Civil and Environmental Engineering Commons^™

Numerical Study On Enhancing The Geotechnical Behavior Of Strip Footings On Oil-Contaminated Sand Using Stone Columns, Ahmad Nasr, Waseim Azzam, Mohamed Ahmed Mahmoud Abdelrehem

Journal of Engineering Research

Ground improvement techniques are frequently employed in construction sites characterized by weak soil conditions that may result in suboptimal performance. The use of ordinary and encased stone columns aims to enhance endurance, shear strength, and soil hardness, thereby mitigating settlement issues and expediting the consolidation of contaminated sand soils. In this research, a comprehensive investigation involving 74 cases was conducted to assess the behavior of both ordinary stone columns and encased stone columns under strip footing in contaminated sand subgrade. The objective was to discern the impact and characteristics of encapsulation in comparison to encapsulated stone columns, employing a Finite …

Experimental Investigation Of Light-Weight Concrete-Filled Stainless Steel Tube Composite Long Columns, Nadia Fath Alla, Kamel Kandeel, Mahmoud El-Nagar

Journal of Engineering Research

The main target of this study is to investigate the behavior and performance of long composite circular stainless steel columns filled with light-weight concrete. An experimental study was carried out on four specimens, two of them are long composite circular stainless steel columns with length 1400 mm, diameter 100 mm and thickness of stainless steel tube 2 mm filled with light-weight and normal concrete with strengths 12 and 26 mpa respectively, which denoted by C1400/12 and C1400/26. The other two specimens are short composite circular stainless steel columns with length 500 mm, diameter 100 mm and thickness of stainless steel …

Effect Of Addition Monofilament And Multifilament Polypropylene Fibers On Mechanical Properties Of Concrete At Elevated Temperatures, Nourhan Osama Hanafy Dr

Journal of Engineering Research

Some researchers studied the effect of different types of fibers on the strengths of concrete at elevated temperature. However, there are some limitations in the study of the strengths of concrete using different methods of cooling after elevated temperature. Thus, the main objective of this research is to study the mechanical properties of concrete with the addition of 1% polypropylene fibers, featuring different structures, at elevated temperatures and with various cooling methods, compared to normal concrete. An experimental program using three different series of mixes, the first series included normal concrete (control) mix without fibers, the second series included 1% …

A Review Of Geopolymer Binder As A Grouting Material, Karla Sierra, Jinwoo An, Ryan Shamet, Jiannan Chen, Yong Je Kim, Boo Hyun Nam, Philip Park

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications

The utilization of geopolymer as a grouting material has gained significant attention in research and construction applications. Geopolymer grout is a type of binding material that differs from traditional grouts, typically based on Portland cement. Researchers have explored its effectiveness and potential applications in grouting processes, considering its unique properties and characteristics. In this paper, various studies employing and utilizing geopolymer as a grouting material are reviewed. The emphasis is on mixture design of geopolymer grout, physical property, chemical composition of geopolymer grout, rheological behavior of geopolymer grout such as yield stress (in case of Bingham fluid) and viscosity, and …

Evaluation Of Bridge Deterioration Factors: From Design Parameters To Community Impact., Lawrencia Akuffo

Theses and Dissertations

The structural health and economic variables influencing the state of bridges in New Jersey are thoroughly examined in this thesis. The predictive modeling of bridge conditions using stepwise selection and linear logistic regression approaches is the primary focus of the opening chapter. With its precise predictions about bridge condition, either being fair/good, our model offers insightful information about resource allocation and maintenance by identifying bridge features which affect the deterioration of bridges the most. This gives effective infrastructure management, which not only relies on the identification of the important predictors and their effects on bridge conditions but also ranks them …

A Comprehensive Ml And Ai Framework For Intersection Safety: Assessing Contributing Factors, Surrogate Safety Measures, Non-Compliance Behaviors, And Cost-Inclusive Methodology, Deep Patel

Theses and Dissertations

Intersection safety, particularly in traffic management, has emerged as a pressing concern due to its substantial contribution to road crashes and fatalities. In recent years, understanding road users' behavior and conflicts at intersections has become essential for evaluating traffic safety. According to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), in 2020, over 50% of fatal and injury crashes occurred at or near intersections, necessitating further investigation. This study addresses this issue through an innovative blend of comprehensive literature review, advanced machine learning algorithms, artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, surrogate safety measures (SSMs), non-compliance behavior, and emphasizing the economic aspects of traffic incidents. First, …

