Engineering Commons^™

Multifunctional Corrosion Control System As A Sustainable Approach For Reinforced Concrete Elements, Homero Castaneda, Miladin Radovic, Brendy Rincon, Oladis Troconis, Arturo Montoya, Changkyu Kim, Loreto Dacio

Data

Corrosion inhibitors can be utilized to decrease the corrosion kinetics and therefore increase the durability of reinforced concrete structures. Recently, a green synthesized organic compound, 1-benzyl-4-phenyl-1H-1,2,3-triazole (BPT), was shown to be a successful green organic corrosion inhibitor for mild steel. Studies suggested that the BPT adsorbs chemically onto the steel and acts as a mixed inhibitor, suppressing both the anodic and cathodic corrosion kinetics of steel. In addition, microcapsules have shown to be an efficient way for a controlled inhibitor release in reinforced concrete structures. On the other hand, geopolymers (GPs) comprised of a long range of covalently bonded alumino-silicates, …

Multifunctional Corrosion Control System As A Sustainable Approach For Reinforced Concrete Elements, Homero Castaneda, Miladin Radovic, Brendy Rincon, Oladis Troconis, Arturo Montoya, Changkyu Kim, Loreto Dacio

Publications

Corrosion inhibitors can be utilized to decrease the corrosion kinetics and therefore increase the durability of reinforced concrete structures. Recently, a green synthesized organic compound, 1-benzyl-4-phenyl-1H-1,2,3-triazole (BPT), was shown to be a successful green organic corrosion inhibitor for mild steel. Studies suggested that the BPT adsorbs chemically onto the steel and acts as a mixed inhibitor, suppressing both the anodic and cathodic corrosion kinetics of steel. In addition, microcapsules have shown to be an efficient way for a controlled inhibitor release in reinforced concrete structures. On the other hand, geopolymers (GPs) comprised of a long range of covalently bonded alumino-silicates, …

Deep Reinforcement Learning-Based Project Prioritization For Rapid Post-Disaster Recovery Of Transportation Infrastructure Systems, Yongcheol Lee, Kunhee Choi Ph.D, Pedram Ghannad

Data

Among various natural hazards that threaten transportation infrastructure, flooding represents a major hazard in Region 6's states to roadways as it challenges their design, operation, efficiency, and safety. The catastrophic flooding disaster event generally leads to massive obstruction of traffic, direct damage to highway/bridge structures/pavement, and indirect damages to economic activities and regional communities that may cause loss of many lives. After disasters strike, reconstruction and maintenance of an enormous number of damaged transportation infrastructure systems require each DOT to take extremely expensive and long-term processes. In addition, planning and organizing post-disaster reconstruction and maintenance projects of transportation infrastructures are …

Efficient, Low-Cost Bridge Cracking Detection And Quantification Using Deep-Learning And Uav Images, Chao Sun, Xiangyu Meng, Joshua O. Ogbebor, Shaopan Guo

Data

Many bridges in the State of Louisiana and the United States are working under serious degradation conditions where cracks on bridges threaten structural integrity and public security. To ensure structural integrity and public security, it is required that bridges in the US be inspected and rated every two years. Currently, this biannual assessment is largely implemented using manual visual inspection methods, which is slow and costly. In addition, it is challenging for workers to detect cracks in regions that are hard to reach, e.g., the top part of the bridge tower, cables, mid-span of the bridge girders, and decks. This …

Efficient, Low-Cost Bridge Cracking Detection And Quantification Using Deep-Learning And Uav Images, Chao Sun, Xiangyu Meng, Joshua O. Ogbebor, Shaopan Guo

Publications

Many bridges in the State of Louisiana and the United States are working under serious degradation conditions where cracks on bridges threaten structural integrity and public security. To ensure structural integrity and public security, it is required that bridges in the US be inspected and rated every two years. Currently, this biannual assessment is largely implemented using manual visual inspection methods, which is slow and costly. In addition, it is challenging for workers to detect cracks in regions that are hard to reach, e.g., the top part of the bridge tower, cables, mid-span of the bridge girders, and decks. This …

Rapid Repair Of Cracks On The Embankment Slopes Using Bio-Cement, Hai Lin, Guantao Cheng

