Digital Commons Network^™

A Machine-Learning-Based Systematic Framework For Modeling Compression And Recompression Indices For Florida Soils, Michael Morales

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

This thesis develops a machine-learning framework for estimating the compression index and the recompression index of Florida soils from routinely measured index properties, and reports two studies that build it. Consolidation settlement design requires both indices, and both are obtained from the incremental-loading oedometer test, which occupies a specimen for one to two weeks; the index tests that accompany it are complete within hours. Empirical correlations have filled that interval since the 1950s, but their coefficients are calibrated on specific soil populations and transfer poorly between regions. The first study analyzes 376 consolidation tests compiled for the Florida Department of …

Influence Of Stormwater Flooding Events On The Mobile County School District Student Population, Kadence Kali Johnston

Honors Theses

Mobile County, Alabama, receives among the highest annual rainfall totals in the United States resulting in frequent stormwater flooding that intersects with existing socioeconomic vulnerabilities. Within the Mobile County Public School System (MCPSS), 77% of students are economically disadvantaged and over 10% experience homelessness, creating heightened risk for educational disruption during flood events. This study investigates how stormwater flooding influences school attendance, closures, and academic performance across MCPSS, providing insight into how climate-driven hazards exacerbate educational inequities. The research integrates flood frequency, school performance metrics, and GIS flood-zone mapping and teacher perceptions to understand how flooding affects student learning opportunities. …

Managing Risks Under Nuclear Power Plant Projects: A Latent Similarity-Guided Contract Customization, Mariam Elazhary, Islam H. El-Adaway

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Global energy is transforming, with nuclear power emerging as a pivotal player in achieving sustainable and low-carbon energy goals. The nature of nuclear technology introduces unique challenges, such as stringent safety and environmental requirements. Existing studies focus on general risk identification, such as supply chain delays, cost overruns, and public perception issues. However, these studies fail to address integrating these risks into tailored contractual provisions, which are critical for navigating the unique challenges of nuclear projects. The goal of this paper is to examine how standard construction contracts can be tailored to better accommodate the risks inherent in nuclear power …

How Does Competitive Adsorption Between Vma And Pce Influence Yield Stress Of Cement Paste? A Novel Insight From Interparticle Forces And Percolation Threshold, Huamin Sun, Le Teng, Xiaohan Yu, Xin Shu, Zhangli Hu, Jiaping Liu, Kamal H. Khayat

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Viscosity modifying admixture (VMA) and polycarboxylate superplasticizer (PCE) are often combined to optimize rheological properties of cement-based materials. However, the competitive adsorption of these complex admixtures can greatly influence rheological properties. Many studies have investigated the variation of yield stress due to competitive adsorption between VMA and PCE; but the mechanisms are not fully understood. This study aims to shed a new light on this question in cement paste systems prepared with low water-to-binder ratios of 0.16–0.30. The competitive adsorption of VMA and PCE was quantitatively assessed using the Total Organic Carbon and Ultraviolet-Visible Spectroscopy measurements. The effect of competitive …

Project Prioritization For Near-Optimal Functionality Risk Reduction In Bridge Networks, David Y. Yang, Anteneh Deriba

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Bridge retrofit prioritization is commonly guided by structural vulnerability, traffic conditions, or indirect consequences following a single bridge failure. However, these metrics often fail to identify retrofit projects that maximally reduce system-level functionality risk, because they do not account for the consequences of joint failures among multiple bridges. This presentation develops a mathematically rigorous, gradient-based approach to bridge retrofit prioritization for achieving a near-optimal reduction in functionality risk. This risk is formulated as the expected increase in total travel time given probabilistic bridge survival or failure under external stressors such as earthquakes. By reinterpreting risk as the evidence term in …

Interpretable Deep Reinforcement Learning For Element-Level Bridge Life-Cycle Optimization, David Y. Yang, Seyyed Amirhossein Moayyedi

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

The new Specifications for the National Bridge Inventory (SNBI), in effect from 2022, emphasize the use of element-level condition states (CS) for risk-based bridge management. Instead of a general component rating, element-level condition data use an array of relative CS quantities (i.e., CS proportions) to represent the condition of a bridge. Although this greatly increases the granularity of bridge condition data, it introduces challenges to set up optimal life-cycle policies due to the expanded state space from one single categorical integer to four-dimensional probability arrays. This study proposes a new interpretable reinforcement learning (RL) approach to seek optimal life-cycle policies …

Comparative Evaluation Of Similarity Metrics For Multi-Vendor Origin–Destination Matrix Comparison: A Case Study Using Data From Three Probe Data Vendors In Arkansas, Sagar Silwal

