Engineering Commons^™

An Examination Of Railroad Capacity And Its Implications For Rail-Highway Intermodal Transportation, David Bruce Clarke

Doctoral Dissertations

After many years of decline in market share, railroads are now experiencing an increasing demand for their services. Service intensive intermodal transportation seems to be an especially promising market area. Since the historic decline in traffic has been accompanied by a reduction in network infrastructure, however, the railroads' ability to handle sizable traffic increases, at least in the short term, is in question. Since rail transportation is critical to the domestic economy of the nation, and is increasingly important in international logistics channels, shortfalls in railroad capacity are not desirable.

The published literature on railroad capacity is relatively sparse, especially …

A Study On The Causes Of Variations In Transmissivity And Storativity During Pump Tests At Asylum Lake, Paul Joseph Pare

Masters Theses

Over a two year period, Western Michigan University ran a number of pump tests in the Asylum Lake Area in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The transmissivities and storativities calculated from these tests differed significantly from well to well in any particular test, and from pump test to pump test. Utilizing the computer programs AQTESOLV 3.0 and Aquifer Parameter Estimator, a number of T and S values were calculated. After analysis of the results, the following conclusion was drawn. The main reason for the deviations in the T and S values arose from the mixing of the results of numerous methods (some of …

Geostatistical Analysis Of Hydraulic Conductivity In Heterogeneous Aquifers, Craig S. Biondo

Theses and Dissertations

Observations of the spatial variability of hydraulic conductivity of the heterogeneous alluvial aquifer at Columbus Air Force Base in Mississippi are analyzed using parametric geostatistical approaches. Field studies have revealed that the heterogeneity of the aquifer hydraulic conductivity field controls the movement and dispersion of groundwater solutes. Therefore, a means of quantifying spatial variability is essential for the application of flow and solute transport models to practical problems. Application of these models requires a large number of hydraulic conductivity measurements. Geostatistical analysis and kriging estimation procedures assist in providing these large numbers of values when sampling designs have provided sparse …

Evaluating The Feasibility Of Sequential Indicator Simulation In Reproducing Spatial Connectivity In A Heterogeneous Transmissivity Field, D. Duane Kenyon

Theses and Dissertations

A Non-Parametric estimation technique was used to simulate realizations of a heterogeneous transmissivity field based upon sampled values from three different sampling scenarios. These realizations were compared to output from a parametric estimation technique with respect to truth as defined by an exhaustive data set of 6,000 transmissivity values. Estimated transmissivity fields were then used as input into a flow model from which fields of heads and specific discharges were obtained and compared. Given the financial limitations imposed upon the number and quality of samples reasonably available, Sequential Indicator Simulation, a non-parametric technique, was shown to be of considerable value …

A Decision Tool To Optimally Select Pollution Prevention Projects Within A Constrained Budget, Charlotte Hudson

Theses and Dissertations

Pollution prevention managers need to select the best environmental projects for an installation within a constrained budget but have no standard way of selecting the optimal mix of projects. This thesis proposes a decision tool to aid decision makers in choosing this optimal mix. The model was built using decision analysis theory which provides a framework to aid the decision maker. Criteria sed in the model for selection was determined using a questionnaire sent to base-level pollution prevention managers. The model ses DPL, a software package designed to build, analyze, and conduct sensitivity analysis of decision problems to perform the …

Decision Support Model For Municipal Solid Waste Management At Department Of Defense Installations, John F. Muratore

Theses and Dissertations

This research focuses on the development of a decision support model to identify the preferred strategy for managing municipal solid waste using the principles of decision analysis theory. The model provides an effective decision making tool to evaluate and compare different municipal solid waste management strategies. The users of this model, the Environmental Manager or decision maker at a given installation, can enter installation-specific waste stream characteristics, treatment and disposal costs, and material buy-back prices to determine the expected value for various alternative strategies. The strategy having the greatest expected value is considered the preferred alternative. In calculating the expected …

