozone dosages ranging from 4 to 8 l/h, initial pollutant concentrations from 20 to …

Hydronic Parking Lots: A Solution For Urban Heat Island Mitigation, Sumeet Jinnappa Paramaj

Theses and Dissertations

The Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect has emerged as a critical challenge in modern cities. It contributes to elevated local temperatures, placing significant stress on urban ecosystems and public health. One of the primary drivers of this phenomenon is the widespread use of impervious surfaces, such as dark-colored parking lots, which absorb heat during the day and gradually release it at night. This ongoing cycle results in persistently warmer urban environments. As cities continue to expand and densify, the need for effective, sustainable strategies to reduce urban heat becomes increasingly urgent.

This project aims to explore innovative interventions, particularly in …

พฤติกรรมการเปลี่ยนช่องจราจรบริเวณจุดรับส่งผู้โดยสาร, ศุภวิชญ์ มัธยมนันทน์

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

ในสภาพการจราจรจริง การไหลของกระแสจราจรมักถูกรบกวนจากยานพาหนะที่จอดเพื่อรับ–ส่งผู้โดยสาร ส่งผลให้ยานพาหนะที่ขับขี่ตามมามีสองทางเลือก ได้แก่ การรอให้ยานพาหนะด้านหน้าเคลื่อนตัวต่อไป หรือการเปลี่ยนช่องจราจรไปยังช่องที่สามารถเคลื่อนที่ได้ ซึ่งทั้งสองทางเลือกล้วนทำให้ประสิทธิภาพการไหลของจราจรลดลงเมื่อเทียบกับกรณีที่ไม่มีการรบกวนดังกล่าว ในปัจจุบัน การใช้แบบจำลองจราจรช่วยให้สามารถทำความเข้าใจและคาดการณ์สภาพการจราจรได้โดยไม่ต้องทดลองในพื้นที่จริง แต่แบบจำลองทั่วไปยังขาดความเฉพาะเจาะจงเมื่อต้องเผชิญสถานการณ์เฉพาะทาง โดยมักใช้พฤติกรรมพื้นฐานเพียงชุดเดียวในการแทนพฤติกรรมผู้ขับขี่ทุกกรณี งานวิจัยนี้มีวัตถุประสงค์เพื่อศึกษาพฤติกรรมการเปลี่ยนช่องจราจรของผู้ขับขี่เมื่อแล่นตามหลังรถที่จอดรับ–ส่งผู้โดยสาร จากนั้นนำพฤติกรรมที่ได้จากภาคสนามไปใช้ในการพัฒนาแบบจำลองสภาพจราจรใน PTV VISSIM และทำการเปรียบเทียบกับพฤติกรรมจริง ข้อมูลภาคสนามถูกเก็บรวบรวมด้วยการบันทึกวิดีโอและประมวลผลด้วย Video Analytics ก่อนนำไปสร้างแบบจำลอง ผลการศึกษาพบว่า แบบจำลองสามารถจำลองพฤติกรรมการเริ่มต้นเข้าสู่การเปลี่ยนช่องจราจรได้ใกล้เคียงกับข้อมูลจริง โดยช่องว่างเชิงเวลา (Lag Gap) ของยานพาหนะที่ขับขี่ตามมามีค่าเฉลี่ย 0.425 วินาทีในภาคสนาม และ 0.375 วินาทีในแบบจำลอง อย่างไรก็ตาม แบบจำลองยังไม่สามารถสะท้อนพฤติกรรมการเปลี่ยนช่องจราจรได้ครบถ้วนทุกด้าน ซึ่งเป็นประเด็นที่ควรได้รับการพัฒนาเพิ่มเติมในงานวิจัยอนาคต

Mitigation Of Antibiotic Resistance Using Ultraviolet Light-Emitting Diodes For Water Treatment, Nicole Heyniger, Patrick J. Mcnamara, Anthony D. Kappell, Brandon Schultz, Troy Skwor, Brooke K. Mayer

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

The presence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in the environment is a growing issue, which has been exacerbated by the overuse and misuse of antibiotics in health care and agricultural systems. One means of mitigating antibiotic resistance is through drinking water and wastewater treatment, specifically during disinfection processes. Ultraviolet light-emitting diodes (UV-LEDs) are an emerging disinfection technology featuring adjustable peak wavelength emissions. We assessed the use of UV-LED for treating waterborne ARB (Escherichia coli and Aeromonas hydrophila) and ARGs (intracellular and extracellular) compared to conventional low-pressure UV (LP-UV). Overall, less efficient reduction (bacterial inactivation and/or gene …

Separating The Impacts Of A Corrosion Inhibitor From Copper Corrosion Products On Antibiotic Resistance In Drinking Water, Veronika Folvarska, Maya Adelgren, Emily Lou Lamartina, Ryan J. Newton, Yin Wang, Patrick J. Mcnamara

