Architecture Commons^™

Ab-10-018: The Effects Of Noise From Building Mechanical Systems With Tonal Components On Human Performance And Perception (1322-Rp), Erica E. Ryherd, Lily M. Wang

Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Faculty Publications

This study investigated the effects of noise from building mechanical systems with tonal components on human task performance and perception. Six different noise conditions based on in-situ measurements were reproduced in an office-like setting; all were set to approximately the same sound level (47 dBA) but could have one particular tonal frequency (120 Hz, 235 Hz, or 595 Hz) at one of two tonal prominence ratios (5 or 9). Thirty participants were asked to complete typing, grammatical reasoning, and math tasks plus subjective questionnaires, while being exposed for approximately 1 hour to each noise condition. Results show that the noise …

Computational Modeling Of Effects Of Alloying Elements On Elastic Coefficients, Z. K. Liu, H. Zhang, S. Ganeshan, Y. Wang, S. N. Mathaudhu

Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Faculty Publications

Models for composition and temperature dependencies of single-crystal elastic stiffness coefficients are developed and applied to the Al₁₂Mg₁₇ and hexagonal closed-packed solution phases in the Mg–Al system based on data from first-principles calculations. In combination with models for multi-phases, the bulk, shear, and Young’s moduli of Mg–Al alloys are predicted and compared with available experimental data in the literature. It is noted that both phase transition and grain boundary sliding may play important roles in the elastic coefficients as a function of temperature.

Ab-10-017: Combined Effects Of Noise And Temperature On Human Comfort And Performance (1128-Rp), Dale Tiller, Lily M. Wang, Amy Musser, Matthew Radik

Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Faculty Publications

This paper summarizes results from an experiment designed to investigate the combined effects of noise and temperature on human thermal comfort and task performance. Thirty subjects (16 females, 14 males) were exposed to all combinations of five thermal conditions (PMV +1 [79.6°F:26.4°C], PMV +0.5 [75.8°F:24.3°C], PMV 0 [72.1°F:22.3°C], PMV -0.5 [68.3°F:20.2°C], and PMV -1 [64.6°F:18.1°C]), three RC noise levels (RC-30, RC-40, and RC-50), and two sound qualities (neutral and rumbly): all sounds mimicked noise from building ventilation systems. After a one-hour adaptation period at each condition, subjects rated their thermal comfort using the ASHRAE Thermal Comfort Scale and the Tenant …

Ab-10-019: Human Performance And Perception-Based Evaluations Of Indoor Noise Criteria For Rating Mechanical System Noise With Time-Varying Fluctuations (1322-Rp), Lily M. Wang, Cathleen C. Novak

Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Faculty Publications

The goal of this study was to investigate the effects of noise from building mechanical systems with time-varying fluctuations on human task performance and perception, and to determine how well current indoor noise rating methods account for this performance and perception. Six different noise conditions with varying degrees of time-varying fluctuations, many focused in the low frequency rumble region, were reproduced in an office-like setting. Thirty participants were asked to complete typing, grammatical reasoning, and math tasks plus subjective questionnaires, while being exposed for approximately one hour to each noise condition. Results show that the noise conditions with higher sound …

Concrete Slender Wall Design – Back To The Future, John W. Lawson, James Lai

Architectural Engineering

Slender concrete walls incorporated into tilt-up construction
over the past 60 years have performed remarkably well under
out-of-plane wind and seismic loads. While issues associated
with seismic wall anchorage gave this form of construction a
black-eye in the early days, the concrete walls themselves
have always performed very well even as far back as their
first use in the early 1900s. Yet the height-to-thickness
limitations in 1985 and earlier model building codes were
proved irrational and were removed. We as engineers expect
building codes to evolve and advance the state of the art with
each successive edition. The latest edition …

Diapycnal Diffusivities In Homogeneous Stratified Turbulence, D. D. Stretch, S. K. Venayagamoorthy

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Quantifying diapycnal mixing in stably stratified turbulence is fundamental to the understanding and modeling of geophysical flows. Data of diapycnal mixing from direct numerical simulations of homogeneous stratified turbulence and from grid turbulence experiments, are analyzed to investigate the scaling of the diapycnal diffusivity. In these homogeneous flows the instantaneous diapycnal diffusivity is given exactly by Kd= ∈ρ/ (∂ ρ /∂z)²where ∈ρ is the dissipation rate of density fluctuations, and ∂ ρ /∂z is the mean density gradient. The diffusivity Kd may be expressed in terms of the large-scale properties of the turbulence as K d = γLE …

Modeling Permanent Deformation Of Unbound Granular Materials Under Repeated Loads, Cheng Chen, Louis Ge, Jiansheng Zhang

