Civil and Environmental Engineering Commons^™

Applying Cognitive Principles To The Delivery Of Engineering Information By Different Mediums, Gabriel B. Dadi

Theses and Dissertations--Civil Engineering

Construction project performance and worker productivity are often tied to the availability and effective presentation of information, tools, materials, and equipment. While advancements in technology have improved much of the processes on a construction project, the medium of information dissemination at the construction work face has consistently relied on the use of two dimensional drawings and specifications.

Industry initiatives are driving increased collaboration through three dimensional BIM (Building Information Modeling) models. However, the added dimension partially loses its effect when presented on a two dimensional computer monitor. Other computer forms of presentation intended for mobility (PDAs, laptops, and tablets) can …

Water Quality Sensor Placement Guidance For Small Water Distribution Systems, Stacey L. Schal

Theses and Dissertations--Civil Engineering

Water distribution systems are vulnerable to intentional, along with accidental, contamination of the water supply. Contamination warning systems (CWS) are strategies to lessen the effects of contamination by delivering early indication of an event. Online quality monitoring, a network of sensors that can assess water quality and alert an operator of contamination, is a critical component of CWS, but utilities are faced with the decision of what locations are optimal for deployment of sensors. A sensor placement algorithm was developed and implemented in a commercial network distribution model (i.e. KYPIPE) to aid small utilities in sensor placement. The developed sensor …

Kentrack 4.0: A Railway Trackbed Structural Design Program, Shushu Liu

Theses and Dissertations--Civil Engineering

The KENTRACK program is a finite element based railway trackbed structural design program that can be utilized to analyze trackbeds having various combinations of all-granular and asphalt-bound layered support. It is applicable for calculating compressive stresses at the top of subgrade, indicative of potential long-term trackbed settlement failure. Furthermore, for trackbeds containing asphalt layer, it is applicable for calculating tensile strains at the bottom of the asphalt layer, indicative of potential fatigue cracking. The program was recently expanded to include both English and international units. A procedure has been incorporated to provide a path to save results in a text …

Pressure Measurement At The Ballast-Tie Interface Of Railroad Track Using Matrix Based Tactile Surface Sensors, Michael T. Mchenry

Theses and Dissertations--Civil Engineering

The pressure distribution at the ballast-tie interface of railroad track plays a key role in overall track support. Failure of the ballast or tie can result from excessive loads that were not designed for, requiring increased maintenance and reducing railroad operating efficiency. Understanding the forces acting on the ballast and tie are required to design higher performance and longer lasting track. To further this understanding, the use of Matrix Based Tactile Surface Sensors (MBTSS) is employed to measure the actual pressure distribution at the ballast-tie interface, characterized by individual ballast particle contact points and non-uniform pressures. The research explores this …

Development Of A Constitutive Model Of Compacted Shales And Determination Of The Effect Of Weathering On Its Parameters, Isabel Cristina Gomez-Gutierrez

Theses and Dissertations--Civil Engineering

Compacted shales cause problems because they tend to degrade with time due to weathering. Degradation results in the shale deteriorating from a hard rock-like material to a soft fine-grained soil mass with lower shear strength and high deformability. Consequently, common problems that occur in embankments constructed with compacted shales include settlement and instabilities. Therefore, accelerating weathering prior to compaction by wetting and breaking down the shales before placement can reduce the deterioration during the service life of the construction. Extensive laboratory testing was performed in order to characterize the mechanical behavior of compacted shales.

Critical State theory is a clever …

Development Of A Design Based Intersection Safety Performance Evaluation Tool, Adam J. Kirk

Theses and Dissertations--Civil Engineering

The purpose of this research is to develop an intersection safety evaluation tool that is capable of assisting designers and planners in the assessment of alternative intersection designs. A conflict exposure model utilizing design hour volumes, intersection configuration and traffic control measures is proposed to achieve this goal. This approach makes use of data typically available for preliminary intersection design. The research goes beyond existing safety performance models which only examine non-directional average daily traffic (ADT) or practices which only account for the geometric and lane configuration of an intersection, such as conflict point analysis.

