Engineering Commons^™

Evaluation Of Snowplowable Marker Installations, Kenneth R. Agent, Jerry G. Pigman

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The first large-scale contracts for the installation of snowplowable markers were awarded in 1984 and 1985. Stimsonite 96 and recessed markers were installed. The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of the installations. Durability and reflectivity results show that both the recessed markers and Stimsonite 96 markers have performed effectively as snowplowable markers. The recessed markers should continue to be used only on four-lane highways constructed to high geometric standards with the Stimsonite 96 markers installed on the majority of highways.

Determining Highway Needs And Setting Road Project Priorities In Indiana Counties - An Executive Summary, Jon Fricker, Joseph L. Schaffer

Indiana Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) Publications

This Executive Summary is intended to acquaint county officials with the issues involved and the techniques available to set priorities on county highway segments, should a county wish to implement such procedures in-house or contract with a consultant.

Biodegradation Of Multiple Substrates In A Batch Reactor, Nilesh Naik

Theses

The biological degradation of multiple substrates was studied at room temperature in aerated 5-liter batch reactors using mixed liquor from the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commissioners wastewater treatment plant (Newark, New Jersey).

Two substrate mixtures were used (with initial concentration indicated in parenthesis): (1) phenol(100ppm) + nitrobenzene(10ppm) + 2,6-dichiorophenol(10ppm); (2) 2-chlorphenol(20ppm) + nitrobenzene(10ppm) + 2,6-dichlorphenol(10ppm). From concentration versus time data, kinetic rate constants for zero-order, first-order, and Monod models were determined. Most of the data were best fit by either the Monod or zero-order model. For all compounds tested biodegradation was the primary removal mechanism, and in many cases the rate …

Systems Building Theory Application Within The Residential Housing Construction Market, Gary Alexander Newhard

Theses

The primary purpose of this report is to introduce the economical value in utilizing certain "systems building" applications. In this report I focus on integrated system methodologies that encourage residential building economy and submit such systems as a viable alternative to traditional labor intensive housing construction. The consumer market that could be particularly enhanced by these systems ranges from low income to middle income and the by-product would be classified as "affordable" housing.

This report focuses on the New Jersey real estate market and presents certain prefabricated housing systems as an economical means of meeting the large demand for residential …

Fracture Energy And Tensile Behavior Of Concrete, Wen-Jinn Chiou

Theses

Fracture behavior of concrete has been a subject of investigation for the past two decades. The need of understanding the complete tensile response of concrete is absolutely essential for theoretical modelling as well as design application of plain concrete structures.

In this study, attempts were made to investigate the validity of two important fracture parameters, namely, the fracture energy and the critical crack tip opening displacement. Three types of test specimen, dog- bone shaped tension specimen, notched beam and compact tension specimen, were investigated. These tests were conducted using the closed-loop MTS 810 strain-controlled testing system. For the uniaxial tension …

The Effect Of Toxic Substances On The Index Properties Of Soils, Ronald Dicola

Theses

Contaminated soils were tested to determine if a relationship existed between their index properties and hydraulic conductivity. Atterberg Limit tests and Particle Size Analysis tests were performed on Woodbury, Raritan and Brunswick formation soils. The chemicals examined were Benzene, Phenol and Trichloroethylene (TCE). Tests were performed following the ASTM Standard Test Methods with only slight modification to accommodate the use of contaminated soils. Two different methods of soil contamination were used, one for chemical solutions and the other for pure chemicals.

Particle Size Analysis tests were performed both with and without dispersing agent. Hydrometer tests with dispersing agent resulted in …

Human Resources Planning In Construction Through Operations Research, Maria Pyla-Christodoulou

Theses

The purpose of this thesis is to examine different methods in the allocation of human resources in construction, using decision making through Operations Research. The methods described are divided into methods using mathematical models, and methods using heuristics. The mathematical models yield the optimum solution, while heuristics result in a satisfactory solution which can be improved by applying the optimization procedures described herein.

The human factor in construction is also examined, and methods of improving motivation among the construction workers are discussed.

Study Of The Effects Of Pumping Pressure On The Properties Of Fresh Concrete, Dinesh Vithal Kenkre

Theses

This thesis has a two-fold objective. One, to develop a suitable testing apparatus in the labaratory to simulate the effect of field pumping of concrete and two, to conduct some preliminary tests to investigate the feasibility of the testing apparatus.

