Engineering Commons^™

Analysis And Field Demonstration Of A Mobile Dewatering Cell For Acid Mine Drainage And Rare Earth Element Hydraulic Preconcentrate, Hunter David Vance

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

A field scale mobile dewatering cell was constructed and demonstrated to investigate the filtration efficiency and dewatering characteristics of the cell. The cell was tested using hydraulic preconcentrate (HPC) from an active AMD treatment plant located in the Morgantown, WV area. HPC is a sludge-like material that comes from a two-stage treatment process of acid mine drainage, and it contains various rare earth elements. The cell was filled with HPC over time and the influent HPC and effluent water exiting the cell were tested each time the cell was filled. Taking these samples and other measurements, the filtration efficiency and …

พฤติกรรมการเปลี่ยนช่องจราจรบริเวณจุดรับส่งผู้โดยสาร, ศุภวิชญ์ มัธยมนันทน์

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

ในสภาพการจราจรจริง การไหลของกระแสจราจรมักถูกรบกวนจากยานพาหนะที่จอดเพื่อรับ–ส่งผู้โดยสาร ส่งผลให้ยานพาหนะที่ขับขี่ตามมามีสองทางเลือก ได้แก่ การรอให้ยานพาหนะด้านหน้าเคลื่อนตัวต่อไป หรือการเปลี่ยนช่องจราจรไปยังช่องที่สามารถเคลื่อนที่ได้ ซึ่งทั้งสองทางเลือกล้วนทำให้ประสิทธิภาพการไหลของจราจรลดลงเมื่อเทียบกับกรณีที่ไม่มีการรบกวนดังกล่าว ในปัจจุบัน การใช้แบบจำลองจราจรช่วยให้สามารถทำความเข้าใจและคาดการณ์สภาพการจราจรได้โดยไม่ต้องทดลองในพื้นที่จริง แต่แบบจำลองทั่วไปยังขาดความเฉพาะเจาะจงเมื่อต้องเผชิญสถานการณ์เฉพาะทาง โดยมักใช้พฤติกรรมพื้นฐานเพียงชุดเดียวในการแทนพฤติกรรมผู้ขับขี่ทุกกรณี งานวิจัยนี้มีวัตถุประสงค์เพื่อศึกษาพฤติกรรมการเปลี่ยนช่องจราจรของผู้ขับขี่เมื่อแล่นตามหลังรถที่จอดรับ–ส่งผู้โดยสาร จากนั้นนำพฤติกรรมที่ได้จากภาคสนามไปใช้ในการพัฒนาแบบจำลองสภาพจราจรใน PTV VISSIM และทำการเปรียบเทียบกับพฤติกรรมจริง ข้อมูลภาคสนามถูกเก็บรวบรวมด้วยการบันทึกวิดีโอและประมวลผลด้วย Video Analytics ก่อนนำไปสร้างแบบจำลอง ผลการศึกษาพบว่า แบบจำลองสามารถจำลองพฤติกรรมการเริ่มต้นเข้าสู่การเปลี่ยนช่องจราจรได้ใกล้เคียงกับข้อมูลจริง โดยช่องว่างเชิงเวลา (Lag Gap) ของยานพาหนะที่ขับขี่ตามมามีค่าเฉลี่ย 0.425 วินาทีในภาคสนาม และ 0.375 วินาทีในแบบจำลอง อย่างไรก็ตาม แบบจำลองยังไม่สามารถสะท้อนพฤติกรรมการเปลี่ยนช่องจราจรได้ครบถ้วนทุกด้าน ซึ่งเป็นประเด็นที่ควรได้รับการพัฒนาเพิ่มเติมในงานวิจัยอนาคต

Mitigating Frost Heave And Thaw Weakening In Roads Using Wicking Geotextile, Javad Galinmoghadam

