Civil and Environmental Engineering Commons^™

Size-Scale Effects Of Nonlinear Weir Hydraulics, Nathan L. Young

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Experimental physical model studies of hydraulic structures are often conducted to replicate flow behavior that may occur at the prototype scale. Geometric similitude is most often maintained between the prototype and model when studying reservoir and open channel hydraulic structures to account for the dominant gravity and inertia forces while other fluid forces (e.g., viscosity,surface tension) are assumed negligible. However, as model size and/or upstream head decreases, other fluid forces can exceed the negligible level and influence model flow behavior. This phenomenon is referred to as size-scale effects and is one potential origin of error in predicting the prototype behavior …

Advancing The Implementation Of Hydrologic Models As Web-Based Applications, Prasanna Dahal

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Deeper understanding of relationships between flow in river sand various hydrologic elements such as rainfall, land use, and soil type is imperative to solve water related problems like droughts and floods. Advanced computer models are becoming essential in helping us understand such relationships. However, preparing such models requires huge investment of time and resources, much of which are concentrated on acquisition and curation of data. This work introduces agree and open source web Application (web App) that provides researchers with simplified access to hydrological data and modeling functionality. The web App helps in the creation of both hydrologic models, and …

Simulation And Optimization Models To Evaluate Performance Of Aquifer Storage And Recovery Wells In Fresh Water Aquifers, Ali Forghani

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) involves artificially recharging an aquifer through well(s) using surplus water for later recovery in high-demand months. The operators of the studied ASR system developed the system as a means of receiving additional water rights to supplement their pre-existing water rights for extraction in dry months. However, the region’s water regulators define the performance of this ASR system as the amount of the injected water that is recoverable from the same wells during extraction periods. The study proposes recovery effectiveness (REN) as the performance index of this ASR system. REN equals the injectate proportion that the …

Evaluation Of A Side-By-Side Full-Scale Biofiltration Conversion In A Nutrient-Limited Environment, Stetson S. Bassett

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

In order to meet increasing water demands and more stringent regulations drinking water treatment plant managers must continually look to new treatment strategies and optimization techniques. One such strategy is to eliminate chlorine residual before filtration, allowing indigenous bacteria already present in the source water to grow on the filter media. These microorganisms help improve effluent water quality by increasing organic and inorganic contaminant removal. The process is known as biological filtration, or biofiltration. The implications of converting a conventional filtration plant (not specifically designed for biofiltration) to a biofiltration plant are still not well understood. Therefore, the purpose of …

Assessing The Effects Of Local Turbulence And Velocity Profiles On Electromagnetic Flow Meter Accuracy, Kade J. Beck

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this research was to assess the effects of local turbulence and velocity profiles on electromagnetic (magnetic) flow meters. According to the American Water Works Association, “No tool available to water utilities has played a greater part in the conservation of water than the water meter (AWWA 2002).” Consequently, it is imperative to understand what variables may influence magnetic flow meter accuracy.

Even though other researchers have explored the effects of turbulence profile development on orifice plates, the literature is not clear how magnetic flow meters respond to the effect of local turbulence. Accordingly, this study investigated the …

Accuracy Of Residential Water Meters In Response To Short, Intermittent Flows, John R. Chadwick

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

In this study, water meter accuracy in response to short, intermittent flows was tested. Burst flows have short durations (a few seconds or less), and occur at a variety of flow rates. For some types of meters, it is difficult to accurately measure short, intermittent flow rates. Depending on the meter type, an intermittent flow can result in either under-registering or over-registering of the actual throughput.

