Digital Commons Network^™

College Of Business Relocation Project, Genevieve Spitaletto, Nicky Vreeland, Matthew Loudon, Chris Fox

Mechanical and Civil Engineering Student Publications

Construct a modern, six-story College of Business building at Florida Tech that provides functional, accessible, and collaborative learning spaces while meeting all code requirements and supporting long-term campus growth.

Preparation Of Water-Resistant Solid Waste-Based Solidifier And Study On Properties Of Solidified Soil, Yao Yanbo, Zhu Ting, Yang Guowei, Li Menglong

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

Under the background of the “carbon peaking and carbon neutrality ” goals, the improvement and resource utilization of industrial solid waste and waste soil have become increasingly important. High carbon emissions are generated during the production of traditional cement and lime-modified solidifiers, which exhibit poor crack resistance and tensile properties. In contrast, a composite organic-inorganic membrane can be formed by waterborne epoxy resin combined with C‒S‒H gel in cement soil to cement the internal flaky or spherical soil particles, thereby improving the tensile strength and water erosion resistance of the soil. In this paper, slag and desulfurization gypsum were selected …

Research On Key Technologies For Pavement Design Of Shenshan West Expressway Reconstruction And Expansion Project, Xu Weinan

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

In recent years, expressway reconstruction and expansion projects have been increasing, and expansions from four to eight lanes and from six to ten lanes are relatively common. In the design process of reconstruction and expansion, the rationality of the design for overlay, widening, and lap treatment of “white-to-black” pavement has a significant impact on pavement reconstruction quality. The formation of ultra-wide pavement after reconstruction, especially in sections such as acceleration and deceleration lanes, areas with small composite longitudinal slopes, and the bottom of concave curves, makes pavement drainage difficult, which affects driving safety to some extent. Meanwhile, milling waste generated …

Study On Effect Of Reinforcement Ratio On Failure Mode Of Y-Shaped Pier Under Vehicle Eccentric Load, Li Xinfeng, Lin Guangyi, Xia Hao, Li Min, Peng Weibing

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

To construct urban three-dimensional transportation systems and reduce space occupation under bridges, the large cantilever-Y-shaped pier system was applied as a substructure of urban viaducts, with its application demand increasing year by year. However, related research on its reinforcement ratio under vehicle eccentric load has been rarely conducted. Based on an engineering case of an expressway construction project in Jiaxing City, Zhejiang Province, a 1∶5 scaled finite element model was established using Abaqus. The reinforcement ratios of Y-shaped piers in four models were set to 0. 42%, 1. 17%, 1. 69%, and 2. 29%, respectively. Among them, the reinforcement ratio …

Study On Temperature Field And Temperature Effect Of A Continuous Rigid-Frame Bridge With Horizontal Bottom Cables, Li Guodong, Li Guangmao, Gao Yingjie, Huang Fanglin, Zhou De

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

To study the temperature field and temperature effects of a continuous rigid-frame bridge with horizontal bottom cables, a large-span prestressed concrete continuous rigid-frame bridge with a horizontally arranged bottom cable system was selected as the research object. A Python program was developed to calculate the solar radiation boundary conditions, and the Abaqus software was used to establish a two-dimensional transient heat conduction model of the bridge. The time-dependent temperature field of the bridge during summer and winter was analyzed. Based on this, the temperature effects caused by the vertical temperature gradient, transverse temperature gradient, effective temperature, and various temperature modes …

Analysis Of Temperature Field In Negative Temperature Tunnel Based On Material Thermal Parameter Tests, Xin Quanming, Zhang Feng, Zhao Zhongliang, Sun Zhenhua

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

In view of the temperature field problem of Asia ’s first four-season cross-country skiing tunnel reconstructed from an existing tunnel, based on the study of the thermal conductivity of tunnel materials by the HOTDISK method, steady-state heat transfer models under different protection conditions were established by using the finite element method and the multi-layer cylinder heat transfer theory, respectively. The temperature field distribution characteristics of the negative temperature tunnel were analyzed, and the influence laws and sensitivities of various factors were investigated. The results show that the freezing of the tunnel affects the material properties of the tunnel structure;the thermal …

