Engineering Commons^™

Optimization Of Hydraulic Cylinder Positioning For Wind Tower Hydraulic Erection System, Anbesh Rawal

Master's Theses

Wind produced electricity is a rapidly growing field with wind towers serving as critical components. Conventionally, special cranes are commonly used for wind tower erection. This study explores the use of hydraulic cylinders for small-scale wind tower erection. The thesis aims to find the optimal position of hydraulic cylinder connections in a hydraulic erection system for safe and energy-efficient tower erection and retraction and to enhance the performance and longevity of the system.

Structural analysis was conducted to investigate various hydraulic cylinder positioning configurations, ensuring minimal force exertion while maintaining structural integrity. The study included the selection of locally available …

Rheological And Mechanical Properties Of Kenaf And Jute Fiber-Reinforced Cement Composites, Seongwoo Gwon, Seong Ho Han, Thanh Duc Vu, Chanyoung Kim, Myoungsu Shin

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This study investigated the rheological and mechanical properties of cement composites with kenaf and jute fibers for use in shotcrete. The length and volume fractions of the fiber were varied; the rheological properties were analyzed in terms of air content, compression and flexural tests were conducted, and the degree of fiber dispersion was assessed using fluorescence microscopy. The rougher surfaces of the jute fibers led to a higher yield stress and viscosity of the composite compared to the kenaf fibers. The use of 10-mm-long jute fibers at 2.0% volume fraction led to optimal rheological properties while 30-mm-long jute fibers at …

Exploring Relationship Between Driver’S Roadway Familiarity, Distracted Driving, Reckless Driving, And Injury Severity On Work Zone Crashes, Hamza M. Bani Khalaf

ETD Archive

Motor vehicles have been an integral part of the American way of life, providing an unprecedented degree of mobility. Yet for all its advantages, motor vehicle crashes claim the lives of over 31,000 people in the United States every year, leaving more than three million injured. To prevent these crashes, the causes must be understood and addressed. This study developed a Bayesian Networks (BN) model – a model for reasoning “what-if” questions – to explore the relationship between drivers’ roadway familiarity, distracted driving, reckless driving, and crash severity at work zones. This study examined the crashes that occurred in Ohio …

Treatment Of Combined Dye And Protein Wastewater By Coagulation Process, Siriwat Tanongsak

ETD Archive

The treatment of combined dye and protein wastewater is a major environmental concern, due to its complex composition and high organic content. In this study, the effectiveness of the coagulation process for the treatment of combined dye and protein wastewater was investigated. Results of the study showed that the coagulation process was effective in removing suspended solids, color, and organic matter from the combined dye and protein wastewater. The removal efficiency varied depending on the type and dosage of the coagulant used. Among the coagulants tested, alum and ferric chloride were found to be the most effective in removing suspended …

Decoding Usage And Adoption Behavior Of The Low-Carbon Transportation Market: An Ai-Driven Exploration, Vuban Chowdhury

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The transportation sector stands as a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in the United States, with its environmental impact steadily escalating over the past few decades. This has prompted government agencies to facilitate the adoption and usage of low-carbon transportation (LCT) options as alternatives to fossil-fuel-powered transportation. LCTs include modes of transportation that minimize the overall carbon footprint of the transportation sector by relying on energy sources that are environmentally sustainable. These sustainable transportation options have also garnered significant interest in the transportation research community. For government agencies and researchers alike, a comprehensive understanding of the adoption and usage …

Examining The Impact Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Older Adults' Activity Participation And Mode Usage In A Rural State: A Case Study Of Arkansas, Arna Nishita Nithila

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The objective of the study was to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the activity participation and mode usage of older adults residing in Arkansas, a predominantly rural state. Leveraging primary data collected from 1,017 older adult participants, the study employed Latent Class Analysis (LCA) to capture older adults’ heterogeneity in travel behavior and found three distinct classes: Frequent Traveler, Moderate Traveler, and Non-Traveler, based on their activity participation, mode usage during the pandemic and the pandemic’s impact on their trips. Subsequently, a Multinomial Logit Model (MNL) was employed to examine how socio-demographic attributes, residential locations, and health …

