Civil and Environmental Engineering Commons^™

Develop Design Data On Pressure Loss Of Large Pipe Fittings, Patrick Dent

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Pressure loss coefficients were determined for large radius ells, large concentric pipe reducers, and expansions, as well as large pipe tees. The fittings tested were 12, 16, 20, and 24 inch forged steel weld. Forty individual fittings from four different manufacturers were tested to determine loss coefficient values. Each test fitting was examined at a specified range of pipe velocities to determine mean and variation of loss coefficients. Tees were also examined for mean and variation of loss coefficients over a range of flow distributions.

Currently no data exists for pipe fittings of these larger diameters. This study will provide …

Static Lateral Load Testing Of Model Piles In Clay Soil Phase 1, Steven Douglas Dapp

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This research project was done on behalf of the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT). Model piles were subjected to static lateral loading in homogeneous, undisturbed clay with a known undrained shear strength. The dimensions of length, diameter, height from soil to applied load, and a pile stiffness parameter as was determined by dimensional analysis to be consistent will common full-scale steel pipe piles commonly used by UDOT. Bending moment profiles of the model pile were obtained for Lateral loads using foil type strain gages. Pile head deflection and soil response (p-y curves) were determined from these measured pile moment profiles. …

Estimating Life Loss For Dam Safety Risk Assessment, Duane Michael Mcclelland

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

"Estimating Life Loss for Dam Safety Risk Assessment" explores the need for a new life-loss model in dam safety risk assessment, historical foundations on which that model can be built, and issues that are critical for a successful life-loss model to address. After critiquing existing life-loss models, the work presents a summary of historical insights that were derived by characterizing flood events on the level of subpopulations at risk, using nearly 100 carefully defined variables. Building upon both conceptual and historical insights, the work culminates by presenting the conceptual basis for a new life-loss model that remains under development.

Chapter …

Development And Testing Of A Rapid Assessment Methodology For Instream Habitat, Nathan R. Kennard

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Several methods were undertaken to develop a rapid assessment methodology for predicting the relative magnitude of available habitat as measured by normalized weighted useable area, NWUA, based on limited watershed characteristics and/or limited field data observations. Data from 170 river sites primarily in Idaho, comprising 645 cross sections, were used. The three methodologies considered were generalized linear models (GLM), generalized additive models (GAM), and a newly developed comparative cross-section method (CCM). The GLM and GAM methods relied on a combination of field data and information readily obtained or derivable using geographic information systems (GIS). They also require the delineation of …

Final Environmental Impact Statement - Iron Point Exploraton License - Iron Point Coal Lease Tract - Elk Creek Coal Lease Tract, Volume 2, United States Department Of Agriculture -- Forest Service, United States Department Of The Interior -- Bureau Of Land Management

Environmental Assessments (CO)

This appendix documents BLM and Forest Service activities to involve and consult with other government agencies and the public in the preparation of the Final EIS for the potential leasing of the Iron Point and Elk Creek Coal lease tracts, as well as the issuance of a coal exploration license for an area within and surrounding the Iron Point Coal lease Tract.

Final Envrionmental Impact Statement: Iron Point Exploration License -- Iron Point Coal Lease Tract -- Elk Creek Coal Lease Tract, Volume 1, United States Department Of Agriculture -- Forest Service, United States Departement Of The Interior -- Bureau Of Land Management

Environmental Assessments (CO)

The Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) describes the physical, biological, social, and economic resources that would be potentially affected by leasing of the Iron Point and Elk Creek Coal Lease tracts as well as issuing an exploration license for an area within and surrounding the Iron Point Coal Lease Tract. The federal decisions to be made involve the approval or disapproval of coal leasing (the Iron Point and Elk Creek tracts) and of an exploration license. Some of the key issues for these proposed actions include: the potential effects of transporting over 19 million tons of coal per year from …

Water Resources Systems Analysis - Course Notes, A Bruce Bishop, Trevor Hughes, Mac Mckee