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Antibiotic resistance is a growing threat to public health, and environmental factors, including metals in drinking water distribution systems, are increasingly recognized as contributors to the spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Zinc orthophosphate, a common corrosion inhibitor, and copper corrosion products (CuO and Cu₂O) are frequently present in drinking water systems. While each has been shown to increase ARB and ARGs individually, their combined effects remain unknown. The objective of this study was to evaluate the combined impact of copper corrosion products and the corrosion inhibitor zinc orthophosphate on antibiotic resistance. Two …

A Durability Evaluation Of Class B Concrete Bridge Substructures Under West Virginia Freeze–Thaw Conditions, Nathaniel Wayne Dunbar

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study evaluates whether the West Virginia Division of Highways (WVDOH) Class B concrete specification for bridge substructures remains adequate under modern durability and design-life expectations. The current specification, which permits a minimum compressive strength of 3,000 psi, reflects practices established when shorter service lives were generally assumed. Modern AASHTO LRFD provisions are based on a 75-year design life, raising concern that this lower-strength concrete may not provide sufficient durability under West Virginia’s climatic conditions.

To address this issue, bridge inspection data, regional climate mapping, and durability modeling were used to assess the condition and performance of concrete substructures across …

Innovations In Balanced Mix Design: Establishing Gwp Thresholds For Various Nmas And Evaluating Superpave Vs. Bmd In High Content Rubber Asphalt, Kai Xin

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Traditional volumetric asphalt mix design methods, such as Superpave, frequently struggle to address critical performance parameters, leading many agencies to seek more robust approaches. Balanced Mix Design (BMD) has emerged as a forward-looking alternative by directly measuring rutting and cracking resistance in the laboratory. In this study, BMD principles were applied to asphalt mixtures featuring three distinct NMAS mixes and two high content rubber mixes, introduced through both dry and semi-wet processes. Compared with conventional volumetric constraints, BMD provided greater flexibility in adjusting binder content and gradation to accommodate elevated crumb-rubber levels. The resulting mixtures satisfied both rutting and cracking …

Experimental Evaluation Of Corrosion Of Strands And Wires To Estimate Corrosion Rate In Grout And Concrete, Dipendra Shrestha

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Premature failure of prestressed and post-tensioned concrete structures is frequently caused by undetected corrosion of prestressing steel. Although extensive research has addressed corrosion rates in conventionally reinforced concrete, the interpretation of non-destructive parameters, such as half-cell potential (HCP) and concrete/grout resistivity, for estimating corrosion rates in prestressing steel are not adequately investigated.

This research experimentally evaluates chloride-induced corrosion of prestressing steels to establish material-specific relationships between in-situ measurable parameters and corrosion rate. Thirty-six macrocell specimens incorporating plain wires, indented wires, and seven-wire strands in structural concrete and commercial post-tensioning grout- half with pre-formed surface cracks, were subjected to accelerated cyclic …

Software Literacy In Construction, Aidan Cazares

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The construction industry increasingly relies on software like Bluebeam Revu for their quantity takeoff, document management, and collaboration needs. This project will outline pertinent information obtained through their Bluebeam professional training program and reflect it with a detailed estimate of a real life construct project.

Structural Analysis And Design Methodologies Of Roller Coasters, Benjamin Komar

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This project explores the structural analysis behind the design of roller coaster tracks and supports as practiced by modern engineers. It also examines various roller coaster design methods currently in use. This research will be used to craft a detailed explanation of the roller coaster design process. Additionally, a 3D model of a roller coaster was developed based on the researched design procedures, featuring three track sections with different loading conditions to create a supporting structure for 2D truss analysis. The results of the truss analysis were then compared to those obtained using RISA-3D, a finite element structural design software.

Artificial Intelligence’S Role And Impact On The Engineering Discipline, Andrew Angelini

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The purpose of this Honors Research project was to explore the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the Engineering Discipline as a whole. Specifically, civil engineering’s discipline of transportation was used to display the effectiveness of AI in engineering. This discipline was used due to its wide use in engineering and overall designs that can be created within this discipline. These designs include maintenance of traffic plans, engineering plan sets, horizontal and vertical curve design, intersection design, traffic signaling, highway material design, and phasing of intersections and traffic accounting for pedestrians. Through similar prompts that were given to a publicly …

Analysis Of Lava Flow Paths Using Remote Sensing And Geomorphological Techniques, Oluwatosin Oluyemisi Ayo

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Lava flows have severe impacts on the Earth’s surface, communities, and natural habitats. Accurate modeling of lava flow paths is crucial for volcanic hazard assessment and risk mitigation. This research integrated remote sensing, geographic information systems, geomorphological techniques, and hydrologic analysis to numerically determine the optimal ground sample distance (GSD) of digital elevation models (DEMs) for delineating lava flow paths. Two volcanic regions were analyzed: the Afar Region of Ethiopia (Alu, Dalaffilla, and Erta Ale volcanoes) and the Reykjanes Peninsula of Iceland (Fagradalsfjall volcano). Forward and backward modeling methods were used to simulate potential lava flow paths. Remote sensing data, …