Engineering Commons^™

Bs News September/October

Building Services Engineering

No abstract provided.

Framework For Event-Based Semidistributed Modeling That Unifies The Scs-Cn Method, Vic, Pdm, And Topmodel, Mark Bartlett, Anthony J. Parolari, Jeffrey Mcdonnell, Amilcare Porporato

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Hydrologists and engineers may choose from a range of semidistributed rainfall-runoff models such as VIC, PDM, and TOPMODEL, all of which predict runoff from a distribution of watershed properties. However, these models are not easily compared to event-based data and are missing ready-to-use analytical expressions that are analogous to the SCS-CN method. The SCS-CN method is an event-based model that describes the runoff response with a rainfall-runoff curve that is a function of the cumulative storm rainfall and antecedent wetness condition. Here we develop an event-based probabilistic storage framework and distill semidistributed models into analytical, event-based expressions for describing the …

Post-Liquefaction Residual Strength Assessment Of The Las Palmas, Chile Tailings Failure, Tristan Reyes Gebhart

Master's Theses

Assessment of post-liquefaction residual strength is needed for the development of empirically-based, predictive correlations for earthquake engineering design. Previous practice commonly assigned negligible strengths to liquefied materials for engineering analysis, producing overly-conservative designs. Increasingly available case history data, and improved analytical tools have allowed for more accurate and less overly-conservative estimation of soil residual strength, improving empirical predictive models. This study provides a new case history to the limited suite of (approximately 30) liquefaction failure case histories available for post-liquefaction in-situ strength predictive correlations.

This case history documents the Las Palmas gold mine tailings dam failure, resulting from seismic-induced liquefaction …

Precast Concrete Pavement Practices Overview, Shiraz Tayabji

JTRP Affiliated Workshops

No abstract provided.

Overview Of Illinois Tollway Precast Panel System, Steve Gillen

JTRP Affiliated Workshops

No abstract provided.

Super-Slab® Precast Pavement System, Dan E. Moellman

JTRP Affiliated Workshops

No abstract provided.

Precast Concrete Pavement Practices—Generic System Use In Michigan, Texas & California, Shiraz Tayabji

JTRP Affiliated Workshops

No abstract provided.

Infant Exposure To Resuspended Particles From Carpeted Flooring: Experimental Chamber Study With A Simplified Mechanical Crawling Infant, Manjie Fu, Brandon E. Boor

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

Airborne particles of biological origin – bioaerosols – are present everywhere, including the indoor environment where people spend considerable amounts of time, and exposure to such materials via inhalation can have a number of health implications. Bioaerosol dynamics can occur through a variety of mechanisms, among them resuspension of deposited particles due to human activity. Because the breathing zone of infants is at a much lower height than that of adults, there is reason to suspect that infants are exposed to greater concentrations of bioaerosols resuspended from the floor, though knowledge in this specific area is limited. To investigate, a …

Development Of A New Nanohub Simulation Tool: Coarse Graining Of Crystalline Nano-Cellulose., Kuo Tian, Mehdi Shishehbor, Pablo Zavattieri

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

Crystalline Nano-cellulose (CNC) is a general molecular structure obtained from acid hydrolysis of native fiber. They are often very short (100 to 1000 manometers) and the mechanical properties of CNC varies depend on length scale. Due to defect formation of the structure, the mechanical properties of the material composed of such CNC may vary drastically. This study was to provide a numerical tool to integrate a few valid modules and to better understand the mechanical properties of CNC and the overall performance of the bio-inspired material composed of CNC. Our focus is mainly on two type of composite structure [1] …

Strength Of Reinforced Concrete Beams With High-Strength Steel, Brian C. Rogers, Aishwarya Puranam, Santiago Pujol

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

Structures are commonly made of reinforced concrete, which is a composite material made of concrete and steel reinforcement. Using high-strength steel, with yield stress larger than 100 ksi, could help reduce the quantity of steel required in structural members, thus reducing costs and improving constructability. The hypothesis being tested is that smaller quantities of high-strength steel reinforcement (HSSR) can be used in place of conventional steel in reinforced concrete beams while maintaining similar strength and deformation at failure. Two reinforced concrete beams with two different types of longitudinal steel reinforcement were constructed. The beams were 18 in. wide, 30 in. …

High Strength Steel In The Reinforced Concrete Structures: Serviceability, Alan Kanybek, Aishwarya Puranam, Santiago Pujol

