Civil and Environmental Engineering Commons^™

Bs News May/June

Building Services Engineering

No abstract provided.

Framework Development For Construction Safety Visualization, Kishor Shrestha

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Throughout the history of the construction industry, many fatalities and injuries have occurred in construction sites. One of the major causes of accidents is unsafe site conditions; basically, this is due to inadequate supervision. To improve upon the traditional supervision approach, this study proposes a `Framework Development for Construction Safety Visualization' approach. In addition to this, a computer vision Edge Detection Algorithm was developed and tested to convert construction site still images into edges of the objects in the images. The framework development of this study uses computer vision, robot vision, image compression, pattern recognition, internet transmission, network communication, and …

Legal Issues In Green Construction, Namrata Shrestha

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The most recent "green construction movement", made a significant impact on the design and construction industry in the United States. Organizations such as the American Institute of Architects (AIA) have lobbied governmental entities to provide financial incentives to promote green construction. The green construction community also promotes the notion that a healthier working and living environment is achieved. Due to finical incentives coupled with projected long-term energy cost savings, many owners of new construction are considering green construction as an option. Accompanying the "green construction movement", new kinds of legal issues, particularly relating to green aspects such as certification, energy …

Monotonic Behavior Of Mississippi River Valley Silt In Triaxial Compression, Shuying Wang, Ronaldo Luna

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The static behavior of Mississippi River Valley silt was characterized using triaxial compression testing. Silt specimens, especially over consolidated ones, showed dilation behavior. There was no unique critical state among specimens with different over consolidation ratios (OCRs). with OCRs of 1, 2, and 8, the specimens exhibited normal behavior and dilated more as effective consolidation pressure dropped. However, for an OCR of 4, the specimens showed opposite behavior and dilated more as effective consolidation pressure rose. the friction angle of the silt was computed on the basis of several failure criteria, and the limiting strain was found to be the …

A Model Of Housing Design And Neighborhood Planning In Abuja - Nigeria, Ekanem Amba

Master of Technology Management Plan II Graduate Projects

The need for shelter is one of the most important necessities for mankind after sustenance. Over the years, the term ‘shelter’ has undergone series of modification either in shape, space, location or the materials used in constructing them but one thing remains the same; the need for a roof over one’s head is as vital to survival as time in itself.

A Carbon Dioxide Comparison Of Open Cut And Pipe Bursting, Akshay Joshi

Master of Technology Management Plan II Graduate Projects

This study focuses on the environmental aspect of the underground utility construction methods namely open-cut and pipe-bursting. The research is aimed at determining the CO2 emission due to the use of construction machinery as well as the excess CO2 emission due to the obstruction to traffic during the construction process. A Gravity sewer project in Bowling Green, OH was used as a case study. Open- cut method was implemented on this project and for the purpose of this research the pipe-bursting method was simulated. A 5100 feet long, 8 inches diameter pipeline was considered at a depth of 10 feet …

Assessing Impermeable Surface Area Impacts On Modeling: Implications For The Combined Sewer Overflow Long Term Control Plan In Omaha, Nebraska, Andrew D. Szatko

Community and Regional Planning Program: Professional Projects

The report looks at assessing the accuracy of estimating impervious surface areas (ISAs) by zoning code, the method utilized by the City of Omaha, Nebraska. A 101 acre subcatchment had all ISAs manually digitized and compared the actual with the estimated value. The subcatchment was then modeled with 10 percent decreases of ISAs to establish the relationship with peak flow rates and total volume in the combined sewer service area. The results show a significant relationship between the two that may provide insights into a new approach to manage CSO events with the integration of green infrastructure.