In Situ Warming And Soil Venting To Enhance The Biodegradation Of Jp-4 In Cold Climates: A Critical Study And Analysis, Ricky D. Cox

Theses and Dissertations

Numerous bioremediation projects have proven effective in accelerating contaminant biodegradation by injecting oxygen into the vadose zone with a technique called bioventing. In cold climates, bioremediation is limited to the summer when soil temperatures are sufficient to support microbial growth. Laboratory studies directly correlate increased biodegradation rates with temperature. By raising soil temperatures, in situ jet fuel remediation can be accelerated which was shown by a bioventing project conducted in 1991 at Eielson AFB, Alaska, where three soil warming techniques were used. Two methods actively warmed the soil - warm water circulation and heat tape; the other passively warmed the …

Comparison Of Gravel Substrate Vs Soil Substrate For The Construction Of An Experimental Fen, Carolyn S. Langley

Theses and Dissertations

Under the Clean Water Act Section 404 of 1972 and 33 CFR 320-330 and 40 CFR 230 moderate the destruction of wetlands by the Air Force to make way for other uses. To obtain a permit for a design or construction project which affects a wetland, the Air Force must agree to create new wetlands, or replace lost wetland acreage through wetland creation or restoration. The Air Force is interested in building 'successful' wetlands as inexpensively as possible. It has been common practice to use hydric soil, which often had to be hauled in, as the substrate at the restored …

A System Dynamics Approach To Modelling The Degradation Of Biochemical Oxygen Demand In A Constructed Wetland Receiving Stormwater Runoff, Leslie A. Mudgett

Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this research was to develop a tool to aid the Air Force Environmental Manager in the identification of the design parameters of a constructed wetland system that may be optimized to provide a desired biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) removal efficiency during the treatment of Air Force stormwater runoff. The objective is achieved through the development and use of a system dynamics model which simulates the hydrological functions of a constructed wetland as well as the processes within the wetland responsible for degradation of BOD. Based on literature review, the primary mechanism responsible for the degradation of BOD …

A Comparison Of Response Surface Methodology And A One-Factor-At-A-Time Approach As Calibration Techniques For The Bioplume-Ii Simulation Model Of Contaminant Biodegradation, Benjamin Shuman

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis compared Response Surface Methodology (RSM) to the one-factor-at-a-time approach for calibrating the Bioplume-II simulation model of contaminant biodegradation. The MADE-2 data set from Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi was used. The one-factor-at-a-time approach reduced the root-mean-squared (RMS) error for the flow to 0.921225 feet in a total of 36 runs of Bioplume-II. The RSM approach reduced the error criterion to 0.918875 in a total of 47 runs. The one-factor-at-a-time approach was unable to reduce the error below 67.1831 parts per billion (ppb) after 21 runs. The RSM approach reduced the RMS error to 67.0327 ppb after 47 runs. …

A Case Study Of The Environmental Impacts Of The Beddown Of The C-17 Globemaster Iii At Charleston Afb, Richard H. Houghton Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

Unites States Air Force acquisition environmental planning has changed significantly since the passage of the National Environmental Policy Act in 1969. This research examined the role of environmental planning in weapon system acquisition. It focused on environmental planning performed for the C-17 Globemaster III prior to its beddown at Charleston Air Force Base. The case study of the C- 17 beddown included interviews, archival record reviews, and direct observations at the base. Evidence was collected to determine what environmental impacts occurred during the beddown. An environmental postaudit compared actual impacts with those predicted in environmental planning documentation. Impacts were analyzed …

The Effect Of Meteorological Data Averaging Times On Plume Concentrations From Explosive Ordnance Disposal Open Burning Operations, Ida L. Widmann