During the testing for this research, water was passed through meters for various time combinations, test setups, and flows. It should be understood that realistically, a household setting will not see burst flows occurring …

Ph Effects On The Sorption Of Fluoxetine And Sulfamethoxazole By Three Powdered Activated Carbons, James D. Schneider

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) are widely used throughout the world. PPCPs are emerging as pollutants of concern and may pose a risk in the future to drinking water supplies. Two such compounds are sulfamethoxazole (SMXL) and fluoxetine (FLX). These ionizable compounds are not readily removed from water by conventional water treatment technologies. Powdered activated carbon (PAC) is a useful material for removing contaminants from water and is currently used in many water treatment applications. PACs may carry either a net positive or negative surface charge depending on the pH of solution. This study examined the hypothesis that the …

Desorption Of Trace Inorganic Contaminants From Solids In Drinking Water Distribution Systems, Tiana W. Hammer

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

In order to maintain high quality safe drinking water, we need to understand what happens after the water has been cleaned at the drinking water plant and before it gets to the consumer’s house. Even if low concentrations of toxic contaminants enter the drinking water distribution system (DWDS) there is potential for contaminants to accumulate and be released by changes in flow or water conditions in high concentrations at the tap. For this study, we collected solid material from Park City, Utah that accumulated within the DWDS, along with a year of monthly monitoring of the DWDS. These solids were …

The Effects Of Surge Flows On Residential Water Meters, Ryan P. Weller

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

All residential water meters have published flow rates for which they will operate as designed. These specifications include a maximum operating flow rate, which is recommended not to exceed. However, there are situations which may cause a meter to flow above the maximum flow rate. This thesis explores what effect these surge flows have on residential water meters.

Twenty-one 5/8”x3/4” meters were tested in this study: three oscillating pistons, six nutating disks, nine ultrasonic, and three electromagnetic. Testing was done at the Utah Water Research Laboratory using a gravimetric test bench specifically designed for residential water meter testing.

The results …

Assessing Seasonal Flow Dynamics At A Lagoon Saltwater–Freshwater Interface Using A Dual Tracer Approach, S. Müller, S. Jessen, C. Duque, É. Sebök, Bethany T. Neilson, P. Engesgaard

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Study region: Eastern shore of Ringkøbing Fjord, a coastal lagoon at the west coast of Denmark

Study focus: A dual tracer approach based on salinity and δ¹⁸O is used to assess seasonal dynamics at the saltwater-freshwater interface of a coastal lagoon. At the site, salinity is prone to vary on a sub-seasonal or daily frequency due to riverine freshwater inputs to the lagoon. In contrast, δ¹⁸O compositions of end-members only vary seasonally.

New hydrological insights: The dual tracer approach shows to be valuable in coastal settings where end-member concentrations vary substantially over the seasons and hence, …

Implications Of Data Sampling Resolution On Water Use Simulation, End-Use Disaggregation, And Demand Management, A. Cominola, M. Giuliani, A. Castelletti, David E. Rosenberg, Adel M. Abdallah

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Understanding the tradeoff between the information of high-resolution water use data and the costs of smart meters to collect data with sub-minute resolution is crucial to inform smart meter networks. To explore this tradeoff, we first present STREaM, a STochastic Residential water End-use Model that generates synthetic water end-use time series with 10-s and progressively coarser sampling resolutions. Second, we apply a comparative framework to STREaM output and assess the impact of data sampling resolution on end-use disaggregation, post meter leak detection, peak demand estimation, data storage, and meter availability. Our findings show that increased sampling resolution allows more accurate …

Integrated Analysis Of Flow, Form, And Function For River Management And Design Testing, Belize A. Lane, Gregory B. Pasternack, Samuel Sandoval-Solis

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

The extent and timing of many river ecosystem functions is controlled by the interplay of streamflow dynamics with the river corridor shape and structure. However, most river management studies evaluate the role of either flow or form without regard to their dynamic interactions. This study develops an integrated modelling approach to assess changes in ecosystem functions resulting from different river flow and form configurations. Moreover, it investigates the role of temporal variability in such flow–form–function trade‐offs. The use of synthetic, archetypal channel forms in lieu of high‐resolution topographic data reduces time and financial requirements, overcomes site‐specific topographic features, and allows …

