Engineering Commons^™

Self-Flushing Fluid Seal Assembly, David T. Kao

Civil Engineering Faculty Patents

A self-flushing fluid seal assembly is provided to prevent particle intrusion into the main seal around a slurry pump shaft. The assembly includes an annular tube concentrically disposed about the pump shaft and forming a chamber. The volume of the chamber is made variable by a plunger comprising an enlarged diameter portion of the pump shaft movable relative to the chamber during the power and return stroke of the pump. Flushing liquid is delivered to the chamber by means of a feed line extending through the shaft. A check valve provided in the feed line opens to allow the inward …

Low Cost Software, Harold M. Cota

Civil and Environmental Engineering

This is the fifth in our series on low cost software available to JAPCA readers. These programs have been developed by APCA members and are provided as a professional courtesy, as is, without warrantee. The authors would appreciate any feedback you have. In addition, we hope you will be willing to share programs you have developed for your own PC. To share your program all you need to do is prepare a brief description, similar to those in this column and send it with your program and any examples or documentations you are willing to furnish to: Dr. Hal Cota, …

Analysis Of Accident Data In Kentucky (1982-1986), Kenneth R. Agent, Jerry G. Pigman

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Kentucky has a systematic procedure to identify locations that have abnormal rates or numbers of accidents. This procedure utilizes average accident rates and numbers. A primary objective of this study was to determine average accident statistics in Kentucky. An annual safety program for Kentucky, which includes the identification, programming, budgeting, and evaluation of safety projects, is prepared each year. The data presented in this report may be included as the problem identification portion of Kentucky's Annual Highway Safety Plan.

Average and critical accident rates were calculated by highway type for rural and urban highways. A summary of results and recommendations …

Irish H & V News

Building Services Engineering

No abstract provided.

Post-Cracking And Nonlinear Microcomputer Analysis In Reinforced Concrete Beams, Pedro Ricardo Munoz Arias

Theses

The main objective of this Thesis work is to study a non-linear behavior of reinforced concrete structures using the Finite Element Method and an incremental load strategy.

Bond between steel and concrete is simulated using linkage spring elements. The proposed model has a generalized crack propagation capability and it accounts for nonlinearities due to cracking and material properties.

Load-displacement relationships describing the aggregate interlock along the crack and the dowel action at the level of reinforcement are incorporated into a computer program.

A simply supported reinforced concrete beam is analyzed from zero load until failure. Contributions to the shear capacity …

Thermal Decomposition Of Dichlorobenzene In An Atmosphere Of Hydrogen And Helium, Mingta Hung

Theses

Reactions of dilute mixtures of dichlorobenzene in hydrogen and in helium were studied in a tubular reactor at a pressure of 1 atm, residence times of 0.04 to 2.7 seconds, and temperature range of 825 to 1000° C. Product distributions at various reaction conditions are measured with a flame ionization detector gas chromatograph, and qualitative analysis of batch samples was also performed by GC/Mass Spectrometry. The major products were observed as the thermodynamically stable species, HC1, Cis), benzene and chlorobenzene. Thermal reaction in helium at 1 second residence time in 1.05 cm ID reactor yielded less benzene and chlorobenzene when …

A Chronicle Of The Kentucky Transportation Research Program, Robert C. Deen, Ronald D. Hughes

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The basis for the Kentucky Transportation Research Program (KTRP) was established more than 45 years ago and some of the current staff members have over 35 years experience in transportation research. Over the years, principal investigators have developed expertise in major areas of transportation and have made significant contributions in highway safety, pavement design and performance, embankment analyses, fatigue detection in bridges, noise abatement, traffic control and operations, voidless concrete, pavement texture and skid resistance, structural design and analyses of culverts, traffic forecasting, and numerous other areas.

The Transportation Research Building houses several fully equipped laboratories. Special effort was made …

Acoustic Emission Monitoring Of In-Service Bridges, Theodore Hopwood Ii, David W. Prine

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

An experimental acoustic emission (AE) device, the GARD Acoustic Emission Weld Monitor (AEWM), has been field tested on six bridges during this study. In addition, the device was used to test three other bridges under separate contracts from state highway agencies. The device was evaluated to determine if it could detect fatigue-crack growth on in-service steel bridges.