Pumping of concrete has been practiced in the U.S.A. since 1930. The behaviour of concrete in a pipeline has not been studied in much detail while development in the pumping technology raced ahead of the research in this field. Previous studies done in this field have clearly indicated the need for a laboratory simulation of pumping process in order that …

Air Pollutant Emissions From Non-Vented Radiant Kerosene Heater, Anil Kumar Mishra

Theses

Gaseous emissions from non-vented kerosene heaters can generate and create significant indoor air concentrations of various gaseous pollutants. Indoor air concentrations resulting from operating a portable non-vented radiant type kerosene heater in three rooms of size 38.7, 58.1 and 137 M³ were studied. Studies in the environmental chamber having a size of 38.7 M³ under two sets of ventilation conditions showed elevated levels of CO₂, total hydrocarbons and CO. An emission rate model was used to estimate the strength of pollutant source, for total hydrocarbons, CO₂ and CO with data reported in terms of mass …

Biodegradation Of Mixed Phenolic Substrates, Prasad Gonnabathula

Theses

The biological degradation of phenol, with either 2-chlorophenol, 2,6-dichlorophenol, or nitrobenzene as cosubstrates was studied in aerated five - liter batch reactors using mixed liquor from the Passaic Valley Sewarage Commissioners wastewater treatment plant (Newark, NJ). The initial substrate concentrations were: 100 – 150 ppm phenol, 10 - 20 ppm 2-cp, 10 ppm 2,3 dcp, and 10 - 20 ppm nitrobenzene. The concentration vs. time data were fit to three kinetic models: zero-order, first-order, and Monod(assuming constant biomass). Most of the data were best fit by either the Monod or zero-order model. For all compounds tested, biodegradation was the primary …

Pozzolanic Admixtures In Concrete Mix, Ronghao Chen

Theses

Fly ash and condensed silica fume are two main mineral pozzolanic admixtures in portland cement concrete. The increasing use of the fly ash in concrete projects and concrete products during the past 3O years and condensed silica fume in several projects during the past 1O years indicates a greater acceptance of them as the mineral pozzolanic admixtures in concrete. Although the engineers are of some identical views in using these industrial byproducts in concrete projects, there are different views on how the behavior and utilization of fly ash con-crete and condensed silica fume concrete since the byproducts are not the …

A Study Of Hazardous Wastes Generated In New Jersey With Regard To The Siting Of Waste Disposal Facilities In The State, Shreerang Narayan Dharasker

Theses

The effective treatment and disposal of hazardous wastes is one of the most urgent problems facing the State of New Jersey today. New Jersey is the most densely populated state and is a leader in industry. Nearly every major industry in the nation is represented by one or many production units all of which generate copious amounts of hazardous and toxic wastes each year. Although the state has the toughest rules and regulations on the management of hazardous waste, there are very few options exercised or facilities cited for the effective treatment and disposal of wastes within the state boundaries. …

Modelling Of Pile Load Tests In Weak Rock, Daniel Walter Caruso

Theses

The purpose of this thesis was to investigate the loss of load capacity of relaxed pile groups driven into weak bedrock. This was accomplished in the laboratory using a dynamic driving apparatus equipped with a static load testing system. The static load testing system applied loads hydraulically, and the load settlement behavior was monitored using an electronic load cell and a linear variable differential transducer (LVDT).

Tests were performed using 1" diameter steel pipe piles driven in a five pile group pattern at spacings of two diameters and four diameters. Piles were driven into a simulated rock mass consisting of …

Infiltration Into Decomposed Granite Soils; Numerical Modeling, Applications And Some Laboratory Observations, A. W. Jayawardena, Jagath J. Kaluarachchi

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

This paper describes the outcome of a study on rain infiltration into decoposed granite which is one of the two main types of soils found in Hong Kong. It consists of the development and verification of a finite element based numerical model which has general applicability for flow through unsaturated porous media, application of the model for predicting moisture movement in an artificial slope made out of reconstituted decomposed granite and some laboratory observations including the estimation of soil hydraulic parameters.

Development Of A Unified Approach To The Design Of Cold-Formed Steel Members (Draft), Teoman Peköz

American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) Specifications, Standards, Manuals and Research Reports (1946 - present)

No abstract provided.

