Engineering Commons^™

Establishing Particle Size Recommendations For Cationic Asphalt Emulsions, Tanner Turben, Pedro Diaz-Romero, Andrew Braham

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Asphalt emulsions are used in flexible pavement maintenance and rehabilitation treatments. Emulsion specifications for material characterization are based on testing methodology dating to the 1930s. Newer test methods, including particle size analysis (PSA) of binder droplets in emulsion, have been explored but not implemented into specifications. The objective of this study is to observe the particle size and performance of cationic slow-setting (CSS) emulsions and establish baseline particle size recommendations for cationic emulsions. Four physical property tests (residue, oversize particles, viscosity, and particle size) and two cold mix asphalt performance tests (indirect tensile strength (IDT) and direct shear test (DST)) …

Bayesian Belief Networks Approach To Prioritize Road Safety Mitigation Measures For Eco-Mobility Modes, Fatmah Mohamed Alyammahi

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

This study presents a novel approach to prioritizing road safety mitigation measures for eco-mobility modes in Abu Dhabi, employing a sophisticated Bayesian methodology integrated with cost-benefit analysis. The research addresses the pressing need for enhanced safety in sustainable urban transportation, focusing on pedestrians, cyclists, and users of micro-mobility devices. A comprehensive Bayesian Belief Network (BBN) model was developed, incorporating key variables influencing eco-mobility safety, including visibility, predictability, road curvature, obstructions, and lighting conditions. The model was constructed using a combination of historical accident data and Probabilistic reasoning. This approach allowed for the quantification of complex relationships between various risk factors …

Polymetal Phosphate Cement From Tin Fuming Furnace Slag: Hydration Mechanism, Mechanical Performance, And Environmental Safety, Peiwen Lv, Xintao Zhou, Zhongqiu Luo, Cuirong Yan, Xiunan Cai, Ting Huang, Pingyan Wang, Hongyan Ma

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Phosphate cement materials are ideal binders for the rapid repairment of civil engineering and solidification/stabilization of hazardous solid wastes due to their fast setting, high early strength and strong adhesion. However, the use of pure metal oxides as the raw base materials and their deactive pretreatment result in the high cost and energy consumption, limiting its broad applications. In this study, an eco-friendly polymetal phosphate cement (PMPC) was developed using tin fuming furnace slag (TFFS) as the primary base material. The hydration behavior, microstructure, mechanical properties, and environmental safety of PMPC were comprehensively evaluated. The results showed that the hydration …

Design Of A Retaining Wall For M-10 Freeway, Anthony Paul

Honors Theses

The M-10 Freeway, also known as the John C. Lodge Freeway, is bordered by retaining walls at the project location, one section of which required replacement to meet safety and serviceability standards. Located in Detroit, Michigan, this project focused on the redesign and replacement of a 300-foot section of retaining wall along the southeast-bound lanes of M-10, between Curtis Street and Outer Drive. The 20-foot-tall retaining wall also supports traffic loads from the overhead James Couzens Freeway. Through geotechnical and structural design, several alternatives were developed and evaluated. A CIP concrete cantilever wall was selected with a height of 21 …

Evaluating Embodied Carbon Emissions Of Post-Seismic Steel Framed Buildings, Nicholas Leavitt

Student Research Symposium

The carbon emissions of earthquake damage repairs is on average 40% of a building's total carbon emissions in 50 years.

Wind-Resilient Solar: Harnessing Cfd For Enhanced Load Estimation, Aly Mousaad Aly

Faculty Publications

Solar panels are a cornerstone of renewable energy infrastructure, playing a pivotal role in global sustainability efforts. To ensure their resilience and long-term viability, accurate wind load estimations are essential for designing supporting structures, which account for nearly 50% of their total cost. However, traditional building codes lack comprehensive guidance for solar panels, resulting in inconsistent estimations due to discrepancies in scaled wall-bounded wind tunnel testing methodologies. These inaccuracies pose safety risks, increase costs, and hinder adoption. Emerging technologies like computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations offer a promising alternative by enabling full-scale analysis under realistic conditions of complete turbulence. This …

