Engineering Commons^™

Sensitivity Analysis Of Time/Depth Dependent Chloride Diffusion Coefficient In Concrete, Yung-Ming Sun, Ta-Peng Chang, Ming-Te Liang

Journal of Marine Science and Technology

This paper presents the results for a sensitivity analysis of the time/depth dependent chloride diffusion model in concrete using differential analysis techniques. Four governing prameters of the model are taken to determine the sensitivity of the chloride diffusion coefficient: the time of exposure, inspecting depth, surface chloride concentration, and chloride concetration at the inspecting point. The results of this sensitivity analysis are discussed in detail, including variations in the diffusion coefficient according to the four parameters and the implications for durability design of concrete structures.

Treatment Of Acidic Groundwater In Acid Sulfate Soil Terrain Using Recycled Concrete: Column Experiments, Gyanendra Regmi, Buddhima Indraratna, Long Nghiem, A. Golab, B Guru Prasad

Buddhima Indraratna

Acidic groundwater generated from pyrite oxidation in acid sulfate (AS) soil is a major geoenvironmental problem in Australia. This study aims to evaluate recycled concrete as a reactive material in permeable reactive barriers (PRBs) for the remediation of acidic groundwater in low-lying AS soil floodplains. Laboratory experiments were systematically conducted to investigate the acid neutralization behavior of recycled concrete and its potential to remove dissolved Al and Fe. The results confirmed that recycled concrete could effectively treat acidic groundwater from an AS soil terrain, resulting in near neutral effluent over a long period with complete removal of Al and Fe. …

Evaluating Waste Concrete For The Treatment Of Acid Sulphate Soil Groundwater From Coastal Floodplains, Gyanendra Regmi, Buddhima Indraratna, Long Nghiem, Laura Banasiak

Buddhima Indraratna

The treatment of acidic groundwater generated from acid sulphate soil (ASS) terrain is a challenging environmental issue in coastal floodplains of Australia. In this study, a laboratory column experiment was conducted to assess the performance of waste concrete for treating the acidic groundwater leachate from ASS terrain of the Shoalhaven region of NSW. The groundwater was highly acidic (pH of 2.5–3.5) and contained elevated concentrations of iron (10–90 mg/L) and aluminium (30–45 mg/L). Passage of the acidic groundwater through the column filled with waste concrete resulted in a significant improvement in water quality. Reduction in the concentration of iron and …

Development Of A Structured Concrete Thermocline Thermal Energy Storage System, Bradley M. Brown

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The past couple of decades have shown a concern when considering the way the world obtains its power. The focus has been switching from fossil fuels that have been used for hundreds of years to renewable energy sources, such as the sun. Solar energy is readily and infinitely available for harnessing. One problem with solar energy, though, is its inability to be used during the night time and during cloud covered weather. A solution to this problem is the use of energy storage mechanisms. For solar plants that use solar thermal energy (concentrating solar power plants), thermal energy storage (TES) …

Investigation Into The Role Of Airfield Pavement Deicer In Concrete Pavement Deterioration, David Wingard

All Dissertations

Premature deterioration of concrete due to materials-related distresses has been observed with increased frequency in airfield pavements across the United States in the past two decades. The use of a new breed of deicing chemicals based on alkali-acetates and alkali-formates, starting in the early 1990s, has been suspected to be one of the significant reasons for the increase in the observed deterioration. Previous laboratory-based studies have found that the early-age deterioration in concrete is associated with exposure to deicers causing acceleration of the Alkali Silica Reaction (ASR) deterioration mechanism and consequent failure. However, no systematic forensic studies on the impact …

Retrofit Solutions For Sealed Pervious Concrete Pavements, Gregory Bunting

All Theses

The goal of this research was to design, implement, and evaluate several retrofit solutions for sealed pervious concrete. Properly functioning pervious concrete pavements allow water to drain through the structure, eliminating the need for traditional drainage infrastructure. A recent study of South Carolina porous pavements (Putman 2010) revealed that some pervious concrete pavements are not properly draining, either because of sealing at the surface. Sealed pavements are generally a result of construction processes, and sealed pavements cannot be fixed with sediment removal techniques such as vacuuming and pressure washing. This study investigates a technique to increase infiltration of sealed pervious …