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

The use of high-strength steel (yield stress larger than 100 ksi) in reinforced concrete structures can provide an effective alternative to using conventional steel (yield stress up to 80 ksi). The goal of this study is to investigate if slabs with reduced quantities of high-strength steel reinforcement meet the serviceability criteria. Instantaneous and long-term deflections in slab specimens with conventional steel and reduced amounts of high-strength steel (as compared with conventional steel) were studied. Two sets of two reinforced concrete slabs, each 14 ft. long, 30 in. wide, were built. The depth, quantity, and type of longitudinal reinforcement were varied …

Study On Oil Palm Fresh Fruit Bunch Bruise In Harvesting And Transportation To Quality, Andreas Wahyu Krisdiarto, Lilik Sutiarso

Makara Journal of Technology

There are losses of production due to oil palm field’s material handling. Activities that may raise the losses are harvesting and transportation, which may cause bruise and damage to fruit. This research was aimed to learn the bruise of fresh fruit bunch (FFB) phenomenon in harvesting and transportation. Method used in this research was measuring the bruise area resulted by FFB falling when harvested, loading (throwing up) FFB to truck bin, and transporting using truck. These data, coupled with weight of bruised fruit, were calculated to get FFB bruise index. Each FFB bruise index is related to potential free fatty …

Automatic Arrhythmia Beat Detection: Algorithm, System, And Implementation, Wisnu Jatmiko, I Md. Agus Setiawan, Muhammad Ali Akbar, Muhammad Eka Suryana, Yulistiyan Wardhana, Muhammad Febrian Rachmadi

Makara Journal of Technology

Cardiac disease is one of the major causes of death in the world. Early diagnose of the symptoms depends on abnormality on heart beat pattern, known as Arrhythmia. A novel fuzzy neuro generalized learning vector quantization for automatic Arrhythmia heart beat classification is proposed. The algorithm is an extension from the GLVQ algorithm that employs a fuzzy logic concept as the discriminant function in order to develop a robust algorithm and improve the classification performance. The algorithm is tested against MIT-BIH arrhythmia database to measure the performance. Based on the experiment result, FN-GLVQ is able to increase the accuracy of …

Optimization Of Electricity Generation Schemes In The Java-Bali Grid System With Co2 Reduction Consideration, Farizal Farizal, Wenty Eka Septia, Amar Rachman, Nasruddin Nasruddin, Teuku Meurah Indra Mahlia

Makara Journal of Technology

This research considers the problem of reducing CO2 emissions from the Java-Bali power grid system that consists of a variety of power-generating plants: coal-fired, natural gas, oil, and renewable energy (PV, geothermal, hydroelectric, wind, and landfill gas). The problem is formulated as linear programming and solved using LINGO 10. The model was developed for a nation to meet a specified CO2 emission target. Two carbon dioxide mitigation options are considered in this study, i.e. fuel balancing and fuel switching. In order to reduce the CO2 emissions by 26% in 2021, State Electric Supply Company (PLN) has to generate up to …

Apparent Porosity And Compressive Strength Of Heat-Treated Clay/Iron Sand/Rice Husk Ash Composites Over A Range Of Sintering Temperatures, M. Nizar Machmud, Zulkarnain Jalil, Mochammad Afifuddin

Makara Journal of Technology

Novel composites of clay/iron sand/rice husk ash (RHA) have been developed. Electric furnace was used to perform heat treatment on the composites to study the effect of sintering temperature on their apparent porosity and compressive strength. Two types of RHA with different bulk density were prepared to gain an understanding of the influence of apparent porosity on compressive strength of the heat-treated composites over a range of sintering temperatures. Heattreated composites, made of clay/iron sand and clay/RHA, were also prepared as a referenced material. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis was further performed to comprehensively discuss the role of iron sand on …

The Effect Of Irradiation Of Fe And Ar Ion On The Surface Morphology Of Diamond Thin Film Related To The Magnetoresistance Property, Salim Mustofa, Setyo Purwanto, Kenji Mishima

Makara Journal of Technology

The irradiation of Fe and Ar ion was applied on the surface of diamond/Si thin film to know its effect on the morphology of thin film.The magnetoresistance property was also studied. Ion irradiation treatment using Fe ion followed by argon ion at the energy of 70keV and a dose of 1 x 1015 ion/cm2 have been conducted on the surface of two types of thin film, diamond/Si (111) and diamond/Si (100). Both thin films were made by using a CVD method, and the thickness of the thin film is 1000-nm. From simulations using the software called Stopping and Range of …

Use Of Green Mussel Shell As A Desulfurizer In The Blending Of Low Rank Coal-Biomass Briquette Combustion, Mahidin Mahidin, Asri Gani, M. Reza Hani, Muhammad Syukur, Hamdani Hamdani, Khairil Khairil, Samsul Rizal, Abdul Hadi, T.M.I. Mahlia

