Civil and Environmental Engineering Commons^™

Parallel-Vector Design Sensitivity Analysis In Structural Dynamics, Yongxing Zhang

Civil & Environmental Engineering Theses & Dissertations

In this study, the design sensitivity analysis is for the purpose of providing constraint derivative information for structural optimization under dynamic loads. Various existing formulations are reviewed, and the direct differentiation method is justified as the best one for design sensitivity analysis in structural dynamics. An alternative formulation for design sensitivity analysis with direct differentiation method is developed. The alternative formulation works efficiently with the reduced system of dynamic equations, and it eliminates the need for expensive and complicated eigenvector derivatives, which is required in the existing reduced system formulation. The relationship of the alternative formulation and the existing reduced …

Bs News

Building Services Engineering

No abstract provided.

Evaluating The Role Of Geogrids In The Rehabilitation Of Cracked Dams Via Numerical Techniques, Kelly Dean Uhacz

Dissertations and Theses

Collapse and cracking of debris earth embankment dams is a serious problem in areas of the arid Western United States. The use of geogrids is evaluated in this thesis as a possible solution to prevent or reduce the amount of damage to the structures from collapse and cracking.

An apparatus was designed, constructed, and instrumented to electronically acquire data to evaluate the behavior of geogrids during pullout tests under various normal stresses. The pullout tests were also modelled using numerical techniques to correlate physical test data with numerical test data. Understanding the behavior of the geogrid, in both the physical …

Automated Determination Of Air Content In Hardened Concrete, Anita R. Navalurkar

Theses

An automated system was developed for the microscopic determination of air content and the related parameters in hardened concrete using the principles of Image Analysis and Computer Technology. Slices taken from the concrete specimen were viewed through a microscope with 40X magnification. The magnified image of the concrete slice is digitized by an Image Analyzing Software. Methodologies were developed for analysis of the digitized image and determination of air content and the required parameters. The automated system included a motorized positioner which translated microscope stage in a frame by frame sequence so that the whole image is digitized. Several tests …

Load-Deformation Behavior Of Reinforced Fibrous Concrete Beams, Rujun He

Theses

This study deals with the load-deformation behavior of steel fiber reinforced concrete beams.

Theoretical development of moment-curvature and load-deformation relationships is presented in this paper. It is based on the assumption that the failure at a section occurs either when the force equilibrium equation is violated or when the concrete elements start to get crushed in the member. The complete stress-strain relationship of plain fibrous concrete in reference [2] was used in this study.

A special computer program is presented herein to carry out the theoretical studies of load-deformation behavior of simply supported beam under two-point loading. The validity of …

Evaluation Of Cracking Mechanism In Fiber Reinforced Concrete Subjected To Impulsive Loading, Rajendra K. Navalurkar

Theses

This thesis presents an experimental evaluation of J-Integral for plain and fiber reinforced concrete subjected to impact loading. A computer assisted instrumented Charpy test system was employed in applying the impact loads. Twenty two three point bend specimens with two different notch lengths were tested under impact velocity of 43.29 in/sec. Development and testing of a new fiber optic sensor, for the determination of internal Crack Tip Opening Displacements (CTOD) in concrete is described.

Evaluation of J_IC values from experimental results of this study indicate that J_IC can be characterized as a material constant. The Dynamic value of …

Influence Of Fly Ash Characteristics On Compressive Strength Of Mortar, Poorna Rajeswari Ratnaweera

Theses

Fly ash-cement mortar, constituting of fly ash, cement and sand, vary in strength characteristics from conventional cement sand mortar. Out of many parameters effecting the compressive strength characteristics of fly ash-cement mortar, four were investigated in this study. They are particle size and its distribution, weathering of fly ash, moisture content & water/cementitious ratio and mix proportioning.

Class F fly ashes from three different sources were used in this study. The particle size distribution and moisture content of fly ashes were investigated by standard ASTM methods. The unconfined compressive strength of mortar was obtained by testing 2"x2"x2" test cubes conforming …

Water Treatment Plant Sludge As Sanitary Landfill Liner, Sinnadurai Sockanathan

Theses

This study was performed to explore the possibility of using the sludge waste from the water treatment plant at Boonton New Jersey as a containment material for the sanitary landfills or as a fill material. At present natural clay is being used as a containment liner for the landfills and by using this sludge, recycling of a waste product will be achieved in an economical manner.