Data

This research explored the feasibility of using Microbially Induced Carbonate Precipitation (MICP) to improve fine-grained soil mechanical properties, seal the soil cracks, and assess the improvement of MICP on slope stability. The conducted research tasks include (1) direct shear tests to investigate the mechanical behavior and biogeochemical reactions of low-plasticity silt treated by MICP, (2) cyclic wetting-drying tests to assess the feasibility of using MICP to seal and waterproof the soil cracks, and (3) SLOPE/W modeling of a slope treated by MICP. Direct shear tests were used to evaluate the shear responses of the low-plasticity silt under different overburden pressures …

The Identification Of Future Professional Skills For The Graduate Structural Engineer And The Co-Creation Of Their Definitions., Aimee Byrne, Una Beagon, Darren Carthy, Patrick Crean, Caitriona Depaor, Louise Lynch, Dervilla Niall

Conference Papers

Employers recognise that the future is changing and as such the structural engineer’s role is changing along with the skill set required. The skills gap has been acknowledged yet there is no consensus on which skills are most important for these engineers. This research presents the outcome of a project which proposes future professional skills needs for the structural engineer and the co-creation of their definitions. A review of the most recent relevant literature alongside chartership requirements of the Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE) and Engineers Ireland (EI), as well as consideration of three seminal consultation and analysis reports on …

Drift Reduction By Orienting Boom Sprayers’ Nozzles Against The Wind Direction, Medet Itmeç, Ali Bayat, Ömer Barış Özlüoymak

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

Wind drift is a very critical issue in pesticide applications. In recent experiments, the application of pesticides is focus on precision farming. In this study, a spraying system that could manipulate trajectories of droplets to decrease drift was tested in a wind tunnel. Three nozzles (XR11002, AIXR11002 and TTJ6011002) were used at three operating pressures (200 kPa, 300 kPa, 400 kPa), with four orientation angles of nozzles against wind direction (0°, 5°, 10°, 15°), and three wind velocities (1.5, 2, and 2.5 m s^-1) with three repetitions. A statistical factorial CRD was used with Tukey Post Hoc Test …

Analysis Of Traffic Crash Data In Kentucky 2016-2020, Eric Green, Paul Ross, Christopher Blackden, Michael Fields, William Staats

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report documents analysis of traffic crash data in Kentucky. A primary objective of this study was to determine average crash statistics for Kentucky highways. Where used, rates were calculated for various highway types and for counties and cities. Difference criteria were used for exposure.

Average and critical numbers, SPFs, and crash rates were calculated for various highway types in rural and urban areas. These metrics rely on crashes identified on highways where Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT) volumes were available. Data in this report may be used to help identify problem areas.

The other primary objective of this study …

Crash Data Analysis Tool 2.0 Research Report And User Guide, Eric Green, Paul Ross

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

No abstract provided.

Improving Overweight And Over-Dimensional Logistics And Truck Routing, Jerry Kissick, Jerry Pigman, Jennifer Walton

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

In 2012, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s (KYTC) Division of Motor Carriers (DMC) issued 98,196 overweight or over-dimensional (OW/OD) permits. To determine whether a route can accommodate an OW/OD vehicle, analysts must have current and accurate data on construction schedules, road conditions, and detour routes, among other factors. This study documents processes used by DMC for permitting and routing OW/OD vehicles. It includes detailed flowcharts that capture each aspect analysts follow during the decision-making process. As part of this project, state transportation agency representatives from states bordering Kentucky (Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee, and Missouri) were interviewed to identify …

In-Cab Alert System For Commercial Motor Vehicle Drivers, Brian Howell, Jennifer Walton, Jeeyen Koo

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

In-cab telematic devices use an increasingly robust data platform and can be used to share safety alerts with other commercial vehicle drivers (CMV) drivers. Real-time alert data can come from state transportation agencies as well as from private companies. To address common quality and coordination issues among differing data sources, the Kentucky Transportation Center (KTC) partnered with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) and a private vendor, PrePass, to share its App used to send information to CMV drivers. The project demonstrated a proof of concept for the delivery of timely in-cab alerts to warn CMV drivers of approaching roadway hazards. …

Fourth-Order Adjoint Sensitivity And Uncertainty Analysis Of An Oecd/Nea Reactor Physics Benchmark: I. Computed Sensitivities, Ruixian Fang, Dan Gabriel Cacuci

Faculty Publications

This work extends the investigation of higher-order sensitivity and uncertainty analysis from 3rd-order to 4th-order for a polyethylene-reflected plutonium (PERP) OECD/NEA reactor physics benchmark. Specifically, by applying the 4th-order comprehensive adjoint sensitivity analysis methodology (4th-CASAM) to the PERP benchmark, this work presents the numerical results of the most important 4th-order sensitivities of the benchmark’s total leakage response with respect to the benchmark’s 180 microscopic total cross sections, which includes 180 4th-order unmixed sensitivities and 360 4th-order mixed sensitivities corresponding to the largest 3rd-order ones. The numerical results obtained in this work reveal that the number of 4th-order relative sensitivities that …

Chambers, Gene, Collection, 1952-2013, Special Collections, Leonard H. Axe Library

Finding Aids

The Gene Chambers Collection includes personal and professional papers and documents, including work from his time as a professor at Pittsburg State University and consulting work he did on engineering matters.