Doctoral Dissertations

"Excess water is known to be the primary cause of soil and foundation problems. In cold regions, water-related problems are exacerbated by seasonal freezing and thawing cycles. Frost heave and thaw weakening is the leading cause of premature pavement failure and consume considerable budgets of the Department of Transportations in cold regions. The first step to designing mitigation measures is the ability to predict frost heave under different conditions. This study aims to introduce a new method for quantifying frost heave using a prediction model based on the state surface approach. This proposed model addressed many inconsistencies and limitations of …

Mitigation Of Antibiotic Resistance Using Ultraviolet Light-Emitting Diodes For Water Treatment, Nicole Heyniger, Patrick J. Mcnamara, Anthony D. Kappell, Brandon Schultz, Troy Skwor, Brooke K. Mayer

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

The presence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in the environment is a growing issue, which has been exacerbated by the overuse and misuse of antibiotics in health care and agricultural systems. One means of mitigating antibiotic resistance is through drinking water and wastewater treatment, specifically during disinfection processes. Ultraviolet light-emitting diodes (UV-LEDs) are an emerging disinfection technology featuring adjustable peak wavelength emissions. We assessed the use of UV-LED for treating waterborne ARB (Escherichia coli and Aeromonas hydrophila) and ARGs (intracellular and extracellular) compared to conventional low-pressure UV (LP-UV). Overall, less efficient reduction (bacterial inactivation and/or gene …

Separating The Impacts Of A Corrosion Inhibitor From Copper Corrosion Products On Antibiotic Resistance In Drinking Water, Veronika Folvarska, Maya Adelgren, Emily Lou Lamartina, Ryan J. Newton, Yin Wang, Patrick J. Mcnamara

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Antibiotic resistance is a growing threat to public health, and environmental factors, including metals in drinking water distribution systems, are increasingly recognized as contributors to the spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Zinc orthophosphate, a common corrosion inhibitor, and copper corrosion products (CuO and Cu₂O) are frequently present in drinking water systems. While each has been shown to increase ARB and ARGs individually, their combined effects remain unknown. The objective of this study was to evaluate the combined impact of copper corrosion products and the corrosion inhibitor zinc orthophosphate on antibiotic resistance. Two …

Innovations In Balanced Mix Design: Establishing Gwp Thresholds For Various Nmas And Evaluating Superpave Vs. Bmd In High Content Rubber Asphalt, Kai Xin

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Traditional volumetric asphalt mix design methods, such as Superpave, frequently struggle to address critical performance parameters, leading many agencies to seek more robust approaches. Balanced Mix Design (BMD) has emerged as a forward-looking alternative by directly measuring rutting and cracking resistance in the laboratory. In this study, BMD principles were applied to asphalt mixtures featuring three distinct NMAS mixes and two high content rubber mixes, introduced through both dry and semi-wet processes. Compared with conventional volumetric constraints, BMD provided greater flexibility in adjusting binder content and gradation to accommodate elevated crumb-rubber levels. The resulting mixtures satisfied both rutting and cracking …

Experimental Evaluation Of Corrosion Of Strands And Wires To Estimate Corrosion Rate In Grout And Concrete, Dipendra Shrestha

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Premature failure of prestressed and post-tensioned concrete structures is frequently caused by undetected corrosion of prestressing steel. Although extensive research has addressed corrosion rates in conventionally reinforced concrete, the interpretation of non-destructive parameters, such as half-cell potential (HCP) and concrete/grout resistivity, for estimating corrosion rates in prestressing steel are not adequately investigated.

This research experimentally evaluates chloride-induced corrosion of prestressing steels to establish material-specific relationships between in-situ measurable parameters and corrosion rate. Thirty-six macrocell specimens incorporating plain wires, indented wires, and seven-wire strands in structural concrete and commercial post-tensioning grout- half with pre-formed surface cracks, were subjected to accelerated cyclic …

Software Literacy In Construction, Aidan Cazares

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The construction industry increasingly relies on software like Bluebeam Revu for their quantity takeoff, document management, and collaboration needs. This project will outline pertinent information obtained through their Bluebeam professional training program and reflect it with a detailed estimate of a real life construct project.