The AEWM employs a proprietary three-step model (filter) to reject noise-related AE activity and detect and locate defects subject to varying stress conditions. The unit uses built-in microprocessors to compare incoming data to the model. If defect-related AE activity is detected, the AEWM …

Evaluation Of Epoxy Thermoplastic Pavement Marking Material, Kenneth R. Agent, Jerry G. Pigman

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The objective of this study was to evaluate the field performance of epoxy thermoplastic (ETP) as a pavement marking material and to compare it to a control marking material, which was alkyd traffic paint. A test installation of ETP along with the regular traffic paint was placed on KY 841 in Jefferson County and evaluated over an 18-month period. Data collection consisted of daytime observations and rating of the material's appearance and durability and nighttime observations and rating of its nighttime visibility. Reflectivity measurements were also collected using a portable retroreflectometer.

The appearance (color) of the ETP remained good over …

Performance Survey Of Silicone-Sealed Concrete Pavement Joints, David Q. Hunsucker, Edgar E. Courtney

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report summarizes field inspections of various silicone-sealed concrete pavement joints. A list of silicone sealant projects was provided by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. Observations of performance were subjective and qualitative.

Construction And Performance Evaluation Of A Geocomposite Pavement Edge Drain Including Comparison With A 4-Inch Pipe Drain, L. John Fleckenstein, David L. Allen

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Construction and performance evaluations of Hydraway Drain and Conventional Pavement Edge Drain are presented. Construction procedures, laboratory tests, and discharge data, are included.

Implementation Of A Pavement Management Program In Lexington-Fayette County, Kentucky, Gary W. Sharpe, Robert C. Deen, Ronald R. Sewell

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Lexington, in central Kentucky, is the second largest city in the state. Local government is by a mayor and council of elected representatives from twelve districts and three at-large representatives. The Department of Public Works headed by a Commissioner, who reports to the mayor and city-county council, administers the streets and roads system.

The street and road network in Lexington consists of approximately 720 centerline miles. Approximately 100 miles are rural in nature and 620 miles are urban. Approximately 95 percent are bituminous surfaced roads; a majority of the remainder is constructed of portland cement concrete.

Increasing costs for constructing …

Road Base Construction Utilizing Coal Waste Materials, David Q. Hunsucker, Gary W. Sharpe, Jerry G. Rose, Robert C. Deen

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The paper describes the development and implementation of a no-cement concrete mixture containing pulverized fuel ash (PVA) and atmospheric fluidized bed combustion (AFBC) by-products as the cementitious components for combination with conventional limestone aggregates used as bulk filler. The paper presents a summary of laboratory evaluations and the application of those results to the design of a base for roadway construction. The paper also describes the construction, evaluation, and performance of a pilot application of this material used as a base for a thin bituminous pavement.

Structural Sensitivity Analysis On A Parallel Computer, Niu Kian Teck

Civil & Environmental Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Substructuring formulation using adjoint variable approach has been developed for design sensitivity analysis and optimization of large scale structures. In this study, the procedure for statics and sensitivity analysis are re-examined to propose a programming scheme which can be implemented either in a sequential or parallel environment. The computational times of the substructuring formulation using a single processor versus multi-processors are compared to see the effectiveness of the formulation in the concurrent computing environment.

A Finite Difference Soil-Structure Interaction Study Of A Section Of The Bonneville Navigation Lock Buttress Diaphragm Wall Utilizing Pressuremeter Test Results, Thomas C. Mccormack

Dissertations and Theses

The P-y curve, used in current practice as an efficient Iine-load vs. soil displacement model for input into the finite difference method of laterally loaded pile analysis, is extended in this study for use with cohesionless soils in diaphragm wall analysis on the Personal Computer with the BMCOL7 program. An analogous W-y curve is proposed, an elastic-plastic model with line-load limits developed from classical earth-pressure theories.

A new formula for predicting a horizontal wall modulus for cohesionless soils from the pressuremeter modulus is developed for use in predicting the displacements on the W-y curves. The resulting modulus values are shown …

Computational Aspects Of Chance‑Constrained Regional Modeling, R. R.A. Cantiller, Richard C. Peralta

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

A methodology that incorporates the stochasticity of an aquifer parameter in a chance-constrained steady-state groundwater management model is presented. Results and computational aspects of the modeling effort are discussed.