Factors Influencing Crack-Induced Tensile Strength Of Compacted Soil, Tae Hyung Kim, Tae Hoon Kim, Gi Chun Kang, Louis Ge

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Mode I (tensile) fracture is the most commonly observed failure in Geostructure's resulting from cracks in soil. Direct or indirect tensile tests have been used to evaluate the tensile strength of geomaterials. in this paper, the unconfined penetration device and experimental procedure were modified to reduce measurement errors. It was then used to determine the tensile strength of compacted soil. Factors influencing the tensile strength of the compacted soil, including the plasticity index, rate of loading, and size of specimen were discussed in detail, as well as its reliability. Experimental results indicated that the modified, unconfined penetration technique is sufficiently …

Time-Weighted Average Spme Analysis For In Planta Determination Of Cvocs, Emily M. Sheehan, Matt A. Limmer, Philipp Mayer, Ulrich Gosewinkel Karlson, Joel Gerard Burken

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The Potential of Phytoscreening for Plume Delineation at Contaminated Sites Has Promoted Interest in Innovative, Sensitive Contaminant Sampling Techniques. Solid-Phase Microextraction (SPME) Methods Have Been Developed, Offering Quick, Undemanding, Noninvasive Sampling Without the Use of Solvents. in This Study, Time-Weighted Average SPME (TWA-SPME) Sampling Was Evaluated for in Planta Quantification of Chlorinated Solvents. TWA-SPME Was Found to Have Increased Sensitivity over Headspace and Equilibrium SPME Sampling. using a Variety of Chlorinated Solvents and a Polydimethylsiloxane/carboxen (PDMS/CAR) SPME Fiber, Most Compounds Exhibited Near Linear or Linear Uptake over the Sampling Period. Smaller, Less Hydrophobic Compounds Exhibited More Nonlinearity Than Larger, More …

Quantifying The Life Cycle Benefits Of Performance-Based Design In Sustainable Design, David Isaac Carmona

Master's Theses

ABSTRACT

Quantifying the Life Cycle Benefits of Performance-Based Design in Sustainable Design

David Carmona

For this thesis, a method is developed and tested for use with performance based design to quantify the sustainable and financial benefits of designing buildings to a structural performance level higher than Life-Safety. This paper starts to answer the question, “which would be a better investment: build structures to a performance level of Immediate Occupancy (IO) with the likelihood of less damage and downtime after an earthquake or continue to build to the building code’s implied minimum performance level of Life-Safety (LS)?”

An ASCE 7-05 designed …

Bs News March/April

Building Services Engineering

No abstract provided.

The Bridge Newsletter Spring 2012, Missouri University Of Science And Technology

The Bridge Newsletter

-Light-weight foam could cushion expensive bridge repairs
-New Chancellor
-The house of the future today
-High-tech approach to project management

2012 Scholarly Productivity Report, Missouri University Of Science And Technology

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Scholarly Productivity Reports

No abstract provided.

Effects Of Nano-Copper(Ii) Oxide And Nano- Magnesium Oxide Particles On Activated Sludge, Guoqiang Liu, Jianmin Wang

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Effects of nano-copper (II) oxide (nano-CuO) and nano-magnesium oxide (nano-MgO) particles on activated sludge endogenous respiration (aerobic digestion), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) biodegradation, and nitrification were investigated through respiration rate measurement. for comparison, the effects of Cu (II) and Mg (II) ions on activated sludge were also studied. Results indicated that soluble Cu (II) has half maximum inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of 19, 5.5, 53, and 117 mg Cu/L for endogenous respiration, BOD biodegradation, ammonium oxidation, and nitrite oxidation, respectively. However, nano-CuO only inhibited BOD biodegradation at 240 mg Cu/L or more, and its associated toxicity was primarily caused by …

Long-Term Performance Of Passive Materials For Removal Of Ozone From Indoor Air, C. J. Cros, Glenn C. Morrison, J. A. Siegel, R. L. Corsi

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The health effects associated with exposure to ozone range from respiratory irritation to increased mortality. in this paper, we explore the use of three green building materials and an activated carbon (AC) mat that remove ozone from indoor air. We studied the effects of long-term exposure of these materials to real environments on ozone removal capability and pre- and post-ozonation emissions. a field study was completed over a 6-month period, and laboratory testing was intermittently conducted on material samples retrieved from the field. the results show sustained ozone removal for all materials except recycled carpet, with greatest ozone deposition velocity …