Structural Analysis And Design Methodologies Of Roller Coasters, Benjamin Komar

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This project explores the structural analysis behind the design of roller coaster tracks and supports as practiced by modern engineers. It also examines various roller coaster design methods currently in use. This research will be used to craft a detailed explanation of the roller coaster design process. Additionally, a 3D model of a roller coaster was developed based on the researched design procedures, featuring three track sections with different loading conditions to create a supporting structure for 2D truss analysis. The results of the truss analysis were then compared to those obtained using RISA-3D, a finite element structural design software.

Artificial Intelligence’S Role And Impact On The Engineering Discipline, Andrew Angelini

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The purpose of this Honors Research project was to explore the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the Engineering Discipline as a whole. Specifically, civil engineering’s discipline of transportation was used to display the effectiveness of AI in engineering. This discipline was used due to its wide use in engineering and overall designs that can be created within this discipline. These designs include maintenance of traffic plans, engineering plan sets, horizontal and vertical curve design, intersection design, traffic signaling, highway material design, and phasing of intersections and traffic accounting for pedestrians. Through similar prompts that were given to a publicly …

Ansi Z97 Impact Testing Of Thin Glass, Justin P. Anthony

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

To determine whether thin glass constructions can pass Z97 impact test to qualify as safety glass an extensive protocol was performed. Constructions including monolithic, chemically strengthened, filmed, laminated, and triple pane insulated glass units comprised of thin glass ranging in thickness between 0.50 mm and 1.6mm were evaluated. Test results indicate annealed specimens, and laminated specimens performed similar to constructions with 3 mm and 6 mm glass. Specimens with 0.2 mm film consistently performed as safety glass for thicknesses between 0.7 mm and 1.6 mm and similar performance for specimens with 0.1 mm film with thickness of 1.1 mm and …

Life Cycle Assessment And Life Cycle Cost Assessment Of A Floating Treatment Wetland In A Wastewater Lagoon Located In Copper Harbor, Michigan, Erin Browne

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

A full-scale floating treatment wetland was implemented in a wastewater treatment lagoon in Copper Harbor, Michigan. Copper Harbor is a small, rural community located in a cold climate. Many studies have focused on the performance of floating treatment wetlands in mesocosm studies in warmer climates, but there is not a lot of research conducted on the feasibility and performance of full-scale floating treatment wetlands in wastewater lagoons, specifically in cold climates. The 2024 treatment season was the first season with the floating treatment wetland implemented in the wastewater lagoon. A preliminary assessment of the cost and environmental impacts of a …

Estimating Unconfined Compressive Strength (Ucs) Of Rocks From Measurement While Drilling (Mwd) Data, Can Erdem

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Measurement-while-drilling (MWD) technology enables the real-time monitoring of drilling parameters during the drilling process. MWD data can provide valuable insight into the mechanical behavior of intact rocks and rock masses, which is essential for geotechnical applications such as foundation design and underground construction. The aim of this study is to correlate real-time drilling parameters, recorded using a laboratory-developed MWD system, with the unconfined compressive strength (UCS) of rocks. A custom laboratory MWD system was designed to simultaneously record four key drilling parameters: thrust (axial force, crowd), torque, penetration rate, and rotational speed. The custom-built MWD system was used to continuously …

Performance And Environmental Impact Of Waste Glass Asphalt In Cold Regions, Kai Xin

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

The reuse of waste glass in asphalt mixtures has significant potential in sustainable pavement engineering, yet its performance under cold, freeze–thaw conditions remain underexplored. This dissertation presents a first-of-its-kind comprehensive evaluation of glass asphalt for cold regions, simultaneously assessing its low-temperature cracking resistance, moisture susceptibility, field performance, and life-cycle environmental impacts. A series of laboratory tests were performed on asphalt mixtures incorporating various proportions of crushed waste glass aggregate, including Disk-Shaped Compact Tension (DCT) and Indirect Tensile (IDT) tests for low-temperature fracture resistance, and Tensile Strength Ratio (TSR) and Hamburg Wheel Tracking (HWTT) tests for moisture damage and rutting susceptibility. …