Advancing Solar Farm Resilience: Cfd-Driven Wind Load Optimization, Aly Mousaad Aly

Faculty Publications

This study investigates wind load design methods for ground-mounted solar panels and arrays by comparing Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations with design standards. A case study of a solar farm impacted by Hurricane Maria examines the effects of elevation height, tilt angle, and variations in the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) standards on wind loads and structural failure. Turbulence models, including Reynolds Stress Model, k–ε Model, and Large Eddy Simulation (LES), are used to analyze wind pressures, lift, drag, and peak pressures. Results show Phase 1 experienced higher wind loads than Phase 2 due to design differences. A cost-benefit …

Innovative Design Methodology For Durable Open-Graded Friction Course Asphalt Mixtures, Anas Abualia

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Open-graded friction course (OGFC) is a thin asphalt mixture surface layer with a high percentage of coarse aggregates and high interconnected air voids, which provides improved skid resistance, visibility, and decreased pavement-tire noise. However, construction personnel at DOTD reported that conventional OGFC mixtures have short service life (raveling distress). Further, their structural contribution to the pavement structure is commonly neglected and designed only for functionality purposes.

The objective of this study was to develop a rational mix design methodology to improve the durability of OGFC asphalt mixtures. Specific objectives are to: (1) conduct a rheological and chemical characterization of polymer-, …

Underlying Mechanisms Of The Effect Of Microfines Of Manufactured Sand On Non-Linear Structural Build-Up Of Cement Paste, Jiang Zhu, Jiaping Liu, Kamal H. Khayat, Xin Cheng, Wei Zhao, Zhen Li, Xin Shu, Yongbo Huang

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The rheological properties of cement-based materials made with manufactured sand vary with the content and physio-chemical properties of microfines in the sand. However, the evaluation of rheological properties regarding the structural build-up at early-age hydration remains challenging for the cementitious materials prepared with different manufactured sands, due to complicated underlying structuration mechanisms. This paper studies the effect of disparate microfines of different manufactured sands on the non-linear growth of static yield stress of cement pastes at rest. The paste mixtures were prepared with 0.40 and 0.275 water-to-cement mass ratio (W/C) and had a fixed mini-slump flow of 240 ± 5 …

Investigating The Discrepancies Between Acoustic And Radar Measurements Of Water Level Using Data Analysis And Computational Modeling, Ohiedul Haque Mohammad Asad

Civil & Environmental Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Observations indicate that there is a discrepancy between water level measurements from NOAA’s acoustic gauges and radar gauges. NOAA’s acoustic gauges use a downward-looking acoustic sensor that measures the instantaneous distance from the sensor to the water level. To create a calm water surface for measurements, the sensor is placed in a PVC tube that penetrates the water surface to a certain depth. This tube is called the stilling well. In this thesis, discrepancies in water level measurements from acoustic and radar sensors were explored through data analysis and computational modeling. Specifically, the correlations between the error, which is defined …

Quality Assurance Framework For Recovered Binders And Aggregates From Asphalt Mixtures Incorporating Recycled Materials, Eslam Deef-Allah, Magdy Abdelrahman

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This study proposes that a proactive quality assurance (QA) framework for asphalt mixes with recycled materials, i.e., reclaimed asphalt pavement and recycled asphalt shingles, should be developed. Quality control (QC) is generally concerned with the contractor's obligation to produce mixes which meet the job mix formula (JMF) targets. However, QA considers the variability in fabrication processes and materials and offers monitoring by evaluating the contractor's performance. Although both aggregate gradations and asphalt contents were within the JMF specifications, the recovered binders revealed significant differences from the contract binders in the JMF. Rheological tests indicated increased stiffness and elasticity but reduced …