Determining The Effect Of The Presence Of Food Deserts On The Number Of Crashes In Census Tracts In Arkansas, Lizbeth Juarez-Bartolo

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Food deserts, areas with limited access to grocery stores which sell fresh produce, dairy, and meats, are a growing concern in many communities. The presence of a food desert is known to cause great impacts on the physical health of the people residing within them, but there is little to no research on a food desert’s influence on the traffic safety of the location in which it encompasses. Based on previous studies into food deserts, studies suggest that food inaccessibility is mostly felt by rural residents. Since rural residents must travel farther distances on more hazardous rural roadways to access …

Diffusive Gradients In Thin-Films Passive Samplers For Quantitation Of Per- And Polyfluoroalkyl Substances In Water: Kinetic Modeling, Experimental Methods, And Outlook For Regulatory Monitoring, Samuel Hodges

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Environmental sampling is the backbone of regulatory compliance in public water systems. Coupled with continuously improving analytical capabilities, grab sampling has revealed the ubiquity of emerging contaminants in water resources such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPAs) Method 533 and 537.1 specify 0.25 L grab samples undergo a solid phase extraction (SPE) to enrich PFAS up to 250-fold in 1 mL of methanol prior to analysis by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). This process can achieve lowest concentration minimum reporting levels (LCMRLs) between 0.53–16 ng•L−1 for the twenty-nine prioritized PFAS in drinking waters. However, toxicity …

Self-Consolidating Concrete Design For Drilled Shaft Structural Applications, Grady S. Caton

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Self-consolidating concrete (SCC) is a relatively new concrete technology which allows the concrete to be placed without the need for manual or machine vibration. This innovation reduces labor costs, construction times, and can provide a smooth, finished surface. However, this technology is used in the United States primarily in the precast and prestressed concrete industry. The utility of SCC in structural applications, such as areas of dense reinforcement or locations where complex geometry makes consolidation impossible, is also advantageous. In this study, a series of SCC mixtures were developed both with and without fly ash replacement. These mixtures were then …

Comparing In-Situ Liquefaction Triggering Procedures For Sites In Arkansas, Sagar Barua

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

There currently exists a significant amount of uncertainty when designing piles for bridge foundations in liquefiable soil. Currently ARDOT engineers use a Standard Penetration Test (SPT) based liquefaction spreadsheet developed 10 years ago to evaluate liquefaction triggering. Since this spreadsheet was developed, updates to the liquefaction triggering procedures have been published making the spreadsheet out-of-date. Moreover, additional methods of liquefaction evaluation using cone penetration test (CPT) and shear wave velocity (Vs) provide added means of evaluating liquefaction potential. This thesis updates ARDOT's liquefaction triggering evaluation methodology with the newest procedures and incorporates additional empirical liquefaction hazard estimates such as the …

Developing Asphalt Mix Design Specifications Based On Apa And Ideal-Ct Testing, Jonathan Stonestreet

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Some asphalt mixes, following the Superpave mix design procedure, have been reported to be too stiff, making cracking a prevalent form of pavement distress. Additionally, cracking has been reported to be the main form of distress of asphalt pavements in the State of Arkansas. These facts have heightened state agencies’ interest in better performing asphalt pavements, with Arkansas resolving to explore performance-based balanced mix designs (BMD), not yet explored in the state. The primary objective of this document is to present the completed study of balanced mix designs, based on the rutting and cracking potential of asphalt pavement mixtures through …

2023 Fall Engr333 Section B Poster, Ally Gauss, Stuart Johnston, Zachary Rozendal, Nora Terbeek, Samantha Bush, Daniel Cordeiro, David Harris, Nathan Zylstra, Mikayla Bindon, David Schmurr, Zachary Swart, Micah Vandeburg, David Conhoff, Mitchell Cook, Yonggi Kim, Mark Schultz

ENGR 333

Poster of Section B of ENGR-333 Fall 2023.