Study On Cause Analysis And Treatment Of Pavement Arching Disease In Highway Tunnels In Water-Rich Soft Rock : A Case Study Of Yunling Tunnel On Shiyan‒Manchuanguan Section Of Fuzhou‒Yinchuan Expressway, Lei Zongjian, Huang Dan, Wu Zheng, Wei Guoyu

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

To explore the mechanism of pavement arching disease in phyllite soft rock tunnels and propose targeted disease treatment measures, based on the Yunling Tunnel in the Shiyan‒Manchuanguan section of the Fuzhou ‒ Yinchuan Expressway, typical tunnel diseases were investigated, and triaxial compression tests of phyllite in natural and saturated states were conducted to study the failure laws of the tunnel under the combined action of fault fracture zones and groundwater. The research results indicate that the compressive strength and elastic modulus of the rock in the saturated state are lower than those in the natural state, which demonstrates that the …

Simulation Study On Smoke Propagation Characteristics At Vault In Urban Bifurcated Tunnel Fire, Guo Xiao, Lyu Jianwei, Tan Xiangjun, Ni Chenyang, Wang Youwei, Li Yuyang

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

To explore the influence of wind speed on the smoke temperature and distribution characteristics of the bifurcated diverging tunnel fire, Hangzhou West Station Tunnel on National Highway G 235 was taken as the engineering background in this paper. The numerical simulation method was used to investigate the influences of different upstream wind speeds and fire source positions on the fire smoke propagation in the diverging expansion section. The results indicate that:① A higher wind speed at the tunnel entrance results in a shorter smoke backflow length in the tunnel, and the rate of smoke backflow in the tunnel decreases accordingly;② …

Research On Intelligent Safety Control Of Deep Water Foundation Of Bridges Based On Digital Twins, Guo Feng, Li Ting, Mao Ali

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

To achieve real-time monitoring data collection, intelligent evaluation and warning of safety risks, and rapid disposal of emergency plans for steel cofferdam structures during the construction process of deep water foundations of bridges. Research on intelligent safety control of steel cofferdams of deep water foundations of bridges was conducted based on digital twins. Firstly, BIM software was used to construct a virtual model of the entire construction process of the steel cofferdam, and IoT devices were used to collect real-time data on the stress, displacement, and construction water level of the steel cofferdam structure. Secondly, by using the Web-GL engine …

Analysis Of Microscopic Crack Propagation In Polyurethane-Cement Stabilized Crushed Stone Based On Discrete Element Method, Yu Xin, Huang Yujie, Chen Chen, Jiang Ziqi, Wang Min, Ling Chenxin

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

To study the effect of polyurethane grouting on the crack repair performance of cement stabilized crushed stone, a microscopic model of cement stabilized crushed stone was established by the discrete element method (DEM) in this paper. SCB fracture simulation tests were conducted on specimens with different initial notch-to-depth ratios to obtain load ‒ displacement curves, and sensitivity analysis of microscopic parameters was performed. Then, by comparing microscopic characteristics such as crack propagation paths, crack types, and particle displacements before and after grouting, the repair effect of polyurethane grouting materials was evaluated. The results indicate that the grouting filler significantly enhances …

‘Mobile Consumers’: Interpreting The Consumption Perceptions, Practices And Experiences Of Mobile Brazilian International Students In London, Mark Holton, Leonardo Santana Dos Santos Rodrigues

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

This paper advances existing work on the mobilities and geographies of students by examining the complexities and contestations affecting international students' consumption perceptions and experiences. This is important in positing new ways of understanding how educational mobilities, in both their meta and micro forms, can influence, and be influenced by, consumption practices and ideologies. Drawing on a set of semi-structured interviews with Brazilian international students living and studying in London, UK this paper draws together mobilities and consumption theories as a lens for interpreting consumption knowledge and practice as an evolving and iterative set of performances that align closely with …

Development Of Research Direction At The Hospital General De México In The Last Two Decades, Juan C. Lopez-Alvarenga, José D. Carrillo-Ruiz, Galileo Escobedo, América Guadalupe Arroyo Valerio, Miguel Fonseca-Sanchez, Gustavo Acosta-Altamirano

School of Medicine Publications

No abstract provided.