Comparison Of Two Methods For The Assessment Of Chloride Ion Penetration In Concrete: A Field Study, Eric William Ryan

Masters Theses

The currently accepted method for assessing the resistance of concrete to penetration of chloride ions is ASTM C1202, commonly known as the “Rapid Chloride Permeability (RCP) Test.” The test is time-consuming, laborious, has rather high variability, and, is to a degree, user sensitive, making it problematic for inclusion in a performance-based specification. A potential alternative to the RCP test is the “Surface Resistivity (SR) Test”, a method which is dramatically easier, faster, and has less variability than the RCP test. The research reported herein was directed toward determining a correlation between RCP and SR test measurements for Tennessee bridge deck …

Recycling Waste Latex Paint In Overlays, Rigid Pavements, And Pervious Concrete, Oscar Inez Quiroz

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

With over 16 million gallons of latex paint (WLP) being disposed every year it is the largest by volume, liquid hazardous waste in the United States. WLP is difficult to recycle and hazardous to the environment due to the volatile organic compounds it contains. Several methods exist for disposing WLP including paint swaps, combustion, drying and discarding in a landfill, and by placing pigments in cement. Many communities are moving to dispose WLP by drying and placing in a landfill due to the reduced cost. However, this is the least preferred technique for the environment because it creates a need …

Piedras Blancas Light Station Vista Point Improvement Plan, Larissa Heeren, Reuben Juster, Annamarie Usher, John Rossi, Nick Mitchell

Mechanical Engineering

Piedras Blancas Light station Improvement Involved the design of two separate parking lot/vista point plans as well as the creation of a concrete Iron Ranger located near the gift shop on site.

Gis Based Pavement Maintenance: A Systematic Approach, Robert J. Kmetz

Purdue Polytechnic Directed Projects

Abstract

According to 2008 Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) statistics, there are 2,734,102 miles of paved public roads in the United Sates, with an additional 1,324,245 miles of unpaved public roads. Road conditions deteriorate with time as the result of weather effects, deicing salts, and vehicle loads. The most common pavement distress includes cracking, rutting, and potholes. These pavement defects must be repaired to restore the pavement to a satisfactory service level for road users. According to the FHWA, in 2006 approximately $54.2 billion dollars was spent on maintenance and expansion, just on U.S. highways alone.

Routine maintenance is a cost …

Biodeterioration Of Coastal Concrete Structures By Macro Algae - Ulva Fasciata, Stri Hari Babu Jayakumar, Rama Saravanane, Thirumalai Sundararajan

Journal of Marine Science and Technology

Puducherry is a coastal region in India where the growth of Ulva fasciata (Delile) is very abundant on all marine structures. Though the detrimental effect of this macro algae U. fasciata is a secondary one, its effect has to be investigated. To know its effect, the basic mechanism by which U. fasciata deteriorates concrete structures has been highlighted. To ascertain its detrimental effect on coastal concrete structures, M20 grade concrete cubes were casted and immersed in the coastal area where there is abundant growth of U. fasciata. In addition laboratory simulation has been carried out. Concrete samples collected from the …

Penetration Lag Of Chloride Diffusion Through Concrete Plate Based On Advancing Model, Chih-Hsing Wang, Cho-Liang Tsai, Ching-Chang Lin

Journal of Marine Science and Technology

The solution, based on Neumann's theory, for the content distribution of a diffusion material in a semi-infinite medium is applicable for the case in which a diffusion material diffuses from one side of a plate medium to the other side. After the diffusion material reaches the other side, the penetration rate of the diffusion material is solved using Fick's diffusion law. In this study, concrete plates are manufactured and submerged individually in special containers with saltwater on one side and freshwater on the other side, and no electric charge is applied. The amount of chloride penetrating the plate is monitored. …

Analysis Of Selected Factors Affecting Concrete Cover Measurements On Bridge Decks, Jeffrey Ryan Hoki

Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this research was to quantify the effects of selected parameters on the accuracy of concrete cover measurements on bridge decks. This research involved three full-factorial laboratory experiments each designed to investigate one of three primary variables. These primary variables included distance to a parallel adjacent bar, distance to a reinforcement intersection, and incorrect bar size input for the cover meter. Each experiment also involved four secondary variables known to affect cover readings. These secondary variables included actual cover depth, meter brand, antenna type, and bar size. Statistical analyses were performed to determine the significance of each factor. …