Benchmarking Unmanned Aerial Systems-Assisted Inspection Of Steel Bridges For Fatigue Cracks, Sattar Dorafshan, Leslie E. Campbell, Marc Maguire, Robert J. Connor

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications

Inspection agencies have been increasingly implementing Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) for bridge inspections. Currently, UAS are typically used for long-range monitoring and surveillance tasks, but bridge managers are hopeful that they may be utilized for detailed inspection, such as condition assessments and the inspection of fracture critical members (FCM) in the near future. As an assistive tool for visual inspections, the accuracy of UAS-assisted inspections is unknown. This study investigates the relationship between the characteristics of the individual inspectors and a set of performance metrics associated with UAS-assisted FCM inspections. Four bridge inspectors used a UAS to inspect a series …

Progressive Poling Of Large Area, High R33 Electro-Optic Polymer Seo100c, Michael Maurer, Evan Gawron, Christopher Middlebrook

Michigan Tech Publications, Part 1

SEO100c, an EO-polymer, has been reported of having an r33 in excess of 100 pm/V. Experimental poling research was performed on rib waveguide modulator for device design and development. Reported is the determination of the impact that temperature and voltage have on the poling of a SEO100c waveguide device in order to maximize the r33 while avoiding damage to the device structure ensuring high yield in manufacture. The poling process is shown to have a nonlinear relationship between r33 and poling field aiding in the selection of achievable poling voltages for required r33 values. Device thermal stability is quantified and …

Sliding Mode Control Of A Nonlinear Wave Energy Converter Model, Tania Demonte Gonzalez, Gordon Parker, Enrico Anderlini, Wayne Weaver

Michigan Tech Publications, Part 1

The most accurate wave energy converter models for heaving point absorbers include nonlinearities, which increase as resonance is achieved to maximize the energy capture. Over the power production spectrum and within the physical limits of the devices, the efficiency of wave energy converters can be enhanced by employing a control scheme that accounts for these nonlinearities. This paper proposes a sliding mode control for a heaving point absorber that includes the nonlinear effects of the dynamic and static Froude‐Krylov forces. The sliding mode controller tracks a reference velocity that matches the phase of the excitation force to ensure higher energy …

High Shear Stress Enhances Endothelial Permeability In The Presence Of The Risk Haplotype At 9p21.3, Evan L. Tang, Evan M. Masutami, Benjamin Yeoman, Jessica Fung, Rachel Lian, Brenda Ngo, Aditya Kumar, Jesse K. Placone, Valentina Lo Sardo, Adam J. Engler

Physics & Engineering Faculty Publications

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are exceedingly common in non-coding loci, and while they are significantly associated with a myriad of diseases, their specific impact on cellular dysfunction remains unclear. Here, we show that when exposed to external stressors, the presence of risk SNPs in the 9p21.3 coronary artery disease (CAD) risk locus increases endothelial monolayer and microvessel dysfunction. Endothelial cells (ECs) derived from induced pluripotent stem cells of patients carrying the risk haplotype (R/R WT) differentiated similarly to their non-risk and isogenic knockout (R/R KO) counterparts. Monolayers exhibited greater permeability and reactive oxygen species signaling when the risk haplotype was …

Comparative Study Of Hermitian And Non-Hermitian Topological Dielectric Photonic Crystals, Menglin L.N. Chen, Li (Lijun) Jun Jiang, Shuang Zhang, Ran Zhao, Zhihao Lan, Wei E.I. Sha

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The effects of gain and loss on the band structures of a bulk topological dielectric photonic crystal (PC) with C6v symmetry and the PC-air-PC interface are studied based on first-principal calculation. To illustrate the importance of parity-time (PT) symmetry, three systems are considered, namely the PT-symmetric, PT-asymmetric, and lossy systems. We find that the system with gain and loss distributed in a PT symmetric manner exhibits a phase transition from a PT exact phase to a PT broken phase as the strength of the gain and loss increases, while for the PT-asymmetric and lossy systems, no such phase transition occurs. …