As a first part of this studies, efforts were made to utilize the liquid sludge having a solid content of about 3%. Attempts to dewater the liquid sludge to a workable mix by adding …

Determination Of Water-Cement Ratio In Cement Paste By Atomic Absorption Spectrometry, Jiong Zhao

Theses

As one of the important characteristics of concrete, water-cement ratio controls porosity and thus strength and corrosion resistance of hardened concrete.

This paper presents a laboratory observation for determination of water-cement ratio of fresh concrete for quality control and quality assurance. The atomic absorption spectrophotometer and the flouresence spectrophtometer were used to determine the calcium concentration in cement solution of various water-cement ratio. The level of water-cement ratio investigated ranged from 0.4 to 0.55 which covers the most range of water-cement ratios in present practice. The result of lab experiments shows an immediate relation between the water-cement ratio and the …

Bs News

Building Services Engineering

No abstract provided.

Bs News

Building Services Engineering

No abstract provided.

Precipitation And Inter-Event Dry Periods For Selected Areas Of Florida, Teresa Rae Lineback

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

The increase in the pollution of existing water bodies due to poor management of storwater runoff has demanded continuous re-evaluation of present design methods for stormwater management facilities. Current criteria used in determining water quality (treatment) volumes in pond design neglect antecedent conditions resulting from preceding rainfall. The inter-event dry period refers to that time period (hours) which occurs between rainfall events. The

minimum inter-event dry period used for pollution control design should be consistent with the time required for infiltration, chemical precipitation, sediment removal, and biological assimilation; as well as the period of time required to minimize the cumulative …

Design Curves For The Reuse Of Stormwater, Gregory Miller Harper

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

The reuse of stormwater runoff is becoming an increasingly popular addition to stormwater management systems. The advantages include a reduction in pollution and volume discharges to surface waters, the return of runoff to the ground, and savings in the cost of using potable water. This research, by developing a relationship between the reuse volume (temporary storage volume), the rate at which stormwater is reused, and the percentage of annual surface runoff that is reused, provides a procedure in which to design stormwater reuse systems. The traditional design of pond temporary storage volume has been based on the consideration of water …

Driving Of Thin Shells For Steel Encased Concrete Piles, G. Agrawal, Jean-Lou Chameau

JTRP Technical Reports

The major purpose of this study was to identify the causes for the driving difficulties often given experienced on highway projects where thin shells are used for cast-in situ concrete piles that support bridge approaches, and to develop a set of recommendations and procedures to enable INDOT engineers to (a) make use of available technology for dynamic analysis of pile driving; and (b) make appropriate changes in the design, construction and contract specification procedures to improve identification and correction of problems at the earliest possible stage.

This study indicates that the parameter of greatest importance for most projects is the …

The Development Of Optimal Strategies For Maintenance, Rehabilitation And Replacement Of Highway Bridges, Vol. 1: The Elements Of The Indiana Bridge Management System (Ibms) : Executive Summary, Kumares C. Sinha, Mitsuru Saito, Yi Jiang, Sudhir Murthy, Ah Beng Tee, Mark D. Bowman

JTRP Technical Reports

No abstract provided.

Automated Construction Data Management System : Executive Summary, Bob G. Mccullouch

JTRP Technical Reports

No abstract provided.

A Sensitivity Analysis Of The Parameters For A Cap Plasticity Model : Interim Report, Scott J. Ludlow, Wai-Fah Chen, Philippe L. Bourdeau, C. W. Lovell

JTRP Technical Reports

No abstract provided.

Automated Construction Data Management System, Bob G. Mccullouch

JTRP Technical Reports

No abstract provided.

Bs News

Building Services Engineering

No abstract provided.

Bs News

Building Services Engineering

No abstract provided.

