Engineering Commons^™

Proctor And Harvard Miniature Compaction Energy Comparison, Julia Irene Loshelder

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Compaction with the Harvard Miniature Compaction Apparatus (HMCA) was investigated to develop a method that can be used in place of typical Proctor compaction. Advantages for compaction with the HMCA include the need for less soil for testing and less preparation time. To investigate the potential for HMCA as a replacement, soil specimens were compacted with both the Proctor and HMCA methodologies at equivalent energies. For this testing, the testing included modified energy (56,250 ft-lbf/ft3 [2693 kN-m/m3]), standard energy (12,375 ft-lbf/ft3 [593 kN-m/m3]), and reduced energy (6188 ft-lbf/ft3 [296 kN-m/m3]). Because there is a difference in compaction methods (impact for …

Cyclic Testing Of A Skewed Special Moment Frame Rbs Connection Having A Composite Concrete Slab, Adam Neil Kirchner

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Special moment frames (SMFs) having reduced beam section (RBS) connections are commonly used in high seismic areas as they resist lateral forces while preserving critical welded connection regions. RBS SMFs provide brace-free, unobstructed frame options which can be favorable for architectural purposes. However, when building designs require non-rectangular framing, laterally skewed connections may be needed. Current design provisions for SMF connections provide only limited commentary on such non-orthogonal connections as limited research exists documenting skewed frame behavior. This study experimentally evaluates the cyclic behavior of a full-scale double-sided skewed SMF RBS specimen having a composite concrete slab. During the imposed …

Use Of Bcsa Cement In Soil-Cement Mixtures As A Rapid Flood Repair Technique, Mariel Mayori Rivero

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The research discusses the vulnerable condition of hydraulic structures, specially dams and levees located in the United States, structures that are often times made of earthfill material and that have been greatly impacted by recent flood events. The need for a rapid setting material for active flood fighting efforts is inarguable, in order to mitigate collateral expenses caused by the often long closure times when repair is taking place, especially when dewatering is necessary. Therefore, this research tested different proportions of cement in soil-cement mixtures at varying moisture contents with the interest of evaluating the performance of the soil-cement when …

Building Services Engineering May/June 2024

Building Services Engineering

No abstract provided.

Experimental And Numerical Studies On The Compressive Strength Test Of Recycled Aggregate Concrete Using Digital Image Correlation, Bastian Okto Bangkit Sentosa, Joshua Ferdinand, Nuraziz Handika

Makara Journal of Technology

The utilization of recycled aggregate (RA) as substitute of natural aggregate in concrete contributes to the research of sustainable building construction materials. Many applications of RA have been studied worldwide. However, the application of RA with a specific range of strength and specific damage behavior requires further study. This research aims to examine the mechanical characteristics of RA concrete, particularly its load–displacement response and crack pattern, through the experimental and numerical studies of compressive strength test. Laboratory concrete waste from cylindrical sample with 30–35 MPa strength was chosen as RA. The digital image correlation (DIC) method was applied throughout the …

Hydrological Model Of The Diyala River Watershed In Iraq Using Soil Water Assessment Tool, Ahmed Sagban Khudier, Ahmed Naseh Ahmed Hamdan

Al-Bahir Journal for Engineering and Pure Sciences

The motivation of the present study is to study and address the limitations imposed on hydrological models and the spatial and temporal distribution of streamflow in the Watershed Diyala River (WDR) from January 1996 to April 2023, which has an area of 25652 km2, which is considered an important source of water for central and southern Iraq, to enable decision-makers to make a future management plan for streamflow. To achieve this motivation, the SWAT model was used and fed by input data such as a Digital elevation model with a 30 m resolution, a soil map, the land use and …

A 2-D Numerical Model For Evaluating Daylight Penetration In Short Tunnels For Enhanced Driver Safety, Joachim James

Master's Theses

It is commonly assumed that daylight will adequately penetrate short tunnels, leading to the misconception that artificial lighting is unnecessary during the daytime. Past studies revealed higher frequency of crashes in short tunnels and despite that there is lack of national guidelines warranting artificial lighting for short tunnels. Inadequately lit tunnels pose safety risks, while excessive lighting can be costly. Hence, it becomes crucial to investigate the extent of daylight penetration in short tunnels and identify disappearance zones within these tunnels. This research can help determine the necessity of artificial lighting, and which specific areas of the tunnel require lighting. …

