Construction Engineering and Management Commons^™

Evaluation Of Sustainability Of Irish Road Transport Sector And Its Comparison With European Union Countries, Megha Jose Kandappasery, Boban Djordjevic, Bidisha Ghosh

Civil Engineering Research in Ireland 2020

Transport sustainability has been the topic of discussion since the past two decades and its importance has been recognised by most countries. Therefore, strategies and policies incorporating sustainable growth and development have been initiated as a measure to steer transport growth in the right path. This notion has led researchers to develop many ways of measuring transport sustainability, especially the frequently used road transport sector. Measurement of sustainability of the transport sector has been carried out using different methodologies in the past. Considering the complexity and multi-dimensional aspects of sustainability, multi-criteria analysis decision making tools have been considered in this …

Effect Of Motorways On Road Safety In Ireland, Parth B. Shah, Ajinkya S. Mane, Bidisha Ghosh

Civil Engineering Research in Ireland 2020

In Ireland, high-speed motorways were built around the year 2008 to 2010. In order to investigate the effect of motorways on road safety, the research paper aims at identifying the shift of contributing factors related to vehicular crashes, before-and-after the construction of motorways/expressways. Typically, several factors are involved for accidents on motorways, but a better understanding is needed to find the relationship between injury severity and its contributing factors. The current study seeks to find the contributing factors for before-and-after the construction of motorways. In this study, the before period is considered from 2003-2007, and 2012 to 2016 have been …

A Numerical Analysis Of Stone Masonry Arch Bridges And Structural Backing, Thomas Kerr, Tomás O'Flaherty

Civil Engineering Research in Ireland 2020

Masonry arch bridges are a significant part of the transport network system in Ireland. Therefore, it is essential that we maintain the existing masonry bridge stock as a valuable asset and protect these bridges from a heritage viewpoint. The increased structural demands placed upon these bridges coupled with more sophisticated analysis methods have required and enabled a greater understanding of the response of masonry arch bridges to ever increasing traffic loading. When loaded, the structure acts in compression and the arched configuration enables the transmission of loads through the individual masonry units to the supporting piers or abutments. The stability …

Case Study: Calculating Bridge Displacement From Accelerations For Load Assessment Calculations, Andrew Bunce, David Hester, Su Taylor, James Brownjohn, Yan Xu

Civil Engineering Research in Ireland 2020

Recovering displacement from accelerations has been demonstrated on bridges previously, with the main challenges being the presence of low frequency noise and the need for user-calibrated filters to overcome this. Therefor this paper presents a case study of a low-cost load test procedure, using bridge acceleration to calculate displacement. Typical approaches look use filtering or signal collecting methods to mitigate noise, however this study uses an aviation grade accelerometer to minimise noise in the acceleration signals and employs a quality control procedure to alert the user to the quality/reliability of the results. A live/open bridge is tested using a loaded …

A Comparative Study Of Linear And Nonlinear Analysis Of High-Rise Buildings Against Wind Loads, Muhammad Ali, Suhaib Salawdeh

Civil Engineering Research in Ireland 2020

Tall and slender buildings present design challenges to structure designer to establish maximum sway against the wind loads. In Ireland and UK, most engineers use linear static analysis to determine forces and moments in the RC stability cores due to fact that linear analysis is less sophisticate and is easy to use. Engineers use E & I modification factors to take account of reduced stiffness of walls due to cracked concrete sections to complete the sway assessment. Non-linear analysis is another approach that can be used however it is not popular among many engineers as it requires more realistic material …

Performance Validation Of A Self-Centring Steel Structure Using Robust Data Sets From Shake Table Testing, Patrick Mccready, Yadong Jiang, Suhaib Salawdeh, Hatim Alwahsh, Brian Broderick, Jamie Goggins

Civil Engineering Research in Ireland 2020

In recent years there has been a shift in seismic design from moment resisting frames to concentrically braced frames (CBF’s). CBFs resist the actions created in seismic events through energy dissipation in the form of plastic deformations in braces. This paper analyses the performance of a novel self-centring CBF (SC-CBF) which aims to reduce interstorey drift and residual deformations in a frame through the uses of post tensioned (PT) strands running parallel to the beam members anchored to the exterior flange of columns. The system works upon the principle of closing gap openings which open at joints between beams and …

Direct Displacement Based Seismic Design Of Irregular Cbfs, Suhaib Salawdeh

Civil Engineering Research in Ireland 2020

Some types of structures can suffer from vertical irregularities due to aesthetic, functional, or economic reasons. A possible lateral force resisting solution for this type of structures is to use Concentrically Braced Frame (CBF) systems. CBFs are gaining a lot of popularity as their design and fabrication are straight forward with low cost. Moreover, they are overcoming many limitations exist in other lateral force resisting systems. In this paper, a direct displacement-based design (DDBD) procedure is developed for irregular multi-storey CBF structures. In this procedure, design displacements considered are decided upon the code and material drift limits, then the strength …