2023 Fall Engr333 Section A Poster, Owen Kalsbeek, Panashe Makuvaro, Luke Penning, Caleb Gaffner, David Visser, Jared Skaggs, Stephen Langerak, Kyle Borror, Caleb Clark, Michael Lanning, Brayden Raches, Sam Mennega, Seth Devries, Kyle Vandusen, Hayden White

ENGR 333

Poster of Section A of ENGR-333 Fall 2023.

Characterizing Technology Impacts On Driving Behaviors, Crash Risks, And Infrastructure Performances, Jobaidul Boni

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

In recent years, an increase in driver distraction appears due to the rise in smartphone usage and the introduction of social media. Researchers put significant efforts in examining the impacts of distracted driving, mostly focused on distraction like texting or phone call. However, scant research exists to identify the underlying factors causing the distracted driving particularly caused by social media or showing their safety implications at complex geometries such as intersections and highways. This dissertation offers three independent studies reviewing the impact of technology on drivers' actions using field tests and simulation experiments. The first field tests conducted at three …

Evaluation Of Vertical And Lateral Load Capacity Of Recycled Plastic Pin, Sehneela Sara Aurpa

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

RPPs have been in use as a sustainable and effective technique to stabilize and reinforce weak ground for geotechnical purposes. Application of RPP in stabilization of slopes and improvement of load carrying capacity of foundation soil has yielded tremendous results. However, to facilitate the seamless integration of RPPs in design of foundation requires the load carrying capacity of RPP to be known. As RPP has been in use for both its vertical and lateral load carrying capacity, exploration of the load capacity of this material is essential. The objective of the study is to determine the load carrying capacity of …

Transportation Network Criticality Estimation For Hurricane Preparedness And Response Using Vulnerability Assessments, Mehrdad Arabi

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

The resilience of urban transportation networks is crucial for effective evacuation, and search and rescue operations as hurricane events become more severe and frequent. This dissertation presents a comprehensive approach to identifying and evaluating critical transportation links which are crucial for emergency preparedness and response. Integrating socio-economic and environmental vulnerabilities with traditional traffic management approaches, the research underscores the importance of equitable evacuation strategies that cater to the most vulnerable populations. Employing advanced spatial analysis and data analytics with real-time GPS data, the three individual papers in this dissertation offer a dynamic assessment of evacuation behaviors, capturing the complexities of …

Utilization Of Biomimetic Molecules To Control The Carbonation Of Cementitious Phases, Muhammad Intesarul Haque

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

This study introduces an innovative approach to mitigate carbonation-induced degradation of C-S-H and to enhance the carbonation properties of low calcium based cementitious materials by utilizing specific biomimetic molecules. In this study, four different biomimetic molecules were utilized. Details about their chemical formula and chemical structure can be found in Chapter 1. The dissertation is broadly focused on two aspects, Part 1 (Chapter 2 and 3) evaluated the role of biomimetic molecules in reducing the carbonation degradation of C-S-H. Part 2 (Chapter 4 and 5) assessed the effectiveness of the biomimetic molecules as performance enhancing admixture of carbonation cured dicalcium …

Experimental And Numerical Analyses Of Coupled Thermo-Hydro-Mechanical Behavior In Unsaturated Soil Under One-Dimensional Heat Transfer, Nice Kaneza

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

Comprehension of the behavior of unsaturated soil in response to thermal gradients, moisture gradients, and deformation is important in geotechnics. Thermal gradients control fluid density and viscosity and moisture gradients alter thermal properties of unsaturated soil. Similarly, thermal gradients affect the thermal strain of unsaturated soil and changes in porosity influence hydraulic properties of the soil. Thus, thermal, hydraulic, and mechanical properties of unsaturated soil interact with and influence each other; the combination of these interactions form a mechanism called coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) processes. Although the study of the behavior of coupled THM processes is essential in predicting the performance …

“Increasing Renewable Energy Potential Of Landfill Gas By Electrocatalytic Conversion Of Carbon Dioxide To Methane At Low Temperature.”, Asma Akter Rony