Functional Trait Differences Between Native Bunchgrasses And The Invasive Grass Bromus Tectorum, Huiqin H.E., Thomas A. Monaco, Thomas A. Jones

Forage and Range Research Laboratory Publications

We conducted 30- and 60-d greenhouse experiments to compare functional traits of Bromus tectorum (invasive annual grass) and four perennial bunchgrasses under well-watered or drought conditions. Even under drought, B. tectorum experienced significantly less stress (i.e., higher xylem pressure potential and greater shoot water content, water use per day and water-use efficiency) and biomass production than the perennial grasses after 30 d. However, after 60 d, its superiority was reduced under infrequent watering. Differences among perennial grasses were more pronounced for physiological traits under infrequent watering and for morphological traits under frequent watering. Elymus multisetus (fastgrowing species) had a higher …

Charpy Impact Test Methods For Cementitious Composites: Review And Commentary, Robert J. Thomas, Andrew D. Sorensen

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Several researchers have recently employed the Charpy method to characterize the high strain rate mechanical strength of cementitious composites. This paper provides a critical review of existing applications of the Charpy method for impact testing of cementitious composites. Studies have employed various specimen sizes and geometries. Additionally, some studies have tested notched specimens while others have tested plain. Furthermore, varying methods of normalization result in results reported in a variety of incompatible units. The lack of consistency between studies limits the basis for comparison and the ability to validate results, which demonstrates a clear need for a standardized method for …

Combinations Of Plant Water-Stress And Neonicotinoids Can Lead To Secondary Outbreaks Of Banks Grass Mite (Oligonychus Pratensis Banks), Alice Ruckert, L. Niel Allen, Ricardo A. Ramirez

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Spider mites, a cosmopolitan pest of agricultural and landscape plants, thrive under hot and dry conditions, which could become more frequent and extreme due to climate change. Recent work has shown that neonicotinoids, a widely used class of systemic insecticides that have come under scrutiny for non-target effects, can elevate spider mite populations. Both water-stress and neonicotinoids independently alter plant resistance against herbivores. Yet, the interaction between these two factors on spider mites is unclear, particularly for Banks grass mite (Oligonychus pratensis; BGM). We conducted a field study to examine the effects of water-stress (optimal irrigation = 100% …

Advancing Distributed Data Management For The Hydroshare Hydrologic Information System, Hong Yi, Ray Idaszak, Michael Stealey, Chris Calloway, Alva L. Couch, David G. Tarboton

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

HydroShare (https://www.hydroshare.org) is an online collaborative system to support the open sharing of hydrologic data, analytical tools, and computer models. Hydrologic data and models are often large, extending to multi-gigabyte or terabyte scale, and as a result, the scalability of centralized data management poses challenges for a system such as HydroShare. A distributed data management framework that enables distributed physical data storage and management in multiple locations thus becomes a necessity. We use the iRODS (Integrated Rule-Oriented Data System) data grid middleware as the distributed data storage and management back end in HydroShare. iRODS provides a unified virtual file system …

Walking (And Cycling) To Well-Being: Modal And Other Determinants Of Subjective Well-Being During The Commute, Patrick A. Singleton

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Although transportation’s impacts on physical health are relatively well-established, the relationship between transportation and subjective well-being (SWB) has been the subject of recent focus. Policymakers attempt to improve the health and well-being of populations through interventions to improve transportation experiences and promote sustainable transport modes, while researchers studying these connections seek valid and reliable measures of SWB in the travel domain. Studies consistently find travel by walking and bicycling to be rated more positively than automobile travel, yet many use single measures of travel SWB, obscuring nuanced variations between modes.

