Civil and Environmental Engineering Commons^™

Liquefaction Hazard Analysis Of Northeast Arkansas Using Cone Penetration Test Data, Rupesh Mahat

Student Theses and Dissertations

The presence of seismically active New Madrid Seismic Zone puts Northeast Arkansas at seismic hazard. The deep soft sediments of Northeast Arkansas within the Mississippi Embayment put the region at liquefaction risk. One hundred and thirty-one (131) Cone Penetration Test (CPT) data are used for liquefaction assessments. Liquefaction analysis on 20 m of surficial deposits is analyzed and compared. Sensitivity and parametric study are also conducted. Geographical Information System (GIS) maps based on liquefaction potential indices are generated. Contour maps of liquefaction potentials are developed for Mississippi County. Liquefaction varies spatially in Northeast Arkansas. A full 20 m of soil …

Efficacy Of Rice Husk Ash (Rha) And Hydrated Lime As Stabilizing Agents For Poor Subgrade Soils In Arkansas, Fares Tarhuni

Student Theses and Dissertations

Rice husk is controlled-burned farm waste. Ash is rich in silicate, a pozzolanic material that improves soil. Rice Husk Ash (RHA) and Hydrated lime (HL) are tested as soil stabilizers in Arkansas' poor subgrade soils. This study analyzes two local subgrade soils with different RHA (3, 6, and 9%), HL (1, 3, and 5%), and RHA (3, 4, or 5%) plus 1%HL. Its goal is to discover the ideal percentages of RHA, HL, or a combination treated soils were tested for Atterberg limits, Modified Proctor, pH, CBR, UCS, and Free Swell. In testing, RHA and HL reduced soil plasticity and …

Characterization Of Functionalized Nanoparticle Coatings Subjected To Soiling And Cementation, Fuad Behbudov

Student Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigates the efficacy of functionalized nanoparticle coatings in reducing soiling and cementation on solar panels. Employing cementation cycles with Arizona Test Dust (ATD) and Arabian American Oil Company (ARAMCO) dust, the study examines the impact of these coatings under simulated environmental conditions. Key analyses include water contact angle (WCA), transmittance, and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS). Results show that methylated coatings significantly enhance hydrophobicity and maintain higher transmittance, suggesting less frequent cleaning and sustained effectiveness. The study noted a considerable variation in WCA post-cementation, particularly a marked decrease for the lighting sample, signifying a notable chemical alteration on the …

Research On Orthogonal Test Of Mgo-Fiber Cement Soil′S Deformation Modulus, Hu Qizhi, Yu Yang, Ma Qiang, Zhuang Xinshan

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

Appropriate amounts of MgO and fiber can improve the compressive strength of cement soil. In order to further study the mechanical properties of MGO-fiber cement soil, Minitab software was used to design an orthogonal test method, and sensitivity analysis and influence analysis were carried out. The change rules of deformation modulus of MgO content, fiber content, and fiber length were studied at three different levels. The regression equations of MgO content, fiber content, and fiber length with cement soil deformation modulus were obtained by using Matlab software to process the test data. The sample was tested by scanning electron microscope …

Experimental Study On Performance Of Cast Asphalt Mixture Basedon Dry Modification, Wang Ming, Li Bo, Bao Guangzhi, Hu Deyong

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

Cast asphalt mixture is the most widely used material for the pavement of long-span steel bridge decks, and the special asphalt binder cannot be produced and used in small batches. The wet modification process is obviously not suitable for the production of the cast asphalt mixture during the operation and maintenance period. In this paper, according to the requirements of cast asphalt mixture and its binder, combined with the requirements of the dry modification process, the developed direct injection modifier was employed to conduct the mix design of cast asphalt mixture and tests of the fluidity, penetration and increment, low-temperature …

Assessment Framework For Bim-Digital Twin Readiness In The Construction Industry, Aljawharah A. Alnaser, Ali Hassan Ali, Haytham H. Elmousalami, Ahmed Elyamany, Ahmed Gouda Mohamed

Civil Engineering

No abstract provided.