All ECSTATIC Materials

Water resources systems analysis course notes for CEE 6410 taught at Utah State University. Coverage includes:

Chapter 1 - Concepts and methods

Chapter 2 - Linear programming-introduction and graphical methods

Chapter 3 - Linear programming - simplex method

Chapter 4 - Linear programming - applications to simple water problems

Chapter 5 - Dual LP and post optimality analysis

Chapter 6 - Integer programming

Chapter 7 - More applications of integer programmign

Chapter 8 - Piecewise linearization

Chapter 9 - Other types of LP models

Chapter 10 - Dynamic programming

Chapter 11 - Gradient-based nonlinear optimization methods

Chapter 12 - Genetic …

Comparison Of A Genetic Algorithm And Mathematical Programming To The Design Of Groundwater Cleanup Systems, Alaa H. Aly, Richard C. Peralta

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

We present and apply a new simulation/optimization approach for single- and multiple-planning period problems in groundwater remediation. Instead of the traditional control locations for contaminant concentrations, we use an L_QC norm as a global measure of aquifer contamination (CMAX). We use response-surface constraints to represent CMAX within the optimization model. We compare the performance of formal mixed integer nonlinear programming and a genetic algorithm for several optimization scenarios.

Optimal Design Of Aquifer Clean Up Systems Under Uncertainty Using A Neural Network And A Genetic Algorithm, Alaa H. Aly, Richard C. Peralta

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

We present a methodology to account for the stochastic nature of hydraulic conductivity during the design of pump-and-treat systems for aquifer cleanup. The methodology (1) uses a genetic algorithm to find the global optimal solution and (2) incorporates a neural network to model the response surface within the genetic algorithm. We apply the methodology for a real example and different optimization scenarios. The employed optimization formulation requires few hydraulic conductivity realizations. The presented approach produces a trade-off curve between reliability and treatment facility size .

Water Resource Potential Of The Rio-Grande River Basin In Bolivia, José Luis Chávez Egüez

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

The exploiting of water resources in developing countries is fundamental for stabilizing population growth, and promoting efficient agriculture. The development of water resources allows the utilization of modern irrigation systems and methodologies.

Recently developed methods to predict runoff from rainfall data are applied to a Bolivian watershed. A study in Honduras yielded a good response to the method that utilizes Moisture Availability Index (MAI) to predict runoff, but the coefficients of that relation could not be related to MAI or to the difference between average weather station elevation and average basin elevation in the Rio Grande Upper Basin in Bolivia. …

Weber Basin Water Quality Optimization, P. Wayne Hale Ii, Elizabeth Hales, Kade Moncur, Jonathan Oldham

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Salt Lake City, after evaluating its projected water needs for the next 25 years, has proposed to route 300 MGD of water via pipeline from the Bear River to Salt Lake's culinary water system. According to Weber Basin Water Conservancy District officials, this water will be available between October and March (the irrigation off-season). En route to the system, the water will pass through an area known as the "Slaterville Diversion" subsequent to water treatment at a new plant. The Diversion is currently the mixing point for several water sources. These waters need to be managed and mixed appropriately with …

Dam Safety Risk Assessment Modeling With Uncertainty Analysis, Sanjay Singh Chauhan

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

A risk-enhanced approach to dam safety risk assessment combines the benefits of the traditional approach with those of risk assessment. There is a need to automate the risk analysis calculations component of the risk assessment process so that the time and effort thus saved can be beneficially expended on strengthening risk assessment inputs.

