Engineering Commons^™

Reflections On Interdisciplinary Sustainability Research With Undergraduate Students, Can B. Aktas

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications

Purpose – The purpose of the article was to convey experiences with pioneering interdisciplinary sustainability research by involving undergraduate students. Experiences with initiating and conducting multiple research projects spanning engineering and sustainability are described, and recommendations for programs and faculty in other institutions of higher education that plan to implement or support similar endeavors are discussed. Design/methodology/approach – The article and presented conclusions are based on three separate research projects, where specific examples as to how those projects were developed as well as challenges and rewards faced during the project are described. Findings – It is concluded that faculty should …

Benefit-Cost Analysis Of Using Class F Fly Ash-Based Green Cement In Masonry Units, Khaled Shwekat

Wayne State University Dissertations

ABSTRACT

BENEFIT-COST ANALYSIS OF USING CLASS F FLY ASH-BASED GREEN CEMENT IN MASONRY UNITS

by

KHALED SHWEKAT

August 2015

Advisor: Dr. Hwai-Chung Wu

Major: Civil engineering

Degree: Doctor of Philosophy

The Portland cement concrete is the most popularly used building material around the world. However, there are major drawbacks associated with Portland cement, such as the emission of greenhouse gasses and high-energy consumption from cement production. Therefore, Portland cement concrete has many disadvantages that can only be overcome by being replaced with new materials such as fly ash-based green cement. Recycling fly ash and using it to replace cement has …

Analysis Of Queue Characteristics At Signalized Intersections Near Highway-Railroad Grade Crossing, Amna Chaudhry

Wayne State University Dissertations

Analysis of traffic queues at signalized intersections which are in close proximity to highway- railroad grade crossings is of primary importance for determining if the normal signal operation needs to be preempted for railroad operations by providing a special signal mode for safe clearance of the queued vehicles from the tracks before the train arrival, and prohibiting any conflicting traffic movements towards the crossing. Such queuing analysis becomes even more critical where direct observations of traffic queues are not possible or where the assessment is needed for a future location. Inadequate estimation of queues from signalized intersections to the nearby …

Attachment Of A Combination Bridge Rail To Concrete Parapet Utilizing Epoxy Adhesive Anchors, Robert W. Bielenberg, John D. Reid, Scott K. Rosenbaugh, Austin J. Haase, Ronald K. Faller

Mid-America Transportation Center: Final Reports and Technical Briefs

The Iowa Department of Transportation (IaDOT) was interested in investigating the use of epoxy adhesive anchorages

for the attachment of posts used in the BR27C combination bridge rail system. Alternative anchorage concepts were developed using a modified version of the ACI 318-11 procedures for embedded anchor design. Four design concepts were developed for review by IaDOT, including: (1) a four-bolt square anchorage, (2) a four-bolt spread anchorage, (3) a two- bolt centered anchorage, and (4) a two-bolt offset anchorage. IaDOT representatives selected the four-bolt spread anchorage and the two-bolt offset anchorage as the preferred designs for evaluation. In addition to …

Feasibility Studies To Support Landfill Gas Recovery In Ghana, Neda Jangikhatoonabad

Civil Engineering Theses - Archive

According to World Bank Ghana generates 0.09 kg of solid waste per person per day, where there are only 4 engineered landfills in the country. In 2010, Ghana contributed to 0.13% of global greenhouse gases emissions, 10% of which was associated with waste sector. On the other hand, according to the World Bank in 2011, 39.5 % of Ghana’s population did not have access to electricity. Tapping landfill gas will not only provide portion of needed energy for the country, but will also help solve many of the environmental problems. Currently there is no landfill gas to energy project in …

Using Lean Techniques To Reduce Waste And Improve Performance In Municipal Project Delivery, Yasir E. Abdelrazig

