Civil and Environmental Engineering Commons^™

Adaptation Of Project Finance To Small Contractor Financing, Ragunathan Venkateswaran

Masters Theses

One key reason for the poor performance of small construction establishments in securing a higher chunk of the annual project volume is funding. While construction industry does not require a large capital investment it does require a large working capital to start up the project and generate bills so that the resulting cash flow may take over the remaining funding requirements. Unfortunately for small contractors there are very limited options available from the banks or other lending institutions to cover this large working capital requirement in the absence of sufficient collateral. The "Project Finance" method, which has been used in …

An Imaging System For Concrete Bridge Inspection, Mohammed Talal Al-Bataineh

Masters Theses

Bridges are the most important element in the road network because of, the strategic position a bridge occupies, its direct impact on safety, and its high cost. Therefore, a continuous maintenance and inspection should be performed. During the past years visual inspection has been the primary method of bridge inspection.

Pontis is a comprehensive bridge management system developed as a tool to assist in the challenging task of bridge management. Pontis stores bridge inventory and inspection data and formulates network-wide preservation and improvement policies for use in evaluating the needs of each bridge in a network.

The concrete bridge inspection …

Building Deconstruction Guidelines: Tools For Recovering Building Materials, Ali Ayedh Merzen

Masters Theses

The traditional method of tearing down building when its life cycle is completed is known as demolition, which means destroying most of the structures and burying it in the landfills. This is the most common practice in most countries, but in recent years there is a new movement toward using the components of these buildings. Burying usable or recyclable materials in landfills means more pollution and increasing the need for more landfills. The concept of reusing or recycling building materials is known as Deconstruction. This practice is relatively new in the construction industry and requires more research and studies to …

A Model For Optimizing The Selection Of Project Delivery Systems Using Analytic Hierarchy Process (Ahp), Arosha De Silva

Masters Theses

The project delivery systems applicable to the construction industry in the U.S. consist of different approaches. This study focuses on three main approaches, (1) Design-Bid-Build (DBB), (2) Design-Build (DB), and (3) Construction Management (CM). Since each construction project is unique, selecting the right project delivery system is a tough decision.

This study develops a decision making system, based on the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), for selecting the best delivery system for a given construction project. AHP is a decision making mathematical model developed by Thomas L. Saaty and consists of a hierarchical structure. It analyzes several alternatives for a given …

Texture And Young’S Modulus Of Nickel/Gamma-Alumina Composites, Abdulaziz Alamr

Masters Theses

To improve Young's modulus of 2024-T3 rolled aluminum specimens, it was electroplated with nickel reinforced with nano-particles of γAl₂O₃. Taguchi method was used to investigate the effect of coating variables, which were current density, coating time, and mixing rate, on the coating thickness. The coatings were tested for crystallographic texture, using pole figures of (200) and (111) for nickel and (400) for γAl₂O₃. Surface topography was measured using WYKO Vertical Interference Microscope. The crystallographic texture of nickel in the coating depended on the coating conditions. A universal testing machine was- used to …

Residual Stress And Wear Resistance Of Composite Coatings Of Nickel/Gamma-Alumina, Khaled Abdulrahman Al-Ogab

Masters Theses

Nickel reinforced with nanoparticles of γ−Al₂O₃ have been successfully codeposited on 2024-T3 cold rolled aluminum alloy by electrodeposition with direct current. The effects of current density, particle concentration in the nickel sulfamate bath, air agitation, and coating time on Ni/γ−Al₂O₃ composite have been investigated. The residual stresses and wear resistance of the Ni/γ−Al₂O₃ composite have been measured using X-ray diffractometer and pin-on-disk techniques respectively. The residual stress and wear resistance behavior of the composite were compared with those of nickel-only deposits. An annealed ground nickel, which was mechanically removed from the …

Cfmms – Computerized Facilities Maintenance Management System, Prawit Rotsawatsuk

Masters Theses

Computerized facilities maintenance management systems, previously available only to very large facilities, are now accessible to small and medium-sized maintenance organizations. Advertisements for such products promise reductions in maintenance costs. Where a manual system of maintenance management is currently employed, moderate reductions in maintenance costs and facility downtime are fully possible. Where no formal maintenance management procedures are present, the structure and case of a computerized maintenance system can result in dramatic cost reductions and improvements in facility availability. There are, however, practical limits to the applicability of computerized maintenance systems. The objective of any maintenance program is to minimize …

Learning Reinforced Concreyte Design Principles Using A Java-Vrml Based Design Studio, Amarneethi Vamadevan

