Engineering Commons^™

2005 Fall Engr333 Project Assignment, Matthew K. Heun

ENGR 333

In the Fall 2005 semester, I challenged the ENGR333 students to “develop realistic designs for the wellness center HVAC system and upgraded physical plant infrastructure.”

Customer

The customer for this project was Calvin’s VP for finance Henry DeVries.

Modified Log–Wake Law For Zero-Pressure-Gradient Turbulent Boundary Layers, Junke Guo, Pierre Y. Julien, Meroney N. Meroney

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Faculty Publications

This paper shows that the turbulent velocity profile for zero-pressure-gradient boundary layers is affected by the wall shear stress and convective inertia. The effect of the wall shear stress is dominant in the so-called overlap region and can be described by a logarithmic law in which the von Karman constant is about 0.4 while the additive constant depends on a Reynolds number. The effect of the convective inertia can be described by the Coles wake law with a constant wake strength about 0.76.A cubic correction term is introduced to satisfy the zero velocity gradient requirement at the boundary layer edge. …

Analysis Of Per Capita Expenditures Of Suburbanizing Communities In Maine, New England Environmental Finance Center

Economics and Finance

This study analyzes per capita expenditure trends among selected fast-growing Maine towns from 1970-2004. The ten communities studied are termed as “suburbanizing” towns. This term is used to describe towns that over the past 30-40 years have been in the process of transition from rural to suburban – in terms of their population and housing densities, their forms of government, and the services they provide, as well as other characteristics.1 Such towns are of particular interest because they have been absorbing a healthy percentage of the state’s population growth during this time period, often at the expense of Maine’s service …

Bs News

Building Services Engineering

No abstract provided.

Stabilization And Improvement Of Organic Soils, Joonho Hwang, Aaron Humphrey, Antonio Bobet, Maria Caterina Santagata

JTRP Technical Reports

Peats and organic soils in general pose significant problems to geotechnical engineers due to their low strength, high compressibility and elevated creep. The research performed addressed one soil improving technique, deep soil mixing, that has been widely used for treating soft clays, but that especially in the US has found limited use in presence of organic soils. The work performed made use primarily of one soil sampled on Lindberg Road (LR) in West Lafayette, IN characterized by LOI= 45-52%, LL= 327%, PL= 162%, LLoven dried/LLnon-dried = 0.31, Gs = 2.05-2.12, fiber content ~2.29%, clay fraction = 40.6%. In addition, a …

Effects Of Long-Term Wastewater Application On Chemical Properties And Phosphorus Adsorption Capacity In Soils Of A Wastewater Land Treatment System, Cong Hu, Tian Zhang, Yong Huang, Mohamed F. Dahab, Rao Surampalli

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Faculty Publications

The buildup of phosphorus (P) in the soil is a major factor limiting the operating life of a wastewater land treatment system. In this study, we evaluated changes of chemical properties, P profiles, and adsorption isotherms in the soils of a Muskegon wastewater land treatment system, which has received wastewater for ~30 years. It was found that the pH in the 15-cm topsoil increased from ~5-6 in 1973 to ~7.4-7.8 in 2003; a large amount of salt (e.g., Ca, Mg) in wastewater was adsorbed by the soil; the soil Al content (either exchangeable or oxalate extractable) decreased, while the oxalate-extractable …

High-Impact, Energy-Absorbing Vehicle Barrier System: U.S. Patent No. Us 6,926,461 B1, Ronald K. Faller, Dean L. Sicking, John R. Rohde, A. Keller, Robert W. Bielenberg, James C. Holloway, Kenneth H. Addink, Karla A. Polivka

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Faculty Publications

A high-impact, energy-absorbing vehicle barrier system generally includes a substantially rigid outer containment wall coupled via cable restraint assemblies with an energy-absorbing inner impact wall, and energy-absorbing cartridges strategically positioned between the impact wall and containment-wall: The impact wall is constructed of a number of rectangular tubes coupled with one another to presents a substantially smooth, uniform surface to passing vehicles. The energy-absorbing cartridges generally consist of a number of foam sheets which compress and crush between the containment wall and impact wall to absorb energy from an errant vehicle striking the face of the impact wall, while the deflection …

Novel Distributed Cable Sensors For Detection Of Cracks In Rc Structures, Genda Chen, David Pommerenke

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

In this paper, the development of a fundamentally new, topology-based cable sensor design concept is summarized for crack detection in reinforced concrete (RC) structures. The sensitivity, spatial resolution, and signal loss of sensors are investigated both numerically and experimentally. Two sensors were fabricated and validated with small- and large-scale laboratory tests under different loads. Both were proven sensitive to crack of various sizes from visually undetectable to excessive, giving the location and severity of damage simultaneously. One sensor has been installed on a three-span bridge for its long-term monitoring. It is capable of recording damage that has occurred during a …