Conflict prediction models are developed …

Hydrologic Characterization Of A Rain Garden Mitigating Stormwater Runoff From A Commercial Area, John T. Mcmaine

Theses and Dissertations--Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

Impervious surfaces such as roads, sidewalks, and roofs increase the volume of runoff generated in a watershed. Traditional stormwater management techniques emphasize conveyance of runoff away from impervious surfaces in order to reduce flooding. Rain gardens are becoming popular as a different means to manage stormwater in such a way that runoff is captured and infiltrated onsite rather than conveyed offsite. A stormwater management system consisting of a rainwater harvest system, rain garden, and infiltration chamber was built at the Coca-Cola Refreshments USA, Inc. distribution center in Lexington, Kentucky during the fall of 2011. Precipitation, inflow, and water level were …

Froth Flotation Performance Enhancement By Feed Cavitation And Magnetic Plastic Particle Addition, Mehmet Saracoglu

Theses and Dissertations--Mining Engineering

Froth flotation is the most commonly used process to recover and upgrade the portion of the coal preparation plant feed that has a particle size smaller than 150 microns. Problems that occur when employing froth flotation in the coal industry include i) coal surfaces that are weakly-to-moderately hydrophobic, and ii) flotation systems that are overloaded and limited by insufficient retention time.

Research was performed to evaluate techniques that could be implemented to improve flotation performance under the aforementioned scenarios. Pre-aeration of flotation feed using a cavitation system was extensively evaluated in laboratory and full-scale test programs. The benefits of adding …

Using Gis To Delineate Headwater Stream Origins In The Appalachian Coal-Belt Region Of Kentucky, Jonathan A. Villines

Theses and Dissertations--Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

Human activity such as surface mining can have substantial impacts on the natural environment. Performing a Cumulative Hydrologic Impact Assessment (CHIA) of such impacts on surface water systems requires knowing the location and extent of these impacted streams. The Jurisdictional Determination (JD) of a stream’s protected status under the Clean Water Act (CWA) involves locating and classifying streams according to their flow regime: ephemeral, intermittent, or perennial. Due to their often remote locations and small size, taking a field inventory of headwater streams for surface mining permit applications or permit reviews is challenging. A means of estimating headwater stream location …

Development And Deployment Of Aluminum Bridge Decks, Ching Chiaw Choo, Abheetha Peiris, Issam E. Harik

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report contains the analysis and retrofit of a steel truss bridge on KY 974 over Howard Creek in Clark County, Kentucky. The bridge had major corrosion and damage to the steel stringers, along with cracking and leaching occurring in the concrete bridge deck. The retrofit involves the replacement of the corroded steel stringers and the damaged concrete bridge deck. The original concrete deck was removed and replaced by light-weight high-strength aluminum deck panels. The aluminum deck panels, each 2-m wide, were assembled at the site and connected to each other and to the bottom steel stringers using special clamps …

Tools For Applying Constructability Concepts To Project Development (Design), Nikiforos Stamatiadis, Paul Goodrum, Emily Shocklee, Chen Wang

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The purpose of this report is to document the activities of Phase I of the research effort and present the development of the Constructability Review Database developed for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. The database provides the basis for entry and collection of constructability reviews and allows for the identification of trends leading to potential improvements of the process. The database can be used to summarize activities, generate reports for a project, and be capable of quantifying the benefits from the process.

Fluorescing Coatings For Improved Inspection During Bridge Maintenance Painting, Bobby W. Meade, Theodore Hopwood Ii, Sudhir Palle

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Optically active pigments (OAPs) fluoresce under light exposures with wavelengths (nm) producing emissions in the visible spectra (380 to 740 nm). They are used as paint pigments to aid visual inspection of applied coatings for defects such as pin-holing and incomplete coverage. OAP coatings are widely used in various industries outside of bridge maintenance painting.