An Improved Prediction Model For Spacecraft Damage Following Orbital Debris Impact, Joel E. Williamsen, William P. Schonberg

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This paper offers a new set of 'generic', data-Based hole size and crank length prediction models for spherical orbital debris particles impacting multi-plate targets at velocities up to ~12 km/s. the equations are applicable to a wide variety of spacecraft target configurations, but are limited to hole sizes above, but relatively near, the ballistic limit of the impacting particles. Additional work is underway to expand these models to diameters farther above the ballistic limit for the described shield types.

Breaking Internal Waves On A Shelf Slope Using Numerical Simulations, Subhas K. Venayagamoorthy, Oliver B. Fringer

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The subject of internal waves interacting with bottom topographic features in the ocean has received much attention in the past few decades. This heightened interest is mainly due to a conjecture that breaking internal waves at boundaries can be a significant source of turbulence, leading to mixing and transport in the ocean. In this paper, we present results from high-resolution three-dimensional numerical simulations of an internal wave interacting with a shelf break in a linearly stratified fluid in order to highlight the instabilities that contribute to wave breaking over topography. The results show the development of a nonlinear internal bolus …

Life Cycle Cost Analysis Under Ireland's Capital Works Management Framework, Dermot Kehily, Alan Hore

Conference papers

The Capital Works Management Framework (CWMF) is a structure that has been developed to deliver the Irish government’s objectives in relation to public sector construction procurement reform. This research provides practical guidance and assistance for construction cost professionals in carrying out Whole Life Cycle Cost Analysis (WLCCA) and producing Life Cycle Cost Models(LCCMs) under the CWMF. The research outlines how LCCA calculations can be carried out for cost planning purposes and recommends a standard methodology for presenting LCCMs under the CWMF. The CWMF states that Whole Life Costs (WLC) are an important consideration throughout the design process and should be …

2:1 The Paper Tube Project, Noel Brady

Articles

Review of applied technological solution to rapid building techniques using paper tube and analogous materials to create space enclosing geodesic systems.

Shake Table Testing Of A Utility-Scale Wind Turbine, Ian Prowell, Chia Ming Uang, Ahmed Elgamal, J. Enrique Luco, Lanhui Guo

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Shake table tests were undertaken on a full-scale wind turbine (65-kW rated power, 22.6-m hub height, and 16-m rotor diameter) using the Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation Large High Performance Outdoor Shake Table at the University of California, San Diego. Structural response characteristics and modal parameters are presented for base shaking imparted in two configurations, both parallel (configuration 1) and perpendicular (configuration 2) to the axis of rotation of the rotor. Results are summarized for a series of progressively stronger motions imparted in configuration 1, with analysis identifying damage sources leading to an overall loss in stiffness. Two sources of …

An Empirical Study Of Particulate Matter Exposure For Transit Users At Bus Stop Shelters, Adam Moore

Dissertations and Theses

Congested traffic corridors in dense urban areas are key contributors to the degradation of urban air quality. While waiting at bus stops, transit patrons may be exposed to greater amounts of vehicle-based pollution, including particulate matter, due to their proximity to the roadway. Current guidelines for the location and design of bus stops do not take into account air quality or exposure considerations. This thesis provides a unique contribution to roadside air quality studies and presents an innovative method for the consideration of bus shelter placement. Exposure to roadside pollutants is estimated for transit riders waiting at three-sided bus stop …

Bs News January/February

Building Services Engineering

No abstract provided.

