Engineering Commons^™

A New Method Of Producing High Strength Oil Palm Shell Lightweight Concrete, Hilmi Mahmud

Hilmi Mahmud

This paper presents a new method to produce high strength lightweight aggregate concrete (HSLWAC) using an agricultural solid waste, namely oil palm shell (OPS). This method is based on crushing large old OPS. Crushed OPS are hard and have a strong physical bond with hydrated cement paste. The 28 and 56. days compressive strength achieved in this study were about 53 and 56. MPa, respectively. Furthermore, it was observed that it was possible to produce grade 30 OPS concrete without the addition of any cementitious materials. Compared to previous studies, significantly lower cement content was used to produce this grade …

Designing Carbon Taxation Schemes For Automobiles: A Simulation Exercise For Germany, Adamos Adamou, Sofronis Clerides, Theodoros Zachariadis

Theodoros Zachariadis

Vehicle taxation based on CO2 emissions is increasingly being adopted worldwide in order to shift consumer purchases to low-carbon cars, yet little is known about the effectiveness and overall economic impact of these schemes. We focus on feebate schemes, which impose a fee on high-carbon vehicles and give a rebate to purchasers of low-carbon automobiles. We estimate a discrete choice model of demand for automobiles in Germany and simulate the impact of alternative feebate schemes on emissions, consumer welfare, public revenues and firm profits. The analysis shows that a well-designed scheme can lead to emission reductions without reducing overall welfare.

Study On The Use Of Mgal Hydrotalcites As Solid Heterogeneous Catalysts For Biodiesel Production, João F. Gomes

João F Gomes

This paper, reports experimental work on the use of new heterogeneous solid basic catalysts for biodiesel production: double oxides of Mg and Al, produced by calcination, at high temperature, of MgAl lamellar structures, the hydrotalcites (HT). The most suitable catalyst system studied are hydrotalcite Mg:Al 2:1 calcinated at 507 ºC and 700 ºC, leading to higher values of FAME also in the second reaction stage. One of the prepared catalysts resulted in 97.1 % Fatty acids methyl esters (FAME) in the 1st reaction step, 92.2 % FAME in the 2nd reaction step and 34 % FAME in the 3rd reaction …

Multiscale/Multiphysics Modeling Of Concrete Structures, Yang Lu

Yang Lu

Concrete structure modeling is not easy. Cement concrete has a complex microstructure, which is still not completely elucidated. A lot of study has been carried out in cement concrete materials and structures modeling. The microstructure of concrete contains random features over a wide range of length scales, from nanometers to millimeters, with each length scale presenting a random composite. In its engineering uses, concrete is considered as a uniform material at the length scale of meters. Concrete research topics include complex failure processes, such as, atomic scale cementitious hydration, micro-pore structure formation and moisture transport in microstructure, calcium ion transport …

Application Of Gis In Seismic Risk Assessment For The City Of Kelowna, Md. Nurul Alam

Md. Nurul Alam

No abstract provided.

Integration Of Climate Change In The Analysis And Design Of Engineered Systems: Barriers And Opportunities For Engineering Education, Juan Lucena, Jason Delborne, Katie Johnson, Jon Leydens, Junko Munakata-Marr, Jen Schneider

Jen Schneider

The goal of this paper is to begin mapping perspectives of engineering faculty on barriers and opportunities related to the integration of climate change in the analysis and design of engineered systems (CC&ES). Although both sustainability and renewable energy have been receiving increasing attention in engineering education for quite some time¹, climate change, especially as it relates to engineered systems, has yet to become a widely accepted topic of teaching and research. From recent literature on engineering education and from interviews with engineering faculty, a picture emerges of whether and how climate change is an important dimension in …

Wind Charged Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle, John Patten, Nathan Christensen, Steven Srivastava, Gary Nola

john a patten

With the emergence of electric vehicles (EVs), hybrid vehicles HVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) from a variety of automotive manufacturers, the electrical grid will need to meet new challenges in supplying the electricity required to charge these vehicles. To help supply the electricity needed by these vehicles, we compared the electricity consumption of a modified Toyota Prius (PHEV) and the output of a small residential wind turbine over the course of one year. Our research seeks to determine whether a small residential wind turbine can supply the necessary electricity demanded by the PHEV annually.

