Digital Commons Network^™

Performance, Economic And Environmental Evaluation Of A Solar-Assisted Vacuum Deaeration Heating System., Liew Shan Kun

Student Works (2020-2029)

This research evaluates the performance of a solar-assisted heating (SAH) system for makeup water in a vacuum deaeration process. The system integrates solar energy into the heating process, with parametric analysis conducted across varying configuration of total solar radiation and water flow rates. The total solar radiation at the experimental site in Kuala Kangsar, Perak, Malaysia, characterized by tropical weather, fell within the range between 414W/m2 to 568W/m2. Performance analysis showed that a flow rate of 0.4 LPM achieved the target temperature of 61°C required for the deaeration process. Thermal efficiency peaked at 62.60% under a solar radiation of 900 …

Understanding Mobility Limitations And Public Transportation Accessibility For People With Disabilities, Jada Meria Stringer

ETDs from 2020-2029

Mobility for people with disabilities (PWDs) depends on both the availability of transportation and public services and the accessibility of these systems. The presence of public transportation systems does not ensure usability. Vehicles, infrastructure, and the built environment must be designed to accommodate diverse physical, sensory, cognitive, and other needs. PWDs must also be able to navigate public buildings and surrounding spaces safely and comfortably. This thesis examines mobility limitations for PWDs in India and the United States, focusing on accessibility along the full mobility chain. A review of existing literature provides context on accessibility policies, design standards, and the …

A Point-Cloud Data Analysis Framework For Early Deformation Detection, Avinash Pandey

Theses and Dissertations

Frost heave and thaw-related deformation threaten the performance of roads, runways, embankments, and buried utilities in cold regions, yet traditional inspections remain reactive and often miss early uplift. This study evaluates the capability of LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) to detect small-scale ground deformation and introduces a practical point-cloud framework designed for early-stage characterization. Controlled jack-lift experiments quantified handheld LiDAR accuracy at uplift increments of 6.35, 12.7, 19.05, and 25.4 mm, with corresponding detection accuracies of 88%, 86%, 93.33%, and 94%. Registration quality had a significant impact. The targetless scans showed slight misalignment, whereas spherical targets provided precise, repeatable outputs. …

Hybrid Quantum-Classical Optimization Of The Resource Scheduling Problem, Tyler Christeson, Md Habib Ullah, Ali Arabnya, Amin Khodaei, Rui Fan

Electrical and Computer Engineering: Faculty Scholarship

Resource scheduling is critical in many industries, especially in power systems where the Unit Commitment (UC) problem determines the on/off status and output levels of generators under physical and economic constraints. Traditional exact methods, such as Branch-and-Bound, Branch-and-Cut, dynamic programming and mixed-integer linear programming (MILP), remain the backbone of UC solution techniques, but they often rely on linear approximations or exhaustive search, leading to high computational burdens as system size grows. Metaheuristic approaches, such as genetic algorithms, particle swarm optimization, and other evolutionary methods, have been explored to mitigate this complexity; however, they typically lack optimality guarantees, exhibit sensitivity to …

Angular Scanning Method For Efficient Maximum Power Point Tracking, Saikot Hossain Dadon

Student Theses and Dissertations

The Photovoltaic System (PV) is one of the widely used sources of renewable energy. There are various control mechanisms to manipulate the PV system. However, one of the major control mechanisms is Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) to extract the maximum power from the solar panel. The solar power is intermittent and stochastic in nature due to the unpredictable sunlight exposure to the solar panel and temperature variance throughout the day and year. Consequently, the PV module does not run at Maximum Power Point (MPP) naturally; therefore, an MPPT controller is utilized so that the solar panel runs in the …

Advanced Control Strategy For Photovoltaic Dc Microgrids Using Model Predictive Control With Rl Filter Enhancement, Yagub Suleymanov

Student Theses and Dissertations

This thesis presents the modeling and control of a photovoltaic (PV)-based DC microgrid using MATLAB/Simulink. A DC–DC converter with a buck stage is employed to perform a better maximum power point tracking (MPPT) and voltage regulation from PV panel. Predictive control method (MPC) algorithm will be employed, which offers faster transient response and reduced oscillations compared to traditional techniques. Considering the existing works, this study introduces an additional RL filter branch to further improve the stability of the regulated DC bus voltage combining MPC method and Incremental Conductance Maximum Power Point Tracking (IC-MPPT) algorithm. To ensure stable operation of the …

Direct Solar-Energy Powered Hydrothermal Treatment To Promote Biomethane Production From Anaerobic Digestion Of Rice Processing Waste, Kainat Rahnuma