Modeling Of Equilibrium Shoreline Of Headland Bay Beaches, Mohamed Ahmed Elmarakby, Ahmed Elshinnawy, Bakenaz A. Zeidan

Journal of Engineering Research

Engineering tools for predicting a long-term reaction of beaches include equilibrium beach formulations. They are used to assess how human interference (protection works, breakwaters, ports etc.) has affected the shoreline reaction since they Specify the final orientation of a beach on a time scale of years. One of the equations for determining the Static Equilibrium Planform (SEP) of Headland Bay Beaches (HBBs) that can be found in the literature is the Parabolic Bay Shape Equation (PBSE). The placement of the down-coast control point (P_o), which is the down drift limit from which the PBSE is applied, has a …

Ground Settlements Due To Quad Water Tunnel Construction, Marawan M. Shahien M. Shahein, Ehab Ahmed Khalil E.Khalil, Ahmed F. Abd El Kader A. Abd El Kader, Mahmoud Abdulnasser Hodeab M.A.Nasser

Journal of Engineering Research

Construction of a tunnel under an existing one poses significant geotechnical challenges due to the potential surface and subsurface settlements caused by the new tunnel construction and its impact on the existing tunnel, adjacent buildings, and facilities. The complexity intensifies when multiple adjacent tunnels need to be constructed, such as twin, triplet, quad, or more, as the construction of each tunnel affects the others. This interaction depends on various factors, including the horizontal distance between each tunnel (pillar width), the tunnel's depth and vertical position relative to the existing tunnel (pillar depth), and their influence on surface and subsurface settlement …

Exemplary Studies On The Torsional Response Of Single Pile In Contaminated Sand, Ahmed Nasr, Waseim Azzam, Nada Ramadan

Journal of Engineering Research

Deep foundations, including piles, are employed in types of coastal soil because the soil in such regions may be subjected to several variables that alter the engineering features of the soil, like oil contamination. Together with the loads caused by supported superstructures, the pile foundations may also be susceptible to torsional loads from eccentric, horizontal loads brought on by winds, earthquakes, ship accidents, and waves. Tests have been conducted in this laboratory investigation to examine the behavior of piles under torsional load (T) in polluted sandy soil. Also, tests investigated how the Lp/Dp ratio affected the piles' bearing capacity. Details …

Enhancing Bridge Resilience And Overheight Vehicle Mitigation Through Innovative Sacrificial Cushion Systems, Aly Mousaad Aly, Marc Hoffmann

Faculty Publications

Transportation departments have made significant strides in addressing the challenges posed by the increasing weights of trucks on bridges. While there is a growing awareness of overheight vehicle collisions with bridges, implementing effective countermeasures remains limited. The susceptibility of bridges to damage from such collisions is on the rise, further exacerbated by unpredictable lateral impact forces. This study employs nonlinear impact analysis to assess the response of an unprotected vehicle-girder model, yielding realistic deformation outcomes comparable to observed impacts on the US-61 bridge. Predictions for a truck traveling at 112.65 km/h indicate deformations of 0.229 m, 0.161 m, and 0.271 …

Sustainable Infrastructure Development In The Ikn Region (Nusantara Capital): Simulation Of The Smart Self-Sustaining Urban Center Area Development, Naufal Budi Laksono, Yusuf Latief

Smart City

Embarking on the quest for a sustainable urban future, this research immerses itself in the vibrant landscape of "Sustainable Infrastructure Development in the IKN Region (Nusantara Capital)." This study investigates the financial viability and economic attractiveness of the Five City project, focusing on efficient infrastructure management for sustainable settlement development. The core facility comprises four vertical residential towers with supporting amenities. The research aims to evaluate the project''s feasibility over a 25-year investment period through comprehensive financial analyses.The research employs a structured approach, encompassing regulatory analysis, stakeholder identification, financial capability analysis, and risk management. Parameters such as Net Present Value …

The Interpretative Structural Modeling For Stakeholder Involvement To Reduce Slum Settlements, Bich Hanes Bich, Ayomi Dita Rarasati