Using the results of a Portland, Oregon, survey of nearly …

Review Of The Utah Snow Load Study, Marc Maguire, Brennan Bean, Yan Sun

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Proper consideration of snow loads in building design can be a delicate balancing act:

• Underestimates lead to structure failure
• Overestimates lead to increased construction costs

Modeling Air Traffic Situation Complexity With A Dynamic Weighted Network Approach, Hongyong Wang, Ziqi Song, Ruiying Wen

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

In order to address the flight delays and risks associated with the forecasted increase in air traffic, there is a need to increase the capacity of air traffic management systems. This should be based on objective measurements of traffic situation complexity. In current air traffic complexity research, no simple means is available to integrate airspace and traffic flow characteristics. In this paper, we propose a new approach for the measurement of air traffic situation complexity. This approach considers the effects of both airspace and traffic flow and objectively quantifies air traffic situation complexity. Considering the aircraft, waypoints, and airways as …

Time-Dependent Transportation Network Design Considering Construction Impact, Yi He, Ziqi Song, Lihui Zhang

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

A traditional discrete network design problem (DNDP) always assumes transportation infrastructure projects to be one-time events and ignores travelers’ delays caused by construction work. In fact, infrastructure construction usually lasts for a long time, and the impact on traffic can be substantial. In this paper, we introduce time dimension into the traditional DNDP to explicitly consider the impact of road construction and adopt an overtime policy to add flexibility to construction duration. We address the problem of selecting road-widening projects in an urban network, determining the optimal link capacity, and designing the schedule of the selected projects simultaneously. A time-dependent …

Value Of Water - Economic And Full Value - Michigan Tech University, Rabi Gyawali, Ali Mirchi, David Watkins

All ECSTATIC Materials

Lecture module on Economic and Full Value of water developed by Michigan Tech University (slides).

Lecture draws on two readings:

1. Brett Walton. (2010). The Price of Water: A Comparison of Water Rates, Usage in 30 U.S. Cities. April 26. Circle of Blue WaterNews. Available at: https://www.circleofblue.org/2010/world/the-price-of-water-a-comparison-of-water-rates-usage-in-30-u-s-cities/.
2. Peter Rogers, Radhika de Silva, Ramesh Bhatia. (2002) Water is an economic good: How to use prices to promote equity, efficiency, and sustainability, Water Policy, Volume 4, Issue 1, 2002, Pages 1-17, https://doi.org/10.1016/S1366-7017(02)00004-1.

Find a companion Jeopardy game -- test your knowledge about the readings, prices, economic values, full values, and more -- under …

Cee 433: Water Technology & Policy Syllabus, University Of Illinois At Urbana-Champaign, Ashlynn Stillwell

All ECSTATIC Materials

This document is the syllabus for CEE 433: Water Technology & Policy, by instructor Ashlynn S. Stillwell at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The course is an elective class, open to upper-level undergraduate and graduate students.

Jeopardy - Water Price, Ecnomic Cost, Economic Value, Rabi Gyawali, Ali Mirchi, David Watkins, Jr.

All ECSTATIC Materials

It's Jeopardy! Test your knowledge of water prices, water cost, it's economic value, full value, and more. Information developed from a companion lecture and two readings:

1. Brett Walton. (2010). The Price of Water: A Comparison of Water Rates, Usage in 30 U.S. Cities. April 26. Circle of Blue WaterNews. Available at: https://www.circleofblue.org/2010/world/the-price-of-water-a-comparison-of-water-rates-usage-in-30-u-s-cities/.
2. Peter Rogers, Radhika de Silva, Ramesh Bhatia. (2002) Water is an economic good: How to use prices to promote equity, efficiency, and sustainability, Water Policy, Volume 4, Issue 1, 2002, Pages 1-17, https://doi.org/10.1016/S1366-7017(02)00004-1.

How many Jeopardy points can you earn?

