Architectural Engineering Commons^™

Evaluation Of Hydraulic Efficiency Of Disinfection Systems Based On Residence Time Distribution Curves, Jordan M. Wilson, Subhas K. Venayagamoorthy

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Hydraulic efficiency is a vital component in evaluating the disinfection capability of a contact system. Current practice evaluates these systems based upon the theoretical detention time (TDT) and the rising limb of the residence time distribution (RTD) curve. This evaluation methodology is expected because most systems are built based on TDT under a "black box" approach to disinfection system design. Within recent years, the proliferation of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) has allowed a more insightful approach to disinfection system design and analysis. Research presented in this study using CFD models and physical tracer studies shows that evaluation methods based upon …

Evaluation Of Compacted Silt Characteristics By Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity Testing, Desislava Z. Slavova, David M. Weidinger, Adam F. Sevi, Louis Ge

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Unintrusive measurement of field modulus and moisture content of roadway subgrade and fill materials greatly enhances field control during construction. Establishing a measurement method in a laboratory setting provides an initial assessment of a tool's possible usefulness in the field. an ultrasonic test system was used in this research in order to determine the wave velocities of cylindrical soil specimens in a laboratory setting in support of a Briaud Compactive Device (BCD) research project. the BCD is a non-destructive test method that can quickly determine soil modulus both in the laboratory and the field. Cylindrical soil samples of silt were …

Design Charts For Retaining Walls In Seismic Areas, Yingwei Wu, Shamsher Prakash

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Retaining walls have failed either by sliding away from the backfill or due to combined action of sliding and rocking displacements, during earthquakes. Performance based design of the retaining walls in seismic areas must account for the likely displacements, in addition to calculating the usual factors of safety against failure in bearing, sliding and overturning. a realistic model for estimating dynamic displacement has been developed, which accounts for the combined action of sliding and rocking and takes into consideration, non-linear soil stiffness in sliding, and rocking, geometrical and material damping in sliding, and rocking, and coupling effects. This model was …

Nonlinear Modeling Of A Sustainable Material, Jorien Gill Baza

Master's Theses

This study developed a nonlinear constitutive model for a sustainable orthotropic material. Existing methods for constitutive models of wood were improved upon to include the nonlinear stress-strain response not only in the two orthogonal axes but at any orientation to the strong axis of the material. This method also simplifies the nonlinear stress-strain relationships into bilinear stress-strain curves which can be valuable in hand calculations as well as finite-element analyses. The effectiveness of the proposed constitutive model is demonstrated by comparing bilinear stress-strain predictions to experimental data.

Web-Based Intelligent Computational Argumentation Based Conflict Resolution In Air Traffic Management, Xiaoqing Frank Liu, Ravi Santosh Arvapally, Hojong Baik, Rubal Wanchoo

Computer Science Faculty Research & Creative Works

Collaborative decision making (CDM) is a process of reaching consensus on a potential solution of an issue through the evaluation of the different possible alternatives. the web-Based intelligent computational argumentation system allows concerned stakeholders to post their arguments on different alternatives, assign weights and priorities to the arguments and reach the most favorable alternative using fuzzy intelligent techniques over the Internet. Exchange of information among the stakeholders improves the collaboration and drives towards the collective intelligence. in this paper, we show how our tool facilitates resolution of conflicts in air traffic management. It could enhance the Ground Delay Program (GDP) …

Seismic Performance Of Square Rc Bridge Columns Under Combined Loading Including Torsion With Low Shear, Q. Li, Abdeldjelil Belarbi, S. S. Prakash

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

During earthquake excitations, reinforced concrete bridge columns can be subjected to a combination of axial load, shear force, flexural moments, and torsional moments. the torsional moment can be much more significant in columns of bridges that are skewed, curved, have unequal spans, or unequal column heights. Combined loading including torsion can result in complex flexural and shear failure of these bridge columns. This paper presents an experimental study on the seismic behavior of square reinforced concrete columns under combined cyclic flexural and torsional moments. the columns in this study were designed with an aspect ratio of six and tested under …

Structural Health Monitoring Of Reinforced Concrete Columns Subjected To Reversed Cyclic Loading Using Innovative Smart Aggregates, Yashar Moslehy, Haichang Gu, Abdeljalil Belarbi, Y. L. Mo, Gangbing Song

