Engineering Commons^™

Culvert Material Cost Comparison, New England Environmental Finance Center

Economics and Finance

The following tables provide a detailed look at the role that culvert material and culvert diameter play in the overall cost of a culvert replacement project. Table 1 displays the cost per foot purchase price arranged by diameter size for the various culvert materials that are currently available. Table 2 displays the average additional culvert pipe material cost (increased cost to upsize minus original in-kind replacement cost) that would be incurred when upsizing a given diameter of culvert with a 50 foot length by factors of: 200%, 250% and 300%.

Structures Of Human Thymidylate Synthase R163k With Dump, Fdump And Glutathione Show Asymmetric Ligand Binding, Lydia M. Gibson, Lesa R. Celeste, Leslie L. Lovelace, Lukasz Lebioda

Faculty Publications

Thymidylate synthase (TS) is a well validated target in cancer chemotherapy. Here, a new crystal form of the R163K variant of human TS (hTS) with five subunits per asymmetric part of the unit cell, all with loop 181-197 in the active conformation, is reported. This form allows binding studies by soaking crystals in artificial mother liquors containing ligands that bind in the active site. Using this approach, crystal structures of hTS complexes with FdUMP and dUMP were obtained, indicating that this form should facilitate high-throughput analysis of hTS complexes with drug candidates. Crystal soaking experiments using oxidized glutathione revealed that …

Fracture Behavior Of Cracked Full Scale Steel Pipes Used For Gas And Petroleum Industries, Jaafer Altarawneh

Theses

The fracture toughness of pipeline steel grade X65 was investigated utilizing linear elastic fracture mechanics analysis, K_IC testing according to non-standards techniques, as well as the elastic-plastic fracture mechanics analysis (J-Integral and crack opening displacement COD methods). The fracture toughness tests were conducted at full scale pipe used for gas and oil industry, circumferential surface crack were introduced to nine pipe specimens with different depths, crack/notch depths were selected to cover wide range of remaining material of the original pipe thickness, the original pipe thickness remain unchanged, a special fixture was manufactured to perform the experimental works, plane strain …

Portland Cement Concrete Pavement Permeability Performance, Javier Castro, Robert Spragg, Phil Kompare, W. Jason Weiss

JTRP Technical Reports

The objective of this project was to evaluate the transport properties of concrete pavement in the state of Indiana using common testing procedures. Specifically this work evaluated the absorption of water, the absorption of deicing solutions, and electrical conductivity. A series of concrete paving mixtures were tested to provide a range of values that were typical for the state of Indiana. While similar mixture proportions were used for the mixtures in Indiana differences in the magnitude of water absorbed occurred. A series of mortars were tested to illustrate the effect of curing conditions, water to cement ratio, and paste volume. …

Characterization And Pollutant Loading Estimation For Highway Runoff In Omaha, Nebraska, Camilo Torres

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Stormwater from roadways could have negative effects on the environment. Typical highway runoff pollutants include heavy metals, petroleum hydrocarbons, gasoline constituents, PAHs (polyaromatic hydrocarbons), oxygen demanding compounds measured as COD (chemical oxygen demand) and BOD (biochemical oxygen demand), and road salts.

The objectives of this research were: characterize the pollutants in roadway runoff and determine the effectiveness of the existing stormwater BMPs at the study site. To accomplish these objectives, eleven rainfall events were sampled from November 2008 through November 2010.

First flush and composite highway runoff samples were analyzed for heavy metals, anions, nutrients, particulates, BOD, COD, VOCs, and …

Comparison Of Classical Analytic Hierarchy Process (Ahp) Approach And Fuzzy Ahp Approach In Multiple-Criteria Decision Making For Commercial Vehicle Information Systems And Networks (Cvisn) Project, Liyuan Zhang

Department of Industrial and Management Systems Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) has emerged as an important technology with many possible applications in a wide variety of fields. It is said that RFID can perform well in transportation system. Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles (NEDMV) is using this technique to perform an analysis on utilizing RFID license plates to assist with Commercial Vehicle Information Systems and Networks (CVISN) program with the cooperation of many other stakeholders. Previous House of Quality (HOQ) analysis evaluates stakeholders’ needs and provides the pairwise comparison values of six important technical requirements for each stakeholder. Based on these, this research aims to seek for …

Nanomanufacturing And Analysis Of Novel Integrated Continuous Nanofibers, John E. Hannappel