Live Recording Of Lectures, Louise Lynch

Case studies: Digital Education

The final year module, consisting of 2-hour lectures and 2-hour tutorials, focuses on worked examples. To support students, especially those repeating the module, lectures were recorded and uploaded to Brightspace. Due to the difficulty of the subject and the small class size, in-person delivery was prioritised. The IT 360 mic was used for audio only, no video was recorded, calculations were done on OneNote Class Notebook using the pen functionality of the Surface Pro. This method gives students immediate access to worked examples. Open Broadcast Studio (OBS) was employed to manage different programmes without screen sharing interruptions, while maintaining the …

Numbas For Formative Assessment, Louise Lynch

Case studies: Digital Education

Numbas is an open-source e-assessment system aimed at mathematics and other numerate disciplines. It allows for the setup of individual assessments for students, increasing academic integrity. Numbas can autograde attempts, and the use of the Learning Tool Interoperability (LTI) within Brightspace allows instructors to view attempts, monitor progress, and alter marks where applicable. This adds a valuable element for both formative and summative assessments. In this module, Numbas was used to provide students with individual parameters for the same problems as part of their continuous assessment. These problems would consist of several steps and typically take over 30 minutes to …

Incorporating Screenpal Video To Brightspace Quiz “Hints” Function, Michael O Connor

Case studies: Digital Education

I have used the quiz function in Brightspace for some time as an asynchronous learning support and formative assessment technique for various cohorts from apprentice to UG FT students. Typically, I would create several MCQ quizzes around key learning outcomes (LOs) or “muddiest point” discoveries in the classroom. These quizzes were set up to allow the students unlimited attempts, with results published automatically and all question attempts shown with correct answers. While it was effective and well received (interesting particularly by apprentices whose summative assessment results are often high stakes) I often felt it became a repetitive answer selection exercise …

Ptap Memo: Methods For Tn Reduction Of Sewering, Unh Stormwater Center

UNH Stormwater Center

No abstract provided.

Analysis Of Responder-Involved Struck-By Crashes, Jacob Wilhelm

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

Emergency responders face significant risks of injury and death from struck-by crashes while operating on or near roadways. Annually, about 50 responders are killed, and hundreds more are injured, leading to operational disruptions and damage to life-saving equipment (ERSI, 2024). This study takes a data-driven approach to identify key risk factors and effective countermeasures for reducing the severity of struck-by crashes. Key findings indicate that struck-by crashes most frequently occur on weekends during late-night hours (2 AM–4 AM), often at crash scenes or disabled vehicle scenes on limited-access highways. Driver behavior – particularly “D” drivers (distracted, drugged, drowsy, disgruntled) – …

Evaluating The Impact Of Access Density On Pedestrian And Bicycle Safety, Charles Hruda

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

This study examines the impact of access density on pedestrian and bicycle crash rates in urban areas of Florida. Access management, defined as the strategic control of vehicular access points along roadways, plays a crucial role in mitigating conflicts between various roadway users. Previous research has established a positive correlation between access density and crash rates, yet limited studies have analyzed its effects on vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists.

To quantify these impacts, this study identified high-crash roadway segments using Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) data. Geometric, traffic, crash, and access management information was collected and analyzed …

Building Services Engineering March/April 2025

Building Services Engineering

No abstract provided.

Transdisciplinary Collaborations For Advancing Sustainable And Resilient Agricultural Systems, Brooke Mayer

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Feeding the growing human population sustainably amidst climate change is one of the most important challenges in the 21st century. Current practices often lead to the overuse of agronomic inputs, such as synthetic fertilizers and water, resulting in environmental contamination and diminishing returns on crop productivity. The complexity of agricultural systems, involving plant-environment interactions and human management, presents significant scientific and technical challenges for developing sustainable practices. Addressing these challenges necessitates transdisciplinary research, involving intense collaboration among fields such as plant science, engineering, computer science, and social sciences. Five case studies are presented here demonstrating successful transdisciplinary approaches toward more …

