Engineering Commons^™

Identification Of Spatiotemporal Nutrient Patterns And Associated Ecohydrological Trends In The Tampa Bay Coastal Region, Brent Wimberly

HIM 1990-2015

Improvements for environmental monitoring and assessment were achieved to advance our understanding of sea-land interactions and nutrient cycling in a coastal bay.; The comprehensive assessment techniques for monitoring of water quality of a coastal bay can be diversified via an extensive investigation of the spatiotemporal nutrient patterns and the associated eco-hydrological trends in a coastal urban region. With this work, it is intended to thoroughly investigate the spatiotemporal nutrient patterns and associated eco-hydrological trends via a two part inquiry of the watershed and its adjacent coastal bay. The findings show that the onset of drought lags the crest of the …

Structural Performance Of Reinforced Concrete Flat Plat Buildings Subjected To Fire, Sara Jean George

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Reinforced concrete structures are typically considered to have inherent resistance to fire. However, several concrete structures around the world have experienced partial or total collapse under fire. Reinforced concrete flat-plate is a type of structural system widely used for office and residential buildings. Flat plate construction is prone to punching shear failure at slab-column connections which may lead to a catastrophic progressive collapse. The slabs of flat-plates generally have very thin concrete cover leaving steel reinforcement more sensitive to thermal loads. Little is known in the engineering community about the structural performance of flat-plate structures subjected to fire. Through a …

Monitoring And Modeling Of The Hydraulic And Sediment Processes At In-Stream Restoration Structures In The Vicinity Of A Bridge Crossing, Brian P. Schultz

Master’s Theses

The long-term performance of infrastructure depends on reliable and sustainable designs. Many of Pennsylvania’s streams experience sediment transport problems that increase maintenance costs and lower structural integrity of bridge crossings. A stream restoration project is one common mitigation measure used to correct such problems at bridge crossings. Specifically, in an attempt to alleviate aggradation problems with the Old Route 15 Bridge crossing on White Deer Creek, in White Deer, PA, two in-stream structures (rock cross vanes) and several bank stabilization features were installed along with a complete channel redevelopment. The objectives of this research were to characterize the hydraulic and …

Bs News May/June

Building Services Engineering

No abstract provided.

Geology-Based Probabilistic Liquefaction Potential Mapping Of The 7.5-Minute Charleston Quadrangle, South Carolina For Resilient Infrastructure Design, Lawrence Simonson

All Theses

Two geology-based probabilistic liquefaction potential maps are developed for the 7.5-minute Charleston, South Carolina quadrangle in this thesis. Creation of the maps extends the previous liquefaction potential mapping work of the Charleston peninsula by Hayati and Andrus (2008) and Mount Pleasant by Heidari and Andrus (2010), and improves upon the previous maps by using peak ground accelerations that vary with local site conditions. The GIS software package ArcGIS 10 is used to develop the maps.
Development of the liquefaction potential maps involves the creation of four additional maps needed as inputs. The four additional maps are (1) depth to the …

Understanding The Behavior Of A Pile Foundation In Unsaturated Soils Subjected To Lateral Loading, Brian Machmer

All Theses

The purpose of this research was to further understand the behavior of pile foundations in unsaturated soils subjected to lateral loading. Recent case histories show the importance of incorporating unsaturated soil mechanics in geotechnical engineering practice for the design and construction of resilient and cost effective systems. Unsaturated soils are a three phase material- solid, liquid and gas, resulting in three interfaces. Among the three interfaces the liquid-gas interface, also known as the contractile skin, plays a critical role in the mechanical and flow behaviors of unsaturated soil. The effects of the contractile skin are measured in terms of matric …

Entrainment And Dilution Of Constant-Volume Non-Newtonian Fluid Mud Gravity Currents, Michael Jacobson

All Theses

An extensive laboratory experimental campaign was undertaken in order to elucidate the entrainment and dilution characteristics of constant-volume non-Newtonian fluid mud gravity currents. Three experimental series were conducted in a lock-exchange tank. The first experimental series quantified ambient entrainment using a light-opaqueness technique, the second experimental series measured vertical concentration profiles using a siphoning technique, and the third experimental series provided visual observations for the investigation of the deposited sediment layer.
In the first experimental series, a technique similar to the so-called light attenuation technique was developed to find the boundary of the current, allowing for the calculation of entrainment …

Connected Vehicle Supported Electric Vehicle Charging Operations And Related Infrastructure Issues, Jennifer Johnson