Department of Engineering Mechanics: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Complex nanostructured materials have great potential for applications in many areas of nanotechnology. This potential is being unlocked by precise control of their nanoscale architecture and properties. Most current methods of creating these nanostructures are expensive and difficult to control, with the majority of techniques resulting in non-continuous nanostructures and nanoparticles. Electrospinning is an economic nanomanufacturing method resulting in continuous nanofibers. The method consists of spinning fiber-forming liquids in high electric fields. In this work, a modified electrospinning process was analyzed. The process utilized two concentric liquids that resulted in integrated continuous hollow or composite nanofibers. A new adjustable co-axial …

Control And Repair Of Bridge Deck Cracking, Robert J. Frosch, Sergio Gutierrez, Jacob S. Hoffman

JTRP Technical Reports

Cracking of bridge decks poses a significant threat to the lifespan of our nation’s bridges. Cracking has been shown to occur in various climates and geographical areas and can be seen on various types of superstructures. Often these cracks appear before or shortly after opening the bridge to live loads. Cracks in the deck create a path for water and deicing salts to reach the steel, often leading to corrosion of the reinforcement, greatly reducing the durability of the deck. Measures must be taken during design and construction to control bridge deck cracking and prolong the lifespan of bridges. In …

Experimental Evaluation And Implementation Of Post-Tensioning In Concrete Bridge Decks, Julio A. Ramirez, Gerardo Aguilar

JTRP Technical Reports

A research program was conducted to evaluate the design recommendations for transverse post-tensioning of bridge decks developed in the FHWA/IN/JTRP/2002-26 (SPR-2409) report. The test specimen consisted of a 40x18 ft cast-in-place concrete deck on precast pretensioned girders. Thirty-two tests were carried out by applying different distributions of transverse post-tensioning force, in combination with a changing number of diaphragms, and two conditions of end-restraint at the supports. The transverse post-tensioning stress ranged from 400 to 1 200 psi and the number of diaphragms was reduced from five to zero.

The main findings support the notion that the presence of diaphragms affects …

A Laboratory Study Of Bendway Weirs As A Bank Erosion Countermeasure, Dennis A. Lyn, R. Cunningham

JTRP Technical Reports

Bendway weirs are being considered by INDOT as a potential alternative countermeasure for bank erosion at channel bends that might be more environmentally sensitive than the traditional riprap. These are linear structures extending riverwards from the bank to be protected, but unlike the more familiar spur structure, they are intended to be overtopped by the design flow. The flow over the weir crest is supposed to be directed perpendicular to the plane of the weir, and so by appropriate placement of the weir(s), the flow can be directed away from the bank, thus protecting it.

Design guidelines for such structures …

Geometrical Optimization Of Resonant Cantilevers Vibrating In In-Plane Bending Modes, Luke A. Beardslee, Assim M. Addous, Kemal S. Demirci, Oliver Brand, Stephen M. Heinrich, Fabien Josse

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

The influence of the beam geometry on the quality factor and resonance frequency of resonant silicon cantilever beams vibrating in their fundamental in-plane flexural mode has been investigated in air and water. Compared to cantilevers vibrating in their out-of-plane flexural mode, utilizing the in plane mode results in reduced damping and reduced mass loading by the surrounding fluid. Quality factors as high as 4,300 in air and 67 in water have been measured for cantilevers with a 12 μm thick silicon layer. This is in comparison to Q factors up to 1,500 in air and up to 20 in water …

Evaluation Of The Locations Of Kentucky’S Traffic Crash Data, Eric R. Green, Kenneth R. Agent

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This research study evaluated the current accuracy of the location information provided in Kentucky‟s crash data. Since the year 2000, the Kentucky Open Portal System‟s (KYOPS) eCrash form has included latitude and longitude data as well as the more traditional County, Route and Milepoint data (CRMP). The Kentucky Transportation Center conducted a research report in 2004 that evaluated the effectiveness of using latitude and longitude, or GPS, as a means to locate traffic crash data.1 This previous study found that both the CRMP and GPS location data had substantial problems resulting in the location data only being accurate about 50 …

A Novel Real-Time Approach To Unified Power Flow Controller Validation, Keyou Wang, Mariesa Crow, Bruce M. Mcmillin, Stan Atcitty

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This paper presents the development of a real-time hardware/software laboratory to interface a soft real-time power system simulator with multiple unified power flow controllers (UPFC) via hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) to study their dynamic responses and validate control and placement approaches. This paper describes a unique laboratory facility that enables large-scale, soft real-time power system simulation coupled with the true physical behavior of a UPFC as opposed to the controller response captured by many other real-time simulators. The HIL line includes a synchronous machine, a UPFC, and a programmable load to reproduce the physical dynamics of the UPFC sub-network.