Civil Engineering Theses - Archive

The basic concepts of lean thinking in construction projects are to reduce waste, improve communication, and promote teamwork integration through a common set of tools and techniques. With increased demand for public works projects, there is a need to focus attention on the efficient delivery of construction project services in the public sector, and in particular, on municipal project delivery. Performance improvements using lean techniques are considered to overcome problems, facilitate project progress, and offer recommendations for better municipal construction project processes. Municipal projects are a part of the public works which include a broad category of infrastructure projects, financed …

A Parametric Study Of The Effects Of Ɛ And ��̅ On The Poisson Boltzmann Equation For One And Two Spherical Particles Using A Boundary Integral Equation Method, Oumama H. Lingamfelter

Civil Engineering Theses - Archive

Many biomolecules, such as DNA, exhibit properties that are dependent on their electrostatic interaction with an electrolytic solution. Both explicit atomistic and implicit continuum models have been developed to solve the electrostatic problem. The implicit models are based on the Poisson-Boltzmann (PB) equation, whose lower computational cost makes them favored for bio-molecular applications, particularly as the molecule size increases. Among the implicit models, a boundary integral equation (BIE) method involving only numerical treatment on a surface in turn is more efficient than domain-based finite element and finite difference methods. This is especially so in the present case where the electric …

Comparison Of Post-Tensioned Cast In Place Concrete And Steel-Concrete Composite Bent Caps, Francisco David Berrocal Ruiz

Civil Engineering Theses - Archive

Civil engineering projects are conditioned not only by the technology available but also by resources availability as well as budget and construction time. Special conditions applicable to particular projects can also control their development.The correct selection from the different feasible alternatives can determine the final output of a project. In that sense, the importance of bridge structures on both the overall budget and schedule of civil engineering projects makes the selection of the proper structural typology decisive for their success or failure. In some cases, special characteristics can establish the need of innovative solutions to guarantee a successful development of …

Smart Speed Bumps, Mohammed Shakir Rajani

Civil Engineering Theses - Archive

The research underscores the need and importance of traffic calming devices and provides the basis for designing and building a device for traffic calming in neighborhoods with high pedestrian traffic, particularly children. The thesis focuses on developing a traffic calming device that is responsive to driver behavior rather than a static traffic calming device. The design presented herein involves modifying conventional speed bumps used for calming traffic in areas with high pedestrian traffic. The relevant engineering issues that are addressed include:* The functional requirements of the overall system and each of the system components* Operational challenges* Testing framework for evaluating …

Concrete Chloride Ingress: Effect Of Frp Type, Layers And Epoxy, Vinod Reddy Kamagani Kuntla

Civil Engineering Theses - Archive

The main objective of this research is to reduce the chloride ingress in concrete due to the effects of Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) type, layers and Epoxy. It has been established from previous researches that FRP wrap used to retrofit concrete structures offer a high resistance to chemical solutions but in this case study different variables like FRP, layers of FRP and only epoxy are used to know the resistance of concrete structures to chemical solutions. The ACI 318-11 Code allows for a reduction of clear cover depth if an equivalent clear cover depth can be establish. The FRP used …

Development And Validation Of Tdr Based Sensors For Thermal Conductivity And Soil Suction Measurements, Nan Zhang

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

Simultaneous measurement of soil thermal conductivity, moisture content, dry density and soil suction is a challenging issue and very important to the design of geothermal related structures such as geothermal energy piles (GEP), ground source heat pump (GSHP) systems borehole thermal energy storage (BTES) systems, etc. The measurement of these properties is mainly done in laboratory conditions which can be time consuming. Hence, an attempt is made in this research to determine a new field sensor that can provide these properties about time frame. TDR technique had been used successfully to measure soil moisture content and dry density by analyzing …

Performance Of Full-Scale Ultra-High Performance Fiber-Reinforced Concrete Column Subjected To Extreme Earthquake-Type Loading And Effect Of Surface Preparation On The Cohesion And Friction Factors Of The Aashto Interface Shear Equation, Guillermo Palacios