Student Theses and Dissertations

Hydrolysis is a slow and energy-intensive process and a rate-limiting step in anaerobic digestion (AD). This research investigates performance strategies for integrating hydrothermal treatment (HT) with AD. HT-AD systems were less economically viable than AD-only options because of the high energy consumption of HT. Therefore, we used solar energy to conduct HT via either solar cookers or solar panels. The HT method significantly improved digestion performance, reducing the lag phase from 60 to 24 h, and increasing overall yield. Hydrothermally treated rice, rice bran, and rice hulls produced 22,932 mL, 13,136 mL, and 1283 mL, respectively. However, untreated rice, rice …

Evaluating The Fate And Variability Of Soil Organic Carbon And Nitrogen Species Under Conservation Practices In The Raccoon River Watershed, Zhonglong Zhang, May Wu

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

This study evaluates the fate and variability of soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks and nitrogen species using the latest version of the Soil and Water Assessment Tool– Carbon (SWAT-C) and assesses how conservation practices influence their dynamics in the Raccoon River Watershed (RRW). Dominated by intensive agricultural pro- duction, the RRW is a significant contributor of sediment and nutrient loads to local rivers and the Mississippi River. This SWAT-C model simulates the export of SOC and nitrogen species and evaluates their responses under varying management scenarios. Model calibration was performed for streamflow, sediment, nitrate, total nitrogen, and organic carbon with …

Energetics Analysis Of Solitary Waves Using A Multi-Layer Model, Hunter Boswell, Frank D. Han, Guirong Yan, Wouter Mostert

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This study investigates the performance of a vertically-Lagrangian multi-layer model on numerically simulating shoaling and breaking two-dimensional solitary waves during both the breaking and post-breaking processes. The energy dissipation of the breaking event for the multi-layer waves is analyzed and compared to prior direct numerical simulation work with the same bathymetric and wave cases. It shows very similar data collapse to shallow-water inertial theory. For post-breaking behavior, bore characteristics are compared to an experimental study of bores formed from breaking solitary waves and similar results are found. While the multi-layer method was not found to behave sufficiently well for direct …

Trip Generation Model For Mixed-Use Development In Klang Valley, Malaysia., Goh Boon Hoe

Student Works (2020-2029)

Mixed-Use Developments (MXDs) are single development projects that integrate and interact with different land uses, such as offices, retail, restaurants, entertainment venues, hotels, and/or residential areas. MXDs are internally connected, allowing users of different land uses to share internal streets, walkways, driveways, and parking spaces. Traffic is estimated to be reduced with such developments. Currently, in Malaysia, there is no standard procedure to estimate the MXD trip generation rates. The Malaysian Trip Generation Manual (MTGM) 2010 is the guideline used to forecast future trips for a single land use and hence, by summing the trip generation rates for multiple land …

Influence Of Co2 Curing On Carbonation Depth, Phase Composition, And Micro-Mechanical Properties Of Fbc Ash-Blended Cementitious Materials, Heejung Jun, Seongho Han, Sanghwon Wi, Jinyoung Yoon

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This study investigates the physicochemical and mechanical performance of cementitious composites incorporating fluidized bed combustion (FBC) ash under accelerated carbon dioxide (CO₂) curing. FBC ash, due to its high contents of free calcium oxide (CaO) and sulfate (SO₃), has been reported to cause challenges, such as volume instability and lower early-age strength. To address these limitations, CO2 curing was applied to promote accelerated carbonation and stabilize the hydration products. Cement paste and mortar samples, made with up to 40 % by cement weight replacement with FBC ash (labelled CF), were subjected to either CO₂ curing …

Insight Into The Decalcification Mechanism Of Calcium Silicate Hydrate Under A Water–Heat–Salt Environment, Wei Zhang, Boya Zhang, Jia Sun, Juntao Dang, Xiangke Guo, Keliang Li, Bo Tao Huang, Biqin Dong, Hongyan Ma, Dongshuai Hou

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Understanding the decalcification mechanism of calcium silicate hydrate (C–S–H) under marine environments is crucial for concrete durability. In this study, the decalcification behavior of C–S–H under a water–heat–salt environment was systematically investigated through immersion experiments and reactive molecular dynamics simulations. Experimental results showed that elevated temperature and NaCl solution significantly accelerated Ca leaching and reduced the Ca/Si ratio of C–S–H. Simulation results further revealed that both high temperature and NaCl reduce the dissolution free energy of Ca, making its release more thermodynamically and kinetically favorable. Local structure analysis indicated that Cl^– disrupts Ca–Os (O atoms in silicate tetrahedra) connection …

Cs Tools - Stormwater Management Software (Version 6.5.0), Donald V. Chase

Drainage Design Tools

The CS Tools program is an outgrowth of research conducted by the University of Dayton for CON/SPAN Bridge Systems.