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Finite-element analysis on a pavement structure under traffic loads has been a viable option for researchers and designers in highway pavement design and analysis. Most of the constitutive drivers used were nonlinear elastic models defined by empirical resilient modulus equations. Few isotropic/kinematic hardening elastoplastic models were used but applying thousands of repeated load cycles became computationally expensive. in this paper, a cyclic plasticity model based on fuzzy plasticity theory is presented to model the long-term behavior of unbound granular materials under repeated loads. the discussion focuses on the model parameters that control long-term behavior such as elastic shakedown. the performance …

Evaluation Of A Web-Based Learning Tool For Teaching Gis Within The Context Of Transportation Engineering, Ashley Banaszek, Hong Sheng, Richard H. Hall, Ronaldo Luna, Ghulam Bham

Business and Information Technology Faculty Research & Creative Works

An Exploratory Study Was Conducted to Evaluate a Web-Based Learning Module for Teaching Geographic Information Systems to Civil Engineering Students within the Context of a Problem Related to Crash Data Analysis. This Module is One Part of a National Science Foundation Course, Curricula, and Laboratory Improvement Project in Which GIS Modules Are Being Developed for Several Areas of Civil Engineering. the Module Was Used as a Laboratory Assignment in a Transportation Engineering Course. Two Days Later Students Completed Both an Objective Multiple-Choice Quiz over the Material Covered in the Lab and a Subjective Questionnaire. Quantitative Analysis Was Carried Out on …

The Thinking Hand: Book Review, Jim Roche

Articles

In this new book Juhani Pallasmaa continues his phenomenological exploration begun in ‘The Eyes of the Skin (2005)’, with the ‘Thinking Hand’ here proffered as a metaphor for his contention that all our senses, have innate imbedded crucial skills which help us perform the most basic daily tasks – and to create inspired works of art and architecture.

Control Force Estimation In Seismic Building Design, Xiaozhe Zhang, Franklin Y. Cheng

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This paper presents two approaches of estimating the control force magnitude in the building structure's seismic design. One is by spectrum average in frequency domain, and the other is by nondeterministic Monte Carlo analysis in time domain. the spectrum method is proposed to find the estimation by averaging the system's frequency response with an earthquake spectrum as a weighting factor. the nondeterministic method is based on sets of potential ground motions generated numerically. the approaches are developed in the concept of performance design, with studies based on the site potential seismic hazard and presenting results at different levels of displacement …

High-Strength Selfconsolidating Concrete Girders Subjected To Elevated Compressive Fiber Stresses, Part 1: Prestress Loss And Camber Behavior, Jared E. Brewe, John J. Myers

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The design of prestressed concrete members is restricted by the requirement that the extreme compressive fiber stress at midspan of simply supported members be less than 60% of the concrete compressive strength at release of prestressing. the purported purpose of this limit is to address serviceability performance, but it places unnecessary limits on the capability of the materials. for this research program, six prestressed concrete girders were produced with high-strength self-consolidating concrete and subjected to compressive fiber stress levels ranging from 65% to 84% of the concrete compressive strength at release of prestressing. Time dependent concrete surface strains were measured …

Special Issue On Modeling In Geotechnical Engineering For Design And Materials, R. A. Tarefder, D. H. Chen, Y. N. Ge

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

No abstract provided.

Finite Element Modeling Of A Field-Scale Shored Mechanically Stabilized Earth Wall, Cheng Chen, Louis Ge, Jia Sheng Zhang

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The shored mechanically stabilized earth (SMSE) walls are typically used in steep terrain to allow construction of a new road or widening of an existing narrow-road by constructing the wall on the outboard of the roadway. the state-of-practice suggests a minimum bench width and MSE reinforcement length equivalent to seventy percent of the design height of the MSE wall. It has been shown recently that shorter reinforcement length is sufficient when the SMSE wall system is constructed, and the retaining benefits provided by the shoring component should be taken into consideration. in this paper, a finite element analysis is performed …

Simulation Prototyping Of An Experimental Solar House, Anna Osborne, Stuart Baur, Katie Grantham

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This paper presents a comparative analysis between an energy simulation model and an actual solar home. the case study used was the Team Missouri's 2009 Solar Decathlon entry. the home was evaluated using the predicted data developed with the use of Energy-10 Version 1.8. the software simulates the energy use performance of building strategies ranging from building envelope and system efficiency options. the performance data used was collected during the 2009 Solar Decathlon competition. Results comparing energy efficient strategies, consumption and generation are explored with future implications discussed. © 2010 by the authors.