Seismic Resilience Of Timber Homes, Melia R. Costa

College of Engineering Summer Undergraduate Research Program

The vast majority of residential buildings in California are wood-frame structures. A home is typically a very large investment for families, and damage to the home can be detrimental to a family’s economic success. Thus, reducing the economic impacts of an earthquake on residential timber housing is crucial. A full scale, two-story section of a residential timber house is in construction in the Parson’s Geotechnical and Earthquake Engineering Laboratory on the Cal Poly campus in San Luis Obispo, California. Once built it will be put through earthquake simulation tests on a shake table with various magnitudes of seismic activity. Next, …

Simulating The Compound Impacts Of Climate Change And Sea-Level Rise On Coastal Shallow Groundwater Using An Integrated Surface-Subsurface Hydrologic Model, Zhaoyi Cai

Civil & Environmental Engineering Theses & Dissertations

As climate change intensifies and sea levels rise, coastal aquifers become increasingly vulnerable to interacting oceanic and terrestrial processes. This dissertation examines the combined impacts of climate change and sea-level rise (SLR) on coastal shallow groundwater using an integrated surface-subsurface hydrologic model, focusing on the low-lying Little Creek watershed (LCW) in Norfolk, Virginia. The SWAT-MODFLOW model, a coupled system, unifies land surface, streamflow, and groundwater processes, providing a comprehensive framework for watershed-aquifer analysis. Model parameters were derived from U.S. Geological Survey datasets, relevant literature, station records, and technical reports, followed by meticulous calibration. The validated model first simulated baseline groundwater …

Feasibility Study Of Oyster Shell Filtration Media For Stormwater Pollutants Removal, Sadiq Omer

Civil & Environmental Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The depletion of resources has raised interest in reusing or incorporating by-products into alternative materials. In the effort for net zero emissions, waste reduction, and a circular economy, it is crucial to reinvent the alternative utilization strategy for by-products as construction materials sustainably. This research examines the alternative utilization strategy for oyster shell by-products in regular stormwater pollutant removal best management practices (BMPs).

Numerous research has examined the utilization of oyster shell waste as a construction material in Asia and Europe, specifically focusing on the physical properties of crushed oyster shells as alternatives for aggregates. No studies have been identified …

Rail Anchor Slip Force Testing, S. Mustapha Rahmaninezhad, Constantine Tarawneh, Arturo A. Fuentes, David Vera, Jorge Encinia

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications

Continuous welded rail (CWR) is increasingly adopted to replace jointed track due to its superior ride quality, extended fatigue life, and reduced maintenance costs. However, the absence of joints introduces challenges, such as thermal expansion-related track buckling. Maintaining the Rail Neutral Temperature (RNT) is essential for managing rail stresses and preventing these failures. Rail anchors are employed to distribute loads from rails to ties. The rail anchors enhance longitudinal track resistance by minimizing the rail’s longitudinal movement. These anchors are crucial for managing the RNT, ultimately contributing to the prevention of rail buckling and the reinforcement of the track structure. …

Characterizing Mechanical Behaviors Of Railroad Ballast Based On Large-Scale Triaxial Tests, Shihao Huang

Theses and Dissertations

Ballast, typically composed of large unbound aggregates with uniform gradation, is essential for the structural integrity of railroad tracks, facilitating load transfer, drainage, and ensuring stability and resilience. The mechanical behaviors of ballast, including shear resistance, resilient modulus, and permanent deformation, are critical for effective railroad design and maintenance, directly impacting track geometry. Degradation of these mechanical properties can lead to significant track-related issues, such as excessive settlement and train derailments, resulting in substantial property damage, injuries, and fatalities. This dissertation aims to characterize mechanical behaviors of railroad ballast from perspectives of aggregate interaction, cyclic loading pulses and climatic conditions, …

Evaluation Of Settlement In Poorly Graded Sand With Gravel Under Strain-Controlled Cyclic Triaxial And Dynamic Centrifuge Model Testing Conditions, Elise Jones