This study addressed the laboratory evaluation and field trial of an OAP coating for KYTC bridges. OAP coatings were evaluated for inspectability and accelerated weathering performance in a laboratory test program. After successful laboratory performance, OAP coatings were specified for a KYTC bridge painting project …

New Coatings For Bridges (Over-Coat Systems), Sudhir Palle, Theodore Hopwood Ii, Bobby W. Meade

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

KYTC sought to identify new coatings technologies consistent with overcoating that offer enhancements in terms of ease of application and performance. KYTC contacted paint manufacturers to obtain sample coating systems for characterization by the KYTC Division of Materials and accelerated performance testing by Kentucky Transportation Center (KTC). A total of 14 coating systems from five manufacturers underwent performance testing according to ASTM D5894.

Analysis Of Traffic Crash Data In Kentucky (2007-2011), Eric R. Green, Kenneth R. Agent, Jerry G. Pigman

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report documents an analysis of traffic crash data in Kentucky for the years of 2007 through 2011. A primary objective of this study was to determine average crash statistics for Kentucky highways. Average and critical numbers and rates of crashes were calculated for various types of highways in rural and urban areas. These data can be used in Kentucky’s procedure to identify locations that have abnormal rates or numbers of crashes.

2012 Driver Attitudes And Awareness Survey, Kenneth R. Agent, Eric R. Green, Ronald E. Langley

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

A basic set of questions were developed that could be used in periodic surveys that track drivers attitudes and awareness concerning impaired driving, seat belt use, and speeding issues. The objective of the survey was to learn the knowledge, views, and behaviors of drivers in these areas. This report documents the results of the 2012 survey with comparison to the 2011 survey as well as the 2010 baseline survey.

2012 Safety Belt Usage Survey In Kentucky, Kenneth R. Agent, Eric R. Green

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The objective of this study was to establish 2012 safety belt and child safety seat usage rates in Kentucky. The 2012 survey continues to document the results after enactment of the original “secondary enforcement” statewide mandatory safety belt law in 1994 and the subsequent change to “primary enforcement” which was enacted in 2006. Data were collected at 160 randomly selected sites in 18 counties across Kentucky. Data from the individual sites were combined into a statewide percentage considering roadway functional classification, county and vehicle miles traveled.

Kentucky Safety Belt Methodology, Kenneth R. Agent, Eric R. Green, Ronald Langley

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued new Uniform Criteria for State Observational Surveys of Seat Belt Use. The final rule was published in Federal Register Volume 76, Number 63. Following is a summary of the methodology Kentucky will use to comply with the criteria described in the final rule. The methodology considers the experience of the past 30 years of safety belt data collection in Kentucky along with the guidelines contained in the final rule. The new methodology will be implemented beginning with the 2013 statewide survey.

Load Transfer Assembly, Herbert F. Southgate, Kamyar C. Mahboub, Alireza Zeinali

Civil Engineering Faculty Patents

A load transfer apparatus accommodates movement between adjacent concrete slabs. The load transfer apparatus includes a spine in a form of an elongated hinge having a longitudinal axis A. A first dowel and a second dowel project radially from the spine and are located at two spaced points along said longitudinal axis A.

Concentration Effects And Ion Properties Controlling The Fractionation Of Halides During Aerosol Formation, Marcelo I. Guzman, Richa R. Athalye, Jose M. Rodriguez

Chemistry Faculty Publications

During the aerosolization process at the sea surface, halides are incorporated into aerosol droplets, where they may play an important role in tropospheric ozone chemistry. Although this process may significantly contribute to the formation of reactive gas phase molecular halogens, little is known about the environmental factors that control how halides selectively accumulate at the air-water interface. In this study, the production of sea spray aerosol is simulated using electrospray ionization (ESI) of 100 nM equimolar solutions of NaCl, NaBr, NaI, NaNO(2), NaNO(3), NaClO(4), and NaIO(4). The microdroplets generated are analyzed by mass spectrometry to study the comparative enrichment of …