Makara Journal of Technology

Calcium oxide-based material is available abundantly and naturally. A potential resource of that material comes from marine mollusk shell such as clams, scallops, mussels, oysters, winkles and nerites. The CaO-based material has exhibited a good performance as the desulfurizer or adsorbent in coal combustion in order to reduce SO2 emission. In this study, pulverized green mussel shell, without calcination, was utilized as the desulfurizer in the briquette produced from a mixture of low rank coal and palm kernel shell (PKS), also known as bio-briquette. The ratio of coal to PKS in the briquette was 90:10 (wt/wt). The influence of green …

The Knowledge-Based Analysis On Medium Resolution Images Of Remote Sensing To Extraction Information Land Use Type Scs-Cn, The Case Study On Grompol Watershed, Puguh Dwi Raharjo, Totok Gunawan, Mohammad Pramono Hadi

Makara Journal of Technology

Remote sensing imagery Landsat-8 is one image that has a good temporal resolution; in addition to the availability of data, this image can be obtained free of charge. Land cover type SCS-CN is part of a unit of land that affects runoff. The use of medium resolution imagery in reducing the SCS-CN land use type is considered relatively difficult, and it yields less good accuracy. Limitations on multispectral classification only rely on facts derived from spectral reflection, so that the two data are the same since different characteristic results are not so good. This study aims to determine the accuracy …

Sugarcane Bagasse As A Carrier For The Immobilization Of Saccharomyces Cerevisiaein Bioethanol Production, Sita Heris Anita, Wibowo Mangunwardoyo, Yopi Yopi

Makara Journal of Technology

Sugarcane bagasse was used as a carrier to immobilize Saccharomyces cerevisiae in bioethanol production. This research aims to study the potential use of sugarcane bagasse as an alternative carrier for cell immobilization and improvement in the production process of cell immobilization in bagasse. The results showed that the physical characteristics of sugarcane bagasse as a carrier were water content (7.77 ± 0.35%), water retention (4.80 ± 0.44 g/g), water absorption index (8.58 ± 0.22 g/g), and lignin content (24.40 ± 1.52 %). Determination of cell retention was performed in an inoculum volume of 50 mL yeast suspension with various carrier …

Modeling, Control, And Impact Analysis Of The Next Generation Transportation System, Feng Zhu

Open Access Dissertations

This dissertation aims to develop a systematic tool designated for connected and autonomous vehicles, integrating the simulation of traffic dynamics, traffic control strategies, and impact analysis at the network level.

The first part of the dissertation is devoted to the traffic flow modeling of connected vehicles. This task is the foundation step for transportation planning, optimized network design, efficient traffic control strategies, etc, of the next generation transportation system. Chapter 2 proposes a cell-based simulation approach to model the proactive driving behavior of connected vehicles. Firstly, a state variable of connected vehicle is introduced to track the trajectory of connected …

Laboratory Characterization Of #2q-Rok Sand, Wilson Fernando Espinoza Chavez

Open Access Theses

A series of laboratory tests were performed in a sand commercially known as #2Q-ROK to determine its response to loading. #2Q-ROK is a poorly-graded, clean silica sand composed of 99% of quartz (SiO2). Its specific gravity is 2.65 and its maximum and minimum void ratios are 1.03 and 0.7, respectively. In the absence of crushing, the #2Q-ROK sand direct shear critical-state friction angle is 32.8° and the ring shear critical-state friction angle is 29.6°.

One-dimensional compression tests were performed on samples compressed to a normal stress of 24,851.36kPa for time periods ranging from 4 hours to 11 days. The maximum …

Improving The Laboratory Design Of Asphalt Mixtures To Enhance Asphalt Pavement Durability, Ali Hekmatfar

Open Access Dissertations

Most departments of transportation, including Indiana’s, currently use the Superpave mixture design method to design asphalt mixtures. This method specifies that the optimum asphalt content for a given gradation be selected at 4 percent air voids. During construction, these mixtures are typically compacted to 7-8 percent air voids. If mixtures were designed to be more compactable in the field they could be compacted to the same density as the laboratory mixture design, which would increase pavement durability by decreasing the in-place air voids. The objective of this research was to enhance the asphalt mixture design method in order to increase …

The Long-Term Performance Of Concrete Crack And Deck Surface Sealers, Emily A. Byl

Open Access Theses

Concrete bridge decks in the State of Indiana are undergoing continuous deterioration and loss of service life due to the use of deicing salts during winter weather conditions. As salt water penetrates the deck through cracks and the concrete surface, chlorides, water and oxygen are able to access the reinforcement to initiate corrosion. The corrosion of reinforcing steel over time creates an ongoing need for costly deck repairs and/or deck replacement. This study investigates the performance of crack sealers and deck surface sealers as a potentially cost-effective method of increasing bridge deck service life. An experimental program was developed and …