Thickness Design Curves For Asphaltic Concrete On A 4-Inch Layer Of Dense-Graded Aggregate, Or On 6, 9, Or 12 Inches Of Stabilized Soil, Or For Maximum Utilization Of Dense-Graded Aggregate, Herbert F. Southgate

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

No abstract provided.

Evaluation Of Durable Lane Delineation Materials, Kenneth R. Agent, Jerry G. Pigman

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The objective of the study was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of available marking materials by means of field tests and to make recommendations concerning the optimum lane delineation materials based on these tests. Materials tested include 100-percent solid epoxy paint, polyester paint, extruded thermoplastic, 3M Stamark tape, 3M Bisymmetric tape, EPOFLEX, solvent epoxy paint, chlorinated rubber traffic paint, and alkyd traffic paint. The test installations have been in place up to four years. The evaluation concerned the durability, reflectivity, and appearance of the materials. Based on current data, expanded use is warranted for 1) polyester paint on lower-volume asphaltic concrete …

Evaluation Of Durable Crosswalk And Stopbar Marking Materials, Kenneth R. Agent, Jerry G. Pigman

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The objective of this study was to find the most cost-effective durable marking material to provide long-lasting stop bars and crossbars. Three materials were tested: 1) 3M Stamark tape, 2) Prismo preformed tape, and 3) extruded thermoplastic (hydrocarbon and alkyd). The various test installations were in place for between 6 and 30 months.

The alkyd-resin thermoplastic material was found to be the most cost-effective I material. The preformed tapes cost two to three times as much as the thermoplastic material while not providing as durable a material when used in this application.The alkyd-resin material maintained its appearance better than the …

Clostridium Perfringens: An Adjunctive Indicator In Nonpoint Pollution, Steven G. Eberl

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Clostridium perfringens (CP) was evaluated as an additional indicator in assessing impacts and sources of microbial pollution in the Idaho-Utah Cache Valley. Point, nonpoint, river water, and animal fecal samples were analyzed for CP, total coliforms, fecal collforms, and fecal streptococci.

Monthly river samples consistently contained < 20 CP/100 mL, but concentrations of the other indicators varied significantly by location and date. Two sample stations consistently had CP concentrations greater than 20/100 mL. One of these stations was influenced by an upstream wastewater discharge. Chlorinated effluent from this trickling filter plant contained greater than 10³ CP/100 mL, but met a 400 FC/100 mL discharge standard. A consistent decrease in CP concentrations in samples taken downstream from this wastewater source were found, despite significant impact from adjacent nonpoint pollution. Lagoon and oxidation ditch wastewater effluents sampled contained < 20 CP/100 mL.

Nonpoint sources sampled (e.g., cattle feedlot runoff) contained < 20 CP/100 mL and 10²-10⁴/100 …

Aerating Butterfly Valves To Suppress Cavitation, R. Ted Davis

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Proper aeration of cavitating hydraulic equipment can greatly reduce cavitation intensity, noise, and damage. This thesis quantifies the benefit, in terms of damage and noise, from aerating six inch butterfly valve. The incipient damage level of cavitation was obtained for both aerated and non-aerated conditions. The level is defined as one pit per square inch of a soft aluminum test specimen per one minute of operation. A description of the cavitation pits that occurred plus where they appeared is presented. A graph showing the aerated and non-aerated limits of incipient damage is given along with a table showing the percent …

Irish H & V News

Building Services Engineering

No abstract provided.

Free-Form Deformations In A Constructive Solid Geometry Modeling System, Scott R. Parry

Theses and Dissertations

No one will question that computers are revolutionizing the design industry. It is pointed out in [Bezier84] that before CAD/CAM, a surface was defined by tracing cross sections on a drawing and then carving these sections in wood, plastic or metal. The final model was determined by someone interpolating between the sections. This labor intensive art is being replaced by techniques of computer aided geometric design.

Effects Of Load Distributions And Axle And Tire Configurations On Pavement Fatigue, Herbert F. Southgate, Robert C. Deen

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Damage factor relationships for axle and tire configurations are presented. Adjustment factors are provided to account for variations in load distributions within axle groups, distances between axles of a tandem, and variations in tire pressure for both dual and flotation tires.