A Review Of Electrically Conductive Cement Concrete Pavement For Sustainable Snow-Removal And Deicing: Road Safety In Cold Regions, Mohammad Anis, Mohamed Abdel-Raheem

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Within cold U.S. regions, winter storms can cause interruptions in transportation networks, affecting transportation entities’ revenue streams. Conventional snow-removal methods on roadways efficiently remove snow and ice, yet their adverse environmental impacts further make winter maintenance more challenging. In response to these concerns, electrically conductive cement concrete (ECCC) pavement has become an effective alternative for deicing and snow melting on road surfaces. ECCC utilizes the Joule heating principles to effectively melt snow and ice by incorporating conductive elements into conventional concrete. This paper comprehensively reviews the current literature on ECCC pavement. Previous studies have diligently explored various aspects of ECCC …

Proposed Charlotte To Atlanta High-Speed Passenger Rail Line: An Economic, Infrastructural, And Developmental Analysis In The Upstate Of South Carolina, Ian C. Macurda, Kimberly Whitehead

SC Upstate Research Symposium

This research paper is an in-depth analysis of the high-speed passenger rail line proposed between Charlotte, NC and Atlanta, GA and its impact on the economy, infrastructure, and future development of the Upstate of South Carolina. Currently, passenger rail service between Charlotte and Atlanta is offered on Amtrak at late hours throughout the night on its long-distance passenger rail line The Crescent from New York City, NY to New Orleans, LA. The train is often delayed and is operating at a deficit for Amtrak, like most of their long-distance routes. Traffic on Interstate 85 through the Upstate is another issue …

Real-Time Vehicle And Lane Detection Using Modified Overfeat Cnn: A Comprehensive Study On Robustness And Performance In Autonomous Driving, Monowar Hossain Saika, Sonjoy Paul Avi, Kazi Toriqul Islam, Tanjida Tahmina, Md Shahriar Abdullah, Touhid Imam

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

This examination researches the use of profound learning methods, explicitly utilizing Convolutional Brain Organizations (CNNs), for ongoing recognition of vehicles and path limits in roadway driving situations. The study investigates the performance of a modified Over Feat CNN architecture by making use of a comprehensive dataset that includes annotated frames captured by a variety of sensors, including cameras, LIDAR, radar, and GPS. The framework shows heartiness in identifying vehicles and anticipating path shapes in 3D while accomplishing functional rates of north of 10 Hz on different GPU setups. Vehicle bounding box predictions with high accuracy, resistance to occlusions, and efficient …

Using Virtual Reality Technologies In Built Environment Education, Rebekah Floyd, Kayla Walters, Stuart Werner Baur

Undergraduate Research Conference at Missouri S&T

Virtual reality (VR) offers transformative potential in built environment education, including human-made surroundings like buildings and infrastructure. This review explores VR's benefits, challenges, and trends in this field. VR fosters immersive learning, allowing students to explore architectural designs and urban planning scenarios. It provides hands-on experiences, enhancing spatial understanding and critical thinking. Simulations enable safe experimentation with design ideas and construction techniques without the real-life limitations or risk holding students back. However, challenges include high costs, technical limitations, and the need for educator training. Ensuring accessibility for all students is crucial. Despite challenges, VR's potential to revolutionize built environment education …

Forecasting Future Research Trends In The Construction Engineering And Management Domain Using Machine Learning And Social Network Analysis, Gasser G. Ali, Islam H. El-Adaway, Muaz O. Ahmed, Radwa Eissa, Mohamad Abdul Nabi, Tamima Elbashbishy, Ramy Khalef

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Construction Engineering and Management (CEM) is a broad domain with publications covering interrelated subdisciplines and considered a key source of knowledge sharing. Previous studies used scientometric methods to assess the current impact of CEM publications; however, there is a need to predict future citations of CEM publications to identify the expected high-impact trends in the future and guide new research efforts. To tackle this gap in the literature, the authors conducted a study using Machine Learning (ML) algorithms and Social Network Analysis (SNA) to predict CEM-related citation metrics. Using a dataset of 93,868 publications, the authors trained and tested two …

Assessment Of Engineering Performance And Environmental Impacts Of High Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (Rap) Asphalt Mixtures In Flexible Pavements, Ibrahim A.I.E. Elnaml