Comparison Of Adsorption Capacities Of Nanoadsorbents With Conventional Activated Carbon For Volatile Organic Compounds, Namrata Baburao Deshmukh

Civil Engineering Theses - Archive

This research explores the potential for using single wall carbon nanohorns (SWNHs) for adsorption of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) categorized as hazardous air pollutants and which contribute to ground level ozone smog formation. It also compares the adsorption capacity of conventional activated carbon and carbon nanohorns. Carbon nanoadsorbents, with at least one dimension on the nanometer scale, can possess advantages over traditional activated carbon adsorbents in terms of binding energies or interaction potentials for physisorption. Nanotubes and nanohorns both have excellent adsorption properties due to high-energy adsorption sites in their interior (internal pores) and in the region between adjacent nanotubes/nanohorns …

Field And Experimental Studies To Assess The Performance Of Stabilized Expansive Clay, Gautham S. Pillappa

Civil Engineering Theses - Archive

A vast majority of the expansive soils are montmorillonite-rich clays, over consolidated clays and shales. The swell and shrinkage movements of expansive soil cause considerable damage to structures such as buildings and pavements. This damage can be attributed to moisture fluctuations caused by seasonal variations. Volumetric changes typically appear in the form of cracks which will lead to the softening and vertical heaving in subsoils. Both softening and vertical expansion induce damage to overlying structures. Certain soils rich with sulfates exhibit swell and heaving even after treatment with stabilizers. The present research project was conducted at the University of Texas …

Evaluation Of Texas Cone Penetrometer Test To Predict Undrained Shear Strength Of Clays, Hariharan Vasudevan

Civil Engineering Theses - Archive

The cone penetration test used in Texas is termed as Texas cone penetrometer (TCP), which works on dynamic principles similar to those of SPT, i.e. a hammer is used to drive the cone device for a preset depth of penetration of 12 inches. Results are typically reported in the form of N12 values. Correlations between N12 and soil strength properties are currently used by the TxDOT to determine in situ strength properties of soils prior to any infrastructure design. A research study was initiated to evaluate the existing shear strength predicting correlations used by TxDOT and its applicability for soils …

Water Damage Evaluation Of Concrete Infrastructure, Roshan Shakya

Civil Engineering Theses - Archive

This study presents an experimental program to evaluate the effect of a special waterproofing material, International Chem-Crete Pavix (CCP), on the durability of concrete. The experimental program identified the concrete mix design commonly used for pavement and other infrastructure as set by Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT). The tests conducted include the water absorption and air void (ASTM C 642), freeze-thaw (ASTM C 666), chloride penetration (ASTM C 1202), and petrographic (ASTM C 457) test. The tests were performed on both cored and laboratory treated and untreated specimens. The absorption test was performed on the concrete specimens with water cement …

Impacts Of Signal Synchronization On Vehicular Emissions - An On-Board Measurement Case Study, Rupangi Munshi

Civil Engineering Theses - Archive

Nearly 56% of total nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions are produced by mobile sources. Transportation and air quality managers at the state and regional level have the responsibility of developing and evaluating Transportation Control Measures (TCMs) and Transportation Improvement Plans (TIPs) to improve air quality of the region. Signal synchronization is considered to be an effective TCM to reduce corridor congestion and maintain air quality in the region. This research was carried to determine the impacts of signal synchronization on real-world, on-road emissions. A portable instrument, OBS-1300 manufactured by Horiba Instruments Inc., was used to measure on-road tailpipe emissions of NOx …

Development Of Finite Element Method-Based Model Equations For Hollow Tapered Poles, Jiwon Jung

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

This study presents the development of three-parameter load-deflection models for steel and FRP poles commonly used to support closed circuit television cameras. An experimental investigation is carried out to obtain static load-deflection characteristics of tapered octagonal steel cross section and circular FRP cross section poles. Numerical results generated from three-dimensional isoparametric finite element model (FEM) considering coupled nonlinear algorithms for material, geometric, contact, and pre-tensioning effects are compared with those obtained experimentally. Eight-node elsto-plastic solid element is employed to model the pole, end-plate, bolts, concrete base, and laboratory reaction floor. The laboratory reaction floor is modeled with a thick plate …