Theses and Dissertations

Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Open Burning (OB) operations are performed to treat and dispose of unserviceable munitions in the Department of Defense (DOD) inventory. Air pollution modeling of OB operations is an Environmental Protection Agency requirement for permit issuance at OB sites. Specific OB regulation is still in its infancy; therefore, establishment of OB modeling techniques is still in the early stages. This thesis effort sought to develop a computer model, based upon the Gaussian Puff Equation. The model varies from standard plume modeling practices by not making the assumption that the wind direction, wind speed and turbulence are uniform …

Validation Testing A Contaminant Transport And Natural Attenuation Simulation Model Using Field Data, Steven J. Flier

Theses and Dissertations

This research extends the work begun by Enyeart (1994) which evaluated the process of intrinsic bioremediation, and which developed a model for predicting the velocity of an aerobic degradation front, as it traverses the length of a JP-4 contaminant plume. It is assumed this aerobic front will traverse the contaminant plume as dissolved oxygen is carried by the ground water through the sorption-retarded contaminant. The ultimate purpose of Enyeart's model is to use it to develop field guidance for assessing the feasibility of intrinsic bioremediation to restore petroleum-contaminated soils. After simulating intrinsic bioremediation many times with a spreadsheet model, results …

Analysis Of Soil Vapor Extraction Expenses To Estimate Bioventing Expenses, Steven M. Loken

Theses and Dissertations

An in-depth analysis of the expenses incurred with five soil venting petroleum remediation projects was accomplished. The data was obtained from receipts provided by a major United States petroleum refiner and distributor. Cost categories were designed that incorporated all costs and provided a method to analyze the data. The five cost categories used were: permits, equipment, management, utilities, and analysis. Further analysis showed trends and described the behavior of the costs related to remediation events. The relative percentile for each cost category was found to be consistent among the projects. Many costs were also found to be very linear throughout …

Use Of Respirometry To Determine The Effect Of Nutrient Enhancement On Jp-8 Biodegradability, Christian T. Totten

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to use respirometry to measure the impact of nutrient combinations or treatments on JP - 8 biodegradation under simulated fuel spill soil conditions. The study was designed observe one soil type at a constant fuel exposure level of 1% and a constant moisture of 60% of field capacity. Three experiments conducted were of two and three factor designs with potassium nitrate and sodium phosphate addition levels serving as two factors and fuel serving as a third factor in Experiments 1 and 2. Cumulative oxygen values obtained by the respirometer were assumed to be a …

Intermodal Commuter Network Planning, Maria P. Boile

Dissertations

An intermodal commuter network is an integration of passenger transportation systems, or modes, to a single comprehensive system that provides connections among the various modes, and improved travel choices to users. In the system examined in this dissertation, commuters access their final destination via auto, rail, and intermodal auto-to-rail modes. There are numerous highway paths by which a commuter can reach the final destination. Once on the highway, the commuter can switch to rail at stations along the rail route. The commuter may also choose to walk to the rail station closest to the trip's origin.

The main focus of …

A Theoretical Analysis Of Volatile Contaminant Removal By The Pneumatic Fracturing Process, Yuan Ding

Dissertations

A mathematical model that simulates the process of contaminant removal from a pneumatically induced fracture within a porous medium is presented. It includes: (1) model development; (2) parameter evaluation; (3) statistical sensitivity analysis; and (4) model validation.

Based on the dual porosity approach, a mathematical model for a fractured porous formation is developed for both two dimensional and axial symmetrical cases. This model constitutes a pair of coupled partial differential equations for the porous medium and discrete fracture, respectively. The initial and boundary conditions have been determined based on field considerations of a soil vapor extraction system. By means of …

Optimizing Rail-Truck Intermodal Drayage Operations, Wen Zhang

Theses

This thesis presents a case study of the trucking (or drayage) portion of rail-truck intermodal freight transportation. The approach used was to examine in detail the current costs and potential for improvement at one New Jersey intermodal terminal. The analysis is conducted using a mathematical programming model to find an optimal scheduling plan for the drayage operation. To solve the model more efficiently, a modification is made to explore the special structure of the original problem which has a sparse constraint matrix. The model is solved first with an objective function that minimizes the total cost of the operation, and …

Reverse Osmosis As A Pretreatment Of Ion Exchange Equipment At Pse & G'S Hudson Generation Station, Steven Leon

Theses

Public Service Electric and Gas Company's Hudson Generating Station has historically had problems providing sufficient high quality water for its two once through, supercritical design boilers. The station requires over 60 million gallons annually to compensate for system losses.