Comparison Of Subsurface And Surface Runoff Phosphorus Transport Capacities In Alluvial Floodplains, Aaron R. Mittelstet, Derek M. Heeren, Daniel E. Storm, Garey A. Fox, M. J. White, R. B. Miller

Biological Systems Engineering: Papers and Publications

There have been numerous studies on phosphorus (P) contributions from surface runoff, but studies comparing the contribution of surface versus subsurface P are limited, as subsurface transport is often considered negligible. Previous work has shown that the transport of P in the gravelly subsurface at two sites in northeast Oklahoma can be significant, especially in preferential flow paths (PFPs), hypothesized to be buried gravel bars. The objective of this project was to quantify subsurface P losses based on field data, and compare with surface runoff P losses derived from Pasture Phosphorus Management Calculator (PPM Plus) simulations. Ozark ecoregion study sites …

Software Engineering Issues For Mobile Application Development, Tony Wasserman

Tony Wasserman

This paper provides an overview of important software engineering research issues related to the development of applications that run on mobile devices. Among the topics are development processes, tools, user interface design, application portability, quality, and security.

Tunable Band Gaps In Bilayer Graphene-Bn Heterostructures, Ashwin Ramasubramaniam, Doron Naveh, Elias Towe

Ashwin Ramasubramaniam

Developing Proactive Methods For General Aviation Data Collection, Scott Shappell, Carla Hackworth, Kali Holcomb, John Lanicci, Massoud Bazargan, Jaclyn Baron, Rebecca Iden, Daniel Halperin

Scott Shappell

Towards Software Health Management With Bayesian Networks, Johann Schumann, Ole J. Mengshoel, Ashok Srivastava, Adnan Darwiche

Ole J Mengshoel

More and more systems (e.g., aircraft, machinery, cars) rely heavily on software, which performs safety-critical operations. Assuring software safety though traditional V&V has become a tremendous, if not impossible task, given the growing size and complexity of the software. We propose that iSWHM (Integrated SoftWare Health Management) can increase safety and reliability of high-assurance software systems. iSWHM uses advanced techniques from the area of system health management in order to continuously monitor the behavior of the software during operation, quickly detect anomalies and perform automatic and reliable root-cause analysis, while not replacing traditional V&V. Information provided by the iSWHM system …

Three-Dimensional Stereoscopic Exploration System For The Heart, Thomas Wischgoll

Computer Science and Engineering Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Bridging The Gap Between The Industrial Environment And The Classroom Via Project-Based Learning, Michael W. Martin

Presentation

Recent engineering education research has concluded that most engineering curricula do not promote attainment of many characteristics desired in practicing engineers. Methods to attain these characteristics include both project-based learning (PBL) and simulation of workplace situations in the educational environment. The presenter will outline the use of both PBL and workplace simulation through the implementation of a semester-long project in a senior-level Data Acquisition course taught out of the Department of Engineering Technology at Northern Michigan University. A typical undergraduate experimental analysis or data acquisition course will review topics including; sensoring, hardware requirements, testing techniques, computer integration, software use, and …

Building America Industrialized Housing Partnership Case Studies - 2010, Florida Solar Energy Center, Janet Mcilvaine

FSEC Energy Research Center®

This document is a compilation of 14 separate case studies of home builders who have adopted Building America principles of high performance as standard construction. This work was compiled by the Building America Industrialized Housing Partnership (www.baihp.org ) for the U.S. Department of Energy to serve as a model for other housing providers. BAIHP is led by the Florida Solar Energy Center of the University of Central Florida.

Plasma Mediated Molecular Delivery, Richard J. Connolly

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Non-viral delivery of plasmid DNA has traditionally relied upon physical forces applied directly to target tissues. These physical methods typically involve contact between an applicator and the target tissue and often cause transient patient discomfort. To overcome the contact-dependent limitations of such delivery methodologies, an atmospheric direct current plasma source was developed to deposit ionized gas molecules onto localized treatment sites. The deposition of charged species onto a treatment site can lead to the establishment of an electric field with strengths similar to those used for traditional electroporation. In vitro experiments proved that this technology could transiently permeabilize cell membranes …

Modeling And Predicting Taxi Times At Airports, Arjun Chauhan

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This research aims at providing methods in analyzing and estimating the taxi times of aircraft at airports, which are expected to be an important element for reducing taxiing delay and consequent excess fuel consumption and environmental costs. The proposed model involves a set of regression equations to model the taxi-out and taxi-in times at airports. The estimated results can be used to calculate the nominal taxi times, which are essential measures for evaluating the taxiing delays at airports. Given the outcomes of the regression model, an iterative algorithm is developed to predict taxi times. A case study at LGA shows …