Theses and Dissertations

This research evaluates the dynamic behavior and volume change of sand with gravel subjected to cyclic loading. Historically, research on the dynamic behavior of cohesionless soils has primarily focused on the study of liquefaction due to its known implications on soil shear strength loss. Gravelly soil is generally assumed to be less susceptible to liquefaction since its large particle size facilitates drainage during cyclic loading. Gravel’s particle size also makes it difficult to test using standard cyclic shearing laboratory equipment. Thus, there is a lack of widespread research and predictive methods for the dynamic behavior of gravelly soil. Determining the …

Tracking Deposition And Settling Characteristics Of Airborne Metallic Particulate, William Kahale Caspino

Theses and Dissertations

Transport and deposition of metal particles is a source of environmental and public health concern. Understanding how ambient conditions and the properties of the particles interact to influence the dispersal range can provide information on and the possible extent of environmental contamination. Controlled laboratory experiments and modeling were utilized to determine when such particles would deposit. Particle samples containing heavy metals, a Palladium-dominant alloy and a Nickel/Aluminum dominant alloy LANA, were released in a static column, and the vertical displacement was tracked utilizing a Phantom v7.3 camera and a camera lens. Electron microscopy revealed that particles are not spherical and …

A Novel Approach To Evaluate Seatbelt Non-Compliance Of Drivers In New Jersey, Md Arifuzzaman Nayeem

Theses and Dissertations

This study intends to investigate the non-compliant behavior of drivers with seatbelt use in New Jersey. By examining various factors such as temporal and roadway characteristics, this study seeks to identify the underlying causes of this seatbelt non-compliance behavior. To overcome the limitations of traditional methods like cross-sectional data collection, a novel approach known as moving vehicle method was employed. To gain further insights, hypothesis tests were performed across the entire dataset to pinpoint significant temporal, roadway, and geometric factors contributing to non-compliant behaviors. In the subsequent step, the association of other risky behaviors like speeding and distracted driving with …

Development Of Electrically Conductive Asphalt Pavements For Deicing Applications In Cold Regions, Ashith Marath Padinhare Purakkal

Theses and Dissertations

Winter conditions often lead to significant traffic delays and safety risks due to ice or snow accumulation on pavement surfaces. This study evaluates the potential of electrically conductive asphalt (ECA) pavements to prevent such accumulations by melting ice and snow under real-world conditions. The study involved preparing ECA mixtures using graphite and carbon fibers, three carbon fiber lengths (3 mm, 6 mm, and 24 mm), and aggregates with two nominal maximum aggregate sizes (NMAS) (4.75 mm and 9.5 mm). Electrical resistivity, rutting susceptibility and cracking resistance of compacted ECA mixtures were evaluated. Results indicated that ECA mixtures with 15% graphite …

Distracted Driving: Identification, Contributing Factors, And Safety Countermeasures, Ahmed Sajid Hasan

Theses and Dissertations

Distracted driving is a hazardous behavior responsible for 25% of all fatal traffic crashes in New Jersey. While traditional methods such as surveys, videos, and simulations have been used to identify and evaluate distracted driving events, these approaches primarily provide cross-sectional data that fails to capture the true rate of distraction on the road. This study addresses this limitation by collecting longitudinal data on distracted driving events across selected corridors in New Jersey. A data collection team continuously drove through these corridors, manually counting and video recording driver distraction events. The collected data was then analyzed to assess the significance …

Prediction Of Moisture Resistance Of Aggregate Binder System Through Physicochemical And Mechanical Assessment, Khaja Sameer Sadat

Student Theses and Dissertations

Moisture sensitivity has been a significant factor in pavement deterioration for several decades. The primary objective of the proposed research is to quantify the interface-level adhesion forces between bitumen samples and various types of aggregates. Aggregates and binders from varying sources with an anti-stripping agent were utilized for routine tests, micro-level tests, and elemental analysis. Pneumatic Adhesion Tensile Testing Instrument (PATTI) was discovered to be a more straightforward, simple, and repeatable adhesion testing method. The PATTI test revealed that sandstone exhibited higher adhesion values due to its greater porosity and absorption potential than limestone. The Texas Boiling test removed human …