The stations' ion exchange demineralizers proved to be costly to operate and overall inefficient in performance. Drawbacks include: short service cycles, periodic contamination of storage tanks due to premature breakthrough, prohibitively high chemical regenerant costs, excessive labor requirements, frequent resin replacement, and overall unreliable plant operations.

A reverse osmosis unit was installed as a pretreatment to the demineralizers to offset these …

A Study Of Settlement In Landfills Due To Biodegradation, Michael Guasconi

Theses

Finding new space for landfills is difficult due to land availability, stringent environmental regulations, and public sentiment. So other means of waste disposal, such as hauling it to a distant landfill, or incinerating it, will have to be resorted to. These methods may be unpopular with the public involved. By studying settlement due to biodegradation, ways to increase settlement can be found, allowing for additional waste disposal capacity in operating, and closed landfills.

Existing theoretical models are based on rheological concepts, not on biodegradation. So, they do not realistically model settlement. In this study, a model to determine the rate, …

Congestion Management Systems Development And Implementation : Four Case Studies, Arlene Rose-Marie Willis

Theses

To address concerns of poor air quality, congested highways and the need to manage and plan for transportation within budgetary constraints, the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA) mandated the development and implementation of a Congestion Management System (CMS). Primarily, a CMS will fuel transportation decision making with information on system performance and alternate strategies to alleviate congestion and enhance mobility. Efforts through ISTEA are expected to produce a more efficient American transportation system -- this thesis takes a look at the preparatory activities.

It is based on a federally funded project with metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) in …

Shear Strength And Fatigue Crack Propagation In Concrete By Energy Method, Wei Wang

Dissertations

The limit analysis methods have been commonly used to predict the ultimate flexure strength of reinforced concrete members over 50 years. However, current design formulas for shear in structural concrete are mostly empirical. In part one of this dissertation, attempts are made to apply the theory of plasticity to predict the shear strengths of reinforced concrete structures.

The modified Coulomb-Mohr failure criterion is used as the constitutive law of concrete, and the plastic flow is assumed to be associated with this failure criterion. A generalized formulation for energy dissipation in accordance with the failure criterion and associated flow rule is …

A Nondestructive Method For The Determination Of Fracture Energy In Concrete Structures, Been-Jyh Yu

Dissertations

It is generally believed that linear elastic fracture mechanics concepts can not be employed in determining fracture parameters in concrete, and therefore most of the current research effort has focused on applying the principles in yielding fracture mechanics. Despite all these efforts, comparison of results reported by many investigators indicate wide variations in fracture toughness values even for essentially similar materials. The main source of discrepancy in the observed results is the existence of a large process zone at the crack tip. Hence, the amount of energy consumed in advancing the crack will depend on the size of the process …

Composite Beam Analogy Fracture Model (Cbafm) : A Non-Linear Fracture Mechanics Model For Concrete, Mohammed Enamul Haque

Dissertations

The main objective of this dissertation is to develop a simple non-linear fracture mechanics model for the determination of fracture mechanics parameters for concrete, such as fracture process zone length (rp), critical fracture energy release rate (Gic), critical stress intensity factor (KO and fracture energy (GF). The fracture process zone (FPZ) is modeled as a damaged non-elastic cohesive band where the extent of damage due to microcracking varies from no damage at the boundary of FPZ to complete crack surface separation at the notch or macro-crack tip. The proposed method can predict theoretically both the pre-peak and post-peak load versus …

Hydrodynamic And Water Quality Modeling Of The Whippany River, John E. Krohn

Theses

The Whippany River is located in northern New Jersey and is a major tributary to the Passaic River System. This waterway accepts a wide variety of wastes from the diverse communities within its watershed. These wastes contribute to a rather complex network of biological, chemical and physical interactions.