All Theses

Due to the tremendous political, economic and environmental pressures the transportation sector is facing, the United States finds itself devoting more energy to innovative solutions like electric vehicle (EV) technologies. The first objective of this study was to analyze how utilizing real-time information dissemination transferring capabilities to vehicles, as envisioned in the 'connected vehicle' system, could effectively facilitate the EV charging process at fast-charging stations. By simulating a traffic network of EVs in Matlab, it was found that the total time due to the battery charging process could be optimized for EVs that were able to use connected vehicle communications. …

Bond Performance Of Lightweight Self-Consolidating Concrete, Michael Howland

Civil Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Self-consolidating concrete (SCC) allows for the placement of concrete without consolidation. The use of lightweight (LW) concrete reduces dead loads and lowers transportation costs. LWSCC is a recent combination of the two types of concrete; therefore there is little information on the performance of prestressed members cast with LWSCC. This project examines transfer length of LWSCC beams and compares the measured values to control-mixture members cast with normal weight SCC. Eight prestressed beams were cast. Of the eight, four conventional were cast with SCC and the remaining four with LWSCC. The lightweight mixtures contained expanded clay aggregate and had an …

Full Depth Reclamation: Compaction And Moisture Content, Alexander Jackson

Civil Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Many times a road will fail and will be in need of both a structural increase and a repair. Full Depth Reclamation (FDR) is a road rehabilitation technique able to offer both. This method also has a lower total cost and significantly lower material usage than traditional overlaying repair methods. FDR is a road repair method which mills up the current road down into the subgrade, and then stabilizes and compacts the milled material. This is also useful for correcting deeper problems in the road structure which are not addressed by traditional methods. In this study, three different suggestions of …

Best Management Practices Effectiveness To Reduce Sediment Transport To Morro Bay, Michael J. Randall

Master's Theses

The Morro Bay Watershed, which is located inSan Luis Obispo County,California, covers more than 48,000 acres of land and discharges intoMorroBaythrough the Morro Bay National Estuary (MBNE). The Chorro Creek Subwatershed consists of approximately 30,000 acres of the overall watershed. The MBNE provides an ecosystem that supports a variety of wildlife from the common sea gull to the endangered sea otter. The estuary is also home to over 200 species of birds. The operational waterfront of theMorroBayHarborwas and continues to be a strong supporter to the local economy of the City of Morro Bay. Numerous studies were conducted since the …

Transversely Post-Tensioned Box-Beam System For Precast Parking Structures, Jenna Hansen

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Parking structures are essential to any growing commercial district, yet little thought is given to their longevity and appearance. This is particularly the case with precast parking structures. Typical issues include poor joint performance and the impact of stemmed members on interior building aesthetics. Research provided in this report proposes an alternate design that improves long term joint performance and optimizes the perspective spacing between deck members. These benefits (along with the others) are incorporated to reflect the benefits of parking structures designed using cast-in-place concrete and structural steel with concrete decking. Other benefits include: flexible column spacing, reduced / …

Safety Investigation And Guidance For Retrofitting Existing Approach Guardrail Transitions, Eric R. Jowza

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Throughout the United States, various approach guardrail transition systems are routinely implemented by State Highway Departments to connect standard strong-post, W-beam guardrail systems to the blunt end of concrete bridge rails and roadside median barriers. When installed correctly, approach guardrail transitions shield the hazardous exposed ends of rigid parapets as well as significantly reduce the propensity for wheel snag and vehicle pocketing throughout the transition region. Unfortunately, approach guardrail transitions that are installed in the field may not always resemble that of the as-tested configuration, thus reducing the desired lateral stiffness and strength of the transition system. A recent survey …

An Evaluation Of Non-Intrusive Traffic Detectors At The Ntc/Ndor Detector Test Bed, Benjamin W. Grone

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Throughout the field of transportation engineering, decision makers require quality information. The information used in transportation operations, planning, and design is based, in part, on data from traffic detectors. The need for quality data has spurred innovations in data collection including the introduction of modern, commercially available, non-intrusive traffic detectors. As these new technologies become available, a need exists to understand their capabilities and limitations—especially limitations that are unique to a specific region.