Civil Engineering Theses - Archive

Buildings in areas of high seismicity may be subjected to large axial stresses as well as severe earthquake loading. In order to protect the integrity of these buildings, concrete columns must possess high compressive strength and adequate ductility. While the use of high strength concrete (HSC) may appear as an attractive alternative and can reduce the section size of first story columns, its increase in strength leads to an increase in brittleness compared to that of normal strength concrete. For that reason, HSC requires a large amount of transverse reinforcement to maintain adequate ductility, which leads to severe congestion in …

Predicting Horizontal Pressure In 2-Stage Mse Structures, Thomas Patrick Taylor

Civil Engineering Theses - Archive

Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE) structures have been successfully used in the United States as embankment support structures for heavy highway transportation projects since 1972. On project sites that have poor foundations and where large settlements are predicated a variation of MSE called 2-Stage MSE is utilized. As the name suggests, 2-Stage structures are constructed in two stages. Stage-1 consists of constructing a flexible faced MSE structure and Stage-2 consists of attaching a veneer to the face of the Stage-1 structure. The Stage-1 and Stage-2 structures are separated by a short distance forming a cavity that is filled with granular material. …

Experimental Evaluation Of Frp Strengthened Concrete Bridge Girders, Rakesh B. Jayanna

Civil Engineering Theses - Archive

This report presents the details of research study on the use of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymers (CFRP) sheets to strengthen the Pre-stressed concrete TxDOT Tx-28 bridge girders in flexure and shear. Four girders were subjected to destructive test in this research. First girder as control specimen without any CFRP applied on it, Second and third girders were flexural strengthened for one and two layers of CFRP and the forth girder is shear strengthened with one layer CFRP. Experimental phases along with the comparison of test results in terms of flexural and shear capacity of bridge girders, strains and deflections are …

A Unified Swcc-Clay Mineralogy Based Framework For Predicting Swell Behavior Of Expansive Soils, Alejandro Hernan Pino Bravo

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

Expansive soils are spread over different climatic zones around the world with varying mineralogical content and microstructure, making the soil to absorb moisture between their mineral layers and therefore undergo volume changes. This behavior generates swell and shrinkage surface movements which affect the integrity of infrastructure built on them. A practice currently employed correlates swell-shrink behavior to soil index parameters, however, variable soil mineralogy limits this approach, which generates poor soil swell characterization. Thus, characterizing efforts must be emphasized on identification of real parameters governing the swell/shrink behavior, such as mineralogy, variation of suction with moisture content and pore distribution. …

The Strength Of Horizontal Shear Reinforcement With Limited Development, Regina Nyambura Waweru

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

In order for the composite action between the precast beam and the cast-in-place deck to be effective, sufficient horizontal (interface) shear strength needs to be provided at the interface of the two concrete elements to prevent slip. Horizontal shear strength is provided by three main components: the protrusions on the crack faces (cohesion/aggregate interlock), friction between the faces resulting from the normal compressive stress, and the dowel action of the reinforcing bars. AASHTO LRFD equation assumes that all reinforcement crossing the interface would be fully developed on both sides of the interface at ultimate shear strength. This study examines if …

Repair Of Impact-Damaged Prestressed Concrete Bridge Girder Using Glass Frp Rebar, Maria Angeles De La Flor Montero

Civil Engineering Theses - Archive

Overpass girders are risked by the impact of the traffic, over height vehicle, travelling under the structure, creating a hazard for the drivers over and under the bridge.When a bridge girder is damaged the repair solution adopted has to meet the following criteria:- Safety. The repaired structure has to provide a minimum level of service to guarantee the safety of the traffic during the life of the structure. - Repair time. To minimize the risk and the inconvenience for the traffic the repair time has to be minimum.- Economy. The adopted solution has not only to fulfill the previous requirements, …

Enhanced Viscoelastic Modeling Of Hot Mix Asphalt, Tito P. Nyamuhokya

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

The primary objective of this research is to investigate the relationships between Compressive (CDM) and Tensile Dynamic Moduli (TDM) of Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) and develop a material model that predicts tensile dynamic modulus from known compressive dynamic modulus. Moreover, the research develops an enhanced visco-hyper-elastic Finite element model that incorporates both CDM and computed TDM to predict the structural response of a perpetual pavement structure subjected to wheel loading. In the laboratory, the Compressive and Tensile Dynamic Modulus parallel to the direction of compaction and Tensile dynamic modulus perpendicular to the direction of compaction were determined at different temperature …