Development Of A Pavement Evaluation Tool Using Aerial Imagery And Deep Learning, Yuhan Jiang, Sisi Han, Yong Bai

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

This paper presents the research results of using Google Earth imagery for visual condition surveying of highway pavement in the United States. A screenshot tool is developed to automatically track the highway for collecting end-to-end images and Global Position System (GPS). A highway segmentation tool based on a deep convolutional neural network (DCNN) is developed to segment the collected highway images into the predefined object categories, where the cracks are identified and labeled in each small patch of the overlapping assembled label-image prediction. Then, the longitudinal cracks and transverse cracks are detected using the x-gradient and y-gradient from the Sobel …

Physical-Based Training Data Collection Approach For Data-Driven Lithium-Ion Battery State-Of-Charge Prediction, Jie Li, Will Ziehm, Jonathan W. Kimball, Robert Landers, Jonghyun Park

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Data-Driven approaches for State of Charge (SOC) prediction have been developed considerably in recent years. However, determining the appropriate training dataset is still a challenge for model development and validation due to the considerably varieties of lithium-ion batteries in terms of material, types of battery cells, and operation conditions. This work focuses on optimization of the training data set by using simple measurable data sets, which is important for the accuracy of predictions, reduction of training time, and application to online estimation. It is found that a randomly generated data set can be effectively used for the training data set, …

Conversion Of Soluble Recalcitrant Phosphorus To Recoverable Orthophosphate Form Using Uv/H2O2, Kaushik Venkiteshwaran, Eileen Kennedy, Caitlin Graeber, Synthia P. Mallick, Patrick J. Mcnamara, Brooke K. Mayer

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Soluble non-reactive phosphorus (sNRP), such as inorganic polyphosphates and organic P, is not effectively removed by conventional physicochemical processes. This can impede water resource reclamation facilities’ ability to meet stringent total P regulations. This study investigated a UV/H₂O₂ advanced oxidation process (AOP) for converting sNRP to the more readily removable/recoverable soluble reactive P (sRP), or orthophosphate, form. Synthetic water spiked with four sNRP compounds (beta-glycerol phosphate, phytic acid, triphosphate, and hexa-meta phosphate) at varying H₂O₂ concentration, UV fluence, pH, and temperature was initially tested. These compounds represent simple, complex, organic, and inorganic forms of …

Low–High Orthoimage Pairs-Based 3d Reconstruction For Elevation Determination Using Drone, Yuhan Jiang, Yong Bai

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

This paper presents a 3D reconstruction method for fast elevation determination on construction sites. The proposed method is intended to automatically and accurately determine construction site elevations using drone-based, low–high orthoimage pairs. This method requires fewer images than other methods for covering a large target area of a construction site. An up–forward–down path was designed to capture approximately -scale images at different altitudes over target stations. A pixel grid matching and elevation determination algorithm was developed to automatically match images in dense pixel grid-style via self-adaptive patch feature descriptors, and simultaneously determine elevations based on a virtual elevation model. The …

Electrochemical Technologies For Per- And Polyfluoroalkyl Substances Mitigation In Drinking Water And Water Treatment Residuals, Donald R. Ryan, Brooke K. Mayer, Claire K. Baldus, Sean T. Mcbeath, Yin Wang, Patrick J. Mcnamara

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Water treatment technologies are needed that can convert per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) into inorganic products (e.g., CO₂, F⁻) that are less toxic than parent PFAS compounds. Research on electrochemical treatment processes such as electrocoagulation and electrooxidation has demonstrated proof-of-concept PFAS removal and destruction. However, research has primarily been conducted in laboratory matrices that are electrochemically favorable (e.g., high initial PFAS concentration [μg/L–mg/L], high conductivity, and absence of oxidant scavengers). Electrochemical treatment is also a promising technology for treating PFAS in water treatment residuals from nondestructive technologies (e.g., ion exchange, nanofiltration, and reverse osmosis). Future electrochemical …

Biological Resurfacing In A Canine Model Of Hip Osteoarthritis, Bradley T. Estes, Masataka Enomoto, Franklin T. Moutos, Megan A. Carson, Jeffrey M. Toth, Peter Eggert, Jonathan Stallrich, Vincent P. Willard, Deborah J. Veis, Dianne Little, Farshid Guilak, B. Duncan X. Lascelles