The Impact Of Driving Conditions On Phev Battery Performance, Nathan Christensen, John Patten, Steven Srivastava, Gary P. Nola

john a patten

The battery performance of a modified Prius with a 5 kWh plug-in battery was documented for a year to determine the impact of environmental conditions and user attributes on vehicle performance. Both fuel economy and pure electrical efficiency were compared to ambient temperature. The fuel economy has a positive relationship with ambient temperature until approximately 70˚F where the efficiency begins to drop. Electrical performance has a positive linear relationship with ambient temperature. With the emergence of electric vehicles (EVs) and PHEVs from a variety of automotive manufacturers, information on EV and PHEV performance for consumers will become more important.

State Dependent Properties Of Rail Pads, Sakdirat Kaewunruen, Alexander Remennikov

Alex Remennikov

Rail pad is one of the main components in ballasted railway track systems. It is inserted between the rail and the sleeper to attenuate dynamic wheel/rail interaction forces, preventing the underlying railway track components from excessive stresses. Generally, the dynamic design of tracks relies on the available data, which are mostly focused on the structural condition at a specific toe load. Recent findings show that track irregularities could significantly amplify the loads on railway tracks. This phenomenon gives rise to a concern that the rail pads may experience higher deterioration rate than anticipated in the past. On this ground, an …

Relationship Between Impact Energy And Fracture Toughness Of Prestressed Concrete Railway Sleepers, Sakdirat Kaewunruen, Alexander Remennikov

Alex Remennikov

The prestressed concrete sleepers (or railroad ties), which are installed in railway track systems as the crosstie beam support, are designed to carry and transfer the wheel loads from the rails to the ground. It is well known that railway tracks are subject to impact loading conditions, which are attributable to the train operations with either wheel or rail abnormalities such as flat wheels, dipped rails, etc. These loads are of very high magnitude but short duration. In addition, there exists the potential of repeated load experience during the design life of prestressed concrete sleepers. Prestressed concrete has played a …

Dynamic Design Guidelines For Prestressed Concrete Sleepers, Alexander Remennikov, Martin H. Murray, Sakdirat Kaewunruen

Alex Remennikov

Current design philosophy, outlined in AS 1085.14, is based on the analysis of permissible stresses resulting from quasi-static wheel loads and essentially the static response of concrete sleepers. In general, cracking can incur when the bottom fibre stress is larger than tensile strength of concrete. Premature cracking of prestressed concrete sleepers has been detected in railway tracks. The major cause of cracking is the infrequent but high-magnitude wheel loads produced by a small percentage of “out-of-round” wheels or railhead surface defects, which are crudely accounted for in AS 1085.14 by a single load factor. Based on the current design method, …

Dynamic Properties Of Railway Track And Its Components : A State-Of-The-Art Review, Sakdirat Kaewunruen, Alexander Remennikov

Alex Remennikov

Recent findings indicate one of major causes of damages, which is attributed to the resonant behaviours, in a railway track and its components. Basically, when a railway track is excited to generalised dynamic loading, the railway track deforms and then vibrates for certain duration. Dynamic responses of the railway track and its components are the key to evaluate the structural capacity of railway track and its components. If a dynamic loading resonates the railway track’s dynamic responses, its components tend to have the significant damage from excessive dynamic stresses. For example, a rail vibration could lead to defects in rails …

Produkcja Stałego Paliwa Wtórnego Na Przykładzie Przedsiębiorstwa Usług Komunalnych „Empol” Sp. Z O.O. / Production Of Solid Waste-Derived Fuel - A Case Study Of The Enterprise Of Municipal Services "Empol" Llc, Robert Oleniacz, Leszek Rataj, Monika Wyrostek

Robert Oleniacz

The work presents activities of the Enterprise of Municipal Services "Empol" Sp. z o.o. based in Tylmanowa (Małopolska Province, Poland) and the interrelated technological lines for sorting of waste and production of alternative fuels (refuse derived fuels - RDFs) started in 2009 in the Special Economic Zone in Gorlice. The paper also discusses properties of the produced RDFs and their typical applications.