The objectives of this study were as follows: (1) to develop a dam safety risk analysis model and demonstrate its application to risk assessment and decision analysis, and (2) to develop a framework for uncertainty analysis and demonstrate its application to dam safety risk assessment. Dartmouth Dam, …

Sinmap 2.0 - A Stability Index Approach To Terrain Stability Hazard Mapping, User's Manual, Robert T. Pack, David G. Tarboton, C. N. Goodwin

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

SINMAP 2.0 (Stability Index MAPping) is an ArcGIS 9.0 plug-in that implements the computation and mapping of a slope stability index based upon geographic information, primarily digital elevation data. This report describes the theoretical basis for the calculation of the stability index, describes the implementation, presents several case studies and describes use of the accompanying software. SINMAP has its theoretical basis in the infinite plane slope stability model with wetness (pore pressures) obtained from a topographically based steady state model of hydrology. Digital elevation model (DEM) methods are used to obtain the necessary input information (slope and specific catchment area). …

Potential For Aquifer Storage And Recovery In Box Elder And Cache Counties, Richard C. Peralta, Tom Lachmar, Mariush Kemblowski

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Groundwater artificial storage and recovery (ASR) has become a favorable means in the arid west to store water produced in excess of need during winter months for use in drier times of the year. ASR may be accomplished by injection of suitable water into the groundwater system via wells to be pumped out later, or by recovery of seepage via wells from surface water impoundments or infiltration networks. This report will present pertinent hydrogeologic information for the location of an artificial groundwater storage and recovery project in Utah's northeastern Box Elder County.

Conjunctive Use Of Surface Water And Groundwater For Sustainable Agricultural Production, Richard C. Peralta

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

This report is a guide to aid conjunctive water use in stream-aquifer systems. Conjunctive use refers to coordinated use of groundwater and surface water resources. This document discusses principles useful for field engineers and agricultural experts. It presents hydrologic and hydraulic principles and quantitative and qualitative parameters relating to sustainable conjunctive use. It provides tools and software.

The Sinmap Approach To Terrain Stability Mapping, Robert T. Pack, David G. Tarboton, C. N. Goodwin

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

A promising approach to modeling the spatial distribution of shallow debris slides combines a mechanistic infinite slope stability model with a steady-state hydrology model. The spatial distribution of a “stability index” is governed primarily by specific catchment area (the upslope area per unit contour length) and slope. The model can be interactively calibrated to the unique characteristics of the topography, rainfall, and soils of a particular study area using simple parameters, graphs and maps. Once a landslide and terrain inventory is completed using aerial photographs, this approach is shown to have the capability of producing a stability classification map of …

Optimizing Conjunctive Water Use For Sustainable Production: Tools For The Management Spectrum, Richard C. Peralta, Shengjun J. Wu, H. J. Morel-Seytoux, Fernando Chanduvi

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Making best use of water resources requires coordinating use of groundwater and surface waters--conjunctive use. Conjunctive water management is important on the regional (watershed or aquifer), water district and field scales. Goals might differ for the different administrative levels. A regionally optimal water management strategy is not necessarily optimal for water district managers and individual farmers. Interactions between levels are affected by laws, regulations, traditions and public pressure. To help each organizational level develop water management strategies that best achieve its goals, computer simulation/optimization (S/O) models are useful. Such S/O models couple water flow and transport simulation techniques with formal …

Poseidon American Society Of Civil Engineers/Master Builders Rocky Mountain Regional Concrete Canoe Competition, William Spencer Guthrie

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

The concrete canoe team has been selected in behalf of the Utah State University Student Chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers to prepare an entry for the 1998 ASCE Rocky Mountain Regional Concrete Canoe Competition. This event is co-sponsored by the American Society of Civil Engineers and Master Builders, Inc., and has become a tradition at annual ASCE regional conferences nationwide.