Temporary Flood Barriers, Sarah M. Mccormack, Chris Vandyke, Ashley Suazo, Doug Kreis

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report investigates the use and effectiveness of temporary flood barriers (TFBs) to mitigate the impacts of flood waters on Kentucky’s roadways. TFBs are structures, usually filled with sand, which are constructed along the edges of roadways and thus serve as a buffer against rising waters. In doing so, they can protect the structural soundness of roads, and ensure that roads remain open to traffic during flood events. The report is divided into four main sections. The first chapter introduces the concept of TFBs and notes situations in which they have been effectively deployed. The second chapter surveys the different …

Kentucky Department Of Vehicle Regulation Internet Applications Study, Andrew Martin, Jennifer Walton

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The study identified 107 unique interactive services, and 13 unique information services on state vehicle regulation agency web sites. The average state has roughly 15 percent of all existing services. States with larger populations, number of registered vehicles and drivers tend to have more total services and transaction services. The general flow of the data indicates a fast level of growth, as companies and individuals embrace the efficiency and flexibility of online transactions. The W3C Unicorn Validator, Link Sleuth, Web Accessibility Checker and Hubspot Marketing Grader scores were combined to generate a web design score for each state. Washington received …

Wim Data Collection And Analysis, Jerry G. Pigman, Clark Graves, David Q. Hunsucker, David Cain

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The objectives of this study were to review and analyze current procedures in order to implement a process for collecting and analyzing weigh-in-motion (WIM) data to insure an adequate and accurate representation of weights of vehicles using Kentucky’s roadways. A literature review of WIM data collection equipment, practices and procedures indicated that a range of options are available and used by other agencies. Piezoelectric cable detection systems were most frequently used and provided adequate accuracy, if attention is given to monitoring and calibration.

An overall assessment of Kentucky’s WIM data collection program resulted in recommendations for: 1) increased use of …

Developing And Implementing Strategies To Address “Freddie Freeroader”, David Q. Hunsucker, Mark S. Spellman, Mark Bell

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Although the majority Kentucky’s citizens pay their fair share of motor vehicle registration taxes, there are indications that a number of citizens evade motor vehicle property and usage tax through a variety of means. Some individuals license their cars in states that have no, or very low, property taxes on motor vehicles; others abuse the use of temporary tags, or simply fail to renew the registration on their vehicles. As a result, Kentucky is losing income that would be used to repair the state’s roadways and fund local services such as schools, libraries, health departments, and police and fire services. …

Railroad Subgrade Support And Performance Indicators: A Review Of Available Laboratory And In-Situ Testing Methods, Michael T. Mchenry, Jerry G. Rose

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The quality and support of the subgrade portion of a railroad trackbed are vital to the overall performance of the track structure. The subgrade is an integral component of the track structure and its performance properties must be considered in order to effectively assess its influence on subsequent track quality. European and Asian railways are particularly advanced in implementing subgrade performance indicators into their track designs and assessments. As train speed and tonnage increase in the U.S., the evaluation and influence of subgrade performance will become even more paramount. There are numerous means of measuring and predicting subgrade performance. Both …

Microstructural And Mineralogical Transformation Of Hydraulically Disposed Fly Ash—Implications To The Environment, Jabulani S. Mahlaba, Elsabe P. Kearsley, Richard A. Kruger

Coal Combustion and Gasification Products Journal Archive

Increasing amounts of coal are combusted annually to meet the ever-increasing energy demands. The inevitable by-products include fly ash and saline effluents, which require acceptable disposal. The aim of this article is to compare the effect of hydraulic disposal with dry ash dumping. The results indicate that the former carries more environmental benefits based on the physical, chemical, and mineralogical aspects that were investigated.