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Due to the critical role of asphalt pavements in national infrastructure development, there is a pressing need to investigate more sustainable materials and approaches. The use of natural aggregates and asphalt binders in asphalt pavement presents sustainability challenges due to the depletion of finite resources. Recycling Asphalt Pavement (RAP) offers a promising sustainable solution by substituting virgin aggregates and asphalt binders with recycled ones. However, increasing RAP contents in asphalt mixtures (>25%) can lead to premature cracking, insufficient durability, and limited longevity due to the presence of aged RAP-asphalt binder. To address these concerns, the application of novel recycling …

Reliability Of Using Secondary And Tertiary Treated Wastewater In Concrete Mixing And Curing, Amany G. Micheal Prof., Haidy Abd El Salam

Architectural Engineering

Water scarcity is a problem that faces many regions. In a developing and arid countries, the need for fresh water is exponentially increasing. One of the most water consuming industries is the construction industry, especially in concrete manufacturing. This research is an evaluation of the Reliability of recycled wastewater to be used in concrete manufacturing. Two different wastewater treatment regimens are implemented: secondary and tertiary treated wastewater. The treated wastewater, either secondary or tertiary, replaces potable water with percentages of 25%, 50%, and 100%. The mixture of the two types of water is used in concrete mixing and curing. Control …

Improvement Of Subgrade California Bearing Ratio (Cbr) Using Recycled Concrete Aggregate And Fly Ash, Safkat Tajwar Ahmed, Mozaher Ul Kabir, Chowdhury Zubayer Bin Zahid, Tahsin Tareque, Seyedali Mirmotalebi

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

The study aims to understand the effect of different admixtures on improving the quality of flexible pavement subgrades. In this paper, recycled concrete aggregates (RCA) and Fly Ash were used as the admixtures in improving the maximum dry density (MDD), swelling potential, and California bearing ratio (CBR) of subgrade soil. The percentages of RCA and fly Ash used were 5%, 10%, and 15%. With the upscaling in fly ash dosage, the optimum moisture content and the California bearing ratio increased. However, the MDD of soil decreased for higher fly ash contents. On the contrary, the optimum moisture content (OMC) of …

Thermo-Elasto-Plastic Stability Of Biaxially Loaded Hollow Rectangular Section Steel Beam-Columns With Applied Torsion, George Adomako Kumi

Civil & Environmental Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Presented herein is an experimental and theoretical study of biaxially loaded hollow rectangular section steel beam-columns with applied torsion at elevated temperatures. The theoretical analysis is based on a system of simultaneous materially nonlinear differential equations of equilibrium for which an iterative semi-analytic solution approach is formulated. Although the primary goal of this research is to study the influence of elevated temperatures on the steel member with the complex loading, rigorous analysis is also conducted of the member at ambient temperature for comparison. The experimental part of the study involves conducting tests on the members at both ambient and high …

Combine Effects Of Heavy Storm, Sea Level Rise, And Wind-Induced Surge On Flooding In A Low-Gradient Coastal Watershed In Eastern Virginia, Rutvik Rajendrabhai Patel

Civil & Environmental Engineering Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation examines and presents mechanisms of flooding in a low-gradient coastal watershed, located in Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA. The watershed comprises the North Landing River watershed and the West Neck Creek watershed, both characterized by a low topographic gradient. The analysis relied on examining simulations generated using one-dimensional and two-dimensional HEC-RAS models. These models were developed using a 1-m digital elevation model (DEM) obtained from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). To calibrate and validate the models, unsteady flows resulting from historical hurricanes (e.g., Matthew, Sandy, and Isabel), southern winds, and/or rising sea levels were utilized. Some flows were caused …

Dynamic Soil-Structure Response And Failure Of Wood Utility Poles Under Hurricane-Force Wind And Non-Linear Cable Loads, Ramani Ayakannu

Civil & Environmental Engineering Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation presents the outcome of a study of the dynamic soil-structure interaction response of tapered wood utility poles embedded in various foundation soils subject to quasi-static and dynamic wind loads. The study includes the effects of nonlinear soil behavior with varying quantities of moisture and nonlinear cable tension loads on a class H1 wood pole. The natural frequency response of the pole is determined using a finite element formulation. The dynamic response in the presence of wind-induced forcing function is studied using a SAP2000 finite element scheme with wind speeds up to 220 mph. The natural frequency of the …