Parameter Estimation Using Artificial Neural Network And Genetic Algorithm For Free-Product Migration And Recovery, J. Morshed, Jagath J. Kaluarachchi

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Artificial neural network (ANN) is considered to be a universal function approximator, and genetic algorithm (GA) is considered to be a robust optimization technique. As such, ANN regression analysis and ANN-GA optimization techniques can be used to perform inverse groundwater modeling for parameter estimation. In this manuscript the applicability of these two techniques in solving an inverse problem related to a light-hydrocarbon-contaminated site is assessed. The critical parameters to be evaluated are grain-size distribution index α and saturated hydraulic conductivity of water Ksw, since these parameters control free-product volume predictions and flow. A set of published data corresponding to a …

Optimizing Separate Phase Light Hydrocarbon Recovery From Contaminated Unconfined Aquifers, G. S. Cooper, Richard C. Peralta, Jagath J. Kaluarachchi

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

A modeling approach is presented that optimizes separate phase recovery of light non-aqueous phase liquids (LNAPL) for a single dual-extraction well in a homogeneous, isotropic unconfined aquifer. A simulation/regression/optimization (S/R/O) model is developed to predict, analyze, and optimize the oil recovery process. The approach combines detailed simulation, nonlinear regression, and optimization. The S/R/O model utilizes nonlinear regression equations describing system response to time-varying water pumping and oil skimming. Regression equations are developed for residual oil volume and free oil volume. The S/R/O model determines optimized time-varying (stepwise) pumping rates which minimize residual oil volume and maximize free oil recovery while …

A Review On The Documentation For The South Florida Water Management Model (Sfwmm), Daniel P. Loucks, Wendy D. Graham, Conrad D. Heatwole, John W. Labadie, Richard C. Peralta

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Early in February 1998, the South Florida Water Management District asked Professors Wendy D. Graham, Comad D. Heatwole, John W. Labadie, Daniel P. Loucks, and Richard C. Peralta to serve on a panel to

• Review the Draft Documentation for the South Florida Water Management Model (SFWMM),

• Develop a series of questions, issues and areas for discussion during a site visit,

• Visit the District for a model familiarization session, and

• Prepare and submit a written evaluation of the model, with emphasis on the documentation that will include criticisms, specific recommendations for improvement, and responses to questions posed.

Disaggregation Procedures For Stochastic Hydrology Based On Nonparametric Density Estimation, David G. Tarboton, Ashish Sharma, Upmanu L. Lall

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Synthetic simulation of streamflow sequences is important for the analysis of water supply reliability. Disaggregation models are an important component of the stochastic streamflow generation methodology. They provide the ability to simulate multiseason and multisite streamflow sequences that preserve statistical properties at multiple timescales or space scales. In recent papers we have suggested the use of nonparametric methods for streamflow simulation. These methods provide the capability to model time series dependence without a priori assumptions as to the probability distribution of streamflow. They remain faithful to the data and can approximate linear or nonlinear dependence. In this paper we extend …

Remax: Software For Optimizing Ground-Water Management, Conjunctive Water Management, And Remediation Design, Richard C. Peralta, Alaa H. Aly

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

REMAX is a software package designed to assist water managers in developing optimal ground water or coordinated ground water/surface water strategies for a wide range of management problems. REMAX uses MODFLOW, MT3D, and other simulation models to develop the response matrix or response surface equations employed in the final optimization model. To address nonlinear systems (e.g., unconfined aquifers) accurately, REMAX uses a modified response-matrix method. REMAX several nonlinear functions to represent a wide variety of nonlinear response surfaces. REMAX can be used for deterministic or reliability-based optimization problems. Decision variables are ground-water extraction/injection rates and/or surface water diversion rates. State …

Modification Of Flow Model And Optimal Pumping Strategies For Capturing Tce And Dce Plumes Near Mission Drive, Wurtsmith Air Force Base, Michigan: Feasibility Study, Alaa H. Aly, Richard C. Peralta

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Utah State University (USU) and Parsons Engineering Science (PES) were tasked by the Air Force Center for Environmental Excellence to:

( 1) Modify the three-dimensional basewide ground-water flow model for Wurtsmith Air Force Base (WAFS), Michigan (PES, 1997) based on recent investigation by ICF Kaiser (ICF).

(2) Develop contaminant transport models for OT-24 area TCE and DCE plumes. These models will use the same parameters that were used by ICF in their feasibility study ..