Performance Evaluation Of Bamboo Reinforced Concrete Beams, Leena Khare

Civil Engineering Theses - Archive

This study presents the evaluation of the feasibility of the use of bamboo as a potential reinforcement in concrete structural members. To achieve this objective a series of tensile tests on three types of bamboo Solid; Moso; and Tonkin; were conducted to obtain their constitutive relation. Also, four-point bending tests on concrete beams reinforced with bamboo were performed to identify their behavior compared to steel reinforced concrete members. Tensile tests specimens were prepared by cutting the bamboo typically in 1/2 in (13 mm) wide strips of 9 to 12 in (228 mm to 305 mm) in length. In order to …

Performance And Check-Out Verification Testing Of A New True Triaxial Apparatus Using Partially Saturated Silty Sand, Jae Hyun Park

Civil Engineering Theses - Archive

A stress-controlled, flexible boundary, true triaxial (cubical) testing apparatus has been developed to test 3-inch cubical specimen of partially saturated soil under different moisture contents and for a wide range of multiaxial stress paths. A series of HC, CTC, TC, TE, and SS tests were conducted in order to perform a thorough performance and check-out verification testing of the newly developed device by investigating the multiaxial stress-strain response of partially saturated silty sand specimens artificially prepared in the laboratory. The development of the apparatus, specimen preparation process, test procedure, and the corresponding validation of its suitability for testing partially saturated …

Nonlinear Finite Element Model Analysis Of Human Accommodation Lens, Tri Le

Civil Engineering Theses - Archive

The crystalline human lens is modeled by using the finite element software, ABAQUS/CAE Version 6.5-1 as an axisymmetric shell to study the optical power and displacement of anterior and posterior poles induced due to zonule traction. Several different element types were tested to obtain the optimum mesh. These elements were three and six-noded triangular hybrid and four-noded quadrilateral hybrid for modeling of the cortex and nucleus. Constant strain triangular and regular quadrilateral elements were examined for modeling the capsule. One dimensional two degree of freedom spring elements were used to model the anterior, posterior, and equatorial zonules. Five different lens …

Modern Technologies For Design Data Collection, James Samuel Bethel, Steven D. Johnson, Monica Prezzi, Boudewijn H. W. Van Gelder, Bob G. Mccullouch, Ali Fuat Cetin, Seungwoo Han, Mosab Hawarey, Changno Lee, Aparajithan Sampath, Jie Shan

JTRP Technical Reports

Design data collection involving the use of Lidar instrument, in conjunction with GPS proves to be very effective. Data required to model two bridges over the I-70 was collected on a single day, involving five and six sessions with Lidar equipment. Even though the data was collected on two bridges, it did not cause any disruption of the traffic, either on the Interstate or on the bridges. A major cause of concern during survey activities, particularly along interstates is safety, both for the motorists as well as the people involved in data collection. Lidar data collection was found to be …

Bs News

Building Services Engineering

No abstract provided.

Stochastic Modeling Of The Permeability Of Randomly Generated Porous Media, Yusong Li, Eugene Leboeuf, P. K. Basu, Sankaran Mahadevan

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Faculty Publications

Permeability of porous media in subsurface environments is subject to potentially large uncertainties due to the heterogeneity of natural systems. In this study, a first-order reliability method (FORM) is combined with a lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) to estimate the permeability of randomly generated porous media. The proposed procedure provides an increased ease of addressing complex pore structures by employing LBM to model fluid flow, while inheriting the computational efficiency from FORM. Macroscale- equivalent permeability can thus be estimated with significantly reduced computational efforts, while maintaining a connection to the complex microscale fluid dynamics within a pore structure environment. Implemented on …

Quality Of Common Salt In The Tanzanian Market, Kamwanya E

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

The quality of edible salts in the Tanzanian market has been studied by comparing the levels of iodine, heavy metals, and non-metals. Among the 19 analyzed local salt samples, only two of them—Kipepeo salt (76.67 mg/kg) and Super salt (79.95 mg/kg)—met the recommended level of iodine as per TBS (Tanzania Bureau of Standards) specifications. Other brands have iodine levels below the TBS specification.