Air Content Variation In Concrete At Different Stages Of Its Lifecycle, Mohammad Sarfaraz Uddin

Student Theses and Dissertations

In cold climates, concrete structures are susceptible to deterioration from the freezing and thawing of water within the concrete. The arrangement of air voids is crucial for the concrete to endure the freeze-thaw cycles. This research investigates changes in the air void system within concrete using a super air meter and the properties of both fresh and hardened concrete at various stages, including mixing and after pumping. Laboratory mixes used different dosages of air-entraining admixes and included Rice Husk Ash (RHA) as a supplementary material. Adding RHA to the mix resulted in a decrease in air content of about 2.2%, …

Effective Integration Of Waste Plastics In Hot Mix Asphalt Mixtures: Towards Sustainable Infrastructure, Venkatsushanth Revelli

Theses and Dissertations

The study investigated the potential of waste plastics such as low density polyethylene(LDPE), high density polyethylene(HDPE), polyethylene terephthalate(PET) and polystyrene (PS) for designing superior performing asphalt mixtures. Both wet mixing and dry mixing methods were adopted for designing plastic modified asphalt mixtures. Initially LDPE and HDPE were selected for developing plastic modified binders, based on melting characterization, determined from differential scanning calorimeter(DSC). In wet mixing process, the influence of dosage, size of plastic, blending duration and interaction between plastic and asphalt were assessed. Plastics were found to exhibit phase separation with asphalt, while finer particles take only longer to segregate …

Comparative Analysis Of Muskingum Routing: Traditional Vs. Ai-Assisted Methods, Vida Atashi

AI Assignment Library

In this assignment, students will apply traditional and AI-assisted Muskingum routing methods to real-world discharge data from the USGS over a 10-day period. The goal is to compare these approaches, enhancing skills in hydrological modeling and data analysis crucial for water resources engineering.

The Role Of Micromobility In The Changing Urban Mobility Landscape, Mostafa Jafarzadehfadaki

All ETDs from UAB

The growing prevalence of micromobility has significantly impacted urban mo-‎bility, offering a sustainable and convenient alternative for short trips in urban settings. ‎As cities grapple with increasing congestion, pollution, and the demand for efficient ‎mobility solutions, micromobility options like e-scooters and e-bikes have emerged as ‎popular modes of transportation, particularly in densely populated areas. While earlier ‎research has contributed to understanding micromobility and its impact on urban set-‎tings, significant knowledge gaps still exist. Therefore, a comprehensive study is neces-‎sary to explore the multifaceted dimensions of e-scooter adoption, usage patterns of mi-‎cromobility, and their implications for urban transportation systems and traffic …

Environmental Engineering 3.0: Faced With Planetary Problems, Solutions Must Scale-Up Caring, Daniel B. Oerther, Sarah Oerther, Linda A. Mccauley

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Forum papers are thought-provoking opinion pieces or essays founded in fact, sometimes containing speculation, on a civil engineering topic of general interest and relevance to the readership of the journal. The views expressed in this Forum article do not necessarily reflect the views of ASCE or the Editorial Board of the journal.

Asphalt-Binder Mixtures Evaluated By T1 Nmr Relaxometry, Rebecca M. Herndon, Jay Balasubramanian, Magdy Abdelrahman, Klaus Woelk

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Asphalt pavements make up a majority of the essential transportation systems in the US. Asphalt mixtures age and degrade over time, reducing the pavement performance. Pavement performance critically depends on the aging of asphalt binder. The aging of asphalt binder during construction is traditionally modeled by rolling thin film oven (RTFO) testing, while aging during service life is modeled by pressure aging vessel (PAV) testing. Comparing these models to the aging of binders in actual pavements is limited because, to be used for current testing, binders must be separated from the pavement's aggregate by solvent extraction. Solvent extraction will, at …

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (Nmr) Assessment Of Bio And Crude Oil-Based Rejuvenation, Rebecca M. Herndon, Jay Balasubramanian, Magdy Abdelrahman, Klaus Woelk