(3) Use the flow and transport models to develop optimal pumping strategies to achieve cleanup and capture of the plumes

Luke Afb Water Rights Ramifications Of The Survey Report For The Gila River Indian Reservation, Richard C. Peralta

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

The subject Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) report is a thorough preliminary effort at determining how much water is needed to irrigate all practicably irrigable acreages (PIA) on the Gila River Indian Reservation (GRIR). ADWR identified 178,880 acres suitable for irrigation. An existing Gila River Indian Community (GRIC) Master Plan previously identified 146,330 acres suitable for irrigation (requiring 771 ,600 acre-feet of water per year). ADWR compared the two sets of acreages, and identified 129,030 acres common to both.

1997 Calibration Of Flow Model And Optimal Pumping Strategies To Capture Tce Plume At Travis Afb, Ca, Richard C. Peralta, A. H. Aly, J. Atkinson, J. Williams

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

The objective of this study was to develop a ground-water model that can be used in conjunction with an optimization model to optimize the containment and remediation of ground water contaminated with organic compounds at Travis AFB, California (TAFB). Based on studies by WESTON (Roy F. Weston, Inc.), RADIAN (Radian Corporation), and others, the major ground-water quality problem is a plume of TCE that originates at the Oil Spill Area (OSA) and bas migrated to the south and east under the runway. The immediate remediation objective is to stop the movement of the plume.

Optimizing Conjunctive Use And Groundwater Yield, Richard C. Peralta, Rahman Rahimzadegen, Narendra K. Tyagi

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Advances in computer power and mathematical optimization procedures can improve planning and developing sustainable irrigation systems. Simulation and optimization models can help plm1 groundwater and conjunctive use strategies to best achieve management goals while satisfying mm1agement a11d physical constraints. Simulation/optimization models that couple calibrated flow and transport simulation models with optimization algorithms can help design the best water management strategies. Mm1agers can be relatively sure that the groundwater system will respond acceptably when appropriate procedures are employed to develop the water management strategies. Presented case studies illustrate situations in which developed strategies simultaneously address conflicting management goals such as: maximizing …

Predicting Resistance And Stability Of Vegetation In Floodplains, David E. Werth Jr.

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

To calculate flow or depth in a waterway, it is necessary to accurately determine the flow resistance. Past research has made considerable progress in predicting the roughness of nonvegetated uniform channels based on both theoretical and experimental investigations. However, to determine the flow resistance associated with vegetated compound flow channels and floodplains, the effects of the vegetation must be considered.

Recent advancements have led to greater understanding of the effects of partially submerged uniform vegetation in a waterway. However, to accurately determine flow resistance, it is imperative that the effects of both submerged and partially submerged vegetation be taken into …

Evaluation Of Two-Dimensional Hydraulic Modeling In A Natural River And Implications In Instream Flow Assessment Methods, Karl L. Tarbet

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The Logan River was used as a study site to assess the capabilities of two-dimensional depth-averaged hydraulic modeling in the x-y plane of a natural river for use with instream flow studies. Data were collected to spatially represent the study reach with depth, velocity, northing, easting, elevation, and substrate values using a total station and electronic velocity meter. Computational finite element meshes were generated using four different density levels of geometry data to examine the relationship between field data density and computational mesh on geometry errors. Geometry errors were found to be related to smoothing effects, which removed complex channel …

Super-Heterodyne C-Probe Design And Implementation, Scott A. Heritsch

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Modern advances in chip design and implementation have provided atmospheric scientists with the tools needed to advance the evolution of atmospheric probes, especially the impedance probe. The impedance probe measures the in-phase and out-of-phase components of the antenna's current with respect to the applied sinusoidal steady-state voltage. Through the integration of super-heterodyne circuitry with previous impedance probe designs, I was able to transfer the in-phase and out-of-phase components of an antenna's impedance in a plasma from 3 MHz to 23.25 KHz. By reducing the frequency of the information signal, it was easier to detect the in-phase and out-of-phase components. The …