Civil Engineering Commons^™

Predicting Compaction Grout Quantities In Sinkhole Remediation, Edward D. Zisman P.E., P.G.

Sinkhole Conference 2015

Predicting the required quantity of grout needed to remediate a sinkhole-damaged home is a challenging task that involves significant amounts of uncertainty. The difficulty arises from the limited amount of subsurface information that is available to make subsurface predictions particularly in complex karst environments. In typical sinkhole investigations, our understanding of the subsurface is limited by the three to four data points (borings) that provide a small window into actual subsurface conditions. This information is normally obtained from borings and from information inferred by geophysical surveys. In many cases, the information is not sufficient to make accurate predictions of grout …

Monitoring The Threat Of Sinkhole Formation Under A Portion Of Us 18 In Cerro Gordo County, Iowa Using Tdr Measurements, Kevin O'Connor, Matthew Trainum

Sinkhole Conference 2015

Sinkhole formation is a common occurrence in northeast Iowa, and U.S. 18 in Cerro Gordo County was constructed over an area where sinkhole formation had only been locally known. It had not been recorded or identified in the Iowa DNR database at the time. Since 2004, sinkholes have developed along the right of way. Geophysical surveys contributed very little in the identifying the cause. However a Soil Survey (drilling program) identified numerous voids within carbonate bedrock. The soil borings indicated that shale overlying the carbonate rock has been removed/eroded, and resulted in the development of a karst subsurface through the …

Practitioner Interview, Eric Loucks

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Phone interview with Eric Loucks from CDM Smith by Marcio Giacomoni and Meghna Babbar-Sebens. Interview questions asked inquired about (i) practitioner’s professional background, (ii) practitioner’s personal experience with systems analysis techniques and software in their job, (iii) role, benefits, and challenges in using systems analysis concepts in the water resources engineering profession, and (iv) recommendations for improving education of environmental and water resources systems analysis in universities.

Water Resource Systems Analysis - University Of Kentucky, Lexington, Lindell Ormsbee

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Graduate course in water resource systems analysis offered at University of Kentucky, Lexington in Fall 2015.

Engineering Optimization: Methods/Applications - Colorado State University, John Labadie

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This course provides a comprehensive treatment of methods of optimization with focus on linear programming and its extensions, network flow optimization, integer programming, quadratic programming, and an introduction to nonlinear programming. The goal is to maintain a balance between theory, numerical computation, problem setup for solution by computer algorithms, and engineering applications. Course taught at Colorado State University.

Water Resources Systems Analysis - University Of Texas San Antonio, Marcio Giacomoni

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Systems Analysis methods use algorithmic and mathematical approaches for problem-solving. These are powerful methods that can be applied to solve complex design and management problems for water resources systems and other engineering areas. This class will focus on optimization methods, such as linear programming, integer programming, nonlinear programming, genetic algorithms, and dynamic programming, and their application to water resources systems. Advanced Systems Analysis methods, including sensitivity analysis, alternatives generation, and multi-objective optimization will be introduced to address the complexities associated with public sector decision-making. Course taught at University of Texas San Antonio.

Characterize Behavior Of Geogrid Reinforced Ballast At Different Levels Of Degradation Through Triaxial Shear Strength Test And Discrete Element Modeling, Yu Qian, Debakanta Mishra, Erol Tutumluer, Hasan A. Kazmee

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Recent research efforts at the University of Illinois have aimed at studying geogrid applications in railroad track structures, specifically focusing on ballast and subballast reinforcement. Ballast, typically comprising large sized aggregate particles with uniform gradation, is an essential layer in the railroad track substructure to facilitate load distribution and drainage. The primary mechanism of load transfer within the ballast layer involves inter-particle contact between ballast particles. Similarly, the effectiveness of ballast reinforcement with geogrids is primarily governed by the geogrid-aggregate interlock. Such interaction and the effectiveness thereof can change significantly as the level of grain size and shape degradation or …

Environmental Systems Analysis - Hong Kong University Of Science And Technology, Hong Kong, Ng Tze Ling

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Undergraduate course in environmental systems analysis offered at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong in Fall 2015.