Modeling Of Cfrp-Concrete Interface Subjected To Coupled Pull-Out And Push-Off Actions, Tayyebeh Mohammadi, Baolin Wan, Jian-Guo Dai

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

This paper presents a finite element (FE) modeling method for predicting the IC debonding failure when the FRP/concrete interface is subjected to coupled pull-out (shear) and push-off (dowel) actions. Damaged plasticity model was used to simulate the behavior of concrete close to FRP/concrete interface. A thin damage band exposed to mixed-mode loading condition was modeled separately along the FRP-concrete interface. Cohesive elements were used to model the FRP/concrete interface. A sensitivity analysis was performed to find the appropriate damaged band dimensions, bending stiffness of FRP, and tensile strength of concrete for the model. The numerical results were validated by the …

Development Of Anchorage System For Frp Strengthening Applications Using Integrated Frp Composite Anchors, Geoffrey N. Mcguirk

Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014

Over the past three decades the use of externally bonded fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) materials for structural strengthening applications has become an accepted and widely used method. A primary concern of FRP structural strengthening systems is that the FRP often debonds from the concrete well before the load capacity of the FRP material is reached. In addition, debonding failures are often brittle and occur with little warning. Past research concluded that fastening FRP sheets with FRP anchors is an effective method for delaying or preventing debonding failures. However, there is a clear lack of research pertaining to fastening FRP sheets …

Strength Properties Of Hybrid Nylon-Steel And Polypropylene-Steel Fibre-Reinforced High Strength Concrete At Low Volume Fraction, Hilmi Mahmud

Hilmi Mahmud

The strength properties of hybrid nylon-steel fibre-reinforced concrete were investigated in comparison to that of polypropylene-steel fibre-reinforced concrete, at the same volume fraction (0.5%). The content of the high performance macro structure steel fibres is at 0.4% volume fraction, and the content of micro nylon and polypropylene-fibres is at 0.1% volume fraction. The experimental results show that the compressive strength and splitting tensile strengths and modulus of rupture (MOR) properties of the nylon-steel fibre concrete improved by 3.2, 8.3 and 10.2%, respectively, over those of the polypropylene-steel fibre concrete. On the impact resistance, the first-crack and failure strengths, and the …

Treatment Of Acidic Groundwater In Acid Sulfate Soil Terrain Using Recycled Concrete: Column Experiments, Gyanendra Regmi, Buddhima Indraratna, Long Nghiem, A. Golab, B Guru Prasad

Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)

Acidic groundwater generated from pyrite oxidation in acid sulfate (AS) soil is a major geoenvironmental problem in Australia. This study aims to evaluate recycled concrete as a reactive material in permeable reactive barriers (PRBs) for the remediation of acidic groundwater in low-lying AS soil floodplains. Laboratory experiments were systematically conducted to investigate the acid neutralization behavior of recycled concrete and its potential to remove dissolved Al and Fe. The results confirmed that recycled concrete could effectively treat acidic groundwater from an AS soil terrain, resulting in near neutral effluent over a long period with complete removal of Al and Fe. …

Evaluating Waste Concrete For The Treatment Of Acid Sulphate Soil Groundwater From Coastal Floodplains, Gyanendra Regmi, Buddhima Indraratna, Long Nghiem, Laura Banasiak

Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)

The treatment of acidic groundwater generated from acid sulphate soil (ASS) terrain is a challenging environmental issue in coastal floodplains of Australia. In this study, a laboratory column experiment was conducted to assess the performance of waste concrete for treating the acidic groundwater leachate from ASS terrain of the Shoalhaven region of NSW. The groundwater was highly acidic (pH of 2.5–3.5) and contained elevated concentrations of iron (10–90 mg/L) and aluminium (30–45 mg/L). Passage of the acidic groundwater through the column filled with waste concrete resulted in a significant improvement in water quality. Reduction in the concentration of iron and …

Rehabilitating Destructed Reinforced Concrete T Connections By Steel Straps, Muhammad N. S Hadi

Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)