Smart City

The array of problems originating from slum settlements not only results in unwholesome environment, unlawful land utilization, and various internal challenges within the vicinity but also impacts the surrounding regions and the overall urban infrastructure network. In pursuit of Indonesia's 2045 Vision, which emphasizes on "equitable and integrated infrastructure development", the zero slums constitutes a pivotal component of the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing's overarching vision. Nonetheless, a disparity has been identified in addressing slum settlements in West Kalimantan, hindering the achievement of this objective. This research aims to identify the stakeholders and the priority factors in determining …

Project Stakeholder Analysis In Temadore Bridge Construction Development, Hud Rafsanjani, Ayomi Dita Rarasati

Smart City

The construction of bridge is important due to its ability to link communities through land-road connection, thereby saving time and increasing productivity of those living in these areas. Therefore, this research evaluated the Temadore bridge, built to link Ternate City, Maitara land and Tidore City by road to enhance movement and reduce disparities in assessing both areas. Data were collected using the Interpretative Structural Modeling (ISM) which searched for and identified several variables according to the dependence power and driving power. The result showed that construction of bridge increased the movement of community activities and productivity, thereby leading to growth.

Tough Monolayer Silver Nanowire-Reinforced Double-Layer Graphene, Yanxiao Li, Congjie Wei, Steven E. Kooi, David Veysset, Chuanrui Guo, Yuxiang Gan, Ying Zhuo, Genda Chen, Mohammad Naraghi, Keith A. Nelson, Chenglin Wu

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Mixed-dimensional nanomaterials composed of one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials, such as graphene-silver nanowire (AgNW) composite sandwiched structures, are promising candidates as building blocks for multifunctional structures and materials. However, their mechanical behavior and failure mechanism have not yet been fully understood. In this work, we have performed integrated experimental, theoretical, and numerical studies to explore the performance and failure modes of graphene-AgNW composite under tensile and impact loading conditions. In situ tensile tests using a nano indenter, implemented with a push-to-pull device and a laser-induced projectile impact test system, are used to shed light on load-bearing mechanisms in graphene-AgNW …

Assessment Of Prestressed Concrete Beams: Advancing Non-Destructive Testing Methods For Enhanced Bridge Evaluation, Felipe Mota Ruiz

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The validity of non-destructive methods for evaluating transportation infrastructure conditions was explored in this study. The overarching objective is to assist in developing ideal protocols for bridge inspectors to determine the condition of reinforced concrete infrastructures and the remaining service life. A meticulous evaluation of a prestressed concrete beam decommissioned from a bridge listed in the West Virginia Division of Highways inventory was completed. The evaluation included determining the sizes, spacings, and location of reinforcement steel bars and prestressing tendons. The effort included generating a new computer code to automate the data post-processing, allowing for the automated identification of the …

Improving Aggregate Abrasion Resistance Prediction Via Micro-Deval Test Using Ensemble Machine Learning Techniques, Alireza Roshan, Magdy Abdelrahman

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Aggregate is the most extracted material from the world's mines and widely used in civil and construction projects. The Micro-Deval abrasion test (MD) is one of the most important tests that provides characteristics of crushed aggregates that show their resistance against mechanical abrasive factors such as repeated impact loading. The impact of various factors on abrasive resistance properties of aggregates has led researchers to seek correlations, often focusing on limited data samples, leading to reduced accuracy. This study employs machine learning (ML) methods to predict MD abrasion values, considering diverse aggregate properties. Various ensemble ML methods were applied, revealing the …

Evaluation Of Driveway Assistance Device (Dad) Systems In One-Lane Two-Way Work Zone, Mm Shakiul Haque, Aemal J. Khattak, Li Zhao

Mid-America Transportation Center: Final Reports and Technical Briefs

Lane closure on two-lane highways due to the presence of work zones negatively impacts traffic safety and operational efficiency. Additionally, traffic from access points (e.g., commercial and residential driveways, or minor side roads) within work zones make operations more complicated and inefficient. Deploying a driveway assistance device (DAD) system can enable more efficient traffic control for work zones with access points. While traffic agencies are becoming interested in DAD deployments, research on such systems is relatively sparse. This research was the first in-depth operational investigation of the DAD system under different signal strategies, traffic conditions, and work zone characteristics. This …