Analysis Of Lava Flow Paths Using Remote Sensing And Geomorphological Techniques, Oluwatosin Oluyemisi Ayo

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Lava flows have severe impacts on the Earth’s surface, communities, and natural habitats. Accurate modeling of lava flow paths is crucial for volcanic hazard assessment and risk mitigation. This research integrated remote sensing, geographic information systems, geomorphological techniques, and hydrologic analysis to numerically determine the optimal ground sample distance (GSD) of digital elevation models (DEMs) for delineating lava flow paths. Two volcanic regions were analyzed: the Afar Region of Ethiopia (Alu, Dalaffilla, and Erta Ale volcanoes) and the Reykjanes Peninsula of Iceland (Fagradalsfjall volcano). Forward and backward modeling methods were used to simulate potential lava flow paths. Remote sensing data, …

Dynamic Modulus Of Sbs-Modified Asphalt Mixtures Added With Ground Tire Rubber Content, Azharul Islam

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The study investigates the improvement of the dynamic shear modulus in the base and styrene butadiene styrene (SBS) modified asphalt mixture by accumulating varying amounts of ground tire rubber through an Asphalt mixture performance tester (AMPT). This thesis specifically explores how different percentages of ground tire rubber (GTR) influence the mechanical properties and durability of the asphalt mixture articulated with two grades, PG 64-22 and PG 76-22. The experimental framework consisted of preparing asphalt mixtures blended with 10% to 15% of the binder for PG 64-22 and 3% to 8% of GTR for PG 76-22. The laboratory testing involved using …

Comparative Analysis Of Lidar And Close-Range Photogrammetry Techniques For Inspection Of Mse Walls In Two Georgia Bridges, Md. Mehrab Hossain

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE) retaining walls are durable, settlement tolerant, easy to install, and present cost-effectiveness, in highway bridges. Nevertheless, the cost of repairing MSE walls is high, and it is crucial to have an accurate, quantitative, and scalable inspection method for early detection of potential problems. This study aims to analyze and evaluate undesired displacements that may affect these walls over time. For this, two remote-sensing technologies are considered: Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) and 3D Close Range Photogrammetry (CRP). Their performances are compared against an accurate Robotic Total Station (RTS) device, serving as the benchmarking instrument. This work …

Data Driven Bridge Deck Deterioration Modeling And Maintenance Intervention Scheduling, Deepak Kumar

Dissertations and Theses

Majority of over 617,000 bridges across the United States are significantly impacted by environmental factors, aging materials, and heavy traffic loads. According to the 2021 Infrastructure Report, nearly 231,000 bridges require repair or preservation work, with 46,154 (7.5%) being classified as structurally deficient, thereby posing risks for mor than 178 million daily trips across these bridges. Despite recent improvements, 42% of U.S. bridges are at least 50 years old, underscoring an urgent need for increased investment to meet repair demands. The nation’s backlog of bridge repairs is estimated at $125 billion, with a 58% increase in annual spending required to …

Deep Learning Architectures For Improving Weather Research And Forecasting (Wrf) Precipitation Estimates And Landslide Susceptibility Mapping: A Case Study Of Puerto Rico, Said A. Mejia Manrique

Dissertations and Theses

Precipitation is a critical factor in the Earth’s hydrological cycle and has a profound impact on various environmental and socioeconomic systems, including management of water resources, flood forecasting, and the evaluation of natural hazards, particularly those associated with rainfall-induced landslides. For the latter, obtaining precise precipitation estimates is essential, as intense rainfall events can trigger landslides that pose significant risks to human life, infrastructure, and ecosystems, particularly in mountainous regions. Puerto Rico (PR), with its mountainous terrain, tropical climate, and vulnerability to hurricanes, provides a unique environment for studying precipitation patterns and the need for accurate rainfall estimates. The complex …

Reuse Of Calcium Carbonate (Caco3) Recovered From Discarded Carpets As Filler In Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (Frp) Composites, Roshan Devkota

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Over four billion pounds of carpet are discarded annually in the United States, making carpet waste a significant environmental concern. Calcium carbonate (CaCo₃) constitutes up to 45% of the mass of most synthetic carpets. Reusing this CaCo₃ as a filler in the rapidly growing fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) industry, which is projected to reach USD 10.38 billion, presents a low-cost, practical approach to developing a market-based solution to post-consumer carpet waste.