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The proliferation of commercial probe data vendors has posed both opportunities and challenges for transportation agencies regarding the choice of reliable vehicle probe data for decision making purposes. Probe data is a form of passive mobility data representing a small fraction of the traveling population. Vendors aggregate mobility data from different sources including GPS enabled smartphones, telematics systems, and connected vehicles. They possess unique data collection methodologies, sampling mechanisms, and expansion algorithms which introduce variability in derived traffic performance measures like speed and volume. The overall objective of this work is to assess similarities and differences among probe data vendors …

Adaptive Solar Energy Collection Fenestration Systems; Measured Performance On Test Cell Under Real Weather Conditions., Noel O’Neill

Doctoral

Buildings account for a significant share of global energy use, and improving façade performance is critical to achieving nearly zero-energy building targets. This research addresses the challenge of integrating multiple adaptive functions into a single façade system to reduce heat loss, harness solar energy, and provide dynamic environmental control. The aim was to design, construct, and evaluate an adaptive Multi-Functional Façade (MFF) that integrates vacuum glazing, switchable opacity glazing, and a ventilated cavity with active airflow control to provide façade insulation, heated fresh air, recirculated air, or exhaust ventilation.

A Solar Thermal Test Cell (STTC) designed to Passive House standard, …

Proposed Risk-Based Framework To Predict Long-Term Performance Of Military Airfield Concrete Pavements, Dimitrios Kimon Tsirmpas

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Concrete airfield pavements are designed following strict specifications to provide decades of performance and serviceability. The pavements are expected to withstand demanding operational loading and environmental conditions. However, long-term performance often strays from the expected results despite compliance to the specifications. This thesis establishes the foundation of a framework that links the mixture design test results to the in-service performance of airfield pavements. The goal of this work was to create the principles of a risk-based framework for pavement decision making using a case study on two similar airfields. With this quantitative framework established, the approval processes for concrete mix …

Review And Experimental Demonstration Of The Concrete Maturity Method For Early Opening Of Arkansas Pavements, Chase Dykema

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Many Department of Transportation (DOT) specifications across the United States require a minimum time to gain strength for concrete pavements before they can be opened to construction equipment or traffic. This period is anywhere from three to seven days. However, concrete pavements can often be opened earlier as long as a minimum required strength is attained. With the development of modern pavement mixes, this strength can often be achieved well before the required curing period has passed. Allowing contractors to open pavements earlier increases construction efficiency. One nondestructive method of proving a pavement has achieved the required strength is the …

Analysis Of Inhibitor Supply Control Systems To Prevent Hydrate Formation In A Low-Temperature Gas Separation Unit And A Method For Solving The Problem, Shakhzod Nurmuhammadovich Amirov Mr, Erkin Xxx Uljayev

Technical science and innovation

The article examines and analyzs patents, published scientific works, and currently used scientific and practical methods and devices for regulating the parameters of the low-temperature separation process in production. However, the conducted analysis showed that one of the main causes of hydrate formation in the device is the lack of continuous comprehensive control over parameters such as the pressure of the inhibitors supplied to the injectors at each stage and the moisture content of the total gas, i.e., the moisture content of the total gas at the system inlet, the gas temperature at the device outlet, and the pressure and …

Neural Network Technologies In The Automatical Control Systems Of Absorption Process For Pureficating Natural Gas, Abdishukurov Maqsudovich Shavkat Mr, Xuecheng Li Li Xuecheng Mr

Technical science and innovation

Analysis of methods and algorithms for synthesizing adaptive control systems for technological processes based on the neural network approach is carried out in this search. The stages of mathematical modeling of complex technological processes using neural network technology were considered. Additionally, an algorithm for solving the interpolation and extrapolation problem that arises in the training process a neural network to control system was proposed. At the final stage of this article, algorithms based on neural network technology are synthesized for the control system for the parameters of the technological process of natural gas purification by absorption

Artificial Intelligence Based Predictive Simulation And Decision-Support Framework For Full Scale Wastewater Treatment Systems, Muhammad Hassnain, Cameron Veal, Sarada M.W. Lee, Muhammad Rizwan Azhar

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Full scale wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) generate extensive sensor and laboratory datasets that remain challenging to translate into real-time operational insight, while increasing hydraulic variability, energy constraints, tightening effluent regulations, and events such as sensor faults, hydraulic shocks, and effluent-quality excursions require predictive decision-support tools beyond conventional mechanistic modelling. This study presents a full-scale, industry-deployed artificial intelligence (AI) framework integrating machine learning (ML), simulation, and operational boundary definition across a nitrogen-removal WWTP in Australia. Up to nine years of high-frequency online instrumentation data (≤419,000 records per target; 5–30 min resolution) and ~3000 laboratory samples were used to train and evaluate …