Degradation Of Waterfront Reinforced Concrete Structures At The Port Of Dar Es Salaam, I Sanga

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

The paper summarises the results of an investigation done on piers at the Dar es Salaam Port. The problem facing these structures and marine facilities is their exposure to aggressive environmental phenomena. The paper presents an investigation of the strength and corrosion of concrete seaport piers so as to determine degradation of the reinforced concrete waterfront structures in the port of Dar es Salaam. For instance the structures at a dhow quay terminal had been in use for about 100 years. The facility was in bad condition as the concrete had been badly damaged due to corrosion. Some of the …

Ceramic Properties Of Chimala Kaolin Clay, Leonard Akwilapo

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

The physico-chemical properties of kaolinite clays occurring in abundance near Chimala were studied with a view of finding out their suitability in sanitary ware production. The viscosity of the clay was found to be within the range acceptable in industrial application (≤ 500 cp for 70% solids), enhancing its prospects for the manufacture of slip cast shapes with satisfactory properties. The chemical composition of the clay reveals a high content of Fe₂O₃, 1.48%, which is expected to affect the translucency and colour of the finished ware. However, such quantity would not have detrimental effects in the production of sanitary ware. …

Earth Building In Tanzania - Use Of Soil Stabilized Bricks And Blocks, A Mrema

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

This paper presents experimental results of investigations done on the use of stabilized earth (soil) for the manufacture of bricks and blocks. The soil used was clayey sand of low plasticity. Two types of stabilizers were used to make stabilized bricks and these were cement and a combination of cement and lime. Different stabilizer proportions were employed. Results of tests carried on these bricks at 28 days indicate an optimum mix proportion of 7% cement if cement is used alone and an optimum mix proportion of 5% each if a combination of lime and cement is used as a stabilizer. …

Cement Oonded Wood Wool Board As A Building Material For Low Cost Housing, A Mrema

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

This paper gives results of a preliminary study on the properties of cement bonded wood-wool boards manufactured as composites by using wood-wool (excelsior) from podocarpus spp wood species and ordinary Portland cement. Two main parameters were varied during the investigation and these were the width of the wood-wool and the cement to wood-wool ratio. Results show that the optimum mix proportion is three parts of cement to two parts of wood-wool by weight and that a smaller excelsior width gives higher board strengths. The results from tests on flexural strength, compressive strength and tensile strength far exceeded the requirements of …

Low Cost Slab Manufactured From Masonry Slab Elements, John Makunza

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

The construction of bungalow houses requires sufficient space to accommodate all the requirements as per the client’s wish. The idea of low-rise or high rise buildings is very remote for most of the people due to the high costs of construction involved. Much of the said cost is due to the concrete floor slab as it consumes a bigger portion of concrete material when compared to beams and columns. In this paper, a study presented is on a new form of voided slab constructed from masonry slab elements that do not utilize formwork and consumes less concrete material. The slab …

Influence Of Optical Fiber Coating Damage In The Light Transmissivity Characteristics Of Microbend Sensors, Franz Campero, Paul J. Cosentino, David C. Fleming, Edward H. Kalajian, Barry G. Grossman

Mechanical and Civil Engineering Faculty Publications

A laboratory testing and engineering modeling study was completed to determine the influence of fiber optic coating damage caused by microbend contact on the performance of microbend sensors developed based on relatively low cost single-sided microbending technique using a multimode optical fiber. A testing method was designed, developed and implemented to determine the loads that caused optical fiber glass-coating debonding and coating fracture. Finite Element models of the fiber-deformer system were developed to study the failure modes and predict the stresses that caused this failure. Loads and displacements predicted by Finite Element models were found to be in good agreement …

Bs News

Building Services Engineering

No abstract provided.

Mechanics Of Biocell Landfill Settlements, Chamil Hiroshan Hettiarachchi

Dissertations

Prediction of landfill gas generation and settlements are of concerns in design and maintenance of biocell landfills. Accurate settlement prediction is essential for design of piping systems used for the delivery of re-circulated leachate and recovery of landfill gas. Landfill settlement is the result of change in overburden stresses and biodegradation of waste. Biodegradation-induced settlement results from the re-arrangement of waste skeleton in response to the decomposition of waste mass.

Current practice of landfill settlement modeling is predominantly empirical, thus most of the available techniques make no attempt to simulate the real mechanisms of waste settlement. Traditionally compressibility index is …

Utility Of Remote Sensing Data In Retrieval Of Water Quality Consituents Concentrations In Coastal Water Of New Jersey, Ting Yu

Dissertations

Three important optical properties used for monitoring coastal water quality are the concentrations of chlorophyll (CHL), color dissolved organic matter (CDOM) and total suspended materials (TSM). Ocean color remote sensing, a technique to collect color data by detection of upward radiance from a distance (Bukata et al.,1995), provides a synoptic view for determining these concentrations from upwelling radiances. In the open ocean (Case-I), it is not difficult to derive empirical algorithms relating the received radiances to surface concentrations of water quality parameters. In coastal waters (Case-Il), there are serious unresolved problems in extracting chlorophyll concentration because of high concentration of …