Masters Theses

Dynamics involving reinforced concrete design are the first real engineering course encountered by the undergraduate construction engineering students. Quite often its associated rigorous theories makes it an uninteresting academic hurdle for many below mediocre students. However when the theory is exemplified with multimedia, interaction and visualization techniques, the conceptual understanding is enhanced. The teaching methodology presented in this thesis is based on presenting students with an individualized, interactive and guided learning environment. The main elements of this approach are: a means of assimilating the student's interactive learning knowledge and behavior (user model), representation of the instructor's guidance and assessment knowledge …

Epoxy-Terminated Self-Assembled Monolayers As Molecular Glues For Polymer Layers, Duangrut Julthongpiput

Masters Theses

Dense, homogeneous, and complete self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) with epoxy surface groups were fabricated from epoxysilanes to serve as a template for chemical anchoring of polymer layers. A combination of scanning probe microscopy, ellipsometry, XPS, X-ray reflectivity, and contact angle measurements was used to study their morphology and surface properties. Self-assembly of epoxysilane molecules resulted in the formation of homogeneous SAMs 0.85 nm thick with the rms surface roughness 0.2 nm. Epoxysilane SAMs were truly monomolecular films with a virtually normal molecular orientation of densely packed molecules, which were firmly attached to the substrate.

Carboxylic acid and anhydride terminated polystyrenes of …

Conform- A Computerized Job-Built Concrete Construction Formwork Design, Kajpong Pongponrat

Masters Theses

Economy in formwork design depends partly on the ingenuity and experiences of the form designer, whether a contractor or an engineer. The cost of formwork is significant, generally amounting to anywhere from 40% to 60% of the cost of a concrete structure. Judgment with respect to the development of a forming system could both expedite a project and reduce costs. The present paper addresses the development of CONFORM - an interactive menu driven PC based job-built concrete formwork design. The system is developed using Microsoft Visual Basic 6, Access 97 database, and Word 97, where a perfect integration of these …

Quantitative, Non-Destructive Calibration Of Scanned Probe Microscope Cantilevers, John Hazel

Masters Theses

Principles of surface science and engineering are applied to determine scanned probe microscope cantilever spring constants. The bi-component gold-ceramic cantilever composition is modeled analytically. Finite element analysis is applied to simulate deflection behavior of the probe tip. Data from experimental determination of resonant frequency are employed to infer material characteristics. Combination of the results from these three procedures is employed to infer material characteristics. Combination of the results from these three procedures is used to produce a spring constant assessment within 10% of actual values. An additional convenient program for assessment of scanning probe microscopy cantilever spring constants is developed …

Intellicranes – A Neural Network-Based Crane Selection System, André T. Mund

Masters Theses

Due to the central role of cranes in construction operations, specialists in the construction industries have cooperated in the development of structured methods and software for crane selection. Most of these software tools are for crane model selection and query the user for the type of crane to be used. Although research produced some fuzzy logic and expert system-based methods for crane type selection, no integrated systems that handle both crane selection phases are available.

IntelliCranes, a prototype integrated crane selection tool, assists in both crane type and crane model selection based on a set of inputs describing the construction …

Expedient Method To Determine Active Zone Depth For Expansive Soils In The St. Louis, Missouri Area, Robert Allen Abbott

Masters Theses

"A laboratory testing program was developed to formulate a relationship which could be used to estimate the active zone depth at a given site with the index properties of the potentially expansive soils at the site. The testing program utilized standard consolidometers to incrementally add moisture to soil specimens to determine a swell versus soil suction index. Tests were performed on laboratory manufactured soil specimens of commercial clay to validate the testing methodology.

A QUATTRO PRO computer spreadsheet was developed to perform the calculations to determine the potential field surface heave for the soils tested provided they were at a …

Reinforcement Of Web Openings In Cold-Formed Steel Members, Erika Kirsten Nelson

Masters Theses

"To expand on previous research concerning perforated cold-formed steel web elements, an experimental investigation was conducted to examine the influence of reinforcement on the behavior and strength of single web flexural members with web openings. In current design practice, reduction factors are applied to the strength equations to account for the debilitating effect of web openings. This reduction in capacity may lead to the selection of a greater member thickness or depth than would be required of a solid web member. A more economical approach may be to reinforce the web in the proximity of the opening to increase the …

A Study On The Causes Of Variations In Transmissivity And Storativity During Pump Tests At Asylum Lake, Paul Joseph Pare

Masters Theses

Over a two year period, Western Michigan University ran a number of pump tests in the Asylum Lake Area in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The transmissivities and storativities calculated from these tests differed significantly from well to well in any particular test, and from pump test to pump test. Utilizing the computer programs AQTESOLV 3.0 and Aquifer Parameter Estimator, a number of T and S values were calculated. After analysis of the results, the following conclusion was drawn. The main reason for the deviations in the T and S values arose from the mixing of the results of numerous methods (some of …

Behavior Of Reinforced Loess Specimens Under Triaxial Load, Mohammad Taghi Izadi

Masters Theses

"Effects of reinforcement on shear strength of a loessial (silty) soil arc studied. Unconsolidated undrained triaxial tests are performed on unreinforced and fabric reinforced soil specimens. Analyses of the test results showed that in general the shear strength of remolded loess specimens were improved substantially and increase in the shear strength was directly related to reinforcement spacing.