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Structural health monitoring is an important issue for the maintenance of large-scale civil infrastructure, especially for bridge columns. in this paper, an innovative piezoceramic-Based approach is developed for the structural health monitoring of reinforced concrete columns. an innovative piezoceramic-Based device, smart aggregate, is utilized as a transducer for health monitoring purposes. to investigate the seismic behavior of RC bridge columns, structural health monitoring tests were performed on two bridge columns under combined reversed cyclic loading at Missouri University of Science and Technology. Experimental results show that the proposed smart aggregate-Based approach successfully evaluated the health status of concrete columns during …

Culvert Material Cost Comparison, New England Environmental Finance Center

Water

The following tables provide a detailed look at the role that culvert material and culvert diameter play in the overall cost of a culvert replacement project.

Culvert Material Cost Comparison, New England Environmental Finance Center

Economics and Finance

The following tables provide a detailed look at the role that culvert material and culvert diameter play in the overall cost of a culvert replacement project. Table 1 displays the cost per foot purchase price arranged by diameter size for the various culvert materials that are currently available. Table 2 displays the average additional culvert pipe material cost (increased cost to upsize minus original in-kind replacement cost) that would be incurred when upsizing a given diameter of culvert with a 50 foot length by factors of: 200%, 250% and 300%.

Research Agenda For Transportation Infrastructure Preservation And Renewal: Conference Report, Joseph L. Schofer, Leonard Evans, Michael P. Freeman, Larry L. Galehouse, Samer Madanat, Ali Maher, Sue Mcneil, John J. Myers, Robert L. Peskin, Butch Wlaschin

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

No abstract provided.

An Investigation Of The Influence Of Diaphragm Flexibility On Building Design Through A Comparison Of Forced Vibration Testing And Computational Analysis, Blake Alan Roskelley

Master's Theses

An assessment of the validity of idealizing a concrete diaphragm as rigid was performed through the modal analysis of three existing buildings. Modal analysis was performed both by physical experimentation and computational analysis. Experimental determination of the mode shapes shows that two of the three buildings’ diaphragms exhibited flexible behavior. The experimental results were compared to computational analysis results and were shown to be similar, confirming that that the two building diaphragms are not rigid. As a standard, diaphragms with aspect ratios less than three are permitted to be idealized as rigid per ASCE 7-05. To determine the effect of …

Foundations For Dynamic Loads, Vijay K. Puri, Shamsher Prakash

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Design of foundations in earthquake prone areas needs special considerations. Shallow foundations may experience a reduction in bearing capacity and increase in settlement and tilt due to seismic loading. the reduction in bearing capacity depends on the nature and type of soil and ground acceleration parameters. in the case of piles, the soil-pile behavior under earthquake loading is generally nonlinear. the nonlinearity must be accounted for by defining soil-pile stiffness in terms of strain dependent soil modulus. a comparison of observed and predicted pile behavior under dynamic loads has attracted the attention of several investigators. the lateral dynamic pile response …

Top Tips For Domestic Refurbishment, Joseph Little

Articles

1) It stands to reason that insulating a wall should not affect its strength or longevity, nor should it result in a buildup of moisture (inter-stitial condensation) or mould. However the Industry is currently gripped with a desire to insulate to the highest standard (U-value) at the lowest financial cost, as quickly as possible, with little thought of these issues. An appropriate, robust solution must take the original wall, the occupant’s health, the room’s function and even the building’s location into account.

Urban Architecture For Rural East Africa: A Sustainable Solution, Craig Baltimore

Architectural Engineering

No abstract provided.

Integrating Air Handling Units In Office Buildings For High Performance, Yuebin Yu

Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This study investigates the thermal load features in office buildings and proposes an innovative Integrated Air Handling Unit (IAHU) concept in order to achieve energy savings with conventional office building air handling systems. The corresponding deduction of IAHU for an acceptable Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) and better energy performance is conducted. The system variables and constraints are analyzed in detail to understand the feasibility and operability of IAHU. The control logics and implementation methods are elaborated for typical system layouts. With an IAHU operation, the internal heat gain can be transferred from an interior region into an exterior region in …

Unlv Magazine, Tony Allen, Shane Bevell, Donna Mcaleer, Ched Whitney, Cate Weeks

UNLV Magazine

No abstract provided.