This study investigates the reuse of CaCo₃ recovered from discarded carpet backing as a filler in FRP composites, focusing on its mechanical viability in comparison to virgin CaCo₃. The methodology …

The Impact Of Skew On The Flexural Behavior Of Press-Brake-Formed Tub Girders, Matthew Allan Weatherholt

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The Short Span Steel Bridge Alliance (SSSBA) is a group of bridge and buried soil steel structure industry leaders who have joined together to provide educational information on the design and construction of short span steel bridges in installations up to 140 feet in length. Press-brake-formed-tub-girders (PBFTGs) were developed by a technical working group within the SSSBA in response to a rising demand for rapid infrastructure replacements for short span bridge applications. PBFTGs are produced from structural steel plate and can be finished as weathering steel or galvanized. After being cold bent to the appropriate shape, shear studs are welded …

A Durability Evaluation Of Class B Concrete Bridge Substructures Under West Virginia Freeze–Thaw Conditions, Nathaniel Wayne Dunbar

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study evaluates whether the West Virginia Division of Highways (WVDOH) Class B concrete specification for bridge substructures remains adequate under modern durability and design-life expectations. The current specification, which permits a minimum compressive strength of 3,000 psi, reflects practices established when shorter service lives were generally assumed. Modern AASHTO LRFD provisions are based on a 75-year design life, raising concern that this lower-strength concrete may not provide sufficient durability under West Virginia’s climatic conditions.

To address this issue, bridge inspection data, regional climate mapping, and durability modeling were used to assess the condition and performance of concrete substructures across …

Precast Foundation For Steel Lattice Towers, Wessam Ramadan

All ETDs from UAB

Steel lattice towers are essential structures used in power transmission, telecommunications, and wind turbine towers, where they must withstand various loads to ensure stability and durability. The foundation system plays a crucial role in supporting these towers, with different types chosen based on soil conditions, environmental factors, and project requirements. Traditional foundations, such as drilled shafts, spread footings, and steel grillages have been widely used but often come with challenges, including long installation times, high labor costs, and difficult site conditions. As demand for transmission infrastructure grows, there is a need for faster, more efficient, and environmentally friendly foundation solutions. …

Leveraging Product And Process Characteristics Across The Concrete Pavement Life Cycle To Integrate Global Warming Potential Into Project Procurement Processes, Michelle Annette Cooper

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

The objective of this research is to support sustainable procurement of concrete pavements by linking materials-level global warming potential (GWP) to the project-level. Infrastructure owners require reliable environmental product declarations (EPDs) and methodologies for integrating GWP into the procurement process to ensure equitable decision-making. This work provides insights into current EPD reliability by assessing the sensitivity of concrete GWP to materials-level contributors to recommend a level of supply chain specificity needed to effectively communicate GWP. A benchmarking methodology was developed and implemented to establish reference values for procuring sustainable products. Having provided evidence towards EPD reliability, this work presents a …

Geospatial Analysis For Urban Resilience: Green Space, Flood Susceptibility, And Wetland Restoration Potential, Jessica Lareaux

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Through the integration of high-resolution geospatial data, hydrologic modeling, and spatial statistics, this research addresses three interrelated topics that are critical to sustainable, equitable, and climate-resilient urban planning. The overall objective of this dissertation is to provide data-driven and machine learning-based geospatial analysis frameworks that enhance our understanding of environmental inequities, flood exposure, and the potential for wetland restoration, with a focus on urban contexts. The study presented in Chapter Two examines the distribution and accessibility of urban green spaces in Detroit, Michigan, using high-resolution geospatial data and geospatial analysis methods, including geographically weighted regression (GWR) and network-based analyses. This …