Wpływ Procesu Współspalania Odpadów W Piecu Cementowym Na Jakość Powietrza / Impact Of Waste Co-Incineration Process In A Cement Kiln On Air Quality, Robert Oleniacz, Magdalena Kasietczuk

Robert Oleniacz

The work presents the general requirements for the control of emissions to air from waste co-combustion (co-incineration) plants, with particular emphasis on rotary kilns used for clinker production. Air emissions from the cement kiln during co-combustion of alternative fuels and the impact assessment on air quality are also presented. The object of the study was one of the Polish cement plant, which uses significant amounts of solid waste derived fuels (with over 70% share in the cement kiln heat balance). Assessment of the impact on air quality was made based on the results of the modeling of atmospheric dispersion of …

Nonlinear Concrete Behaviour, Marian Sabau, Traian Onet

Marian Sabau

This paper presents an overview of nonlinear behaviour in reinforced concrete structures. Structural concrete is a nonlinear material both at strength limit states and service loads. Are presented terms of effects that are primarily observed in concrete, steel or a combination of the two. When considering nonlinear behaviour, an important aspect is whether or not strain localization will occur as size effects. The model must first be validated by experiments and benchmark tests to ensure the safety and reliability criteria. In nonlinear finite element procedures, engineers must check their finite element discretization and modelling assumptions used in their analyses. Advanced …

Soil Chemistry And The Recovery Of Sensitive Watersheds From Chronic Acidification, Chris E. Johnson

Chris E Johnson

No abstract provided.

Evaluation Of Wind Load Integration In Disproportionate Collapse Analysis Of Steel Moment Frames For Column Loss, Simos Gerasimidis, C. C. Baniotopoulos

Simos Gerasimidis

Structural Health Monitoring System And Method Using Soft Capacitive Sensing Materials, Simon Laflamme, Matthias Kollosche, Guggi H. R. Kofod

Simon Laflamme

A structural health monitoring system is provided to diagnose and localize crack damage on structural elements. The system uses one or more capacitive sensor assemblies that employ a soft dielectric material. The system can be applied over a large area as a sensing skin, allowing the presence of cracks to be localized.

Strategic Drivers Of Delivery Capacity, Lynn Crawford

Lynn Crawford

Recent research into the value of project management has highlighted the importance of 'fit' whereby the internal and external context of an organization would determine the configuration of project management that would add value. A major challenge for organizations, and a differentiator of corporate performance, is the ability to execute strategy. It is a key to corporate agility and the ability to build on global recovery. Projects and programs are the primary vehicles for strategy execution, and project management can therefore be seen as the delivery capability of organisations. In order to add value, project management must be configured to …

A Methodology To Estimate Capacity Impact Due To Connected Vehicle Technology, Daiheng Ni, Jia Li, Steven Andrews, Haizhong Wang

Daiheng Ni

Recent development in connected vehicle technology or equivalently vehicular ad hoc networks (VANET) has stimulated tremendous interests among decision makers, practitioners, and researchers due to the potential safety and mobility benefits provided by these technologies. A primary concern regarding the deployment of connected vehicle technology is the degree of market penetration required for effectiveness. This paper proposes a methodology to analyze the benefit of highway capacity gained from connected vehicle technology. To fulfill this purpose, a model incorporating the effects of connected vehicle technology on car following is formulated, building on which a rough estimate of the resulting capacity gain …

Effect Of Steel Fiber On The Mechanical Properties Of Oil Palm Shell Lightweight Concrete, Hilmi Mahmud

Hilmi Mahmud

This paper reports the results of a study conducted to investigate the effect of low volume content of steel fiber on the slump, density, compressive strength under different curing conditions, splitting tensile strength, flexural strength and modulus of elasticity of a grade 35 oil palm shell (OPS) lightweight concrete mixture. The results indicate that an increase in steel fiber decreased the workability and increased the density. All the mechanical properties except the modulus of elasticity (E) improved significantly. The 28. day compressive strength of steel fiber OPS lightweight concrete in continuously moist curing was in the range of 41-45. MPa. …

The Explosion In Mari, Cyprus, The Cost Of Power Shortages, And Policy Recommendations, Theodoros Zachariadis, Panos Pashardes, Nicoletta Pashourtidou

Theodoros Zachariadis

No abstract provided.