Quasi-Static And Impact Load Response Of Bfrp-Reinforced Concrete Beams And Post-Terrorist-Attack Sub-Assemblages, José Luis Carrasquillo

Civil & Environmental Engineering Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation presents the outcome of a theoretical and experimental study of Basalt Fiber Reinforced Polymer (BFRP) reinforced concrete beams and post-terrorist-attack subassemblages subjected to either quasi-static or impact load. Both BFRP reinforcement as well as BFRP fabric are used in this investigation. The sub-assemblage consists of an otherwise two-span beam converted to a fixed-end single-span one owing to the loss of a middle column blasted off during the terrorist attack. The simply supported beams are subjected to a midspan quasistatic or an impact load. However, each sub-assemblage is subjected to a quasi-static load up to collapse to simulate the …

Stability And Strength Of Glass Frp Beam-Columns With Biaxial Bending And Torsion Including Shear And Warping Deformations, Emad M. Amin

Civil & Environmental Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Presented herein is a study of the stability and strength of pultruded glass fiber reinforced polymer (Glass FRP) beam-columns with an I-shaped cross section subjected to biaxial bending and torsion including shear and warping deformations. Three coupled differential equations of equilibrium including second-order effects and geometric imperfections are formulated and solved using a finite-difference scheme. Laboratory experiments are also conducted on glass FRP members with applied torsion; axial load; combined axial load with biaxial bending; and combined axial load, biaxial bending and torsional moment, respectively, for comparison to the theoretical predictions. The theoretical results agreed well with the experiments for …

Experimental Study On Fiber Reinforced Concrete (Frc) Beams With Splices, Mohie Eldin Salah Shoukry, Ahmed Mokhtar Tarabia, Nabil Youssef Nabil

Journal of Engineering Research

This paper presents the results of an experimental study involving nine simply supported beams featuring lap-spliced bars within the constant moment zone. All beams shared identical reinforcement details, including three longitudinal reinforcement bars (12 mm diameter) and two top reinforcement bars (8 mm diameter) for shear stirrup hanging. The lap-spliced specimens were created with a splice length of thirty times the bar diameter (360 mm). The study focused on two key parameters: the fiber content of hooked-end steel fibers used in the concrete mix and the presence of stirrups in the lap-splice region. The hooked-end steel fiber used was with …

Innovation In Egyptian Linear Construction Projects: Enablers, Obstacles, And Suggested Improvements, Saeed Ahmed Elshinawy, Mohammed Elsayed Elsharkawy Assis. Prof., Adel Ibrahim Eldosouky Emeritus Professor

Journal of Engineering Research

Abstract- This research aims to investigate the obstacles, enablers, and suggested improvements for innovation in the Egyptian linear construction projects. The study is motivated by the need to understand the dynamics of innovation within these projects and identify practical approaches to overcome obstacles to innovation.

Owners, contractors, and consultants involved in linear construction projects constituted the target population of the study. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from a representative sample of 70 participants.

It is found that time and budget constraints, along with traditional tendering and procurement methods were significant obstacles to innovation, while technological and technical …

Modelling Techniques For Slab Track Systems, Mohamed Hafez Fahmy Aly, Islam Mahmoud Abou El-Naga, Ahmed Abdul Hay Soliman, Muhammad Ahmad Diab

Journal of Engineering Research

The railway slab track has replaced the ballast material in the classical ballasted track with reinforced concrete slab or asphalt layer to cope up with the increasing axle loads, train high-speeds, and to reduce overall maintenance cost. This paper aims to investigate the linear and nonlinear behavior of the most common slab track systems (BÖGL, Shinkansen, and RHEDA 2000) using American (AREMA) loads for different soil types to recommend the most suitable analysis type for each component of the slab track systems. Slab track Finite Element models have been built using Midas GTS NX software. The geometric model for each …

Advancing Depth-Storage-Discharge Modeling In Regional Hydrology, Fahad Alshehri

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation presents the development of an innovative approach to populating rating characteristics and supporting hydrologic modeling, designed to simplify complex real-world hydrological systems and accurately estimate their responses to rainfall, runoff, baseflow and evaporation stresses. The core of this research addresses the challenges inherent in characterizing hydrography elements in hydrologic modeling, particularly in regions lacking comprehensive stream reach survey data, flow and stage. This issue is pronounced in areas with extensive wetland hydrography, where traditional modeling requires intensive manual calibration, and course rating data that are often unavailable. To overcome these challenges, this study introduces a novel procedure that …