Optimal Co2 Storage Interval In Heterogeneous Tight Formation: Implications For Long-Term Carbon Sequestration, Yujie Yuan, Yuxin Cao, Emad A. Al-Khdheeawi, Maxim Lebedev, Zhenjiang You, Reza Rezaee, Stefan Iglauer, Lai Chang Zhang, Zhuo Feng

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The efficiency of CO2 geo-sequestration relies heavily on the storage capacity and sealing integrity of the heterogeneous strata. Tight formations offer substantial advantages for long-term CO2 geological storage, however, the stratigraphic variability and lithological heterogeneity introduce substantial uncertainty in real-world engineering applications. Particularly, for tight formations with pronounced heterogeneous lithologies, traditional methods oversimplify their impact on CO2 geo-sequestration. To address this challenge and identify the most effective intervals for CO2 geo-sequestration, we investigated the middle Permian Lucaogou Formation (P2l) in the Jimusar Sag, Junggar Basin, Northwest China, a region known for its strong lithological heterogeneity. By integrating multi-scale analytical techniques, …

Waste Material Utilization In Civil Engineering Applications: Advances, Challenges, And Future Directions—A Scoping Review, Chathurika Dassanayake, Nuha S. Mashaan, Ridmi Galagedara

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This PRISMA-guided scoping review examines the use of waste materials in civil engineering as a sustainable approach to reducing environmental impacts, conserving natural resources, and supporting circular economy principles. The rapid growth of urbanization, industrialization, mining, and agricultural activities generates large amounts of waste materials, including fly ash, ground granulated blast-furnace slag, bauxite residue, mining tailings, waste rock, acid-mine drainage sludge, waste plastics, post-consumer vulcanized rubber, recycled construction materials, and agricultural ashes. The disposal of these materials often creates serious environmental and land-use problems, making their reuse increasingly important. In this context, civil engineering is one of the most promising …

Magnetic Field-Induced Transformation In Polycrystalline Ni2mnal Heusler Type Magnetic Shape Memory Alloy, Choji J. Daches, Joseph W. Newkirk, Mario Buchely, Laura N. Bartlett

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The martensitic and magnetic transformations, as well as the mechanical properties, of Ni₂MnAl alloys in as-cast (AC) and heat-treated (HT) conditions were investigated. Magnetic-field-induced strain was evaluated via magnetostriction, with reversible strains of 0.14% and 0.2% achieved in the martensitic phase at 2 K for the AC and HT alloys, respectively. Transformation temperatures and Curie temperatures were determined under constant applied magnetic field, revealing that γ-phase inclusions in the AC microstructure suppress antiferromagnetic domain response, yielding a lower magnetization (∼8.4 emu g⁻¹) compared to the HT alloy (∼13.4 emu g⁻¹). Both alloys exhibited hysteretic behavior in the martensitic state and …

Effect Of Anisotropic Hydraulic Conductivity On Groundwater Seepage Into A Rectangular Tunnel In Submerged Sand, Deki Yangzom Ghaley, Sanjay Kumar Shukla

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Managing groundwater seepage around tunnels is critical to tunnel design, particularly when the tunnel is constructed below the water table. Accurate seepage flow patterns and water inflow prediction under ordinary and critical conditions are imperative to mitigate potential tunnel construction and service disasters. In the past, an in-depth study on the anisotropic hydraulic conductivity of the soil mass that may affect the seepage condition has not been carried out. In this work, this aspect has been investigated numerically for a rectangular tunnel submerged within a homogeneous sand mass, considering the anisotropic hydraulic conductivity ratio (kz / kx, kz = vertical …

Explainable And Hybrid Machine Learning For Predicting Fatal Crash Risk, Hussein Khanjar, Abdolmajid Erfani

Michigan Tech Publications

Road traffic fatalities remain one of the most persistent public safety challenges, demanding predictive models that are not only accurate but also reliable and interpretable. While numerous machine-learning models have been developed for crash severity prediction, most remain limited in three critical dimensions: they simplify the unit of analysis by focusing only on the driver or the most severe occupant per crash, they emphasize predictive performance while neglecting model confidence and probability calibration, and they often function as black boxes lacking interpretability for real-world decision support. To address these gaps, this study proposes a calibrated hybrid machine-learning framework for nationwide, …