Effect Of Termite Gut Microbe Tav5 On Methane Production From Municipal Solid Waste Degradation, Hoda Rahimi

Civil Engineering Theses - Archive

Methane from anaerobic processes is being increasingly utilized as an alternative energy source in developed countries, via large projects that extract methane from landfills or wastewater treatment plants. Anaerobic degradation of organic material (biomass) involves decomposition by bacteria under humid conditions without any oxygen. Organic carbon deposited in landfills is converted by microbes to carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4). If the methane is not captured, it contributes to climate change (25 times more effectively than CO2 on a per-mass basis). If the methane is captured, it can be used as a renewable energy resource. Lignocellulose comprises a significant portion …

A New Technique For The Estimation Of The Elastic Moduli Of Pavement Layers From Light Weight Deflectometer Data, Nickey Akbariyeh

Civil Engineering Theses - Archive

This study developed a method to estimate the elastic moduli of a flexible pavement system from Light Weight Deflectometer deflection data. The forward method (simple equations) can be easily programmed into the data acquisition device of the Light Weight Deflectometers. The equations can be of a primary assistance in the evaluation of the flexible pavement structures. The method is simple and it eliminates the need for the backcalculation procedure after the LWD test. The pavement systems considered in this study are composed of 2 to 4 inches of the asphalt concrete wearing layer and 4 to 8 inches of compacted …

Potential Applicability Of Stress Wave Velocity Method On Pavement Base Materials As A Non-Destructive Testing Technique, Masrur Mahedi

Civil Engineering Theses - Archive

Aggregates derived from natural sources have been used traditionally as the pavement base materials. But in recent times, the extraction of these natural aggregates has be-come more labor intensive and costly due to resource depletion and environmental concerns. Thus, the uses of recycled aggregates as the supplementary of natural aggregates are increasing considerably in pavement construction. Use of recycled aggregates such as recycled crushed concrete (RCA) and recycled asphalt pavement (RAP) reduces the rate of natural resource depletion, construction debris and cost. Although recycled aggregates could be used as a viable alternative of conventional base materials, strength characteristics and product …

Fatigue Life Assessment Of A Critical Field Welded Connection On A Temporary Railway Bridge Span, Curtis Heinsen

Civil Engineering Theses - Archive

There is a need in the railway industry for a flexible solution to the problem of service interruptions due to impacts on railway bridges from highway and other vehicle traffic. One such solution is the placement of a temporary span that can be used on multiple substructure types and configurations and can be quickly assembled from a kit of available parts. In order to minimize the erection time and maximize the span flexibility such a span could utilize welded connections in place of bolted connections throughout the structure. These connections would be vulnerable to fatigue failure which has been shown …

Factors Influencing The Microbial Calcium Carbonate Precipitation Performance In Sands, Naga Venkata Prasanna Kumar Velpuri

Civil Engineering Theses - Archive

Microbial induced calcium carbonate precipitation is relatively a new ground improvement technique for geotechnical engineers. This technique uses non-pathogenic organisms that are found naturally in soil environment to cement sand particles together at their contacts. This thesis describes the influence of various factors on cementation of MICP-treated soil catalyzed by bacteria and urease from an experimental study. Some of these factors include number of nutrient cycles, concentration of calcium chloride solutions, number of injections and particle size. Finally the objective of my research is to have a better understanding about the effects of various parameters on the biological cementation. Ottawa …

Testing, Analysis And Classification Of No-Dig Manhole Rehabilitation Materials, Alimohammad Entezarmahdi