Experimental And Finite Element Investigation Of Shear Transfer Mechanisms And Capacity Of Continuous Post-Tensioned Concrete Beams In One-Way Slab Buildings, Suman Rijal

Civil Engineering Theses - Archive

This study investigates the shear behavior and resistance mechanisms of continuous post-tensioned beams commonly used in one-way slab buildings. Combining experimental and analytical methods, the research focuses on the targeted failure regions of prestressed and non-prestressed continuous beams to gain deeper insights into their shear behavior. The large-scale specimens used in this study featured realistic parabolic tendon profiles and an average prestress level comparable to that used in actual construction. The experimental program includes three test series, with beam designs and setups refined for each series based on observations of shear crack development and progression in the preceding series. This …

Evaluation Of Hydrophobic Materials For Stabilizing Expansive Soils, Suman Shrestha

Civil Engineering Theses - Archive

The swelling and shrinkage of the expansive soil as a response to moisture change is one of the significant challenges posed to infrastructure projects. The significant economic damage that is caused by the expansive soil, as well as its abundance in nature, has prompted various scientists and engineers all around the world to actively search for new and improved methods for stabilizing it. Various traditional methods, such as lime and cement treatment, have been used extensively to stabilize expansive soils and mitigate their harmful effects on the infrastructure. Although these methods are quite often effective and various studies have been …

Improvement In Benefit-Cost Analysis Of Bridges Through Assessment Of Secondary Benefits And Defect Based Maintenance Cost, Shadman Sakib

Civil Engineering Theses - Archive

Benefit-cost Analysis (BCA) is conducted prior to federal grant allocation for bridge replacement and enhancement projects to prioritize decision-making. Benefits are measured based on total bridge closures, requiring vehicles to take alternate detour paths. Primary benefits are the direct user costs such as travel time saving or emission costs. However, there are more secondary benefits that are intangible and hard to monetize, but United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) guidelines suggest considering them wherever possible. There are lack of US based data and research also no set guideline by authority.

Apart from calculating primary benefits for a 95 sample of …

Statistical Analysis On The Effects Of Environmental Factors On Bridge Condition Rating In Texas, Mohammad Wasif Quadri

Civil Engineering Theses - Archive

The development of predictive models for bridge deterioration is crucial for ensuring the longevity and safety of transportation infrastructure. Bridge condition degradation is heavily influenced by environmental conditions. This research integrates various environmental variables such as rainfall, humidity, air temperature, coastal influence, and freezing effects to generate environmental risk scores. These scores help in developing environmental risk zones within the Texas region. Deck condition ratings from the National Bridge Inventory (NBI) database are used to develop deterioration models using linear regression and the Markov method. The results highlight the impact of different environmental risk zones on bridge degradation patterns and …