New Code Changes Under The 2009 Ibc, John W. Lawson

Architectural Engineering

The evolution of building codes typically produce design provisions that are expected to create safer and more accurate designs. We as engineers expect building codes to advance the state of the art with each successive edition. The 2009 International Building Code (IBC) and the Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete (ACI 318-08) have significant revisions affecting the design of tilt-up buildings, but in some cases not necessarily advancing the state of the art. For example, the latest ACI 318 edition is largely revising slender wall design back to match equations found in the old 1997 UBC. In addition, the latest …

Lessons Learned In Sustainable Information And Technology Transfer Considering Culture And Resources, Craig V. Baltimore

Architectural Engineering

In terms of information and technology transfer, sustainability is defined as the ability for a society (or culture) to maintain and incorporate the information and technology in a long term manner without continued outside influence. When a major disaster occurs, like the recent Haiti earthquake, the good intentioned outside relief effort is often immediate with no lasting effects. For example, to have a new building built out of precast panels engineered and manufactured in the U.S., and erected with volunteers from outside of Haiti, will immediately provide for the local community. But will have the people learned in terms of …

Knowledge Transfer And Adobe Block, Craig Baltimore

Architectural Engineering

No abstract provided.

Industry Participation In The Interdisciplinary Team Design Project Course Of A Master Of Architectural Engineering Program, Lauren M. Ronsse, Lily M. Wang, Clarence E. Waters

Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Faculty Publications

This is a case study of extensive industry participation in the capstone design course of the Master of Architectural Engineering program at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln. This course, entitled Interdisciplinary Team Design Project, pairs teams of professional engineers and students to provide mentoring, assessment, and feedback, as the students work on interdisciplinary teams to design the building systems for a real-world project. For the spring 2010 semester, over 33 industry professionals participated in the course, each contributing approximately 40 to 50 hours of mentoring and assessment. This paper describes the course format and industry involvement, which provides students …

Investigation Of Patient Perception Of Hospital Noise And Sound Level Measurements: Before, During, And After Renovations Of A Hospital Wing, Cassandra H. Wiese

Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Acoustic conditions in hospitals have been shown to influence a patient’s physical and psychological health. Noise levels in an Omaha, Nebraska, hospital were measured and compared between various times: before, during, and after renovations of a hospital wing. The renovations included cosmetic changes and the installation of new in-room patient audio-visual systems. Sound pressure levels were logged every 10-seconds over a four-day period in three different locations: at the nurses' station, in the hallway, and in a nearby patient’s room. The resulting data were analyzed in terms of the hourly A-weighted equivalent sound pressure levels (��_��eq) as …

Intricacies Of Professional Certifications For Quality Management (Qm), Edmund R. Martelli

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The modern manufacturing marketplace is extremely complex and constantly changing. Career professionals often seek job placement, career advancement, and continuing education through professional certifications. Professional certifications in the United States (U.S.) have been evolving since 1911. In the 1950s, engineering groups established professional certifications and licenses. In the 1980s, administration of accreditation of certification programs proliferated, and by the 1990s, many government and professional organizations sought to standardize procedures for the industry. Currently, professional certifications are available for virtually every profession and issued by multitudes of organizations.

Quality management (QM) encompasses an extensive combination ofprofessional abilities. Providers of professional certifications …

Seismic Assessment Of An Existing Non-Seismically Designed Major Bridge-Abutment-Foundation System, Aman Mwafy, Oh Sung Kwon, Amr Elnashai

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A comprehensive study carried out to assess the seismic response of a 59-span bridge using a refined inelastic modeling approach and considering Soil-Structure Interaction (SSI) is summarized in this paper. the focus is on describing the methodology adopted to idealize the bridge and its foundation system, while only highlights from the extensive elastic and inelastic analyses are presented. the bridge represents a typical case of vulnerable complex bridges since it was built in the early seventies with minimal seismic design requirements at a distance of about 5 km from a major fault. the SSI analysis is significant in this study …

Multi-Channel Orchestral Anechoic Recordings For Auralizations, Michelle C. Vigeant, Lily M. Wang, Jens Holger Rindel, Claus Lynge Christensen, Anders Christian Gade

Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Faculty Publications

Multi-channel orchestral anechoic recordings were obtained at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) in June 2005. Every orchestral part of specific movements of two symphonies, Brahms’ Symphony No. 4, 3rd movement, and Mozart’s Symphony No. 40 in g minor, 1st movement, were digitally recorded using five 0.5” DPA microphones, with four surrounding the musicians in the horizontal plane and the fifth directly above. The recordings were made in DTU’s large anechoic chamber, which has free space of about 1000 m3 and a lower frequency limit of 50 Hz. Each musician was recorded individually, and to assist with overall synchronization of …