The aim of this paper is to present results of testing a full scale reinforced concrete T connection by static loading. The connection represents a beam-column connection. The beam and column had a square cross section with a 300 mm dimension. The height of the column was 2.9 m and the clear beam length was 1.4 m. The connection was initially tested to failure. Galvanised steel straps were used to rehabilitate the connection. Epoxy resin was used to fix the steel straps to the concrete surface. The connection was tested after the rehabilitation. Results of testing the rehabilitated connection show …

The Behaviour Of Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer Confined Concrete Cylinders Under High Temperature Exposure, Butje Alfonsius Louk Fanggi, Muhammad N. S Hadi

Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)

This study investigates the effect of temperature on the behaviour of concrete cylinders wrapped with Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer (CFRP). The study used nine concrete cylinders in three groups; the first group was exposed to room temperature of approximately 20ºC, the second group was exposed to a cyclic temperature with a temperature range of 20ºC to 70ºC, and the third group was exposed to a prolonged temperature of 70ºC. All cylinders were then tested to failure. The study indicated that ultimate strength of cylinders wrapped with one and two layers of CFRP are significantly unchanged after being exposed to 20ºC …

A Decision Support Methodology For Remediation Planning Of Concrete Bridges, Maria Rashidi, Brett P. Lemass

Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)

Bridges are critical and valuable components in any road and rail transportation network. Therefore bridge remediation has always been a top priority for asset managers and engineers, but identifying the nature of true defect deterioration and associated remediation treatments remains a complex task. Nowadays Decision Support Systems (DSS) are widely used to assist decision makers across an extensive spectrum of unstructured decision environments. The main objective of this research is to develop a requirements-driven methodology for bridge monitoring and maintenance which has the ability to assess the bridge condition and find the best remediation treatments using Simple Multi Attribute Rating …

Experimental Study Of High-Strength Concrete Columns Confined With Different Types Of Mesh Under Eccentric And Concentric Loads, Muhammad N. S Hadi, Hua Zhao

Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)

A new idea is investigated in this study to reduce the cover spalling of high-strength concrete columns: installing relatively cheap materials such as household fly screen and wire mesh in the formwork of RC columns. Three materials were chosen in this study: fiberglass fly mesh (FGFM), standard aluminum fly mesh (SAFM), and 12:7 x 12:7 galvanized steel wire mesh (S12.7 WM). A total of 16 cylindricalspecimens with a length of 925 mm and a diameter of 205 mm were cast and tested under concentric, eccentric, and pure bending loading. The testing results showed that S12.7 WM significantly improved the load-carrying …

External Reinforcement Of Concrete Columns, Muhammad N. S Hadi

Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)

With the technology development on the compressive strength of concrete over the years, the use of high strength concrete has proved most popular in terms of economy, superior strength, stiffness and durability due to many advantages it could offer. However, strength and ductility are inversely proportional. High strength concrete is a brittle material causing failure to be quite sudden and ‘explosive’ under loads. It is also known that structural concrete columns concentrically compressed rarely occur in practice. The stress concentrations caused by the eccentric loading further reduce the strength and ductility of high strength concrete. Therefore, studies for high strength …

Concrete Digital Computation: What Does It Take For A Physical System To Compute?, Nir Fresco

Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences - Papers: Part A

This paper deals with the question: what are the key requirements for a physical system to perform digital computation? Time and again cognitive scientists are quick to employ the notion of computation simpliciter when asserting basically that cognitive activities are computational. They employ this notion as if there was or is a consensus on just what it takes for a physical system to perform computation, and in particular digital computation. Some cognitive scientists in referring to digital computation simply adhere to Turing's notion of computability. Classical computability theory studies what functions on the natural numbers are computable and what mathematical …

Improved Joining Method For Segmental Prestressed Structures, Ralph Warren Jensen

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation addresses the need for more robust and materially efficient structures, specifically structures that absorb higher levels of energy, can self-erect and which have variable reaction capabilities. These structures can take much higher levels of strain and loading compared to current technologies in reinforced concrete and carbon fiber composites. These structures are made using a novel method of joining segmental elements. A great advantage with this segmental structural system is it's survivability under overloaded conditions. During an impact, or concentrated pressure load, the structure will wrap around the impact zone thereby widely distributing the contact stresses. This function or …