การปรับปรุงรอยต่อสะพานเหล็กด้วยแผ่นพื้นเชื่อมต่อ, พัชรพล บัวทุม

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

การออกแบบและก่อสร้างสะพานเหล็กในอดีตมักใช้รอยต่อขยายตัว (Expansion Joint) เพื่อรองรับการเคลื่อนที่จากอุณหภูมิ แต่เมื่อใช้งานไประยะเวลาหนึ่งจะเกิดการเสื่อมสภาพ ทำให้เกิดการกัดกร่อนและความเสียหายสะสม เนื่องจากน้ำและสิ่งสกปรกซึมผ่านลงสู่โครงสร้างส่วนล่างได้ง่าย ส่งผลให้เกิดการเสื่อมสภาพของโครงสร้างบริเวณรอยต่อ เป็นภาระในการบำรุงรักษาและกระทบต่ออายุการใช้งานสะพาน การใช้แผ่นพื้นเชื่อมต่อ (Link Slab) จึงเป็นทางเลือกในการเพิ่มประสิทธิภาพสะพานเหล็กเดิม โดยมีบริเวณไม่ยึดติด (Debonded Zone) เพื่อลดความเค้นภายใน ร่วมกับการใช้คอนกรีตสมรรถนะสูงพิเศษ (UHPC) ที่มีความแข็งแรงทั้งด้านแรงอัดและแรงดึง และทนต่อการยืดตัวหลังแตกร้าว ช่วยเพิ่มประสิทธิภาพให้แผ่นพื้นเชื่อมต่อยิ่งขึ้น การศึกษานี้พิจารณากรณีสะพานเหล็กช่วงพาดเดี่ยวปกติ 25 เมตร พบว่าเมื่อใช้ UHPC กำลังอัด 110 MPa สามารถเปลี่ยนรอยต่อสะพานเป็นแผ่นพื้นเชื่อมต่อได้ต่อเนื่อง 4 ช่วงพาด เพิ่มระยะห่างรอยต่อขยายตัวจาก 25 เมตรเป็น 100 เมตร ผลการวิเคราะห์โครงสร้างพบว่าแผ่นพื้นเชื่อมต่อที่ใช้วัสดุ UHPC ช่วยลดการเสียรูปโดยภาพรวมของสะพานจากน้ำหนักบรรทุกและการเปลี่ยนแปลงอุณหภูมิ อีกทั้งยังสามารถออกแบบเพื่อลดขนาดและปริมาณเหล็กเสริมลงได้ ดังนั้น การเปลี่ยนรอยต่อสะพานเป็นแผ่นพื้นเชื่อมต่อจึงช่วยเพิ่มประสิทธิภาพในการรับแรง ลดต้นทุนบำรุงรักษาในระยะยาว อย่างไรก็ตามพบว่าอาจทำให้ฐานรองรับสะพานบางตำแหน่งต้องรับแรงเพิ่มขึ้นอย่างมีนัยสำคัญ ผู้ออกแบบจึงควรพิจารณาปรับเปลี่ยนฐานรองรับให้เหมาะสมกับภาระที่เพิ่มขึ้นด้วย

A 3-Step, Open-Data, Ride-Hailing Ridership Model With Pricing Applications, Richard A. Mucci

Theses and Dissertations--Civil Engineering

Researchers and practitioners studied the effects ride-hailing had in cities before the covid-19 pandemic. Previous research found ride-hailing to produce negative externalities, such as reducing transit ridership and increasing congestion in various cities. Since the pandemic, ride-hailing ridership has nearly recovered to pre-pandemic levels in Chicago. Ride-hailing ridership has grown steadily since the pandemic while a rider’s willingness to share their trip stagnated. Ride-hailing ridership nearly recovering to pre-covid levels in Chicago suggests that transportation planners, and policy makers, will need to continue assessing the impacts ride-hailing trips have in their cities.

Pickup and drop off locations in the Chicago …

Effect Of Admixtures On Rapid Hardening, Self-Consolidating Concrete, Haley Johnson

Theses and Dissertations--Civil Engineering

Self-consolidating, rapid-hardening concrete is a sought-after product in the market now, however the effects of admixtures on fresh and hardened concrete rheology are still uncertain. This study aims to create a self-consolidating concrete (SCC) using calcium sulfoaluminate (CSA) cement for its rapid-hardening properties, and tests two set time retarders and two viscosity-modifying admixtures (VMAs) to determine how they affect the properties of concrete. The properties studied in this thesis are workability, viscosity, set times, air content, compressive strength, and freeze-thaw resistance of self-consolidating concrete. It was found that tartaric acid creates a very workable SCC with consistent results regardless of …

Improving Decision-Making Processes In Construction And Infrastructure Bidding: Qualitative And Quantitative Approaches Including Graph Theory, Game Theory, And Machine Learning, Muaz Osman Elzubeir Ahmed