Performance Assessment Of Microencapsulated Phase Change Materials With Low To High Thermoregulation Range In Asphalt Binder, Anil Kumar Baditha, Ayyaz Fareed

Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Fellow Symposium

Asphalt pavements face significant challenges due to low temperature cracking and rutting caused by extreme temperature fluctuations and traffic loading. These issues result in higher maintenance costs and reduced service life of the pavements. To address this, researchers explored the use of Microencapsulated Phase Change Materials (MPCMs) to induce thermoregulation in asphalt pavements. However, the existing research focused on high-temperature performance of binders, highlighting the need of research on evaluating the low-temperature performance. Therefore, the study aims to evaluate the impact of incorporating MPCMs on low to high temperature performance of binders. Three types of MPCMs were incorporated into asphalt …

Safety Investigation Of Crash Rates During Hurricane Evacuations, Amelia K. Lawson

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

This study aimed to investigate crash rates across four distinct periods—evacuation, re-entry, emergency, and non-emergency—during Hurricanes Matthew (2016), Irma (2017), and Michael (2018). A notable gap in existing research pertains to understanding crash rates during these critical phases of hurricane events. By addressing this gap, this research contributes to a deeper comprehension of evacuation transportation safety. The methodology employed ArcMap to construct an interactive map for data collection, encompassing key variables such as the number of crashes, traffic volumes, duration of each period under analysis, and roadway segment lengths for each hurricane. Evaluating the crash rate per million vehicular miles …

Dissolved Nitrogen Removal In Biochar Amended, High Permeability Media For Urban Stormwater Treatment, Mark Vicciardo

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Nutrient pollution in stormwater drives the eutrophication of inland and costal waterbodies which leads to sea grass retreat and the proliferation of harmful algal blooms (HAB). These anthropogenic effects destabilize ecosystems, and some HABs can pose direct human health risk. Bioretention, or the storage and controlled discharge of stormwater run-off in an ecologically engineered setting, is a potential solution to this problem. However, it relies heavily on the settling of particles as a nutrient removal mechanism, and thus struggles with pollutants, such as dissolved nitrogen, which is a particular problem in Florida where the geological prominence of phosphorus leaves nitrogen …

Numerical Study Of Cone Penetration In Calcareous Sands: Investigating Cone Tip Resistance Correction Factors For Crushable Soils, Stephanie Michelle Hyder

Dissertations and Theses

The cone penetration test (CPT) is used to characterize the behavior and properties of soils, including the susceptibility to earthquake liquefaction triggering. The cone tip resistance relates to liquefaction susceptibility through relative density, where relative density is closely related to both cone tip resistance and liquefaction susceptibility. Currently, published methods of estimating liquefaction potential (i.e., cyclic resistance ratio) are based on silica sands and do not properly characterize calcareous sands. The measured cone tip resistance in calcareous sands is lower than in silica sands at the same relative density; this difference is generally attributed to the higher compressibility of calcareous …

A 4-Node Shell Finite Element Based On Assumed Bending And Membrane Strains For Static Analysis Of Plates And Shells, Sifeddine Abderrahmani

Emirates Journal for Engineering Research

In this paper the development of a new rectangular flat shell element is proposed. This element is called SBRPK-SBRIE. This element is used in the numerical analysis of thin structures based on the strain approach with linear elastic behavior. Combining bending and membrane elements yields the proposed element.The strain-based rectangular finite element for the thin plate bending element denoted SBRPK, and the strain-based membrane element denoted SBRIE. Several numerical examples have been conducted to assess the accuracy and reliability of the developed element compared with the theoretical results and other finite elements. Obtained results show its good performance compared to …

104. I-69 Orx Section 3: Completing The Connection, Steven Nicaise

Purdue Road School

The I-69 Ohio River Crossing (ORX) will be a key, final connection of I-69 between Evansville, Indiana and Henderson, Kentucky. The transformational project includes three contracts, two states and one much-anticipated new river crossing. In this session, you will hear an update on the ORX project as a whole and learn about I-69 ORX Section 3.