The mechanism of soil-reinforcement interaction and several existing analytical models are described. A modified analytical model based on enhanced confining theory is developed. This model can be used in assessing the effects of the reinforcement on shear strength of triaxial specimens. Comparison of …

Optimization Of Richardson's Shale Durability Rating System, John Dell Long

Masters Theses

"The two-cycle sieved slake durability test, performed on specimens initially oven-dried prior to testing, was determined to be the optimum slake durability testing procedure based on 12 variations of the test performed on 12 different shale types. The effects of changing slake durability testing variables was also studied.

Standard Proctor moisture-density and compaction-degradation tests were performed on 11 shales.

A modified version of the ultrasonic cavitation disaggregation test was developed and performed on 14 shales.

Richardson's shale durability rating equation was modified to include or reflect a data base of 14 shales, the results of the 20-min. ultrasonic cavitation disaggregation …

A New Basin Characteristic For Use In Estimating Impervious Area And Flood Discharges In Urban Missouri Basins, Rodney E. Southard

Masters Theses

"A previous regression analysis of flood peaks on urban basins in St. Louis County, Missouri, indicated that the percentage of impervious area and drainage area were the only basin characteristics of statistical significance in estimating the 2-, 5-, 10-, 25-, 50-, and 100-year peak-flow discharges at ungaged urban basins. In this statewide regression analysis of urban basins, a new basin characteristic called the percentage of developed area was computed and used in a simple regression analysis. The regression analysis included percentage of developed area as the independent variable and impervious area as the dependent variable, resulting in a simplified procedure …

Bearing Capacity Of Shallow Foundations, Yassin Taissir Al-Kour

Masters Theses

"Several bearing capacity theories have been reviewed in this analysis. However, only Meyerhof's theory is considered in great detail. Bearing capacity factors N_c, N_q, and N_γ have been computed based on Meyerhof's plasticity theory and the minimum passive earth pressures have been found by iterative calculations at all grid locations.

A computer program was developed to run Meyerhof's analysis on the IBM-Personal Computer. His previous charts were not totally satisfactory, because certain geometry was ignored. The computer program considers surface and shallow foundations with various values of degree of mobilization and ratios of depth-to-width of …

The Effect Of The Degree Of Saturation On The Permeability Of A Compacted Clay To Organic Permeants, Mark Alan Harms

Masters Theses

"Relationships for permeability of kaolinite versus degree of saturation and permeability versus flow are developed for 0.005 N calcium sulphate, xylene and aniline permeants using the triaxial flexible wall permeameter. The clay was statically compacted at degrees of saturation of 50%, 75% and 100%. A gradient of 277 was used for the permeability tests.

The initial degree of saturation was inversely related to the permeability of the clay. Saturated clay samples were found to be virtually impervious to aniline and xylene. As the degree of saturation decreased, the permeability increased with the initial volume of flow equivalent to the volume …

Development Of Apparatus For Constant-Hydraulic-Gradient And Constant-Rate-Of-Strain Consolidation Tests, Jack F. Geerlings

Masters Theses

"A back pressure type consolidometer manufactured by Anteus Laboratory Equipment Company is modified to perform either constant hydraulic gradient or constant rate of strain consolidation tests. The modification of the consolidometer and its instrumentation are described. Computer software is developed for the purpose of apparatus control and for test data acquisition and analysis.

Constant hydraulic gradient and constant rate of strain consolidation tests are performed on samples consolidated from a slurry in the laboratory. Results of these tests are compared with incremental consolidation tests performed with an oedometer.

The modified apparatus was found to be suitable for use in both …

A Theoretical Study Of Antecedent Soil Moisture As It Relates To The Rainfall-Runoff Relationship, Karen Sue Angert

Masters Theses

"This paper addresses the feasibility of using antecedent soil moisture as a tool for predicting the extractions from rainfall due to the infiltration process by solving the one-dimensional equation for saturated- unsaturated flow through porous media. Soil moisture characteristics in the form of empirical equations were used to incorporate the hysteretic behavior of the soil-water relationships into the model. Two sets of parameters were developed to be representative of a silty sand and a silty fine sand.