Use Of Wastewater Grit And Milorganite Chaff In Concrete, Carter Deinhammer

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Wastewater grit is a major byproduct from preliminary municipal wastewater treatment. Chaff is a collection of dried biosolids generated as a waste product from Milorganite® fertilizer production. Because landfilling is a costly and unsustainable method, the development of technologies for diverting grit from landfills to a useful product by tapping grit’s inherent values (e.g., sand and gravel) are of great interest. Chaff, consisting of fibers, provides a potential source for bolstering concrete tensile strength through internal means. This research has proposed a concept of grit and chaff additive-based concrete, an expansion of the grit-assisted patch material developed (GAP) in previous …

Drying Reduces The Total Pfas Concentration In Biosolids And Alters The Pfas Profile, Patrick J. Mcnamara, Jessica Calteux, Eric Redman, Taryn Mcknight, Lynne Moss, Webster Hoener, Scott Carr, Zhongzhe Liu

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

While per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are not actually generated at water resource recovery facilities (WRRFs), utilities are being forced to consider PFAS in biosolids management plans due to mounting political pressure and pending regulations. Emerging thermal technologies including pyrolysis, gasification, and super critical water oxidation have garnered recent attention for PFAS destruction. Drying, however, is a conventional technology that might also be a tool for utilities to manage PFAS in biosolids, but research on the impacts of drying on PFAS in biosolids is scarce. The objective of this research was to determine how drying affected the fate of PFAS …

Investigation Of Shear Modulus And Material Damping Of A Lightly Cemented Silty Sand Representing Offshore Soil, Joshua Jeanjaquet

Theses and Dissertations

Offshore structures remain highly relevant, making the dynamic characterization of offshore soils critical. Since many offshore soils are cemented, understanding their response to dynamic loads is essential for developing accurate models that improve the reliability and cost-effectiveness of offshore structure designs. This study examines the impact of cement content on shear modulus, shear modulus reduction, shear wave velocity, and material damping of lightly cemented fine silty sand. A series of Resonant Column and Torsional Shear tests were conducted. The results were analyzed and compared to existing literature. The modified hyperbolic model was proposed to characterize the shear modulus and damping …

Investigating The Influence Of Volumetric Water Content In The Upper Layer Of Soil On Embankment Factor Of Safety, Kiera Rose Hughes

Theses and Dissertations

Geohazards, including landslides and embankment failures, pose significant risks to railway infrastructure, necessitating early recognition methods for effective risk mitigation. This research explores the relationship between the volumetric water content in the upper soil layer and the embankment's factor of safety (FOS) to improve early detection and stability assessment. A parametric analysis was conducted to evaluate how variations in the soil type (shear strength and hydraulic conductivity), slope geometry (angle and height) and recharge conditions (rainfall intensity and duration) affect the FOS. Using the GeoStudio software, seepage and slope stability analyses were performed for two baseline soils, as well as …

Experimental Investigation On Metakaolin/Coal Fly Ash-Based Porous Geopolymer Grouting Material For Geotechnical Applications, Karla Sierra, Philip Park, Chu-Lin Cheng, Yong Je Kim, Jae-Hoon Hwang, Bubryur Kim, Boo Hyun Nam, Jinwoo An

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications

This research investigates the development of a porous geopolymer cement grout for soil grouting applications, aiming to reduce carbon emissions associated with Portland cement while maintaining critical performance characteristics such as strength and permeability. Class F fly ash and metakaolin were used as aluminosilicate precursors, activated by sodium silicate and sodium hydroxide solutions. The addition of hydrogen peroxide served as a foaming agent to introduce porosity. Compressive strength and porosity were evaluated, with results showing that metakaolin significantly increased compressive strength due to its smaller particle size and higher reactivity. A higher molarity of sodium silicate enhanced strength by reducing …

Utilization Of Paper Sludge Ash In Geotechnical Engineering – Review, Kyungwon Lee, Hoyoung Lee, Junwoo Shin, Byounghooi Choi, Jinwoo An, Jiannan Chen, Boo Hyun Nam