Structural Modelling, Analysis And Design Of Composite Steel Frame Building Using An Integrated Design Approach, Muhammad S. Hassan, Graham Williams, Karol Przybylski, Lawrence Budzisz, Frank Maguire

Civil Engineering Research in Ireland 2020

With modern computerisation, structural analysis and design practice have changed significantly over the last two decades. Design practice now requires robust design methodologies that can save time, produce cost-effective solutions, reduce human error, and be able to produce fully compatible building information models (BIM). In this context, the paper presents a robust design approach for a composite steel frame building project. In this approach, structural steel elements can be modelled, analysed, design and detailed in a unified computational framework based on the ‘MasterSeries’ software package, which incorporates design variables, material specification, loading combinations, connection details, default set code standard criterion, …

Effects Of Accelerated Carbonation Curing On Co2 Sequestration And On The Compressive Strength Of Concrete Masonry Units, Barry Gilroy, Leon Black, David Thompson, Ronan Hogan, Niall Holmes

Civil Engineering Research in Ireland 2020

The global consumption of Portland cement has risen to over 4 billion tonnes per annum. Its manufacture is energy and carbon intensive and approximately 900 kg of CO₂ is emitted into the atmosphere for each tonne of Portland cement produced. The International Energy Agency (IEA) roadmap sets out a goal to reduce emissions due to cement production to 18 % below 2006 levels by 2050.

Concrete has the potential to re-absorb CO₂ by the process of carbonation, where it reacts with CaO in the concrete to form calcium carbonate. Accelerated carbonation curing (ACC) is a technique for curing …

Towards Improved Sensor Systems For Bridge Structural Health Monitoring, Alan Ferguson, Roger Woods, David Hester

Civil Engineering Research in Ireland 2020

Taking long-term measurements on in-service bridges is challenging due to the lack of easy access to power and communications. Whilst all-in-one, portable sensor data loggers act to address these challenges, they still lack the flexibility to meet evolving measurement needs. This paper presents the design and implementation of a highly flexible, modular sensor system for bridge structural health monitoring research, which has an emphasis on customisability and extensibility to allow it to meet evolving challenges. The architecture incorporates interchangeable sensor modules that allows data acquisition to an on-board Secure Digital card, with timing and synchronisation provided by global positioning system …

A Two-Stage Direct Integration Approach To Find The Railway Track Profile Using In-Service Trains, Yifei Ren, Jennifer Kennahan, Eugene O'Brien

Civil Engineering Research in Ireland 2020

The railway track is an important element in transportation networks. In recent years, drive-by monitoring of railways has become more popular. Using data measured from in-service trains, the railway profile can be found. In previous research, a complex optimiziton method is used to calculate the railway profile. This paper introduces a new two-stage direct integration approach to find the same track profile much more efficiently. The calculated track profile is similar to a ‘true’ profile and can be used to monitor the condition of the track.

Investigating The Contact-Point Response For Drive-By Damage Detection In Bridges, Robert Corbally, Abdollah Malekjafarian

Civil Engineering Research in Ireland 2020

Bridges are critical elements in any road or rail transport network and ensuring their safety is paramount. Recent years have seen significant research efforts to develop cost-effective techniques for bridge monitoring on a large scale. Drive-by bridge inspection techniques, whereby sensors inside a vehicle are used to monitor bridge condition, are at the focus of much of this work. This paper develops a relationship between the measured response in a vehicle and the contact-point response between the wheel and the surface of a bridge using a quarter-car representation of the vehicle. Numerical simulations are carried out to examine the feasibility …

An Experimental Investigation Of The Optimum Properties And Conditions For Use Of Anionic Emulsions In Road Maintenance Applications, Simonas Ignatavicius, Alan Kavanagh, David Colleran, Michael J. Brennan, Shane Newell

Civil Engineering Research in Ireland 2020

Bitumen emulsions are used for a range of road maintenance applications, including surface dressing, gravel seals, slurry seals, tack coating, cold-mix asphalt and in situ pavement recycling. The emulsions used can be classified as being either cationic (i.e. possessing a positive electrostatic surface charge) or anionic (i.e. carrying a negative electrostatic surface charge). The vast majority of emulsions used for such applications in Europe are cationic, while anionic bitumen emulsions are used widely throughout North America and Africa. The aims of the experimental study described in this paper were (a) to investigate why one or the other emulsion type is …

An Analysis Of The Effectiveness Of Bitumen Additives On The Performance Of Pavement Surface Dressings, Alan Anderson, John Casserly, Alan Kavanagh, Jim Campbell