Suspicious Activity Reports (Sars) Intake, Triage, And Outcomes, Jeff Gruenewald, Noah Turner, Seamus Hughes

Reports, Projects, and Research

The Nationwide Suspicious Activity Reporting Initiative (NSI) established a national infrastructure for sharing information related to terrorist activity. Fusion centers facilitate the receipt, investigation, documentation, and sharing of suspicious activity reports, or SARs. Eighty fusion centers currently operate across the United States, but research into how these centers process SARs is limited. Using closed-source data on SARs from two fusion centers, this brief describes the characteristics of SARs in terms of intake, triage, and outcome.

The Atmospheric Effects On The Extratropical Transition Of Hurricane Sandy, Natalie Paone

Ocean Engineering and Marine Sciences Student Publications

• Hurricane Sandy formed in the Caribbean in late October 2012 and intensified to a Category 3 hurricane before making landfall in Cuba and later New Jersey (Blake et al., 2013). Sandy caused approximately $68.7 billion in damages and over 250 fatalities, making it one of the most impactful storms in U.S. history. 
• During extratropical transition (ET), tropical cyclones interact with midlatitude systems, leading to structural changes such as expansion of the wind field, development of frontal boundaries, and increased baroclinicity (Hart and Evans, 2001). Sandy is a key example of a hybrid cyclone where ET did not weaken impacts but …

Tiny Engineers: How Polycheateworms Can Extend Sedimentary Oxic Layers And Create Better Seagrass Habitats, Natalie Spohn

Ocean Engineering and Marine Sciences Student Publications

The Indian River Lagoon (IRL) is a shallow, well mixed estuary on the East Coast of Florida. Presently, the IRL is suffering eutrophication due to a cycle of harmful algal blooms (HABs) that deplete the water column of oxygen (2,5). Deposition of organic matter from HABs in the sediment leads to reduced sedimentary oxygen, continuing to support the cycle of eutrophication through benthic-pelagic coupling (1,5). Anaerobic sedimentary conditions can increase concentrations of ammonium and sulfide, leading to seagrass loss (3,4,6,7,10). Bioturbation by infauna can extend the oxic layer of sediments, promoting aerobic processes and helping to remove nitrogen and sulfur …

Ontogeny Of Microbial Community Structure In Shoal Grass Grown In Biochar-Amended Sediments, Sajeda Slhoub, Nicole Katz, Joey Ciocher, Jack Denvir, Jenisse Louis, Katelynn Zagami

Ocean Engineering and Marine Sciences Student Publications

The Indian River Lagoon (IRL) is one of the most biologically diverse estuaries in the United States and contributes over $55.4 billion annually to Florida’s economy. Since 2010, more than 52% of the IRL seagrass meadows have been lost, reducing both the ecological and the economic potential of this ecosystem. Biochar, a stable carbon material produced by pyrolysis, added to soil enhance organic productivity perhaps because of increased microbial activity in the soil (Lehmann et al., 2017). Our study evaluates the use of biochar to grow resilient strains of seagrass for ecosystem restoration in the IRL.