Extractions as infiltration from a given storm hyetograph and the total volume of direct runoff were computed for different initial moisture states. When …

Structural Behavior Of Cold-Formed Steel Beam Webs Subjected To Partial Edge Loading, Shin-Hua Lin

Masters Theses

"An extensive experimental investigation has been conducted to study the load-carrying capacity of cold-formed steel web elements subjected to partial edge loading which may cause web crippling or web buckling. In this experimental work emphasis was concentrated on the cold-formed steel structural members having single unreinforced webs with stiffened flanges.

In 1980, American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) revised its "Specification for the Design of Cold-Formed Steel Structural Members.” For the design of beam webs, Section 3.5.1 of the AISI Specification provides the design criteria for web crippling. This thesis discusses the experimental work including some specimens with small length-to-depth …

Mechanical Properties Of High Strength Sheet Steels, M. Brad Parks

Masters Theses

"In recent years fuel economy has become one of the major criteria for the design of automobiles. In order to improve the efficiency of their vehicles many automotive designers are substituting high strength sheet steels for traditional materials of lower strength. This thesis discusses experimental work which was done to determine the representative mechanical properties and stress-strain relationships of a select group of high strength sheet steels with nominal yield strengths ranging from 80 to 140 ksi. The results show that high strength sheet steels are quite anisotropic with the variation in measured properties depending on the type of sheet …

Transverse Thermal Response Of A Composite Bridge, Michael J. Filla

Masters Theses

"A two-span, composite-design, test structure was subjected to thermal loading. The resultant longitudinal and transverse response was correlated with that calculated by a prior theoretical procedure. The theoretical procedure was reconfirmed for longitudinal stress, and indicated within reasonable probability for transverse stress. No measurable diaphragm influence was observed"--Abstract, page iii.

A Study Of Mechanical Degradation Of A Coarse Aggregate Subject To Repeated Loading, Mark Alan Roenfeldt

Masters Theses

"This investigation concerns itself with the problem of mechanical degradation of a coarse aggregate and specifically as it is used as railroad ballast. Laboratory tests were used to study the aggregate with respect to its plastic deformation characteristics, the amount of degradation, changes in gradation, and the rate of change of degradation as a function of the number of load cycles.

The repeated load triaxial tests were used to study how degradation occurs with respect to aggregate gradation, relative density, and the number of load applications. The Los Angeles abrasion test was also used to determine the degradation of the …

Stress-Strain Properties Of Compacted Modified Memphis Loess, Danny Lloyd Kerns

Masters Theses

"A study was made of the stress-strain characteristics of compacted samples of a modified loessial soil obtained near Memphis, Tennessee. The study consisted of compacting samples at a constant water content and at unit weights of 92, 96 and 100 pounds per cubic foot (1470, 1540 and 1600 kg/m³). Triaxial tests were performed on unsaturated compacted specimens to obtain stress-strain-volume change data. These data were used to determine stress-dependent functions for tangent modulus and Poisson's ratio"--Abstract, page ii.

A Hydrologic Analysis Of The Meramec River Basin, Missouri, Glendon Taylor Stevens Iii

Masters Theses

"The purpose of this study was to develop water budgets for the Meramec River Basin. These budgets, developed from average annual data, are quantitative assessments of the basin's water resources.

On a long-term basis, inflow was approximately balanced by outflow indicating that the system is steady state.

Precipitation was found to be the only substantial source of inflow to the basin and averages about 40 inches per year.

Evapotranspiration was found to be the major source of outflow from the basin. Annually it accounts for about three quarters of the total outflow and averages about 30 inches.

Streamflow was found …

Measurement Of Poisson's Ratio And Tangent Modulus Of A Loess, Craig Randall Bowers

Masters Theses

"A series of triaxial tests are used to develop mathematical models for tangent modulus and Poisson's ratio for a remolded loessial soil. These two models are then utilized in a finite element computer program to model the behavior of a shallow foundation placed on compacted loess. Different models for Poisson's ratio gave widely varying load settlement curves, however a constant value of .32 gave results very similar to that given by the experimentally developed model. It was found that the model developed for tangent modulus yielded unreasonable results when utilized in the finite element analysis until a limiting value was …

Dynamic Pullout Resistance Of Anchors Buried In Dry Sand, Chris John Veesaert

Masters Theses

"The vertical pullout resistance of buried anchors subjected to dynamic loading was investigated by means of a laboratory model study. A dry uniformly graded sand, compacted by vibration to 92% of its relative density, was used as the test medium. Tests were performed in a 24-inch square tank using 3.0 and 5.0-inch diameter half and full-anchors. The anchors were tested at depths ranging from 5.0 to 21.0 inches.

It was assumed that the dynamic failure mechanism of earth anchors was the same as the static failure mode, and not distinct behavior. Thus static tests, i.e., tests using a constant strain …