This thesis examined the accuracy of four non-intrusive traffic detector technologies considered for potential data collection applications on Nebraska’s highways. The technologies evaluated included the Solo Pro …

Investigating The Use Of Pozzolans In Portland Cement Concrete And Inorganic Polymer Mortar, Omar Abdelmalek Saleh

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The use of pozzolans offers promising signs for a change in the cement industry. Pozzolan in its natural and artificial forms can be used to improve cement properties or to synthesize new cement. This study investigates the use of pozzolans in portland cement concrete and inorganic polymer mortar (geopolymer mortar).

This thesis is divided into two phases. Phase 1 investigates the use of natural pozzolan as a partial replacement of portland cement in concrete. In this phase two types of class N pozzolan are used separately to develop concrete mixtures contain different percentages of class N pozzolan. Fresh concrete properties …

Framework Development For Construction Safety Visualization, Kishor Shrestha

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Throughout the history of the construction industry, many fatalities and injuries have occurred in construction sites. One of the major causes of accidents is unsafe site conditions; basically, this is due to inadequate supervision. To improve upon the traditional supervision approach, this study proposes a `Framework Development for Construction Safety Visualization' approach. In addition to this, a computer vision Edge Detection Algorithm was developed and tested to convert construction site still images into edges of the objects in the images. The framework development of this study uses computer vision, robot vision, image compression, pattern recognition, internet transmission, network communication, and …

Legal Issues In Green Construction, Namrata Shrestha

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The most recent "green construction movement", made a significant impact on the design and construction industry in the United States. Organizations such as the American Institute of Architects (AIA) have lobbied governmental entities to provide financial incentives to promote green construction. The green construction community also promotes the notion that a healthier working and living environment is achieved. Due to finical incentives coupled with projected long-term energy cost savings, many owners of new construction are considering green construction as an option. Accompanying the "green construction movement", new kinds of legal issues, particularly relating to green aspects such as certification, energy …

Traffic Operations Analysis Of Merging Strategies For Vehicles In An Automated Electric Transportation System, Derek Rulon Freckleton

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Automated electric transportation has the potential to revolutionize the way people move by providing unparalleled benefits to human health and safety, economic independence, and quality of life. It is a system where vehicles with no emissions control themselves as they cooperatively move people from point “A” to point “B.” Vehicle automation aims to eliminate human error from the task of driving, making the roads safer and leaving drivers able to perform other tasks as they desire while they travel. Also, through wireless in-motion electric power transfer, the gas tank may finally be completely excluded from vehicles without sacrificing freedoms in …

Modeling Travel Time And Reliability On Urban Arterials For Recurrent Conditions, Prony Bonnaire Fils

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

Travel time reliability is defined as the consistency or dependability in travel times during a specified period of time under stated conditions, and it can be used for evaluating the performance of traffic networks based on LOS (Level of Service) of the HCM (Highway Capacity Manual). Travel time reliability is also one of the most understood measures for road users to perceive the current traffic conditions, and help them make smart decisions on route choices, and hence avoid unnecessary delays (Liu & Ma, 2009). Therefore, travel time reliability on urban arterials has become a major concern for daily commuters, …

Investigation Of Human-Structure Interaction Through Experimental And Analytical Studies, Nicholas Noss

Master’s Theses

Vibration serviceability is a widely recognized design criterion for assembly-type structures, such as stadiums, that are likely subjected to rhythmic human-induced excitation. Human-induced excitation of a structure occurs from the movement of the occupants such as walking, running, jumping, or dancing. Vibration serviceability is based on the level of comfort that people have with the vibrations of a structure. Current design guidance uses the natural frequency of the structure to assess vibration serviceability. However, a phenomenon known as human-structure interaction suggests that there is a dynamic interaction between the structure and passive occupants, altering the natural frequency of the system. …

Characterization Of Viscoelastic And Fracture Properties Of Asphaltic Materials In Multiple Length Scales, Soohyok Im

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Asphaltic materials are classical examples of multi-phase composites in different length scales. The understanding of the mechanical behavior of asphaltic materials has been a challenge to the pavement mechanics community due to multiple complexities involved: heterogeneity, anisotropy, nonlinear inelasticity, and damage in multiple forms. The micromechanics-based models based on numerical methods have been receiving attention from the pavement mechanics community because the modeling method can account for those complexities of asphaltic materials by considering the effects of material properties and geometric characteristics of individual components on overall performance behavior of mixture or structure. As a step-wise effort, this study intends …

Network Resilience In Disasters: An Interdisciplinary, International Perspective, Satish Ukkusuri

Changing World Conference

No abstract provided.