N.A.U.T.I.L.U.S.: Natural Aquaculture Using Technology In Living Underwater Systems, Joey Ciocher, Abby Vallejo, Will Marble, Martin Pham, Roger Jiang

Ocean Engineering and Marine Sciences Student Publications

Marine protected areas (MPAs) are small subsets of marine ecosystems with limited to no access to exploitation to promote sustainability and growth of healthy populations of marine organisms. Factors that affect the performance of MPAs include Size, Age, Level of Protection, Enforcement and Compliance, Isolation and Connectivity, and Habitat Quality and Diversity.

Hydrodynamic Response To Hurricane Forcing At Sebastian Inlet, Ava Russin

Ocean Engineering and Marine Sciences Student Publications

Tidal inlets are influenced by tides, wind, and atmospheric forcing, which can be significantly altered during hurricanes. Using Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler observations, this study quantifies storm-driven changes in depth averaged velocity and residual circulation at Sebastain Inlet before, during, and after Hurrican Ian and Hurricane Nicole (2022).

Era5 Vs Asos: Verifying Reanalysis Accuracy In The Fort Pierce Ef3 Tornado, Anastasia Vosinakis

Ocean Engineering and Marine Sciences Student Publications

• October 9th, 2024, Hurricane Milton made landfall in Florida (NHC, 2024). 
• Just before Milton made landfall, tornadoes were being produced on the East Coast of Florida. 
• The tornado being studied is the EF3 tornado which occurred in Fort Pierce, Florida. 
• Six people tragically lost their lives. 
• Focus of project: to see the correlation of wind reanalysis data when studying tornadoes.

Growing Pains: A Genetic Comparison Of Nurse Sharks (Ginglymostoma Cirratum) With Differing Growth Rates, Michelle Gargiulo

Ocean Engineering and Marine Sciences Student Publications

Nurse sharks, Ginglymostoma cirratum, range throughout the tropical and subtropical Atlantic, and are commonly found in coastal ecosystems in Southern Florida and the Keys. Nurse sharks like all Elasmobranchs (sharks, skates, and rays) are slowgrowing and long lived, making them susceptible to extinction. Recently listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List1,2, nurse sharks are relatively underrepresented in scientific literature, and much research remains to be done to understand and protect this species. Growth rates and body size between fish populations of the same species can vary widely. Individuals in the tropics often grow faster and mature at a smaller …

Conservation Of Stress And Immune Gene Families Across Major Aquaculture Fish Species, Julia Pearson, Rana Alghorir, Maryam Young, Abby Briggs, Sonia Peters

Ocean Engineering and Marine Sciences Student Publications

Aquaculture environments impose thermal, oxidative, and immune stress. Successful species must maintain cellular stability under these conditions. They can do this by the relative expression of stress genes.

Microburst Day Potential Index: Improving Launch And Public Safety, Zachary Kopel

Ocean Engineering and Marine Sciences Student Publications

Microbursts

•  A common convective wind event 
• Capable of causing damage from wind exceeding 30kts (NWS) 
• Cape Canaveral is a prime microburst environment 
• Can affect launch ops and daily activities by exceeding safety standards

Influence Of Sediment Composition On Seagrass Growth, Hattie Lechner, Joshua Ahrens

Ocean Engineering and Marine Sciences Student Publications

Seagrass Beds are a vital component of the Indian River Lagoon (IRL). They support biodiversity and improve water quality, yet they have experienced significant declines in recent years. Multiple restoration efforts have attempted to replant seagrass in the lagoon and have experienced varying levels of success. Sediment characteristics such as grain size, pH, and nutrient/sulfide concentrations can influence seagrass health and growth, but the relative importance is unclear. This study investigated the relationship between sediment characteristics and the performance of the seagrass Halodule wrightii across multiple different types of sediments found within the IRL in order to identify ideal sediments/locations …

The Carbon Dioxide Utilization Potential Of Marine Algae, Declan O'Leary, Giovanni Williams, Joey Ciocher, Aidan Yeilding, Eddie Wawrzycki-Stein, Melvin Jarrett, William Marple, Olivia Mullenski, Abby Tickett, Connor Burnand, David Kulcsar

Ocean Engineering and Marine Sciences Student Publications

Excessive atmospheric CO₂ drives ocean acidification, lowering seawater pH and carbonate ion availability, which impairs calcification in corals, mollusks, and many plankton—threatening reef structure, biodiversity, and food webs (1, 2).