Ecological Payback Time Of An Energy-Efficient Modular Building, Jeremy Faludi, Michael Lepech

Dartmouth Scholarship

Ecological payback time was calculated for demolishing an existing commercial building with average energy performance and replacing it with an energy-efficient, prefabricated building. A life-cycle assessment was performed for a 5,000 ft2 commercial building designed by Project Frog and prefabricated in San Francisco, California, and compared to the impacts of annual energy consumption and continued status quo operation of a comparable average commercial building. Scenarios were run both with and without rooftop solar panels intended to make the prefabricated building net zero energy. The analysis considers the materials and mof the existing building, compared to continued annual energy use of …

Modeling Unbound Granular Materials Under Complex Stress Paths, Cheng Chen, Louis Ge

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Developing reliable and versatile constitutive models for geomaterials has been challenging tasks for nonlinear finite element analysis of geotechnical engineering systems. the fuzzy set plasticity theory has been developed to account for the nonlinear soil stress-strain response under complex stress paths. the theory in many ways resembles the bounding surface plasticity, where the plastic modulus is a function of the distance between the current and image stress states in the stress space. based on the concept of fuzzy set theory in mathematics, a membership function whose value ranges from 1 and 0 is introduced in the Fuzzy Set Plasticity Theory …

Characterization Of Crushed Rock-Concrete Interface Behavior Through The Parallel Gradation Technique, Domenica Cambio, Xin Kang, Louis Ge

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The response of a soil-structure system subjected to monotonic or cyclic loading is influenced significantly by the mechanical behavior of soil-structure interface. in this paper, the friction characteristics of the crushed rock-concrete interface and the role of the crushed rock deformability were examined through a series of monotonic and cyclic direct shear tests. the physical modeling technique of parallel gradation was adopted where two parallel gradation curves of the crushed rocks were prepared and used in the tests. the tests were carried out in dry condition and with two initial void ratios representing both loose and dense states. Two concrete …

Measuring Global Response Of A Wind Turbine To Simulated Earthquake Shaking Assisted By Point Tracking Videogrammetry, Ian Prowell, Tim Schmidt, Ahmed Elgamal, Chia Ming Uang, Hal Romanowitz, J. Edward Duggan

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Experiments investigating earthquake response of structures traditionally use conventional wired instruments such as strain gauges, displacement transducers, and accelerometers deployed at key areas of interest throughout structure. for wind turbines the rotor is one of these key areas, but due to rotation it is not possible to use wired instruments without a special slip ring. in a recent experiment conducted using the Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation (NEES) Large High Performance Shake Table (LHPOST) at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) the global response of a full scale 65-kW turbine (22 m hub height) was monitored using a novel …

Application Of Threshold Concepts To Improve A Design-Focused Course In Transportation Engineering, Dan Cernusca, Ghulam Bham

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Design is an integral part of engineering courses. to address its associated problems, however, is a challenging task in instruction because of design's open-endedness and complexity. in this study, two theoretical models were implemented in an introductory transportation engineering course to address the challenges associated with design of a highway. First, the theoretical framework proposed by the threshold concepts model was used to identify a candidate concept for the instructional redesign process. Two major characteristics of threshold concepts, integrativity and transformativity, were used to identify horizontal alignment as a candidate concept for the highway design process. Second, concept mapping was …

Evaluation Of Pre-Consolidation Stress Determination Methods, Omar Conte, Stephanie Rust, Louis Ge, Richard Wesley Stephenson

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Pre-Consolidation Pressure Provides Valuable Information About Soil Behavior And, Specifically, Settlement under an Induced Load. Soil is Expected to Have Less Settlement Before its Pre-Consolidation Pressure and Much More Settlement after that Point. the Pre-Consolidation Pressure and the Compressibility of the Soil Can Be Determined from the Results of a One-Dimensional Consolidation Test. Different Methods Have Been Developed to Obtain the Accurate Pre-Consolidation Pressure from One Dimensional Consolidation Test Data. This Paper Presents and Discusses the Results of the One-Dimensional Consolidation Test Data from an Extensive Testing Program. the Test Specimens Used Were Obtained from Multiple Borehole Locations and Were …

Life Cycle Costing Template (Excel), Dermot Kehily

Reports

No abstract provided.

Bs News November/December

Building Services Engineering

No abstract provided.