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Asphalt binders in pavements lose their stability through aging and eventually fail in the field. Using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to monitor the primary longitudinal relaxation time of asphalt samples and the ratio of material that carries this primary relaxation time has been shown to indicate the impact of ultraviolet (UV) radiation on the aging of asphalt pavements. Longitudinal NMR relaxation was used to investigate two types of proposed asphalt rejuvenators, a bio-oil-based rejuvenator and a crude-oil-based rejuvenator. Two different binders with the performance grades (PG) 64-22 and 76-22 were considered for their interactions with the rejuvenators. After 72 h …

Asphalt-Binder Mixtures Evaluated By T1 Nmr Relaxometry, Rebecca M. Herndon, Jay Balasubramanian, Magdy Abdelrahman, Klaus Woelk

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Asphalt pavements make up a majority of the essential transportation systems in the US. Asphalt mixtures age and degrade over time, reducing the pavement performance. Pavement performance critically depends on the aging of asphalt binder. the aging of asphalt binder during construction is traditionally modeled by rolling thin film oven (RTFO) testing, while aging during service life is modeled by pressure aging vessel (PAV) testing. Comparing these models to the aging of binders in actual pavements is limited because, to be used for current testing, binders must be separated from the pavement's aggregate by solvent extraction. Solvent extraction will, at …

Investigation Of Temperature, Solution Strength, And Applied Stress Effects On Cation Exchange Processes In Different Geosynthetic Clay Liner Products, Kendra Fuller

Master's Theses

An extensive laboratory test program was conducted to analyze and compare the cation exchange processes in three different varieties of sodium bentonite (Na-B) geosynthetic clay liners (GCLs) over increased conditioning durations up to 32 days and investigate the effects of temperature, solution strength, and applied stress. The goal of this test program was to establish whether the variables of temperature, solution strength, and applied stress improved or degraded the engineering properties of GCLs in laboratory testing and municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill applications. The GCLs were conditioned in liquids of increasing ionic strength, using deionized water and 2, 50, and …

Influence Of Plastic Coating Temperature On Recycled Concrete Brick Coarse Aggregate, Jamil Ahmed Joy, Chowdhury Zubayer Bin Zahid, S. M. Imdadul Islam

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications

The generation of waste from the demolition of old structures poses a significant environmental challenge. Recycling these materials as aggregates in concrete offers a potential alleviation of environmental impact. While recycled aggregates offer promise as a remedy, they are not without drawbacks. However, innovative approaches have been developed to overcome these limitations. Among these, plastic coating stands out as a particularly sustainable solution. This study investigates the influence of plastic coating temperature on recycled concrete brick aggregates (RCBA), which serve as coarse aggregates. The RCBA were coated with locally sourced polyethylene terephthalate (PET) at varying temperatures, such as 250 °C, …

Building Services Engineering September/October 2024

Building Services Engineering

No abstract provided.

Enhanced Perfluorooctanoic Acid (Pfoa) Degradation By Electrochemical Activation Of Peroxydisulfate (Pds) During Electrooxidation For Water Treatment, Melvin S. Samuel, Kadarkarai Govindan, Donald R. Ryan, Sean T. Mcbeath, Brooke K. Mayer, Patrick J. Mcnamara

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Improved treatment of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in water is critically important in light of the proposed United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) drinking water regulations at ng L−1 levels. The addition of peroxymonosulfate (PMS) during electrooxidation (EO) can remove and destroy PFAS, but ng L−1 levels have not been tested, and PMS itself can be toxic. The objective of this research was to test peroxydisulfate (PDS, an alternative to PMS) activation by boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrodes for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) degradation. The influence of PDS concentration, temperature, and environmental water matrix effects, and PFOA concentration on PDS-EO …

Assessment Of Dune Change Using Historical Aerial And Satellite Photos, Topographic Surveys, And Wave Data At Toro Creek Beach, Owen D. Emerson

Master's Theses

Coastal sand dunes play an important role in the littoral processes of California’s coastline. Functioning as both source and sink for sand, these dunes often protect coastal infrastructure and provide a buffer between anthropogenic development and coastal forces. At Toro Creek Beach, north of Morro Bay California, recent extreme winter storms have raised concerns about the erosion of the sand dunes that front California State Highway 1. This thesis attempts to characterize the historical growth and recession patterns of the Toro Creek dunes since 1977, the dune movement over the 2023-2024 winter seasons, the wave forcings behind recent high erosion …