Modeling Resilient Modulus Of Unbound Granular Materials Under Repeated Loading, Cheng Chen, Louis Ge, Jia Sheng Zhang

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Resilient modulus of unbound granular materials is a key design parameter for mechanistic empirical pavement design. But the complexity of the affected factors has made it challenging and difficult for practical designers and researchers to find an appropriate model to describe the entire stress-strain response where the plastic deformation is accumulated during the repeated loading condition. a cyclic plasticity model based on fuzzy sets plasticity theory is presented in this paper to model the resilient modulus and permanent strain behavior of unbound granular materials under repeated loading. the concept of the fuzzy set plasticity is first introduced, followed by its …

Performance Based Analysis Of Steel Buildings, Matthew Joseph Williams

Master's Theses

This project investigated the performance of two separate building types, designed using ASCE 7-05, using the analysis procedures from ASCE 41-06. The results from the ASCE 41-06 analyses were compared to the expected performance level of Life Safety to determine the adequacy of the ASCE 7-05 design. ASCE 7-05 is intended to result in designs that perform to a Life Safety performance level regardless of the building type. A design using the AISC specifications for a steel Special Moment Frame and the lateral loads from ASCE 7-05 resulted in a building that slightly exceeded an Immediate Occupancy performance level for …

Design And Performance Of Load Bearing Shear Walls Made From Composite Rice Straw Blocks, Kevin Robert Camann

Master's Theses

Although rice straw and other grains have been used in building since pre-history, in the past two decades, there has been a move to utilize this rapidly renewable, locally available, agricultural byproduct as part of the sustainable construction movement. Up to this point, this has been done by simply stacking up the full straw bales. Stak Block, invented by Oryzatech, Inc., is a modular, interlocking block made of a composite of rice straw and binding agent that serves as an evolution in straw construction. This study investigates the feasibility of using these Stak Blocks as a structural system. The report …

Material Sustainability, Jessica Meadows, Natasha Morris

Architectural Engineering

This paper addresses the sustainability of the materials used to construct buildings today. Timber, concrete and steel are analyzed for carbon output, cost, and recyclable-ability.

Settlement Of Reinforced Subgrades Under Dynamic Loading, V. K. Puri, S. Kumar, B. M. Das, Shamsher Prakash, B. Yeo

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Model tests were conducted in the laboratory to study the settlement behavior of small size footing resting on geogrid reinforced sand layer and subjected to dynamic loads. Tests were conducted by first subjecting the footing to an initial sustained static load and then superimposing additional predetermined dynamic loads. the frequency of dynamic load was kept at 1 Hz which was well below the resonant frequency of the system. based on the observed test results, the nature of variation of the permanent settlement of the foundation with intensity of static loading and the amplitude of cyclic load are presented in this …

Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity Tests On Compacted Soil, David M. Weidinger, Louis Ge, Richard Wesley Stephenson

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

In This Paper, Results of a Series of Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity Tests on Compacted Soil Were Presented and Discussed. Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity Tests Provide Compression and Shear Wave Velocity Information that Can Be Used in Calculating Dynamic Elastic Moduli Such as Young's Modulus and Shear Modulus. from the Test Results, Calculated Poisson's Ratio Shows a Linear Relation with the Water Content in Compacted Soil, Which Leads to a Linear Trend in Both P and S Wave Velocity Against Water Content. Furthermore, Presenting Plots in Bulk Density Versus Wave Velocity Gives a Clearer Trend Than Dry Density Versus Wave Velocity. © …

Structural Damage Localization With Tolerance To Large Time Synchronization Errors In Wsns, Guirong Yan, Shirley J. Dyke, Wei Song, Gregory Hackmann, Chenyang Lu

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

With Recent Technological Advances in Smart Sensor Platforms, Structural Condition Monitoring Implementations based on Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) Have Received Considerable Attention. Modal Identification is an Integral Step in Many Structural Condition Monitoring Systems. However, Accurate Time Synchronization is Not Always Possible, Leading to Incorrect Identification of the Mode Shapes. Although Strict Time Synchronization of the Wireless Sensors Has Been Viewed as Crucial for the Identification of Mode Shapes, a New Perspective is Taken Herein. the Distortion in the Identified Mode Shapes is Characterized and Accommodated. Then the Resulting Mode Shapes Are Used with a Flexibility-Based Damage Detection Approach to …

Do Companies Value Maintaining Iso 9000 Certification? 2009 Case Study Of 41 Us Companies First Certified In 2000, Sarah Joy Namara

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The costs of obtaining and maintaining ISO certification are high. Moreover, studies have shown mixed results on the benefits of the certification. Consequently, the objective of this research was to verify whether or not companies do value maintaining the ISO 9000 certification.