Preliminary Evaluation Of Remote Sensing Evapotranspiration Models For Field-Scale Agricultural Water Management In Arid Central Iran, Somayeh Sima, Iman Raissi Dehkordi, Mohammadhosein Taghikhani, Neamat Karimi

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Accurate estimation of actual evapotranspiration (ET_a) is crucial for effective water resource management and optimizing agricultural yields. While satellite-based surface energy balance ET_a models are widely adopted, their field-scale accuracy in under-researched regions, such as Iran, remains a critical knowledge gap. This study assesses five prominent models—PySEBAL, PyMETRIC, SSEBop, PyTSEB, and ETLook (from FAO’s WaPOR v.2, L1 product)—for daily ET_a estimation over an alfalfa field in the arid central part of Iran. Models were adjusted for the field using in situ weather data and Landsat-8 images, and validated against the scintillometer data. Results showed SSEBop provided …

Optimal Placement Of Electric Vehicle Chargers: A Mixed-Integer Linear Programming Model, Joubin Zahiri Khameneh, Emmanuel Fagbenle

Faculty Publications

Electric vehicle adoption is growing, but New Hampshire lags in public charging infrastructure, especially in rural areas. This gap increases range anxiety and economic inefficiencies. In this study, we developed a mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) model to optimally locate new electric vehicle chargers statewide, maximizing coverage and equity under budget constraints. The model includes geographic coverage requirements, population-weighted equity, capacity limits, and a $28 million budget. Moreover, the model recommends 855 Level 2 chargers and 149 Direct Current Fast Chargers (DCFCs) across 247 ZIP Codes, nearly doubling public charging capacity and achieving 98.8% coverage within defined service radii. The plan …

Merging Terrestrial And Satellite Gravity Data For Africa: A Possibility To Fill-In The Data Gaps, Hussein A. Abd-Elmotaal, Norbert Kuhtreiber

Mansoura Engineering Journal

The major challenge that the IAG Sub-Commission on gravity and geoid in Africa faces is the significantly large gravity data gaps. It is essential to properly tackle this issue for all geodetic applications in Africa due to the large interpolation errors occur at these large gaps. Simple interpolation (using any type of interpolation technique) of the gravity data does not add new information at the large data gaps, and the solution is free there. Global Earth gravity models offer themselves as a possible way to fill-in such large data gaps, provided that they approximate the African gravity field to an …

Model-Based Investigation Of The Influence Of Environmental Conditions On The Energy Supply Of Multirotor Uavs, Morten Roßberg, Hanna Dibbern, Claudia Werner

Journal of Aviation Technology and Engineering

Flight time of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is limited by available energy, which is affected by the mission profile and external factors, such as environmental conditions. Two main environmental conditions that need to be considered are the impact of wind and ambient temperature on the UAV and its energy supply. The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of wind and ambient temperature to conduct a preliminary evaluation of flight performance and flight limitations. For this reason, three locations in the United States—New York City, Miami, and Fairbanks—are selected and the impact of the considered environmental conditions of …

Finite Element Analysis Of Tire–Pavement Interaction Effects On Noise Reduction In Porous Asphalt Pavements, Miao Yu, Geyun Lv, Anqi Li, Jing Yang, Zhexi Zhang, Dongzhao Jin, Rong Zhang, Jiqing Li

Michigan Tech Publications

This study investigated the noise reduction performance of porous asphalt concrete (PAC) pavement under tire–pavement coupling conditions, addressing the limitations of field measurements and laboratory testing. First, tire excitation amplitude parameters were determined based on vibrational contact operational scenarios. Then, finite element simulations were conducted to systematically analyzing the tire–pavement coupling noise characteristics of PAC pavement. The results indicate that PAC pavement effectively reduces the air pumping noise due to its highly porous internal structure, leading to significant noise attenuation. Furthermore, the study examined the key factors influencing the tire–pavement coupling noise in PAC pavement. When maintaining constant vehicle parameters …

Data-Driven Prediction Of Concrete Bridge Deck Corrosion Using Ground Penetrating Radar (Gpr), Nafisa Shafiullah