Bridging The Gap Between The Industrial Environment And The Classroom Via Project-Based Learning, Michael W. Martin

Michael W Martin

Recent engineering education research has concluded that most engineering curricula do not promote attainment of many characteristics desired in practicing engineers. Methods to attain these characteristics include both project-based learning (PBL) and simulation of workplace situations in the educational environment. The presenter will outline the use of both PBL and workplace simulation through the implementation of a semester-long project in a senior-level Data Acquisition course taught out of the Department of Engineering Technology at Northern Michigan University. A typical undergraduate experimental analysis or data acquisition course will review topics including; sensoring, hardware requirements, testing techniques, computer integration, software use, and …

A Bi-Directional Supply Chain Optimization Model For Reverse Logistics, Surendra M. Gupta, Pitipong Veerakamolmal

Surendra M. Gupta

This paper focuses an supply chain optimization system for reverse logistics. The solution approach employs an adaptation of the Materials Requirements Planning (MRP) technique, termed as components requirements planning, to determine the number of components needed to remanufacture products in each time period throughout the planning horizon.

Greedy Algorithm For Disassembly Line Scheduling, Seamus M. Mcgovern, Surendra M. Gupta

Surendra M. Gupta

Remanufacturing, recycling, and disposal recovery operations require the performance of disassembly activities. The disassembly line is the best choice for automated disassembly of returned products, however, finding the optimal balance is computationally intensive with exhaustive search quickly becoming prohibitively large. In this paper, a greedy algorithm is presented for obtaining optimal or near-optimal solutions to the disassembly line balancing problem. The greedy algorithm is a first-fit decreasing algorithm further enhanced to preserve precedence relationships. The algorithm seeks to minimize the number of workstations while accounting for hazardous and high demand components. A hill-climbing heuristic is then developed to balance the …

A Multi-Phase Fuzzy Logic Approach To Strategic Planning Of A Reverse Supply Chain Network, Kishore K. Pochampally, Surendra M. Gupta

Surendra M. Gupta

Strategic planning (also called designing) is a challenging aspect of a reverse supply chain network. To effectively satisfy drivers such as profitability, environmental regulations, and asset recovery, only the most economical used products must be reprocessed in only the recovery facilities that have the potential to efficiently reprocess them. Due to uncertainties in supply, quality, and reprocessing times of used products, the cost-benefit function in the literature that selects the most economical product to reprocess from a set of used products is not appropriate for direct adoption. Moreover, due to the same uncertainties, any traditional forward supply chain approach to …

Pricing Of End-Of-Life Items With Obsolescence, Srikanth Vadde, Sagar V. Kamarthi, Surendra M. Gupta

Surendra M. Gupta

Variability in the inflow of end-of-life (EOL) products and fluctuating inventory levels often make the processing of EOL products an economically risky operation for product recovery facilities (PRFs). Choosing an appropriate pricing policy can enhance the performance of PRFs by methodically clearing their inventory and increasing profits. This work presents two pricing models to counter the prospect of product obsolescence that can happen either gradually or suddenly. Product obsolescence can cause demand drop and inventory pile up, both of which could dent the revenues of PRFs. In the first model, gradual obsolescence and environmental regulations that limit the disposal quantity …

Product Recovery Using A Disassembly Line : Challenges And Solution, Surendra M. Gupta, Askiner Gungor

Surendra M. Gupta

Disassembly plays an important role in product recovery by allowing selective separation of desired parts and materials. The disassembly line is the best choice for automated disassembly of returned products, a feature that will be essential in the future. It is, therefore, important that the disassembly line be designed and balanced so that it works as efficiently as possible. In this paper, the authors address the disassembly line balancing problem and the challenges that come with it.

Disassembly Process Planning Using Petri Nets, Kendra E. Moore, Askiner Gungor, Surendra M. Gupta

Surendra M. Gupta

We generate a disassembly PN (DPN) from a disassembly precedence matrix. The resulting DPN can be analyzed using the reachability tree method to generate all feasible disassembly process plans (DPPs), and cost functions can be used to determine the optimal DPP. Since generating the reachability tree is NP-complete, we develop a heuristic algorithm to limit the size of the reachability tree. The algorithm employs multihypothesis search to dynamically explore the v likeliest lowest cost branches of the tree, in order to identify near-optimal DPPs. The cost function incorporates tool changes, changes in direction movement, and individual part characteristics (e.g., hazardous). …