Aspirational Mirrors: A Conceptual Model Of Alumni-Led Near-Peer Outreach For Precollege Engagement In Ocean Engineering, Habibi Palippui, Juswan Sade

Journal of Pre-College Engineering Education Research (J-PEER)

Precollege students in Indonesia, especially in rural and coastal regions, often lack exposure to engineering disciplines due to social, geographic, and informational barriers. This essay proposes a conceptual model of alumni-led near-peer outreach as an affective and culturally grounded mechanism to engage high school students in ocean engineering. Drawing from theories of social similarity, possible selves, and engineering identity, the model conceptualizes alumni as “aspirational mirrors” who influence students not merely through information but also through identification. The model outlines four primary mechanisms—social connection, narrative engagement, aspirational mirroring, and early identity activation—and also accounts for contextual variables such as school …

Emerging Technologies For Safety Risks Management On Nigerian Road Construction Projects, Ranti Taibat Adebiyi, Mujidat Olubola Babalola, Richard Olushola Olupeka, Ganiyu Amuda Yusuf, Lukman Olarewaju Olorunoje, Amina Damola Amuda

BAU Journal - Science and Technology

High level of safety risk on road construction projects remains a major concern for all industry stakeholders, as safety of workers is paramount to achieving project success. Managing construction safety requires a more comprehensive approach. New technologies have recently emerged to enhance construction safety. This study examines the level of adoption and barriers to the implementation of these technologies in safety risk management on road construction sites in Lagos, Nigeria, with a view to improving the safe delivery of the road projects. A questionnaire was designed and administered to two engineers and one worker randomly selected on each of sixty-one …

Compound Role Of Using Advanced Materials And Design Procedures On Improving The Performance Of Baghdad Buildings Facades, Abeer Qasim Jbur

Al-Esraa University College Journal for Engineering Sciences

The research idea addresses improving the thermal performance of buildings in Baghdad by selecting and employing facade materials to reduce heat gain and energy consumption associated with cooling in a hot-dry climate. The study discusses the pivotal role of facade materials in interacting with solar radiation, heat transfer, and inward thermal transmittance, as well as their capacity to store and release heat in ways that maintain thermal comfort within architectural spaces and reduce reliance on mechanical cooling systems. A range of traditional materials such as stone, earth, and concrete is presented alongside modern materials like high-performance glass and thermal storage …

Current Condition Of The Holy Kadhimiya Shrine Surveying Using A Gpr, Israa Hatem

Al-Esraa University College Journal for Engineering Sciences

This study describes the extensive survey of the Holy Kadhimiya Shrine in Baghdad, Iraq, carried out with the use of a non-invasive geophysical instrument called Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) to assess the conditions of subsurface and the condition of the infrastructure in the site. The total area of the shrine is 19,575 m² that was systematically studied with the help of internal measures, satellite imagery and radar profiling. The frequency antennas used for the GPR survey were the 250 MHz, 500 MHz, and 800 MHz which have a penetration depth of 1-15 m. Specialized software packages (Ground Vision, Reexplore …

Static Analysis-Based Android Malware Detection (2021–2026): A Systematic Survey And Taxonomy, Ali Hussein Mohammed Ali, Musaab Riyadh Abdulrazzaq

Al-Esraa University College Journal for Engineering Sciences

Android malware is not only increasing in size and sophistication but is also a challenge to be detected on a large scale. Static analysis is popular due to its ability to detect malware without running applications or tracing run-time events. However, features, datasets, labeling methods, and assessment methodology differ, which makes studying performance difficult. This is a systematic study of 78 peer reviewed articles written between 2021 and 2026 regarding the Android malware detection by static analysis. In each of the studies, the current survey cover the following feature source, feature representation and engineering, learning paradigms, datasets and labeling methods, …

Guided Mind Mapping For Enhancing Spatial Thinking In First-Year Architectural Design Studios, Noor Ayad Rashid, Mustafa Kamil Al-Khafaji

Al-Esraa University College Journal for Engineering Sciences

Spatial thinking constitutes a core cognitive ability in early architectural design education, enabling students to interpret, organize, and transform spatial relationships into coherent architectural configurations. Despite its importance, studio practice often indicates that first-year students rely on surface-level representation rather than engaging in structured spatial reasoning, which leads to fragmented compositions and weak spatial coherence. Accordingly, this study investigates the following research question: To what extent can guided mind mapping support the development of spatial thinking in early architectural design studios? A quasi-experimental design was adopted to examine the impact of structured visual–cognitive guidance on students' spatial reasoning. The study …