Doctoral Dissertations

"Construction and infrastructure bidding is a highly competitive process that entails various uncertainties faced by contractors. Contractors weigh various factors to determine the expected benefits of a construction project and decide their bid value. However, the situation is more complex in multi-stage bidding (MSG), where general contractors must account for the bids of their subcontractors and face a greater threat of the winner’s curse (i.e., situation where the winning contractor underestimates the actual cost of the project). As such, bidding-related complexities, risks, and uncertainties, if uncontrolled, can lead to the rise of claims and disputes between stakeholders. Existing research falls …

Evaluating Friction Characteristics Of High Friction Surface Treatment Application Under Varied Polishing And Slippery Conditions, Alireza Roshan, Magdy Abdelrahman

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The frictional attributes of high friction surface treatment (HFST) play a crucial role in ensuring optimal traffic safety, particularly in wet weather conditions. Friction consists of two important components: adhesion and hysteresis. This research focuses on evaluating these essential factors in HFST using two different aggregates and two distinct sizes by considering various abrasion and polishing methods. To isolate these components for assessment, testing was carried out under various slippery conditions, including dry, wet with water, and wet with water + soap. The inclusion of liquid hand soap in the test procedure effectively minimized or even eliminated the adhesion component's …

Post-Fire Hydrologic Analysis: A Tale Of Two Severities, Kendra Fallon, Shawn J. Wheelock, Mojtaba Sadegh, Jennifer L. Pierce, James P. Mcnamara, Megan Cattau, Victor R. Baker

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Addressing post-fire impacts largely depends on burn “severity.” A singular severity classification that encompasses the holistic effects of fire on all ecosystem processes does not currently exist. Lumping vegetation burn severity and soil burn severity into one metric, or using them interchangeably, can induce large inaccuracies and uncertainties in the intended ecosystem response to forcing. Often, burn “severity” reflects fire impacts on vegetation, which can be measured through remote sensing. Vegetation burn severity is likely more apropos for ecological research, whereas soil burn severity is more relevant for hydrological analyses. This paper reviews different remotely sensed vegetation severity products currently …

Investigating Emerging Technologies In Civil Structural Health Monitoring: Generative Artificial Intelligence And Virtual Reality, Furkan Luleci

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

Condition assessment of civil engineering infrastructure systems is of growing importance as they face aging and degradation due to both human-made activities and environmental factors. Nevertheless, challenges persist in data collection, leading to "data scarcity", and the need for frequent site visits in inspections, presenting significant obstacles in the assessment of the civil infrastructure systems. This dissertation aims to overcome these challenges by exploring the potential of two emerging technologies: Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Virtual Reality (VR). In tackling the issue of data scarcity, the research question revolves around how Generative AI can be utilized to mitigate data collection-related …

Termite Gut Microbe (Tav5) Application To Pulp & Paper Wastewater And Sugarcane Bagasse: Enhancing Lignin Degradation And Methane Generation During Anaerobic Digestion, Doreen Ntiamoah-Asare, Melanie Sattler Ph.D, P.E.

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

TAV5 is a bacterium strain of the family Opitutaceae from Termite-Associated Verrucomicrobium isolated from the hindgut of Reticulitermes Flavipes, the most common subterranean termite in North America. The genome of TAV5 contains genes coding for enzymes that could structurally modify lignin.

Pulp & paper wastewater and Sugarcane bagasse contain high levels of cellulose (44-46%) and hemicellulose (27-32% ), as well as lignin (17-23%) which is recalcitrant to biodegradation. The lignin tend to shield the cellulose and hemicellulose making them inaccessible for biodegradation.

TAV5 can breakdown lignin, making the cellulose and hemicellulose accessible to microorganisms for biodegradation into methane generation for …

Development Of A Real-Time Warning System For Bridge Icing Using Time Domain Reflectometry, Taryn Dilorenzo

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

Treacherous driving conditions are a safety concern during the winter season where icing on roadways and bridges is of particular concern. The use of sensors to detect the presence or potential of surface ice formation is essential for efficient and effective winter road maintenance. However, there is a lack of ice detection systems that combine robust sensors, active warning signs and an ice detection algorithm that is reliable and economical. This study presents an innovative sensor that uses dielectric sensing to detect the onset of ice formation on a bridge deck. The sensor combines an automatic algorithm for ice detection …