The purpose of this study is to develop a water quality model using QUAL2E. This model will be used as a tool to simulate the complex interactions that take place within the river system. The river must he considered from physical, biological and chemical perspectives. A successful model can determine current water …

Reducing Rail-Truck Freight Intermodal Drayage Costs, David Moy Jr.

Theses

In rail-truck intermodal transport, a highway truck-trailer or container is moved by truck from a shipper to a rail terminal in the shipper's vicinity, and by rail in line haul between rail terminals. Upon being unloaded at the destination rail terminal, the container is delivered to a receiver (consignee) by truck. The highway portion of the move, or drayage, accounts for a relatively high percentage of total origin to destination cost, and it limits severely the competitiveness of intermodal service with door-to-door truck service. The approach used in this thesis is to examine in detail the current costs and potential …

Integration Of Pneumatic Fracturing And In Situ Vitrification In Coarse Grained Soils, Sean Thomas Mcgonigal

Theses

This thesis investigates conceptual integration of the Pneumatic Fracturing (PF) process with In Situ Vitrification (ISV) for remediation of contaminated soil. Integration will permit ISV melts to be initiated below the ground surface and extend the depth of the ISV process.

Bench scale experiments were conducted in 4.9 ft³ (0.14 m³) Plexiglas tanks filled with a test soil that was specifically blended to simulate the Hanford Formation in Richland, WA. Discrete pneumatic fractures were successfully created and filled with the ISV starter path material. Conductivity measurements made across two graphite electrodes exhibited a pre-fracture soil resistance of …

Fundamentals Of Adhesion Of Organic Compounds And Aqueous Cleaning Of Glass And Metal Surfaces : Applications In The Pharmaceutical And Chemical Industries, Michel J. De Ruijter

Theses

In this thesis we studied the physics and chemistry of the adhesion of various classes of organic compounds to glass and stainless steel surfaces, by using diagnostic aqueous cleaning solutions and other techniques. We defined the thermodynamic requirements for aqueous cleaning based on extensive experimental and theoretical work. Novel cleaning diagrams are introduced, based on electrostatic interactions between organic compounds and solid surfaces, to facilitate the design of aqueous cleaning systems. We studied the mass transfer parameters for selected situations. The electrochemical Pourbaix-diagrams were used to explain the effect of hydrogen peroxide added to aqueous solutions and to avoid corrosion …

A Study Of Transit Corridors Within The Njtpa Region, Mark Kagen Berger

Theses

Identifying potential bus and rail transit corridors for the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA) region by examining current travel patterns of commuters was the purpose of this thesis. The current transit corridors within the NJTPA region was discussed first, followed by the methods for selecting specific municipalities for analysis. At this point, specific examinations of the selected municipalities' origin and destination travel patterns were mapped. The results were then summed up, along with a discussion of potential new bus and rail transit corridors based on trips originating along a corridor enroute to the same municipality. The final discussion examined …

Water Quality Model For South Slough, Coos Bay, Oregon, Holly Kay Juza

Dissertations and Theses

The South Slough Estuary is located off Coos Bay along the southern coast of Oregon. It is divided into two channels that meet and continue to Coos Bay at the Charleston Harbor. There are six major contributing streams to South Slough. After rainfall events, the level of coliform bacteria in the slough increases because of stream bacteria loading. This is due to cattle grazing in the drainage areas, failed septic systems from private homes, and sewage sludge applied to the County landfill, which drains into the slough. The Oregon Health Division has enforced a Sanitation Management Plan for Commercial Shellfish …