Properly accounting for accumulated fatigue of a pavement requires a traffic volume, proportions of vehicle styles (classifications) within the of service, estimate of the average damage factor for each classification, reasonable measure of traffic stream, dates and estimates of tire contact pressures.

All adjustment factors presented are based on analyses of a limited number of structures and should be …

Use Of Nondestructive Testing To Prevent Failures Of In-Service Metal Bridges, Theodore Hopwood Ii, Robert C. Deen

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The failure of metal bridges, subject to in-service fracture problems mainly caused by fatigue, may be prevented or minimized by performance of periodic nondestructive testing. Attendant factors that justify funding for such inspections include the potential for bridge failure, the consequences of bridge collapse, risk analyses, and inspection strategies. Factors that affect structural integrity include structural design, construction quality, and service loadings.

Details of a computer/strain-gage system capable of obtaining strain-gage data from critical structural elements are described. Data are processed to determine the stress-range distribution, number of stress cycles, resolved mean stress range, need for structural inspection, critical crack …

Documentation For 1986 Weight-Distance Tax Analyses Using Lotus 1-2-3, Herbert F. Southgate

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

No abstract provided.

Evaluation Of A Full-Depth Asphaltic Concrete Pavement, Herbert F. Southgate, Gary W. Sharpe, Mark Anderson

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This study was initiated to verify a newly-developed set of design curves for full-depth asphaltic concrete pavements. Quality control during construction was checked using nuclear density testers, Benkelman beams, and a Road Rater. During the course of this study, an analysis system (predicated upon the elastic theory model) was developed to interpret the dynamic deflections as measured by the Road Rater. The thickness design curves were verified by elastic theory and deflection testing within the accuracy of construction variations.

Measured rut depths were analyzed in terms of potential rut depth resulting from consolidation under traffic due to lack of obtaining …

Nondestructive Evaluation Of Rigid Pavements Using Road Rater Deflections [1986], Gary W. Sharpe, Mark Anderson, Robert C. Deen, Herbert F. Southgate

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Dynamic deflections have been used to determine in-place structural conditions of rigid pavements, based on modifications of principles and experience with the structural evaluation of flexible pavements. Details of the use of elastic layer theory to simulate deflection measurements associated with loadings for the Kentucky Road Rater are presented. Included is an illustration of the use of field deflection measurements to "back calculate" in-place moduli. The procedures are generally iterative and involve matching measured deflections with theoretical deflections. Elastic layer principles have been used to simulate deflections only at the mid slab position. Relationships regarding deflections at other locations on …

Stability Of Embankments On Clay Foundations, Tommy C. Hopkins

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Ninety-one well-documented geotechnical failures are reviewed. The case studies involved the failure of embankments, footings and load tests, excavated slopes, and natural slopes. Seventy-five of the geotechnical failures had been analyzed using total stress analysis. Sixteen of the case failures had been analyzed using effective stress analysis. Based on a review of these case studies, there are discrepancies between predicted and actual stabilities of geotechnical structures and there is a tendency tu overestimate the factor of safety. Differences that may arise between predicted and actual performances are discussed and examined and guidelines are proposed for evaluating the potential of successfully …

Use Of Post Delineators On Interstates, Kenneth R. Agent, Jerry G. Pigman

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The objectives of this report were to investigate 1) the potential benefits of using flexible posts for post delineators and 2) the possibility of not requiring post delineators on sections of interstate-type highways where recessed markers are installed.

It is recommended that post delineators should only be used when the design curvature is 1.5 degrees or more, and the spacing should be based on the formula given in Table III – 1 of the MUTCD. Data obtained concerning the performance of flexible posts do not support widespread use at this time. A testing program should be developed to obtain an …

Treatment Of Narrow Medians On Four-Lane Rural Roadways, Jerry G. Pigman, Kenneth R. Agent

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The objective of this study was to investigate alternatives to paved mountable medians that have been used in the past on sections of four-lane, partially controlled access roads where right-of-way is restricted. These mountable medians present obvious operational problems due to the 3-inch difference in height as compared to the through lanes. In addition, construction and maintenance problems are associated with mountable medians because of the height differential.

A telephone survey of 16 states was conducted to determine their policy for separation of rural four-lane roads with partial control of access and narrow medians. Accident analyses comparing roads in Kentucky …