Accident Reduction Factors For Indiana, Daniel Joseph Ermer, Kumares C. Sinha

JTRP Technical Reports

This report presents the results of a study conducted to develop appropriate accident reduction factors associated with various highway improvement projects in Indiana. The factors were developed through a before-and-after analysis of accident data from 1983 to 1987. Disclaimer: This report presents the results of statistical analyses applied to available data. The accident reduction factor values do not imply any endorsement of any particular project types by the Federal Highway Administration or the Indiana Department of Transportation or the Joint Highway Research Project of Purdue University.

Application Of Rapid Asphalt Content Test To Slag Mixes, Douglas Windslow

JTRP Technical Reports

The "nuclear" asphalt content gage was used with bituminous mixes containing slag aggregates to assess its applicability as a rapid analysis tool for these types of mixes. It was found to work as well, or better, than the standard extraction technique. It was also found to have additional advantages over the extraction technique since it is about an order to magnitude faster, requires no solvent and involves no decisions on the part of the user.

Repair/Rehabilitation Of Deteriorated Drainage Pipe, Bob G. Mccullouch

JTRP Technical Reports

This report describes the current technologies, methods and materials used in drainage pipe rehab and replacement. It also identifies which of these technologies can be applied for the various pipe material types. Installed cost information was obtained from the states in the survey and from vendors for the various methods. In describing each method, equipment requirements and limitations are reported. From this report, one should be able to understand what method is appropriate for the various repair problems and pipe types.

User Guide For Pc-Stabl3d, Gennady Moshkovich

JTRP Technical Reports

PC-STABL3D is the program for IBM PC compatible computers, developed to handle general stability analysis of three-dimensional slopes. Random generation routines are invoked to create trial failure surfaces, which are analyzed using the limiting equilibrium approach. The current version of PC-STABL3D is enhanced by a graphical pre/postprocessor, which facilitates creation and edition 0 data files, examination of problem geometry, and analyzing of the obtained failure surfaces. After the failure surfaces are generated and their factors of safety are computed, the program performs statistical analysis of received factors of safety, and calculates minimum statistical factor of safety. The information about minimum …

Use Of Waste Materials In Highway Construction, Imtiaz Ahmed

JTRP Technical Reports

This study synthesizes the information on the use of waste materials in highway construction. The information was obtained from a review of published literature supplemented by: recent unpublished reports, presentations of research updates by professionals at different forums, anti personal meetings with the experts. In addition, a questionnaire regarding the use of waste materials was prepared and distributed to each of the state highway agencies. A majority of states responded to the questionnaire, giving a summary of current practices in the use of waste materials in highway construction and their experiences on the technical, environmental, and economic aspects of the …

Traffic Speed Report No. 124: Traffic Report, David L. Cochran, Donald W. Genda

JTRP Technical Reports

No abstract provided.

Speed Trends On Indiana Rural Interstate Highways : Traffic Report, David L. Cochran

JTRP Technical Reports

No abstract provided.

Interim Report: Embankment Widening And Grade Raising On Soft Foundation Soils, Example I - Indiana State Route 55 Over Turkey Creek In Lake County, Indiana, Scott J. Ludlow, Wai-Fah Chen, Philippe L. Bourdeau, C. W. Lovell

JTRP Technical Reports

No abstract provided.

The Impact Of Highway Services And Expenditures On Regional Economic Development, Paulus Cornelius Lombard, Kumares C. Sinha, Deborah J. Brown

JTRP Technical Reports

This report presents results from a study to determine the relationship between highway infraatructure and economic development in Indiana. Regression models and a computer model were developed to estimate the annual long-term impacts of highway construction on economic growth. Results from an analysis of economic impacts of the construction of 13 four-lane highway sections in Indiana, as well as an analysis of national data concerning industrial location determinants, are also presented.

Engineering Soils Map Of Jay County, Indiana, Arvind Chaturvedi, Andrew Garrigus

JTRP Technical Reports

The soils mapping of Jay County was done primarily by the analysis of landforms and associated parent materials as portrayed on stereoscopic aerial photographs. Valuable information for soils was obtained from publications of the Soil Conservation Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Test data from roadway and bridge projects was obtained from the Indiana Department of Transportation. Soil profiles for the landform/parent material areas mapped are presented on the engineering soils map, a copy of which is included at the end of the report.