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

The conversion of carbon dioxide into methane at a low temperature has great potential to reduce current international environmental issues like global warming and will create new sources of renewable energy. The overall goal of this research is to increase renewable energy production from landfill gas using an unconventional process – electrocatalytic methanation of carbon dioxide – which has not been implemented for landfill gas yet. The electrocatalytic methanation follows the Waseda process, which applies an electric field in the presence of a Ruthenium-supported cerium oxide (CeO2) catalyst. The specific objectives of this research were: 1. To explore the impact …

Tri-Dimensional Segment-Based Urban Traffic Crash Models, Farzin Maniei

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

The continuous expansion of highway and freeway networks further exacerbates the risk of traffic crashes and highlights the critical importance of freeway safety management. To improve overall road safety, many organizations acknowledge the necessity of pinpointing locations experiencing higher-than-expected crashes (known as hotspot identification, HSID), identifying the factors contributing to traffic crashes, and determining the most effective preventive measures. Previous studies highlighted two major drawbacks associated with this approach: (1) HSID based on the total number of crashes can lead to incorrectly identifying hazardous areas; (2) the arbitrary selection of a fragment size (due to the lack of explicit recommendations) …

Compound Flood Modeling Of Tropical Cyclone Events In Coastal Bays And Estuaries, Nahal Maymandi

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

Flooding due to tropical cyclones can cause severe impacts on coastal communities, particularly when multiple types of flooding (e.g., coastal and riverine) interact to create a compound flood event. In typical flood hazard assessments, these drivers of flooding are considered separately, even though they may interact and produce more severe flooding. Understanding the interactions between flood drivers is necessary to accurately plan for and respond to future flood events. This dissertation aims to improve the assessment of coupled coastal, fluvial, and pluvial flooding in coastal bays and estuaries impacted by tropical cyclones. To do this, a hydrodynamic model is developed …

Statistical And Deep Learning Models For Reference Evapotranspiration Time Series Forecasting: A Comparison Of Accuracy, Complexity, And Data Efficiency, Arman Ahmadi, Andre Daccache, Mojtaba Sadegh, Richard L. Snyder

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Reference evapotranspiration (ETo) is an essential variable in agricultural water resources management and irrigation scheduling. An accurate and reliable forecast of ETo facilitates effective decision-making in agriculture. Although numerous studies assessed various methodologies for ETo forecasting, an in-depth multi-dimensional analysis evaluating different aspects of these methodologies is missing. This study systematically evaluates the complexity, computational cost, data efficiency, and accuracy of ten models that have been used or could potentially be used for ETo forecasting. These models range from well-known statistical forecasting models like seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average (SARIMA) to state-of-the-art deep learning (DL) algorithms like temporal fusion transformer …

Infrastructure Damage Detection Leveraging Advanced Ai Techniques, Yin Chao Wu

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

The dissertation explores into structural damage identification and prediction through the application of machine learning. Firstly, it enhances impact echo delamination mapping by incorporating two signal image parameters—signal duration and starting time after zero-crossing. The research also explores the efficiency of machine learning concerning image resolution and the number of images. This approach refines the evaluation of bridge damage in field tests. Two crucial signal parameters are investigated: signal duration and signal starting time after the zero-crossing point. These parameters exert a direct impact on the frequency domain, a crucial metric in impact echo analysis. This metric discerns signals reflected …

Proactive Seismic Rehabilitation Decision-Making Model For Water Pipe Networks Under Network Uncertainties And Degradation, Abhijit Roy

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

Past earthquakes have revealed that earthquakes disrupt the operations of underground water infrastructure systems. Assessment of the seismic vulnerability of underground water pipe networks plays a critical role in formulating preventive rehabilitation decision-making to ensure maximum serviceability after an earthquake event and avoid high repair costs. Although existing seismic vulnerability assessment methods and seismic rehabilitation decision-making models are sensitive to water pipe network uncertainties (e.g., uncertainties in nodal demand, reservoir head, and pipe roughness coefficient) and pipes’ degradation, the extent of the effects of the network uncertainties and pipes’ degradation on the postearthquake serviceability of the network and seismic rehabilitation …

An Experimental And Numerical Study Of Utilizing Steel Fiber And Gfrp In Bridge Decks Under Bending, Sam Kafaji