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications

The pulp and paper industry has grown and created tremendous volumes of byproducts (e.g., fly ash) via combustion process. Unfortunately, most of them are being landfilled; in the meantime, environmental regulations restrict the disposal in landfill because of high disposal cost and reduced land due to urbanization. Therefore, the pulp and paper industries urgently seek for its beneficial reuse and one of the most cost-effective applications is a building and construction sector, particularly its reuse as geomaterials such as stabilizing soils. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the beneficial use of the paper sludge ash (PSA) in geotechnical engineering …

Assessing Groundwater Availability And Land Subsidence Risk Associated With Anthropogenic Activities In A Complex Aquifer System, Aya Bakr Attya Mohamed

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The Southern Hills aquifer system (SHAS) is the primary source of water in the Capital area of Louisiana. However, the overexploitation of freshwater-bearing aquifers and the presence of two active faults, the BR fault and the DSS fault, have resulted in groundwater depletion, saltwater intrusion, and increased the risk of land surface subsidence. Such critical issues pose substantial threats to groundwater availability and exert detrimental effects on the environment and urban infrastructures. This dissertation presents a comprehensive investigation of the SHAS for recognizing the consequences of groundwater depletion and its potential long-term impacts on groundwater availability and land stability. A …

Geotechnical Centrifuge Test Of A Pile-Supported Wharf In Silt (Test Aep01), Andrew Earl Parrott

Dissertations and Theses

There have been many documented cases in the U.S. and elsewhere of failure to ports, wharves, and bridges during seismic events due to liquefaction of soils adjacent to foundations. The major design guidelines for surface and maritime transportation structures, such as those offered in ASCE 61-14, Port of Anchorage Seismic Design Manual (POA 2017), AASHTO (2020), Caltrans (2012), and many others, differ considerably on the recommendations for combining the expected inertial and kinematic loads on the pile system. This knowledge gap becomes wider for pile foundations embedded in low plasticity silt, as varying opinions exist on the appropriate characterization of …

Impact Of Nanoparticles On Performance Of Metakaolin-Based Geopolymer Mortar, Habiba A. Mohamed, Mohamed R. Sakr, Mohamed O. R. El Hariri

Journal of Engineering Research

In response to the growing demand for sustainable construction materials, this study explores the transformative potential of nanoparticles, specifically nano silica and Nano clay, to enhance the mechanical and durability properties of metakaolin-based geopolymer mortar without heat curing. Geopolymer mortars incorporating 2.5% and 5% Nano silica and Nano clay were evaluated for compressive strength, tensile strength and water absorption. Mixture with 5% nano silica exhibited the most significant improvements, achieving compressive and tensile strengths of 36 MPa and 3.5 MPa, alongside the lowest water absorption of 4.65%. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) further confirmed the formation of …

Controlling Verticality Of High-Rise Buildings Using Gnss Techniques Integrated With Laser Plummet, Nasr Mohammady Saba, Yanqing Gao Yanqing, Salem Salama Saleh

Journal of Engineering Research

Maintaining vertical alignment is crucial in the construction of high-rise buildings (HRBs). Traditionally, construction teams use laser plummets to transfer reference point coordinates from the foundation to each floor through openings in the concrete slabs. However, as building height increases, the accuracy of the laser beam can be affected, necessitating verification. In an urban development project in Al Alamein, Egypt, the use of the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) was proposed to monitor verticality during construction. For the 270-meter-tall T-TOWER, nine monitoring points were established on the foundation to define the building’s axes for each slab. These points were transferred …

Using Sheet Piles To Control Contaminant Transport From Different Sources Through The Soil, Eslam Kashef Elgmmal Eslam K. Elgmmal, Ibrahim Mohamed Rashwan, H. Omara

Journal of Engineering Research

Contaminants can reach the excavation site and lead to groundwater contamination. The present research investigates the effect of using sheet piles for controlling the migration of contaminants to excavation sites that require high-quality groundwater, taking into consideration changing concentrations of contaminants and changing soil surface depth downstream of the sheet piles. The arrival time of contamination to reach under the sheet piles and the time for reaching contamination to the excavation site were studied. Additionally, the effect of using two different sources of contaminants with different concentrations on the mixing time between them through groundwater was investigated. Two modules, SEEP/W …