Recovery Of Iron And Aluminum From Acid Mine Drainage For Beneficial Uses, Katelyn Renee Pepe

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Acid mine drainage (AMD) is a widespread issue across the globe, in which some of the most critical cases are created by the mining industry. Researchers have investigated ways to derive benefits from AMD, such as precipitating rare earth elements (REEs) to generate potential revenue from AMD treatment and supplement market demand. However, the bulk of precipitated sludge is composed of iron and aluminum, which also have market value but are discarded in current practice.

Using the Omega site in West Virginia (WV) as a representative AMD source, the objectives of this study are (1) to determine a replicable precipitation …

Biopolymer-Induced Soil Ductility Enhancement: Mitigating The Effects Of Desiccation Cracks, Rabindra Prasad Bohara

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study addresses the formidable challenges of expansive clayey soils, notorious for their swelling-shrinkage characteristics, which often lead to ground instability and structural damage. While effective in mitigating soil swell-shrink potential and enhancing strength, traditional calcium-based stabilizers can react with higher sulfate content to form ettringite, causing volumetric changes and infrastructure distress. To assess the impact of stabilizing sulfate-rich soils and determining the various engineering properties, samples of both control and stabilized soils were prepared using lime, biopolymer (guar gum), and lime with guar gum at concentrations of 2% and 4% lime only, 0.5%, 1% and 1.5% guar gum only, …

Evaluating And Relaxing The Limits On Flexural Reinforcement Ratio Of Masonry Shear Walls, Tousif Mahmood

Doctoral Dissertations

Reinforced masonry shear walls (RMSWs), essential for lateral and out-of-plane load-resisting systems in modern construction are constrained by TMS 402/602 code limits on reinforcement ratios ("ρ" _"max" ) and axial compressive stresses (≤10% of masonry compressive strength, f_m^'), undermining masonry’s inherent compression capacity under high axial loads. This dissertation investigates the seismic performance of reinforced masonry shear walls (RMSWs) subjected to high axial compressive stresses (10–20% of f_m^'), with a focus on walls violating the maximum reinforcement ratio ("ρ" _"max") and axial load limits of TMS 402-22. Through experimental testing of 30 large-scale fully grouted (FG) and partially grouted (PG) …

Dynamic Response, Assessment, And Retrofitting Of Prestressed Concrete Bridge Girders Subjected To Lateral Impact Loads, Haitham A. Abdelmalek

Doctoral Dissertations

Over height vehicle collisions pose a growing threat to the resilience of bridge infrastructure across the United States. According to the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA, 2024), approximately 36% of all U.S. bridges require major repair or replacement, with an estimated cost of $400 billion. This dissertation investigates the structural dynamic response, damage assessment, and retrofitting strategies for prestressed concrete (PC) bridge girders subjected to lateral impact loading.

The research comprised two main phases: (1) numerical modeling and (2) experimental testing. A validated 3D nonlinear finite element (FE) model was developed to conduct parametric studies on impact behavior, …

Drone-Based Multimodal Sensing On Vegetations And Data Analytics For Early Detection Of Gas Leakage From Underground Pipelines, Pengfei Ma

Doctoral Dissertations

"This study explored the feasibility of using multimodal remote sensors in the early detection of natural gas leaks from underground pipelines, as vegetation situated above pipelines can discern microbial changes in soil when affected by gas and exhibit physiological stress symptoms on leaves. Three sensors (RBG, thermal, and hyperspectral cameras) were utilized to monitor vegetation stress as an indicator of gas leaks. A laboratory experiment was conducted to evaluate the workability of vegetation for gas leak detection. Regular hyperspectral imagery was collected from test vegetations to identify gas stress and distinguish it from other environmental stressors such as salinity impact, …