Multiaxial Stress And Deformation Analysis In Mechanical Structures Under Variable Dynamic Loads, Aqeel Naeem Fareed Al-Khafaji

Al-Esraa University College Journal for Engineering Sciences

Piping supports in gas and process facilities in Iraq are routinely exposed to operational vibration and moderate seismic actions, creating multiaxial, variable dynamic loads that are not fully captured by conventional uniaxial, static design checks. Welded brackets, in particular, are prone to local stress concentration and fatigue at weld toes. This study aims to quantify the multiaxial stress and deformation response of a welded steel pipeline support bracket under variable dynamic loading and to assess the implications for structural integrity and design practice. It was demonstrated by the development and validation of a three-dimensional finite element model of a bracket-pipe …

Real-Time Adaptive Control Of Machining Parameters In Cnc Milling Using An Ensemble Digital Twin And In-Process Vibration Monitoring For Enhanced Surface Integrity, Ali Qasim Abdulwahid

Al-Esraa University College Journal for Engineering Sciences

Achieving consistent surface integrity in CNC milling under varying materials and degraded tool conditions remains a critical challenge because fixed cutting parameters often induce regenerative chatter, accelerate tool wear, and cause surface and subsurface damage. This paper presents an integrated solution that combines an Ensemble Digital Twin (EDT), real-time in-process vibration monitoring, and a hybrid adaptive controller to maintain high surface quality while preserving productivity. The EDT fuses a physics-based milling dynamics model with a recurrent LSTM surrogate through a context-aware meta-learner that weights model outputs by process state (e.g., tool wear, engagement). A compact real-time monitoring pipeline computes a …

Evaluation Of Mimo Antenna Configurations For High Data-Rate Systems, Ammar Abdulimam Abbood

Al-Esraa University College Journal for Engineering Sciences

This paper introduces a new design of cat-shaped antenna in super wideband (SWB) and high data-rate multiple input multiple output (MIMO) systems. The single-element SWB antenna has a wide frequency range of 2.23 GHz up to more than 100 GHz with outstanding bandwidth ratio (BW Ratio = 44.84:1), fractional bandwidth (FBW = 191%), bandwidth dimensional ratio (BDR = 5567) and a peak gain of 9.52 dB. The single antenna was also expanded to 2 × 2 MIMO array to further improve performance on multipath environments. Measurements and simulation show very good results using radiation patterns, isolation, channel capacity loss (CCL), …

Enhancement Of Tribological Behavior Of Rotating Bearings Using Advanced Ceramic Compounds Via Thermal Spray Techniques, Amjid Shihab Abdul Jaleel

Al-Esraa University College Journal for Engineering Sciences

Rotating machines constitute the main part of the most important industrial sectors in Iraq such as oil and gas production, power generation, and manufacturing. The harsh operating conditions however, in the form of high temperatures, corrosive agents and abrasive particulates are causes of premature failure of crucial components such as journal bearings. This study examines the improvement of tribological characteristics of normal steel journal bearings using superior ceramic coating using thermal spray. In particular, atmospheric plasma spray (APS) was used to deposit Alumina-Titania (Al₂O₃–TiO₂) and Zirconia (ZrO₂)coating on A106 Grade B carbon …

Effect Of Nano-Additives On Fracture Toughness Of Engineering Materials: An Experimental Study, Humam Ahmed Awad

Al-Esraa University College Journal for Engineering Sciences

Structural integrity and service life of engineering components is based on fracture resistance. The paper presents an experimental study on the nano-additive that can be added to the locally-produced Iraqi engineering materials in order to enhance their fracture toughness. The research was inspired by the increasing demand in high-performance materials in the main sectors of the country such as infrastructure and energy besides the need to improve the properties of local resources. The tested material systems were two Portland cement composites and epoxy-based polymers. Nano-silica (n-SiO₂ nano-alumina (n-Al₂O₃) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were added …

Experimental Study Of The Effect Of Nano-Doping On The Electrical And Thermal Properties Of Organic Semiconductors, Zainab Abdulateef Rashad

Al-Esraa University College Journal for Engineering Sciences

This paper has introduced an experimental research case on the impact of nano-doping on electrical and thermal characteristics of organic semiconductor thin-film. The overall goal of the study is to study the effect of controlled addition of nano-dopants on charge transport characteristics and thermal stability that are important criteria in organic electronic device applications. Solution-based deposition was used to produce the thin films at a different concentration of nano-dopant and, systematic electrical and thermal measurements were carried out under controlled laboratory conditions. Electrical characterization showed that there was high improvement of electrical conductivity as the nano-dopant concentration was high, especially …