The goal of this research is to explore the potential of marine algae or seaweeds in reducing carbon dioxide in the oceans.

Multi-Strain Assessment Of Quorum Sensing In Chlamydomonas Reinhardtii, Jacqueline Krueger

Ocean Engineering and Marine Sciences Student Publications

Quorum sensing (QS) allows microbial populations to coordinate phenotypic switching, selecting for specific behaviors that are only beneficial when expressed at high cell densities (HCD, >106 cells/mL) rather than low cell densities (LCD, < 106 cells/mL)

Finding Jaws: Dna Barcoding Shark Cartilage To Identify Species, Kenna Peters

Ocean Engineering and Marine Sciences Student Publications

Elasmobranchs (sharks and rays) are vital keystone predators that help regulate the health of marine ecosystems, and some of the largest and most wide-ranging fishes in the ocean1. Elasmobranch identification is difficult due to morphological similarities between species, and the high risk of encountering cryptics. These are evolutionarily distinct, but physically identical to more common taxa, and can only be identified using genetics. Misidentification is a major obstacle to shark science, especially considering new data showing that >70% of all elasmobranchs have been lost in the past 50 years, and many sharks are now shifting ranges in response to global …

Growth And Nutrient Uptake Of Ulva Lactuca: Theoretical Nutrient Removal And Fertilizer Reuse Potential, Audrey Crawford

Ocean Engineering and Marine Sciences Student Publications

• Eutrophication is a major problem in the Indian River Lagoon (IRL)  
• One natural response to eutrophication is increased algal growth
• Previous studies identified Ulva lactuca as one of the fastest-growing macroalgal species in the lagoon (Whitehouse and Lapointe, 2015) 
• Ulva lactuca also has potential use as a fertilizer, creating a link between nutrient removal and beneficial reuse
• This study aimed to quantify nutrient uptake rates of Ulva lactuca in order to estimate how much nutrient load could theoretically be reduced through large-scale cultivation

Does Information Loss Bias Our Estimates Of Predation In The Fossil Record?, Ashcon Davachi

Ocean Engineering and Marine Sciences Student Publications

• Predation in fossil marine-ecosystems is generally estimated through analysis of time-averaged prey assemblages.
• Do time-averaged assemblages reflect predation on smaller ecological time scales?
• In this project I compared estimates of predation-related damage to snail shells derived on two ecological time scales to determine whether information loss biases our estimates of predation in the fossil record

Waste Not, Get Watts: Waste-To-Energy And Gas-To-Energy Systems Comparison, Sydney E. Cordeiro

Ocean Engineering and Marine Sciences Student Publications

Waste-to-Energy (WtE) systems generate power by converting waste into usable energy through processes such as combustion and gasification, reducing reliance on landfills and recovering energy from discarded materials.¹ Gas-to-Energy (GtE) systems produce electricity from natural gas using high-efficiency generation technologies like gas turbines and combined-cycle plants, offering reliable and efficient power output.² This comparison evaluates the feasibility and scalability of WtE and GtE systems for Florida Tech, determining which approach would better meet campus sustainability goals.

Thermoelectric Migraine Cooling Cap, Emily Ralston

Ocean Engineering and Marine Sciences Student Publications

Migraines affect millions of people and can cause serious pain and discomfort. Many people use ice packs or cooling wraps to try to reduce the pain, but these only stay cold for a short amount of time. Because of this, there is a need for a cooling system that can provide longer and more controlled cooling. This project focuses on designing and building a wearable cooling cap that uses thermoelectric cooling technology. The goal is to create a system that can cool the head while moving heat away toward the neck area and help reduce migraine discomfort.