Examining The Relationships Between Monaural And Binaural Classroom Acoustics Parameters And Student Achievement, Lauren M. Ronsse, Lily M. Wang, Paul L. Sim

Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Faculty Publications

This study investigates the relationships between several classroom acoustics parameters and student achievement. Detailed binaural room impulse response measurements were conducted in four elementary school classrooms in a midwestern public school system in the United States. Unoccupied background noise levels were also recorded in these spaces. Previous studies have compared how different room acoustics metrics predict speech intelligibility, while another investigation examined perception-based binaural metrics in a typical classroom. This study extends these previous research areas by comparing both binaural classroom acoustics metrics and unoccupied background noise levels to each other and to the standardized student achievement scores of students …

Cyber-Physical Codesign Of Distributed Structural Health Monitoring With Wireless Sensor Networks, Gregory Hackmann, Weijun Guo, Guirong Yan, Chenyang Lu, Shirley Dyke

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Our Deteriorating Civil Infrastructure Faces the Critical Challenge of Long-Term Structural Health Monitoring for Damage Detection and Localization. in Contrast to Existing Research that Often Separates the Designs of Wireless Sensor Networks and Structural Engineering Algorithms, This Paper Proposes a Cyber-Physical Co-Design Approach to Structural Health Monitoring based on Wireless Sensor Networks. Our Approach Closely Integrates (1) Flexibility-Based Damage Localization Methods that Allow a Tradeoff between the Number of Sensors and the Resolution of Damage Localization, and (2) an Energy-Efficient, Multi-Level Computing Architecture Specifically Designed to Leverage the Multi-Resolution Feature of the Flexibility-Based Approach. the Proposed Approach Has Been Implemented …

Low Viscosity Pore Fluid To Manufacture Transparent Soil, Honghua Zhao, Louis Ge, Ronaldo Luna

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Transparent soil has been investigated for its potential as a substitute research media for natural soil. the mechanism for manufacturing the transparent soil is through adding an appropriate pore fluid to silica gel particles with the same refractive index. Two types of high viscosity pore fluids were identified by Iskander in 1994. However, because of the high viscosity of these two pore fluids, air was easily entrapped, which made the manufacture of a large mass of transparent soil difficult. in addition, the identified pore fluids caused serious membrane deterioration during triaxial laboratory testing. This research presented herein is an experimental …

Liquefaction Study Of Heterogeneous Sand: Centrifuge, Pradipta Chakrabortty, Radu Popescu, Ryan Phillips

Architectural Engineering

From past numerical research and small scale laboratory tests, it has been observed that more excess pore water pressure (EPWP) is generated during earthquakes in a heterogeneous sand deposit than in the corresponding homogeneous sand with relative density equal to the average relative density of the heterogeneous sand. This interesting phenomenon is investigated here in large scale experiments using geotechnical centrifuge modeling techniques. A series of liquefaction tests have been conducted at C-CORE’s geotechnical centrifuge facility: Two on variable sand and one on uniform sand deposits. A one level frame structure resting on two strip footings was also placed on …

Interdisciplinary Design: The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly, Jill Nelson, Brent Nuttall, Allen Estes

Architectural Engineering

Today’s students are faced with far different challenges upon graduation than those encountered in past years. One of the most significant of these challenges is the need to work within the framework of integrated project delivery where all disciplines work as a cohesive team to produce a project. In 2004, the Construction Management Department at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo,CA began teaching a three credit hour design/build course focused on integrated project delivery. That course, taught primarily to construction management students, has now evolved into a true interdisciplinary experience that is taught in a team environment by …

Exceed Ii: Advanced Training For Even Better Teaching, Debra Larson, Allen Estes, Norman Dennis, Ronald Welch, Carol Considine

Architectural Engineering

In 2007, the American Society of Civil Engineering’s Committee on Faculty Development (CFD) conducted a longitudinal survey of all the past participants of the ExCEEd Teaching Workshop (ETW). The CFD received 173 responses, representing 40% of the ETW population at that time, to its survey about skills and the long term value of ETW. Important to this paper, 73% of the survey respondents said that they were interested in attending a post, advanced ETW. Motivated by these survey results, the CFD began its planning for a pilot ExCEEd II workshop during the 2008-2009 academic year. In the summer of 2009, …