Notice On A Case Study On The Utilization Of Wind Energy Potential On A Remote And Isolated Small Wastewater Treatment Plant, João F. Gomes

João F Gomes

Small wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) are frequently located, by necessity, in remote and isolated sites, which increases the difficulty of its energy supply. Some of them are located near the seaside, in environmental sensible zones, and due to tourism activity of these sites, seasonal effects related with population size fluctuation can occur, which can originate certain inefficiencies concerning WWTP design and energy supply. The objective of this paper is to describe a step by step procedure for evaluation of the wind potential of sites that are dependent of in-situ energy generation, as well as, a case study on the utilization …

New Nanosystem Mixed Reactor For Urban Wastewater Treatment, Masoud Rastegar, Kamran Rahmati Shadbad

Masoud Rastegar

No abstract provided.

Effect Of Climate Variability And Climate Change On Crop Production And Water Resources In Cyprus, Adriana Bruggeman, Christos Zoumides, Stelios Pashiardis, Panos Hadjinicolaou, Manfred Lange, Theodoros Zachariadis

Theodoros Zachariadis

No abstract provided.

Calibration Of A Method For Selecting Roundabouts As A Function Of The Inner Island Treatment, J. Falciani, Antonio Pratelli, Michael T. Martello, Reginald R. Souleyrette

Reginald R. Souleyrette

It is generally accepted that a driver’s ability to perceive, recognize, and react to surroundings contributes to safer roads. The objective of this paper is to investigate the perceptibility of roundabouts as influenced by their most distinctive feature – the central island treatment. Previous work has shown how visual perception of central island treatment can improve road safety performance. Recently, the authors have suggested a roundabout central island treatment classification scheme with three categories: Reduced, Compressed and Slender. Classifying roundabout central island treatment types was necessarily somewhat subjective. This paper introduces a more quantitative measure for central island visual perception, …

Torsional Behavior Of Prestressed Concrete Beams Strengthened With Cfrp Sheets, Akram Shaker Mahmood, Mohamed Najim Mahmood

Akram Shaker Mahmood

Strengthening of concrete structures with externally bonded carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRPs) has been a viable technique for at least a decade and it became interesting material and applied in strengthening reinforced and prestressed concrete beams. It has been found that CFRP sheets are very suitable; not only because of its strength, but also due to its ease of application in comparison to traditional strengthening systems. Despite the fact that CFRP has been widely used in strengthening reinforced concrete members, a very limited works were found in the literature that is related to the application of CFRP in assessing the …

Shear Behaviour Of Reinforced Palm Kernel Shell Concrete Beams, Hilmi Mahmud

Hilmi Mahmud

The shear behaviour of palm kernel shell concrete (PKSC) beams prepared using palm kernel shell (PKS) as lightweight aggregate (LWA) is reported here. The shear strength of grade 30 PKSC with a density of 1850 kg/m(3) was found 24% higher than the corresponding normal weight concrete (NWC). Good aggregate interlock in PKSC was evident as it produced shorter jagged cracks compared to longer plain cracks of NWC. Further, PKSC was able to produce twice as many flexural and shear cracks compared to NWC. Tension stiffening between the tensile cracks of PKSC enhanced flexural rigidity and dowel action. The non-linear numerical …

Quasi-Static Analysis Of Rocking Wall Systems, Douglas Seymour, Simon Laflamme

Simon Laflamme

Rocking wall systems consist of shear walls that are free to rotate at their base. Their purpose is to mitigate seismic structural damage by constraining the structure primarily to its first mode. This constraint prevents weak story failure, and maximizes energy dissipation by activating plastic hinges throughout the structure. The purpose of this paper is to present a methodology for the design of rocking wall systems. A quasi-static analysis model is used for predicting the seismic mitigation performance of rocking walls. The stiffness matrix is generalized for an N-story simplified structure equipped with this structural system. The model presented enables …

Control Of Large-Scale Structures With Large Uncertainties, Simon Laflamme

Simon Laflamme

Performance-based design is a design approach that satisfies motion constraints as its primary goal, and then verifies for strength. The approach is traditionally executed by appropriately sizing stiffnesses, but recently, passive energy dissipation systems have gained popularity. Semi-active and active energy dissipation systems have been shown to outperform purely passive systems, but they are not yet widely accepted in the construction and structural engineering fields. Several factors are impeding the application of semi-active and active damping systems, such as large modeling uncertainties that are inherent to large-scale structures, limited state measurements, lack of mechanically reliable control devices, large power requirements, …