Civil Engineering Theses - Archive

Gravity flow wastewater collection systems are comprised of sewer pipes and manholes. Failure of a manhole may have catastrophic consequences such as developing a sinkhole in the street and roadway, and at a minimum, wastewater flow will be blocked and stream of the manhole will backup causing a sanitary sewer overflow (SSO). Improving structural conditions of a manhole is critical to minimize these types of failures. This thesis considers the impact of several lining materials including cement mortar, epoxy, polyurethane, cured-in-place composites, and a multi- layer structure material on increasing the structural capabilities of deteriorated manholes. The tasks included in …

Development Of The Duplicate Shear Test For Asphalt Mixtures, Mohammadreza Khajeh Hosseini

Civil Engineering Theses - Archive

Permanent shear deformation is the main cause of rutting in asphalt concrete layers. Therefore, the determination of the shear properties of asphalt mixtures is helpful for predicting the rutting in asphalt pavement structures and for the identification of poor performing asphalt mixtures. The objective of this study was to develop a new test device to replicate similar loading conditions and constraints of the Superpave Shear Tester (SST). The new device, named the Double Shear Tester (DST), determines the mechanical average of the shear properties and responses of two specimens instead of that of a single specimen as in the SST …

A New Methodology For Evaluating The Effectiveness Of Bus Rapid Transit Strategies, Ahmad Alomari

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Over the last few years, public transportation has become more desirable as capacity of existing roadways failed to keep up with rapidly increasing traffic demand. Buses are one of the most common modes of public transportation with low impact on network capacity, especially in small and congested urban areas. However, the use of regularly scheduled buses as the main public transport mode can become useless with the presence of traffic congestion and dense construction areas. In cases like these, innovative solutions, such as bus rapid transit (BRT), can provide an increased level of service without having to resort to other, …

Integrated Sustainability Assessment Framework For The U.S. Transportation, Nuri Onat

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation aims to investigate the sustainability impacts of alternative vehicle technologies and develop comprehensive sustainability assessment frameworks to analyze potential impacts of these vehicles in the U.S. In order to assess sustainability impact of vehicle alternatives, life-cycle based models has been extensively used in the literature. Although life cycle-based models are often used for environmental impacts of alternative vehicles, analysis of social and economic impacts of these vehicles has gained a tremendous interest. In this regard, there is a growing interest among the international platform and academia to use the Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment framework to have more informed …

Traffic Conflict Analysis Under Fog Conditions Using Computer Simulation, Binya Zhang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The weather condition is a crucial influence factor on road safety issues. Fog is one of the most noticeable weather conditions, which has a significant impact on traffic safety. Such condition reduces the road's visibility and consequently can affect drivers' vision, perception, and judgments. The statistical data shows that many crashes are directly or indirectly caused by the low-visibility weather condition. Hence, it is necessary for road traffic engineers to study the relationship of road traffic accidents and their influence factors. Among these factors, the traffic volume and the speed limits in poor visibility areas are the primary reasons that …

Response Of Streamflow And Sediment Loading In The Apalachicola River, Florida To Climate And Land Use Land Cover Change, Paige Hovenga

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Located in Florida's panhandle, the Apalachicola River is the southernmost reach of the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint (ACF) River basin. Streamflow and sediment drains to Apalachicola Bay in the Northern Gulf of Mexico, directly influencing the ecology of the region, in particular seagrass and oyster production. The objective of this study is to evaluate the response of runoff and sediment loading in the Apalachicola River under projected climate change scenarios and land use / land cover (LULC) change. A hydrologic model using the Soil Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) was developed for the Apalachicola region to simulate daily discharge and sediment load under present …

Development Of Regional Optimization And Market Penetration Models For Electric Vehicles In The United States, Mehdi Noori

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Since the transportation sector still relies mostly on fossil fuels, the emissions and overall environmental impacts of the transportation sector are particularly relevant to the mitigation of the adverse effects of climate change. Sustainable transportation therefore plays a vital role in the ongoing discussion on how to promote energy insecurity and address future energy requirements. One of the most promising ways to increase energy security and reduce emissions from the transportation sector is to support alternative fuel technologies, including electric vehicles (EVs). As vehicles become electrified, the transportation fleet will rely on the electric grid as well as traditional transportation …