Civil Engineering Research in Ireland 2020

Surface dressing is a maintenance technique that uses thin layers of bitumen emulsion and single sized aggregates. The surface dressing process seals and binds the surface of a road to protect its substructure from water ingress. It also provides increased skid resistance, which improves safety for road users. Early life chip-loss can occur if there is an insufficient degree of adhesion between the emulsion and aggregate used. The range of additives used in bitumen can have an effect on their adhesion properties. The focus of this research project was to investigate if the use of these additives in surface dressing …

An Experimental Investigation Of The Optimum Properties And Conditions For Use Of Anionic Emulsions In Road Maintenance Applications, Simonas Ignatavicius, Alan Kavanagh, David Colleran, Michael J. Brennan, Shane Newell

Civil Engineering Research in Ireland 2020

Bitumen emulsions are used for a range of road maintenance applications, including surface dressing, gravel seals, slurry seals, tack coating, cold-mix asphalt and in situ pavement recycling. The emulsions used can be classified as being either cationic (i.e. possessing a positive electrostatic surface charge) or anionic (i.e. carrying a negative electrostatic surface charge). The vast majority of emulsions used for such applications in Europe are cationic, while anionic bitumen emulsions are used widely throughout North America and Africa. The aims of the experimental study described in this paper were (a) to investigate why one or the other emulsion type is …

Analysis And Optimisation Of Tii’S Pams Reset Values And Deterioration Models For Irish Pavement Conditions, James Quinn, Raymond Mcgowan, Tomas O'Flaherty

Civil Engineering Research in Ireland 2020

Ireland has a national road network of approximately 5300km that is managed by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII). TII create yearly pavement maintenance and renewal programs from the operation of a Pavement Asset Management System (PAMS). Accurate pavement deterioration models and reset values are an essential part of PAMS and are required for life cycle cost analysis (LCCA). Pavement maintenance and renewal schemes are prioritised based on the LCCA's largest benefit to cost ratio, and therefore optimise the annual pavement maintenance and renewal budget. Currently, TII implement pavement deterioration models and reset values from Austria's and Belgium's PAMS, and are not …

An Analysis Of The Effectiveness Of Bitumen Additives On The Performance Of Pavement Surface Dressings, Alan Anderson, John Casserly, Alan Kavanagh, Jim Campbell

Civil Engineering Research in Ireland 2020

Surface dressing is a maintenance technique that uses thin layers of bitumen emulsion and single sized aggregates. The surface dressing process seals and binds the surface of a road to protect its substructure from water ingress. It also provides increased skid resistance, which improves safety for road users. Early life chip-loss can occur if there is an insufficient degree of adhesion between the emulsion and aggregate used. The range of additives used in bitumen can have an effect on their adhesion properties. The focus of this research project was to investigate if the use of these additives in surface dressing …

Towards Automated Uav Assisted Bridge Inspections Using Photogrammetry And Image Processing Techniques, Habeene Habeenzu, Patrick Mcgetrick, David Hester, Su Taylor, Louie Wong

Civil Engineering Research in Ireland 2020

At the heart of addressing bridge condition challenges are bridge inspections. The main activity during a bridge inspection is close, arm’s length visual inspection of the entire bridge structure. During this process, all defects such as cracks, spalls and material degradation are manually recorded on the bridge itself and on inspection forms. Where access is difficult such as where a safe working platform cannot be mounted under bridge decks, or on high bridges, expensive underbridge equipment is required which when used results in expensive lane closures. Furthermore, visual inspections have been shown to lack consistency from inspector to inspector and …

Acceleration Based Bridge Weigh In Motion Using Moving Force, Shou Wang, Daniel Mccrum, Eugene O'Brien

Civil Engineering Research in Ireland 2020

Measuring vehicle axles weights is an important method to control traffic and monitor infrastructure. Traditional methods of measuring the static weight of vehicles at a weigh station is disruptive and time consuming. It is more cost effective and efficient to indirectly measure moving vehicle weights crossing a bridge. The weigh-in-motion concept, first proposed by Moses (1979) is an algorithm that uses measured bridge structural response (deflection, strain, …) due to passing vehicles to and a theoretical response. Moving Force identification (MFI) is a variation of the dynamic WIM algorithm that gives a force time history as a vehicle passes the …

Wind Power Prediction And Early Downtime Detection For Ireland, Vikram Pakrashi, Basuraj Bhowmik, Juan Manuel González-Sopeña, Paul Mucchielli, Bidisha Ghosh

Civil Engineering Research in Ireland 2020

Wind energy must be commercially competitive to be economically sustainable. Existing wind farms in Ireland must be more efficient to meet the 2009 EU Renewable Energy Directive target of 7% of total energy demand from onshore wind energy farms, which is 45% of the total national renewable energy target of 16%. WindPearl - a Sustainable EnergyAuthority of Ireland (SEAI) funded project is currently looking into improvin operations & maintenance (O&M) of onshore wind turbine farms in Ireland.