Cordyline Fruticosa Growth And Soil Microbial Quality With Topical Application Of Coal Combustion By-Products Aggregates, Sangchul Hwang, Isomar Latorre, Eileen Irizarry

Coal Combustion and Gasification Products Journal Archive

Coal combustion by-products aggregates (CCAs) are a solidified composite of fly and bottom ashes (2:1, by wt). Here, we assessed the feasibility of beneficial use of CCAs as a soil amendment or conditioner by conducting an outdoor experiment with Cordyline fruticosa (lucky plant) to determine its growth and soil microbial quality under the influence of topical CCA application (95 tons ha21). Enhanced growth of C. fruticosa with CCA application was noted, with respect to plant height, growth rate, leaf size, and leaf chlorophyll intensity. Soil dehydrogenase activity and total heterotrophic bacteria count were greater with topical CCA application, especially in …

Influence Of Activator Solution Formulation On Fresh And Hardened Properties Of Low-Calcium Fly Ash Geopolymer Concrete, Carlos Montes, Erez N. Allouche

Coal Combustion and Gasification Products Journal Archive

The effect of the composition of activator solutions on fresh and hardened properties of geopolymer concrete was investigated. Research variables included liquid sodium silicate product (DH, NH, and StarH), sodium hydroxide molar concentration (6, 10, and 14), and sodium silicate–to–sodium hydroxide ratio (1, 2, and 3). Response variables were compressive strength, corrosion resistance expressed as remaining compressive strength and mass loss, and flowability. Results were analyzed using Minitab statistical software. Findings suggest that activator solution formulation has a significant effect on the properties of the resulting geopolymer binder. The experimental design used was found effective in establishing the optimum activator …

Mineralogical Transformations In Coal Feedstocks During Carbon Conversion, Based On Packed-Bed Combustor Tests: Part 2. Behavior Of Individual Particles, Ratale H. Matjie, Colin R. Ward, Zhongsheng Li

Coal Combustion and Gasification Products Journal Archive

Handpicked carbon-rich particles (coal or char), mineral-rich particles (heated stones), and bonded stone aggregates (clinkers) from the upper and lower parts of a pilot-scale packed-bed combustor bed, designed to simulate conversion or combustion processes, were subjected to mineralogical and inorganic geochemical studies, in order to evaluate the reactions that may occur during carbon conversion at a particle-by-particle scale. The mineral matter of the carbon-rich particles was found to have higher proportions of carbonate minerals and kaolinite than the mineral-rich (stone) particles in the coal feedstocks used in the study, and to form phases such as anorthite, gehlenite, pyrrhotite, troilite, and …

Mineralogical Transformations In Coal Feedstocks During Carbon Conversion, Based On Packed-Bed Combustor Tests: Part 1. Bulk Coal And Ash Studies, Ratale H. Matjie, Colin R. Ward, Zhongsheng Li

Coal Combustion and Gasification Products Journal Archive

Mineralogical and inorganic geochemical studies have been carried out on composite samples of six different coarse-crushed (,120 mm) feed coals tested in a pilot-scale packed-bed combustor designed to simulate conversion and some fixed-bed combustion processes, and also on composite samples of the ashes produced. The mineral matter of the coals consisted mainly of quartz, kaolinite, and Ca-bearing carbonate minerals (calcite, dolomite, aragonite), with minor proportions of illite, pyrite, and several other phases, along with some Ca in an organically associated form. The base to acid ratio of the coal ashes ranged from 0.1 to 0.3, due mainly to variations in …

Potential Indoor Air Exposures And Health Risks From Mercury Off-Gassing Of Coal Combustion Products Used In Building Materials, Christopher M. Long, Sonja N. Sax, Ari S. Lewis

Coal Combustion and Gasification Products Journal Archive

Coal combustion products (CCPs), including coal fly ash (CFA) and flue gas desulfurization (FGD) gypsum, have gained accepted use as substitutes for traditional substances in building materials. Because of the presence of mercury (Hg) in CCP materials, some concerns have been raised regarding the potential for Hg to off-gas from building materials into indoor air. Risk assessment offers a well-accepted, objective framework in which to determine whether such off-gassing could result in humanexposures of health concern. We thus conducted a screening-level human health risk assessment to estimate worst-case inhalation risks from indoor air exposures to Hg for multiple CCP utilization …