Civil Engineering Theses

Corrosion detection remains a crucial factor in the proper maintenance of Reinforced Concrete (RC) structures. While several studies have used Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) for corrosion detection, quantitative models for prediction are still limited. This study presents an approach for the quantitative prediction of rebar corrosion in concrete using GPR data obtained from a prior experimental program involving accelerated corrosion. A total of 36 RC samples were cast, varying in cover depth, rebar diameter, and concrete porosity. The samples were subjected to an impressed current of 0.65 A in a 5% NaCl solution over three phases: 10, 20, and 30 …

Effect Of Snow Melt On Slope Stability, Gustav G. Gothberg

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This project explores the effect of snow melt on slope stability. The different types of slope failure are examined to determine which are most affected by snow melt. Then, the report examines the equations that geotechnical engineers use to determine the exact moment when a slope fails. Using GeoStudio modeling software, Slope/W, landslides caused by snow melt were modeled. GeoStudio was also used to explore methods of mitigating the effects of snow melt. This project also explores how to take advantage of these models to minimize the damage done by landslides.

When Words Flow Like Water: How The Enbridge Line 3 Pipeline Environmental Impact Statement Failed To Prevent Hydrogeologic Harm In Minnesota, Carly Gutzmann

Journal of Earth and Life Science

For the aquifers of Minnesota, the environmental impact statement (EIS) was a promise of protection that never left the page. An environmental impact statement is meant to be an aid in the decision making process in order to ensure that projects consider potential environmental harms that may occur. However, they are often used instead as another regulatory box to check, rather than as active considerations when planning. As such, a project plan can be flawed from the start—if project developers only consider environmental impacts after they have already put considerable time, effort, and funding into their project as-is, they may …

Measuring The Impact Of 3d Printers On The Health Of Youth, Alexis Kostin, Olla Obeid, Oz Trost

Wetterhahn Science Symposium Posters

3D printers are used more widely than ever before; they can be found in factories, hospitals, and even schools. However, the health effects of the VOCs and UFPs that these machines emit have yet to be fully understood. In collaboration with the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, this study utilizes an Air Gradient One sensor at the Diamond Lab to monitor VOC and UFP emissions before, during, and after 3D printing sessions. By comparing these levels to EPA and CDC safety standards, we aim to quantify the respiratory risks posed to youth.

Deep Learning Framework For Sow Posture Classification From Depth Images: Comparison With Data Transformation Techniques, Models, And Cross-Validation, Md Towfiqur Rahman, Tami M. Brown-Brandl, Gary A. Rohrer, Sudhendu R. Sharma, Suzanne M. Leonard, Yeyin Shi

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Piglet preweaning mortality (PWM) in the United States averages ≈14–15%, with sow overlaying causing about one third proportion of these losses. This research aimed to develop and evaluate deep learning models to classify six sow postures using depth images to monitor behaviors linked to overlaying risk. Top-down depth images were captured with Kinect V2^® cameras at 10 frames min^-1 for five consecutive days (2 days before to 2 days after farrowing), yielding 26,506 training images from 18 sows, 17,901 testing images from 12 sows, and 4,697 additional images from three sows in diagonal stalls for external validation. Three …

Data Set, R Scripts And Script Outputs For Manuscript: Manufacturing Systems: Characteristics And Dynamics, Alan J. Fitzmorris

Graduate Research Data

This file repository contains fifteen computer-generated datasets, two naturally occurring datasets, nineteen shipbuilding shop datasets, and sixty-one concrete plant datasets.  Each data set contains subdirectories associated with various aspects of the data analysis, including stationarity analysis, dynamic system analysis, and complexity analysis.  In each case, applicable R scripts are included.  The text file entitled “Directory_and_File_Names” depicts the directory structure and associated file names for a total of 225 directories encompassing 8008 files.

Moisture Performance Of Coated Cross-Laminated Timber Under Coastal Conditions In Vertical And Horizontal Orientations With And Without Weather And Vapor Resistive Barriers, Mia Raley

Engineering Theses

Rhode Island is experiencing sea level rise, and more flooding and erosion during storm events due to climate change. The Rhode Island construction industry wants to adopt mass timber, but have concerns with the changing coastal environment on cross-laminated timber (CLT) wall and slab panels. This research aims to understand how coastal conditions affect CLT under different protection conditions, panel orientations, and structure type, by collecting moisture and temperature data on two structures, one commercially-fabricated and one laboratory-fabricated, located on Shell Path from early-July to early-April. Results found that all layers of horizontally-oriented panels benefitted from an additional protective weather-resistant-barrier …

Nahb Production Home Competition As A Learning Tool Towards Incorporating Business Skills In Construction Management Programs, George Berghorn, Chandler Jones, M.G. Matt Syal

The Professional Constructor

There is a growing realization in the construction industry that the traditional focus of Construction Management (CM) education on technical competencies (such as scheduling, estimating, and construction methods) is insufficient in preparing graduates to meet the strategic and leadership demands of the modern construction profession. A successful construction company requires more than project execution; it demands expertise in business development, financial management, marketing, risk management, and organizational leadership. The disparity between the technical and business aspects of CM education has produced graduates who may succeed in project management yet find it challenging to engage with comprehensive business operations.