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

The process of laying and tying conventional reinforcement is a time-consuming task when building a bridge deck, especially while ensuring the proper cover. To speed up the construction process, the bridge construction industry should look into replacing conventional reinforcing bars with steel fibers. This could be a significant breakthrough in bridge construction. Despite numerous experiments and research conducted on the bending strength of reinforced concrete decks, there are still several factors that require further exploration. This experiment focuses on utilizing steel fiber reinforced concrete (SFRC) in a multiple-span concrete bridge deck to investigate the opportunities of using SFRC as the …

Condition Assessment Of Reinforced Concrete Sanitary Sewer Pipelines Using Probabilistic Methods And Advanced Inspection Tools, Moein Ebrahimi

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

Large sanitary sewer pipelines (SSPs) are the backbone of modern infrastructure. They carry wastewater from smaller lines to treatment plans; therefore, they are critical for public health and safety. According to the ASCE report card published in 2021, the condition rate of sanitary sewage networks in the United States is D+ (i.e., poor) (ASCE 2021). Therefore, frequent inspections of SSPs are crucial for performing a proper life cycle management strategy. New inspection technologies such as LiDAR have recently been employed for rapid condition assessment of SSPs. Because of the precision of LiDAR inspection data, it can not only measure hydraulic …

Sea Level Rise And The Drivers Of Daily Water Levels In The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, H. Baranes, Steven Dykstra, D. A. Jay, S. A. Talke

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Water levels in deltas and estuaries vary on multiple timescales due to coastal, hydrologic, meteorologic, geologic, and anthropogenic factors. These diverse factors increase the uncertainty of, and may bias, relative sea level rise (RSLR) estimates. Here, we evaluate RSLR in San Francisco Bay and the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, USA by applying a physics-based, nonlinear regression to 50 tide gauges that determines the spatially varying controls on daily mean water level for water years 2004–2022. Results show that elevated river flow and pumping (99th percentile) raise water level up to 6 m and lower it up to 0.35 m, respectively, and …

A Numerical Modeling Analysis Of The San Francisco Bay And Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta: Riverine, Tidal, And Wind Processes, Drake A. Abrahamsson

Master's Theses

The primary motivation of this study is to analyze the 1D-2DH hydrodynamic model of the San Francisco Bay and Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (SFBD) outlined in Nederhoff et al. (2021). I compared model water level data to 70 tidal records from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA), the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the California Data Exchange Center (CDEC), and from local municipalities throughout the Bay Area to investigate how the model captures water levels and tidal constituent amplitudes. While the Nederhoff et al (2017) model analyzed an extended time period from 1950-2019, I analyzed M2 amplitude and tidal water …

Nanobubble Technology For The Removal Of Mib And Geosmin From Drinking Water, Meryem Soyluoglu

All Dissertations

The presence of taste and odor (T&O) compounds in drinking water has been historically a major challenge for water utilities. They are difficult to remove using conventional water treatment processes, a combination of coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, filtration, and chlorination. However, activated carbon (AC) adsorption, advanced oxidation processes, and biofiltration can be effective. The seasonal nature of T&O events makes it difficult to justify installing dedicated treatment technologies. Additionally, incorporating these technologies into existing water treatment plants can be expensive and require significant upgrades. Therefore, water utilities are always interested in exploring new approaches to minimize the occurrence and removal of …

Performance Of Co2-Cured Alkali-Activated Slag Pastes During Curing And Exposure, Yubin Jun, Seong Ho Han, Jae Hong Kim

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This study investigated the efficiency of CO₂ curing in blast-furnace slag pastes activated with three concentrations of KOH solution (3, 4, and 5 M). The CO₂ curing was applied into the alkali-activated slag paste for 3 days. The CO₂-cured pastes were subjected to subsequent curing in a water bath or exposed to seawater. The mechanical properties and characteristics of the reaction products were compared. Full strength can be obtained within 3 days of the early CO₂ curing. The strength remained almost constant regardless of the activator concentration. The CO₂-cured samples produced more CaCO …