Milwaukee Wet Weather Flow Management System Planning, David Watkins

All ECSTATIC Materials

Many older cities across the United States rely on combined sewers to convey both stormwater runoff and sanitary sewage. Combined sewer overflows (CSOs), containing untreated sewage, occur during extreme wet weather, when the capacity of these combined sewer systems is exceeded. Across the U.S., CSOs pose a serious threat to water quality in thousands of lake, river, and coastal ecosystems. In addition to harming the natural environment, they may be a threat to human health and have adverse economic consequences (e.g., beach closings, reduced aesthetics, tourism impacts).

In this assignment, students role-play engineering consultants tasked with developing a cost-effective plan …

The Utah Snow Load Study, Brennan Bean, Marc Maguire, Yan Sun

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Recent reports of snow related building collapses across the western United States in early 2017 highlight the importance of snow load considerations in building design. Specifying such design snow loads requires a proper balance between safety and economy. As articulated by Nowak and Collins (2012): "Conceptually, we can design [a] structure to reduce the probability of failure, but increasing the safety...beyond a certain optimum level is not always economical." It is the search for this optimum level of safety that has motivated the development of design ground snow loads at state and local levels.

Modeling The Effect Of Gi Implementation In The Red Butte Creek Area: The Case For "Not All Gi Is Created Equal", Rosa A. Fernández Valasquez, Ryan Dupont

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

• Background on the Project
• Review of Work Evaluating Organic Matter Impacts from Stormwater Discharges to Jordan Using High Frequency Data
• Modeling Approach for Stormwater Runoff and Pollutant Loading in Intermountain Region
• Model Flow & Pollutant Load Calibration
• GI Implementation Results
• Implications

Wireless Power Transfer Roadway Integration, Trevor Gardner

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Electric vehicles represent a major accomplishment in the energy and transportation industry. Unfortunately, they are restricted to a small travel range because of limited battery life. Successful integration of wireless power transfer (WPT) systems into the infrastructure would remove the range restrictions of EVs. To successfully integrate this technology, several requirements must be met. First, the embedment process cannot interfere with the electrical performance of the inductive power transfer (IPT) system. Second, the presence of the IPT system in the pavement structure cannot negatively affect the roadway’s lifespan.

Several systems were directly embedded in roadway materials. The electrical properties of …

Longitudinal Thermal And Solute Dynamics In Regulated Rivers, Muhammad Rezaul Haider

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Dam releases increase river stage and can reverse groundwater movement into and out of the river. As the flood, thermal, and solute waves travel downstream in a regulated river, the size of the waves is anticipated to be affected both by river processes and exchanges with near river groundwater. This study established a modeling framework to quantify the influences of the groundwater exchanges on the temperatures and solute concentration dynamics along regulated rivers. The wave properties, volume of exchanges, conservative solute mass exchanges, and heat energy exchanges were calculated as a function of time and distance downstream. Results show that …

Enhancing Ductility Of One-Way Concrete Slabs Reinforced With Welded Wire Reinforcement, Mohamed K. Shwani

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

A series of research studies have recently identified an issue called strain localization in welded wire reinforced (WWR) members. This phenomenon reportedly concentrates strains at welded cross wire locations and severely limit ductility. Those that identified the phenomenon used it to imply that WWR is unsafe because it does not warn of failure. This dissertation is investigating details to mitigate the strain localization effect and demonstrate the WWR can be used safely. A moment curvature analysis is developed using Response2000 program and calibrated using experimental data. Parametric study was developed to present a recommendation of details and minimum reinforcement required …

Reliability Underseepage Assessment Of Levees Incorporating Geomorphic Features And Length Effects, Lourdes Polanco Boulware

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

It has been estimated that approximately fifty percent of the United States’ population lives behind levees. Because these earth structures are typically long, subjected to seasonal changes and spatial variability, it is logical to analyze them in an uncertainty-based approach. This research is focused on assessing the potential of internal erosion related failure due to underseepage with the general objective of assessing the failure potential of individual geomorphic features while considering length effects. The project team was granted $204,000 from the National Science Foundation and $10,000 from the United States Society on Dams which resulted in research collaboration within graduate …