This study …

Land Use And Land Cover Simulation Via Integrated Modelling With Gis Techniques For Sustainable Land Utilization Development In The Northeast Khong Subwatershed Of Thailand, ฺBanchongsak Faksomboon, Thipphaphone Keoviyavong

Applied Environmental Research

Land utilization is an important indicator of socioeconomic and environmental changes caused by both natural and man-made factors. Land use and land cover (LULC) simulation is a critical tool for monitoring and predicting LULC and is essential for sustainable development, land resource management and planning. The cellular automata (CA) Markov model is the basis for the current study’s prediction of LULC changes in the Northeast Khong Sub Watershed (NKSW). Landsat data from 2013 to 2023 were used to investigate LULC classification and determine the spatiotemporal distributions of LULC. In addition, LULC data from 2013 and 2023 were used to generate …

Reduction Of Cr(Vi) With Infrared Light And Chemical Adsorption Of Cr(Iii) By A God-Crown/Bentonite Composite For Electroplating Waste Remediation, Andre Taufik Kurniawan, Muhammad Djoni Bustan, Sri Haryati

Applied Environmental Research

Heavy metal pollution, particularly chromium (Cr) from electroplating industrial waste, has severely threatened environmental quality and human health. This study aims to develop a composite adsorbent material based on bentonite and god crown biomass capable of removing chromium ions from liquid waste through a combination of reduction and adsorption mechanisms. The god crown/bentonite (GC/Bt) composite was synthesized at a mass ratio of 2:1 and calcined at 900°C. FTIR characterization revealed active functional groups (–OH, C=O, Si–O, and Al–O–Si), whereas BET analysis revealed a mesoporous structure (surface area 31.12 m2 g-1, pore diameter 4.37 nm) suitable for ion diffusion. The reduction …

Seasonal Variations In Co2 Emission From Poultry Manure-Amended Soils In Two Contrasting Tropical Agroecosystems, Gladys M. Akande, Adebayo J. Adeyemo, Chidozie J. Oraegbunam, Iduh J.J. Otene, Ezekiel C. Are, Babatunde S. Ewulo, Chioma M. Ahukaemere, Samuel O. Kolawole, Sunday E. Obalum

Applied Environmental Research

The soil remains the largest carbon sink, the capacity of which varies spatiotemporally and with anthropogenic activities, with implications for carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and associated global warming. Despite the increasing popularity of organic amendments in the ecologically and anthropoculturally diverse farming systems of tropical Africa, manure-induced CO2 emissions in this region with high soil-carbon-sequestration potential are poorly documented. This study assessed seasonal CO2 emissions from poultry manure-amended sandy-clay-loam and sandy-loam soils in the Rainforest-Savannah and Southern Guinea Savannah zones, respectively, of Nigeria. Following manure application at 3 rates (0, 10, and 15 t ha-1), soil samples were collected during …

Activated Carbon Prepared From Residual Eucalyptus Wood For The Removal Of Methyl Orange: Equilibrium, Kinetics, Thermodynamics, And Desorption, Mathin Jaikua, Phuthidhorn Thanaphu, Sunisa Ungwiwatkul, Jakkrawut Maitip, Kanyarak Prasertboonyai

Applied Environmental Research

This research utilizes activated carbon derived from residual Eucalyptus wood (EW) for the removal of methyl orange (MO). The residual Eucalyptus wood-based activated carbon (EWAC) was produced through carbonization at 400 °C (EWC) followed by activation with a mass ratio of H3PO4 to EWC of 1:3, which was conducted at 800 °C for 1 h. The characterization of the EWAC involved various analytical techniques, including FTIR, XRD, BET, and CHN analysis. The adsorption parameters, such as pH (range: 3–8), adsorbent dose (range: 0.01–0.5 g per 50 mL of MO solution), contact time (range: 5–720 min), initial MO concentration (range: 5–600 …