The empirical study was conducted on 41 U.S. companies that were first certified in 2000. The companies formed an existing database as they were used by Dr. Arbuckle in 2004 in his doctoral dissertation. Of the 41 companies, 12 were found to be out of business, leaving a final sample size of 29. Data were gathered from this …

Simulations Of Aquaculture Dissolved Waste Transport And Mixing In Near-Coastal Waters, S. K. Venayagamoorthy, O. B. Fringer, J. R. Koseff, R. L. Naylor

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The present study focuses on understanding the transport and fate of dissolved waste from aquaculture pens in near-coastal environments using the hydrodynamic code SUNTANS, which employs unstructured grids to compute flows at very high resolution. We perform simulations of the dissolved waste field and study the effects of different flow conditions (tides and currents) on the evolution of the waste plume. The fish pen causes partial blockage of the flow, leading to the deceleration of the approaching flow and the formation of a downstream wake. Results of the concentration field for an oscillatory flow condition superimposed on a mean current …

Use Of In-Planta Solid Phase Sampling Devices To Delineate Voc Plumes, Joel Gerard Burken, Kendra Waltermire, Emily Sheehan

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Plants Directly Interact with Surrounding Water, Air, and Soil, Collecting and Storing Chemicals and Elements from the Surrounding Environment. Two New and Innovative Sampling Methods in Which This Valuable Data Can Be Accessed to Replace as Well as Supplement Contaminated-Site Investigations Have Been Developed. When Determining the Extent of the Plume on a Contaminated Site, Groundwater Sampling May Be Limited Due to Time, Site Access, and Expense. by using New Techniques that Place Sampling Devices Inside the Trees on Site, We Can Sample Trees Naturally Occurring on a Contaminated Site or Those Planted in Phytoremediation or Redevelopment Efforts, Evaluate the …

The Structure Of A Story, Pamalee Brady, Edmond P. Saliklis

Architectural Engineering

The stories of engineering heroes can serve as an exciting means of engaging young students in engineering concepts that are linked to their math and science curriculum. This research explores the development of a storytelling framework including the story of an engineer, a hands-on activity for exploring a related engineering idea, reinforcement of standard math and science curriculum and assessment of the effectiveness of the storytelling medium to teach and inspire young students. Storytelling principles are used to develop these narratives into compelling and engaging stories through the perspective of an individual character. Archival and other scholarly materials on fascinating …

Analysis Of Stabilized Adobe In Rural East Africa, Grace Ying Yu Chen

Master's Theses

ABSTRACT

ANALYSIS OF STABILIZED ADOBE IN RURAL EAST AFRICA

Grace Ying Yu Chen

This project seeks to assist people in rural East Africa by proposing sustainable building methods which implement affordable and durable adobe bricks for construction. Adobe, one of the oldest sustainable building materials in the world, is strong when dry but lacks structural integrity when exposed to moisture. Chemical additives such as cement and lime are added into the adobe mix to protect the brick against moisture decomposition. Once the chemicals are added and the mix is formed into a brick, a stabilized adobe brick is formed.

Cement, …

Optimization Of Two-Way Post-Tensioned Concrete Floor Systems, Gaelyn B. Krauser

Master's Theses

This thesis investigates a parametric study of a flat plate floor system designed using post-tensioning. The load balanced by the post-tensioning, the slab depth, and the strength of concrete were varied to create the parametric study of a hotel/condominium grid layout. In order to perform the parametric study, research was conducted on the development of post-tensioning, methods of analysis for two-way slab design, and post-tensioning methods of analysis. Design was conducted by hand through a series of Excel spreadsheets and compared to results found using the computer analysis program, ADAPT-PT. The designs found in the parametric study were then used …

Model For Reinforced Concrete Members Under Torsion, Bending, And Shear. I: Theory, Gary Greene, Abdeldjelil Belarbi

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A model has been developed that can predict the load-deformation response of a reinforced concrete (RC) member subjected to torsion combined with bending and shear to spalling or ultimate capacity. the model can also be used to create interaction surfaces to predict the failure of a member subjected to different ratios of applied torsion, bending, and shear. the model idealizes the sides of a reinforced concrete member as shear "wall panels." the applied loads are distributed to the wall panels as uniform normal stresses and uniform shear stresses. the shear stress due to an applied torsional moment and shear force …

Model For Reinforced Concrete Members Under Torsion, Bending, And Shear. Ii: Model Application And Validation, Gary Greene, Abdeldjelil Belarbi

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A model was recently proposed for predicting the load-deformation response of a reinforced concrete member under torsion combined with bending and shear to spalling or ultimate. This paper shows the application of the model to create interaction surfaces to predict the failure of a member subjected to different ratios of applied torsion, bending, and shear. the model was validated by comparing the predicted and experimental behavior of 28 members from three experimental studies available in the literature. the members were loaded under torsion combined with different ratios of bending, and shear. the torque-twist behavior, reinforcement stress, and concrete surface strain …

Graham, Robert Duke, 1900-1984 (Sc 1972), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Manuscript Collection Finding Aids

Finding aid and scan (Click on "Additional Files" below) for Manuscripts Small Collection 1972. Specifications from Ingram and Ingram, Architects and Engineers (Louisville, Kentucky) for a new residence to be built for Mr. and Mrs. Robert D. Graham, 1716 Normal Drive, Bowling Green, Kentucky.