Concrete-Filled-Large Deformable Frp Tubular Columns Under Axial Compressive Loading, Omar I. Abdelkarim, Mohamed Elgawady

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The behavior of concrete-filled fiber tubes (CFFT) polymers under axial compressive loading was investigated. Unlike the traditional fiber reinforced polymers (FRP) such as carbon, glass, aramid, etc., the FRP tubes in this study were designed using large rupture strains FRP which are made of recycled materials such as plastic bottles; hence, large rupture strain (LRS) FRP composites are environmentally friendly and can be used in the context of green construction. This study performed finite element (FE) analysis using LS-DYNA software to conduct an extensive parametric study on CFFT. The effects of the FRP confinement ratio, the unconfined concrete compressive strength …

The Importance Of The “Local” In Walkability, Cynthia Carlson, Semra Aytur, Kevin Gardner, Shannon Rogers

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications

Transportation infrastructure and transportation behaviors consume significant natural resources and are costly to municipalities, states, and the federal government. Small cities, in particular, may find themselves with high costs. Although transportation has been extensively investigated, methods that may enable small cities to act are still lacking. To investigate the influence that neighborhood-level built environment characteristics have on adult personal transportation decisions within small cities, this study combined community-based research, a multi-level analysis of residents, and a case study approach in two (North-Eastern United States) New Hampshire cities, Portsmouth and Manchester. Neighborhood-level physical characteristics were determined using Geographic Information Systems and …

Spatial Variability Of Subsurface Soil Conditions Causing Roadway Settlements, Ömer Bilgin, Kevin Arens, Mark Salveter, Alexander Dettloff

Civil and Environmental Engineering and Engineering Mechanics Faculty Publications

Settlement of problematic soils constituting the roadway subgrade may result in pavement distress and structural failure, requiring periodic pavement patching and resurfacing. Many of these problems occur as a result of the settlement of soft cohesive and organic soils. Due to the extent of roadway projects and the limited frequency of boring locations, spatial variability of subsurface soil conditions, and sometimes due to an inadequate extent of exploration, these problematic soils may not be identified suitably during subsurface explorations. An extensive subsurface exploration program was implemented for detailed characterization of subsurface conditions for a relatively short section of an existing …

Recent Progress In Performance Evaluations And Near Real-Time Assessment Of Operational Ocean Products, Fabrice Hernandez, Edward Blockley, Gary B. Brassington, Fraser Davidson, Prasanth Divakaran, Marie Drévillon, Shiro Ishizaki, Marcos Garcia-Sotillo, Patrick J. Hogan, Priidik Lagemaa, Bruno Levier, Matthew Martin, Avichal Mehra, Christopher Mooers, Nicolas Ferry, Andrew Ryan, Charly Regnier, Alistair Sellar, Gregory C. Smith, Sarantis Sofianos, Todd Spindler, Gianluca Volpe, John Wilkin, Edward Zaron, Aijun Zhang

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Operational ocean forecast systems provide routine marine products to an ever-widening community of users and stakeholders. The majority of users need information about the quality and reliability of the products to exploit them fully. Hence, forecast centres have been developing improved methods for evaluating and communicating the quality of their products. Global Ocean Data Assimilation Experiment (GODAE) OceanView, along with the Copernicus European Marine Core Service and other national and international programmes, has facilitated the development of coordinated validation activities among these centres. New metrics, assessing a wider range of ocean parameters, have been defined and implemented in real-time. An …

A Semantics-Based Approach To Construction Cost Estimating, Mehrdad Niknam

Dissertations (1934 -)

A construction project requires collaboration of different organizations such as owner, designer, contractor, and resource suppliers. These organizations need to exchange information to improve their teamwork. Understanding the information created in other organizations requires specialized human resources. Construction cost estimating is one of the processes that requires information collected from several sources including a building information model (BIM) created by designers, estimating assembly and work item information maintained by contractors, and construction resource cost information provided by resource suppliers. Currently, it is not easy for computers to integrate the information for construction cost estimating over the Internet. This study discusses …

A Risk Assessment Of The Impacts Of Coastal Flooding And Sea Level Rise On The Existing And New Pump Stations 113, Norfolk, Va, David A. Pezza

Civil & Environmental Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The author assessed the risk to a wastewater pump station and a planned replacement located nearby due to coastal flooding and rising sea levels. The locations for the pump stations are in the Larchmont neighborhood by the Lafayette River tidal estuaries in Norfolk, Virginia. The Lafayette River is a tributary to the Elizabeth River, which flows to the Chesapeake Bay. The low-lying areas along the river are subject to coastal surges caused by tropical and extra-tropical storms that flood the bay.