Camp Rainbow Gold: New Design, Andrew Campbell, Marcus Rasulo, Alex Nelson, Jill Pruett, Jarom Gray

College of Engineering Poster Presentations

Camp Rainbow Gold is a summer camp for children diagnosed with cancer. The camp has experienced substantial growth since its inception, reaching the capacity of its current site, and is exploring alternative sites. Awesome Engineering was tasked to design a new resident camp facility to meet the needs of a growing Camp Rainbow Gold as a Civil Engineering Design project. We were given a 77-acre site located two miles south of Bellevue, Idaho, and a list of facility requirements for the camp. Our job is to design the facilities as well as investigate the required permits and codes. We will …

Smart Home Prototype, Logistics & Planning, David G. Guzman^, Virgilio Gonzalez*

COURI Symposium Abstracts, Spring 2012

No abstract provided.

Feasibility Of Desalination Of Winter Agricultural Return Flows In El Paso: Impact On Downstream Salinity, Aaron M. Cano ^, W. Shane Walker *

COURI Symposium Abstracts, Spring 2012

No abstract provided.

Understanding Operating Speed Variation Of Multilane Highways With New Access Density Definition And Simulation Outputs, Bing Huang

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Traffic speed is generally considered a core issue in roadway safety. Previous studies show that faster travel is not necessarily associated with an increased risk of being involved in a crash. When vehicles travel at the same speed in the same direction (even high speeds, as on interstates), they are not passing one another and cannot collide as long as they maintain the same speed. Conversely, the frequency of crashes increases when vehicles are traveling at different rates of speed. There is no doubt that the greater speed variation is, the greater the number of interactions among vehicles is, resulting …

Impacts Of Climate Change On Hydrology And Water Resources In The Boise And Spokane River Basins, Xin Jin, Venkataramana Sridhar

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

In the Pacific Northwest, warming climate has resulted in a lengthened growing season, declining snowpack, and earlier timing of spring runoff. This study characterizes the impact of climate change in two basins in Idaho, the Spokane River and the Boise River basins. We simulated the basin-scale hydrology by coupling the downscaled precipitation and temperature outputs from a suite of global climate models and the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), between 2010 and 2060 and assess the impacts of climate change on water resources in the region. For the Boise River basin, changes in precipitation ranged from −3.8 to 36%. …

Mathematical Modeling Of Pipeline Features For Robotic Inspection, Yang Gao

Doctoral Dissertations

Underground pipeline systems play an indispensable role in transporting liquids in both developed and developing countries. The associated social and economic cost to repair a pipe upon abrupt failure is often unacceptable. Regular inspection is a preventative action that aims to monitor pipe conditions, catch abnormalities and reduce the chance of undesirable surprises. Robots with CCTV video cameras have been used for decades to inspect pipelines, yielding only qualitative information. It is becoming necessary and preferable for municipalities, project managers and engineers to also quantify the 3-D geometry of underground pipe networks. Existing robots equipped specialized hardware and software algorithms …

Fertilization Effects On The Ecohydrology Of A Southern California Annual Grassland, Anthony J. Parolari, Michael L. Goulden, Rafael L. Bras

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Nitrogen limits leaf gas exchange, canopy development, and evapotranspiration in many ecosystems. In dryland ecosystems, it is unclear whether increased anthropogenic nitrogen inputs alter the widely recognized dominance of water and energy constraints on ecohydrology. We use observations from a factorial irrigation and fertilization experiment in a nitrogen-limited southern California annual grassland to explore this hypothesis. Our analysis shows growing season soil moisture and canopy-scale water vapor conductance are equivalent in control and fertilized plots. This consistency arises as fertilization-induced increases in leaf area index (LAI) are offset by reduced leaf area-based stomatal conductance, gs. We interpret this as evidence …

Corrosion Rate Of Carbon Steel For Flowline And Pipeline As Transmission Pipe In Natural Gas Production With Co2 Content, Andi Rustandi, Muhammad Adyutatama, Enriko Fadly, Norman Subekti

Makara Journal of Technology

The purpose of this research is to investigate the corrosion rate of carbon steel as flowline and pipeline in natural gas production with CO2 content. The influence of variety of conditions that represent the actual conditions in practice such as CO2 partial pressure and solution composition, particularly NaCl percentage were performed. Research conducted by polarization test and simulation methods using PREDICTTM software. The result of this research is used to illustrate the level of corrosion rate of typical carbon steel i.e. API 5L X-52 occurred in natural gas pipelines due to the effect of dissolved CO2. From the experiments obtained …