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Articular cartilage has unique load-bearing properties but has minimal capacity for intrinsic repair. Here, we used three-dimensional weaving, additive manufacturing, and autologous mesenchymal stem cells to create a tissue-engineered, bicomponent implant to restore hip function in a canine hip osteoarthritis model. This resorbable implant was specifically designed to function mechanically from the time of repair and to biologically integrate with native tissues for long-term restoration. A massive osteochondral lesion was created in the hip of skeletally mature hounds and repaired with the implant or left empty (control). Longitudinal outcome measures over 6 months demonstrated that the implant dogs returned to …

Molecular Dynamics Simulations Of Self-Assemblies In Nature And Nanotechnology, Phu Khanh Tang

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Nature usually divides complex systems into smaller building blocks specializing in a few tasks since one entity cannot achieve everything. Therefore, self-assembly is a robust tool exploited by Nature to build hierarchical systems that accomplish unique functions. The cell membrane distinguishes itself as an example of Nature’s self-assembly, defining and protecting the cell. By mimicking Nature’s designs using synthetically designed self-assemblies, researchers with advanced nanotechnological comprehension can manipulate these synthetic self-assemblies to improve many aspects of modern medicine and materials science. Understanding the competing underlying molecular interactions in self-assembly is always of interest to the academic scientific community and industry. …

Simulation Modeling Of A Photovoltaic-Green Roof System For Energy Cost Reduction Of A Building: Texas Case Study, Sojung Kim, Burchan Aydin, Sumin Kim

Faculty Publications

This study aims at introducing a modeling and simulation approach for a green roof system which can reduce energy cost of a building exposed to high temperatures throughout the summer season. First, to understand thermal impact of a green roof system on a building surface, a field-based study has been conducted in Commerce, Texas, U.S., where the average maximum temperature in summer is 104 F (40 C). Two types of analyses were conducted: (1) comparison of temperature between different plant type via Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and (2) polynomial regression analysis to develop thermal impact estimation model based on air …

Impact Behavior Of Laminated Composites Built With Fique Fibers And Epoxy Resin: A Mechanical Analysis Using Impact And Flexural Behavior, Julian Rua, Mario F. Buchely, Sergio Neves Monteiro, Gloria I. Echeverri, Henry A. Colorado

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This research analyzes the behavior of natural fiber reinforced laminated polymer composites (NFRPC) under mechanical solicitations. Samples were fabricated with epoxy resin matrix reinforced with a multilayer natural fique fiber in a bi-directional commercial fabric configuration. Different reinforcement contents without additives were prepared taking in the account the simplicity in processing, fabrication cost, and applications in which this material might be used with high performance standards. Charpy notched impact and 3-point bending test were carried out to evaluate the mechanical behavior and the work of fracture, which was improved significatively with the fibers, showing an increase from 5 to 30 …

Resistive Switching Properties Of Zro2 Film By Plasma-Enhanced Atomic Layer Deposition For Non-Volatile Memory Applications, Aleksey A. Sivkov, Yuan Xing, Zoe Minden, Zhigang Xiao, Kuan Yew Cheong, Feng Zhao

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Resistive switching properties of nanoscale zirconium dioxide (ZrO₂) thin film deposited by plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition (PE-ALD) have been investigated. A resistive memory device has been formed with a 10-nm-thick ZrO₂ film as an active switching layer sandwiched between an aluminum top electrode and a silver bottom electrode. Bipolar resistive switching characteristics were demonstrated by current–voltage measurements with a read memory window of 6.6 V, an ON/OFF current ratio of nearly 10⁵ , and a retention time of 10⁴ s. Current conduction at low resistance states follows Ohm's law while at a high-resistance state governed …

Introduction To Prefabrication And Automation In Construction, Luciana Debs, Jiansong Zhang, Yunfeng Chen

Bowen School of Construction Open Educational Resources

New developments and recent advances in construction methods have the potential to change the future of the architecture, engineering and construction industry. Prefabrication, along with modular construction, provides a safe and controlled environment for the production of building construction elements and raises the need for improved collaboration and coordination from design to manufacturing and from transportation to final assembly. Prefabrication also provides relief from the skilled construction labor shortage while opening up new opportunities for mass customization within the building industry. Prefabrication and modular construction automation are emerging expansion routes for the construction industry. In addition, integral to developing the …