The region is considered one of the urban areas most exposed to the accelerating rate of rising sea levels. …

Behavior And Strength Of Pultruded Frp I-Section Columns Including Uniaxial And Biaxial Bending, Emad M. Amin

Civil & Environmental Engineering Theses & Dissertations

This thesis presents the outcome of a study of the behavior and strength of pultruded glass fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) I-section columns including uniaxial and biaxial applied bending moments. Also included in the study is a critical assessment of ASCE-LRFD Pre-standard for pultruded FRP structures in view of the rigorous analysis presented herein. The theoretical solution is based on a system of three coupled differential equations of equilibrium combined with pinned flexural and torsional boundary conditions. Effects of induced warping due to second-order terms as well as initial out-of-straightness are accounted-for in the governing differential equations. Detailed investigations into the …

Experimental And Predicted Behavior Of Frp Beam-Columns Including Retrofitting, Ali Al-Huazy

Civil & Environmental Engineering Theses & Dissertations

This thesis presents the outcome of a theoretical and experimental study of Fiber Reinforce Polymer (FRP) beam-columns with uniaxial bending and including retrofitting. The research involved the design and fabrication of a testing apparatus which was then used for a series of beam-column tests. Three different types of beam-column cross sections were used, namely, channel section, I-section, and square tube section. Six non-retrofitted beam-columns were tested in addition to two retrofitted ones. The members were subjected to an eccentric vertical load applied through a lever arm generating gradually increasing axial load and uniaxial bending moment up to the maximum load. …

Seismic Fragility Analysis For Highway Bridges With Consideration Of Soil-Structure Interaction And Deterioration, Xin Zong

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Bridges are critical elements within the highway transportation network. It is very important for the owner or designer to perform the risk assessment of the highway bridges during extreme events, such as earthquakes, due to their importance to the network, commerce, economic vitality and mobility. Recent studies show that seismic fragility curves are useful tools for the seismic risk assessment of highway bridges.

Although general seismic fragility approach has been well established in the last two decades and numerous retrofit methods have been applied to highway bridges in New York City (NYC) metropolitan area, which has been classified as moderate …

Practitioner Interview, Richard Males

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Phone interview with Richard Males from RMM Technical Services, Inc. by Meghna Babbar-Sebens and Marcio Giacomoni. Interview questions asked inquired about (i) practitioner’s professional background, (ii) practitioner’s personal experience with systems analysis techniques and software in their job, (iii) role, benefits, and challenges in using systems analysis concepts in the water resources engineering profession, and (iv) recommendations for improving education of environmental and water resources systems analysis in universities.

Bugg, Becky (Fa 815), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Folklife Archives Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 815. Paper titled “ Process of Milling: Case Studies,” prepared by Becky Bugg a folk studies student at Western Kentucky University. Bugg documents flour mills in Mercer County and Meade County, Kentucky.

Root Causes Of Premature Pavement Failures Of Arkansas Interstate System, Nazmul Huda Chowdhury

Student Theses and Dissertations

As part of a major rehabilitation program during 1999-2004, several sections of the Arkansas Interstate Systems were overlayed. Some of these sections experienced severe distresses (rutting and cracking), while the others were performing well. The objective of the study is to evaluate the root causes of the poor performing pavements. Consequently, historical data were analyzed and mechanistic tests were performed on collected core samples from existing pavements in order to establish correlations with parameters influencing the aforementioned distresses. The initial high roughness value and high asphalt binder- aggregate ratio in poor performing sections indicate a stiffer mixture susceptible to premature …