Evaluation And Development Of A Structurally Enhanced Pvc Water Pipe, Ameya Brahmanand Paradkar

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

Many U.S. utilities rely upon iron pipe to deliver water through their distribution network. It has only been in the past 50 years that other products have penetrated into the water utilities' pipeline. The industry has turned to various cementitious and plastic materials largely to overcome aggressive soil and water that can be corrosive to metallic pipes. This dissertation will discuss a new pipe material called iPVC pipe manufactured by Pyunghwa Pipe Industry Inc. (PPI), South Korea. The iPVC pipe was evaluated by a series of selective testing on the pipe, including impact, stiffness, tensile, short-term hydrostatic burst pressure, fatigue …

Numerical And Experimental Investigation Of Buried Large-Diameter Steel Pipes With Controlled Low-Strength Material, Margarita Takou

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

The main goal of this research was to gain an in-depth understanding of the behavior of buried large-diameter pipes with controlled low-strength material (CLSM). Design equations were developed based on extensive parametric studies that aimed for an optimized design for designers in industry. Both experimental and numerical methods were espoused in the investigating procedure. The pipe-soil structure characteristics of the experimental analysis were: (a) steel pipe diameter of 108 in., (b) steel pipe thickness of 0.47 in., (c) mortar liner applied at the inner surface of the pipe with thickness of 0.5 +1/6 in., (d) CLSM applied around the pipe …

Calibration Of Mepdg Performance Models For Flexible Pavement Distresses To Local Conditions Of Ontario, Nelson Fernando Cunha Coelho

Civil Engineering Theses - Archive

The implementation of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Mechanistical-Empirical Pavement Design requires the development of a design procedure that can be used by the agencies and engineering consultants to design new and reconstructed rigid and flexible pavements. To calibrate the design procedure for a region, a large dataset representing the particular local conditions is needed. It includes traffic, climate, site material characteristics, performance requirements and historical data. The performance models were calibrated in North America using the Long Term Pavement Database Program (LTPP), therefore, the models must be calibrated to local conditions in order to …

Integrated Evaluation Of Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Traditional Air Pollutants, And Economics Of Three Types Of Landfills, Reza Broun

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

Despite the decreasing rate of landfilled waste due to increases in reuse and recycling, landfilling remains an enormous part of the waste industry of the United States due to population and economic growth. In addition, certain wastes are not easily recycled due to their mixed composition (i.e. a cardboard carton with a plastic lining) or their contamination (i.e. diapers). The primary goal of this research is to develop a comprehensive framework that can help landfill designers chose the best type of landfill (conventional, bioreactor, or aerobic) for a given situation based on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, traditional air pollutants and …

A Decision Support System For Traffic Diversion Around Construction Closures, Arezoo Memarian

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

As highway infrastructure ages and road congestion increases, roads need to be expanded and reconstructed. It results in creating many construction sites and work zones on highways, which leads to an unavoidable interruption in normal traffic flows and have resulted in traffic congestion, more vehicle emissions, and traffic safety problems. During roadway construction, when lanes or entire highway sections must be temporarily closed, traffic managers would like to inform motorists of alternative routes around the construction site well in advance of the project location. This would help reduce traffic demand through the construction site, enhance the safety of the workers …

Group Assignment And Annual Average Daily Traffic Estimation Of Short-Term Traffic Counts Using Gaussian Mixture Modeling And Neural Network Models, Sunil Kumar Madanu

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

The grouping of similar traffic patterns and cluster assignment process represent the most critical steps in AADT estimation from short-term traffic counts. Incorrect grouping and assignment often become a significant source of AADT estimation errors. For instance, grouping a commuter traffic trend pattern into a recreational traffic trend may produce an erroneous AADT value. The traditional knowledge-based methods, often aided with visual interpretation, introduce subjective bias while grouping traffic patterns. In addition, the grouping requires personnel resources to process large amounts of data and remains inefficient with unapparent traffic patterns. The functional class grouping, a traditional method, also produces larger …

Evaluation Of Food Waste Diversion Potential And Economics Of Using Food Waste Dehydrators, Arindam Dhar

Civil Engineering Theses - Archive

According to US EPA (2013), food waste is the second largest component (14.6%) of MSW composition in the US, preceded only by paper. Apart from the negative environmental impacts of food waste through methane and leachate generation, it also incurs huge cost to landfill them. Hence, food waste diversion from landfills is becoming a major issue in landfills across many US states. Though biological treatment of food waste is a potential alternative for food waste diversion, the existing scale of this type of treatment is very narrow. On-site treatment of food waste is a suitable alternative as it can be …