Development Of Linear Water Quality Constraints For Optimal Groundwater Management, Richard C. Peralta, J. Solaimanian, S. A. Prathapar, C. L. Griffis

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Proposed is a procedure for incorporating solute transport as linear constraints within computer models for optimizing regional groundwater extraction strategies. . MODCON procedure uses linear goal programming. embedded linearized equations for flow and solute transport. and MOC simulation model. Assumed is 20 flow and solute transport. and a dispersed conservative contaminant.

Expert Potentiometric Surface Modification For Groundwater Contaminant Management, R. L. Ward, Richard C. Peralta, J. R. Brashar

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

An expert system is linked to an previously reported optimization program. The expert system prompts the user for information about a groundwater contamination problem. The expert system determines whether pumping is a suitable containment strategy. If appropriate. it selects several well arrangements to be evaluated by an optimization algorithm.

Maximizing Reliable Crop Production In A Dynamic Stream/Aquifer System, Richard C. Peralta, K. Kowalski, R. R.A. Cantiller

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Reliable production of a dynamic stream/aquifer system is determined through an implicitly stochastic optimization model. Adequate representation of the inflow process and dynamic modeling of the stream/aquifer system results in optimum crop yield at specified reliability levels. Results include optimal spatial and temporal allocation of groundwater and diverted river water use. These can be used for planning cropping patterns and evaluating potential diversion systems.

Expanding The Automated Centralized Control System At The Des Moines Area Community College, Mark David Baethke

Graduate Research Papers

DMACC currently has over $1,200,000 invested in the ACCS which is connected to 21 campus buildings. The ACCS is used to save an estimated $300,000 per year in energy costs through energy conserving control of heating, ventilating, and air conditioning equipment. The ACCS also improves building life safety functions through fire alarm monitoring and serves as a significant trouble shooting tool for the mechanical maintenance staff. The initial installations of the ACCS were done after lengthly audits and studies by professional consulting firms which resulted in the recommendations for installation and expansion. These studies were limited to only a few …

Surabaya Indonesia: Options In Solid Waste Management, Samuel A. Vigil

Civil and Environmental Engineering

The Government of Indonesia requested assistance from the United States Trade and Development Program (TDP) regarding improvements to the solid waste management system of the City of Surabaya. TDP retained the author to prepare a Preliminary Feasibility Study which will enable TDP to make an informed decision on the desirability of funding further engineering work leading to solid waste projects.

Integrating Water Quality Objectives With Traditional Water Rights In California: The Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta Case, Ronald B. Robie

Water as a Public Resource: Emerging Rights and Obligations (Summer Conference, June 1-3)

14 pages (includes 1 map).

The Homestake Project & Water Quality Issues, Tad Foster

Water as a Public Resource: Emerging Rights and Obligations (Summer Conference, June 1-3)

5 pages (includes 1 map).

Conflicts Between Water Rights Administration And Water Quality Protection, Jan D. Laitos

Water as a Public Resource: Emerging Rights and Obligations (Summer Conference, June 1-3)

43 pages.

Reconciling Large-Scale Water Development And Water Quality Effects, James S. Sanderson

Water as a Public Resource: Emerging Rights and Obligations (Summer Conference, June 1-3)

6 pages.

Wetlands Protection: The 404 Program, Patrick A. Parenteau

Water as a Public Resource: Emerging Rights and Obligations (Summer Conference, June 1-3)

13 pages.

Includes unsigned annotations by David Getches.

The Clean Water Act, Water Quality, And Water Use, Bruce D. Ray

Water as a Public Resource: Emerging Rights and Obligations (Summer Conference, June 1-3)

56 pages.

Includes unsigned annotations by David Getches.

Public Interest Review Of Water Right Allocation And Transfer In The West: Recognition Of Public Values, Douglas L. Grant

Water as a Public Resource: Emerging Rights and Obligations (Summer Conference, June 1-3)

37 pages.

Contains references.

New Developments In Water Rights On Public Lands: Federal Rights And State Interests, Christopher H. Meyer

Water as a Public Resource: Emerging Rights and Obligations (Summer Conference, June 1-3)

25 pages.

Contains footnotes and 2 pages of references.

State Water Planning To Protect Public Needs, David H. Getches

Water as a Public Resource: Emerging Rights and Obligations (Summer Conference, June 1-3)

44 pages.