Civil and Environmental Engineering Commons^™

Relaxation In Bolted Assemblies, Samuel Augustus Moeller

Theses and Dissertations

The purposes of this investigation were to (a) extend previously developed elastic spring models for bolt assemblies to include simulating creep loss in the bolt and the threads and (b) to present an approach in which appropriate spring stiffness in the model are determined rationally. Previous efforts at modeling tension in bolts have been limited in that they were not readily applicable to analyses of realistic bolted connections. The simulated load distributions on the shank and the threads in a single-bolt assembly showed good comparison to the gathered experimental data as did the simulated, time dependent creep loss in the …

Simulation Of Value Stream Mapping And Discrete Optimization Of Energy Consumption In Modular Construction, Md Mukul Chowdhury

Theses and Dissertations

With the increased practice of modularization and prefabrication, the construction industry gained the benefits of quality management, improved completion time, reduced site disruption and vehicular traffic, and improved overall safety and security. Whereas industrialized construction methods, such as modular and manufactured buildings, have evolved over decades, core techniques used in prefabrication plants vary only slightly from those employed in traditional site-built construction. With a focus on energy and cost efficient modular construction, this research presents the development of a simulation, measurement and optimization system for energy consumption in the manufacturing process of modular construction. The system is based on Lean …

Evaluating Soil Properties And Cyclic Loading Effects Of Florida’S Clayey Silty Fine Sand Soils Associated With High Pile Rebound, Ali Fadil M. Omar

Theses and Dissertations

Throughout the state of Florida, pile rebound has been encountered while driving large displacement piles. During periods of excessive rebound, the piles could not achieve further penetration and could require an excessive number of blows to advance the pile into the ground. This phenomenon affecting pile driving is called high pile rebound producing construction delays, higher costs; and may lead to pile damage. A comprehensive experimental program was performed involving the characterization and identifications of the typical soils properties associated with high pile rebound during pile installation. The research focuses on the determination of the relationships between high and no-rebound …

Rotational Strength And Stiffness Of Shallowly Embedded Base Connections In Steel Moment Frames, Kevin N. Hanks

Theses and Dissertations

Shallowly embedded column base connections with unreinforced block out concrete are a common method of connecting steel columns to their foundation. There has been little research done to accurately quantify the effects of this block out concrete on the connection strength and rigidity, and therefore there is nothing to aid the practicing engineer in accounting for this in structural analysis. Due to this lack of understanding, engineers have typically ignored the effects of shallow block out concrete in their analysis, presumably leading to a conservative design. Recent research has attempted to fill this gap in understanding. Several methods have been …

High-Level Multi-Objective Model For Microgrid Design, Siamak Talebi

Theses and Dissertations

Recently, there is vast inclination toward using renewable energy in rural areas away from the main electricity generation plants. Small airports located in rural areas are good candidates to apply sustainable energy for electrical power needs. Because of the intermittency of the renewable sources, it is important to have energy storage to guarantee an uninterrupted and stable power supply for end users. In this work, a high-level micro grid model is proposed considering making decisions about different factors such as different renewable sources capacity, storage and system capacity. A multi-objective model of a microgrid high-level design is used to formulate …

Alkali Silica Reaction In Concrete Made From Arkansas Region, Adithya Reddy Mallu

Theses and Dissertations

Alkali-Silica Reaction is an unwanted reaction which occurs over time between cement paste and silica. This in turn alters the expansion of the aggregate and often in an unpredictable way, which will result in loss of strength of concrete and complete failure. This research studies the effects of using locally available coarse and fine aggregates available in Arkansas. This research will provide the necessary information in selecting the type of aggregate that is to be used in constructions and a viable comparison between different aggregates available in Arkansas have been made. Different materials used for preparation of concrete samples have …

Modeling Atypical Building Use With Commercially Available Building Simulation Software, Sarah E. Schanck

Theses and Dissertations

National Guard armories are audited to provide recommendations for future energy reduction measures. The annual energy consumption of a New Jersey National Guard Armories cannot be modeled directly with commercially available building simulation software, due to discrepancies between the modeling capabilities of the software and the reality of the armory. A building simulation software, eQUEST, was chosen for use in this project. Discrepancies between eQUEST inputs and reality were identified and correction factors developed to minimize the effect of each discrepancy on predicted energy consumption, with the end goal of accuracy between predicted and actual energy consumption. In addition, an …

Simplified Performance-Based Analysis For Seismic Slope Displacements, Marlem Lucia Astorga Mejia

Theses and Dissertations

Millions of lives have been lost over the years as a result of the effects of earthquakes. One of these devastating effects is slope failure, more commonly known as landslide. Over the years, seismologists and engineers have teamed up to better record data during an earthquake. As technology has advanced, the data obtained have become more refined, allowing engineers to use the data in their efforts to estimate earthquakes where they have not yet occurred. Several methods have been proposed over time to utilize the earthquake data and estimate slope displacements. A pioneer in the development of methods to estimate …

Engineered Earthen Masonry Structures For Extreme Wind Loads, Mabel Cristina Cuellar-Azcarate

Theses and Dissertations

Stabilized earthen masonry (SEM), which is built with compressed stabilized earthen blocks (CSEB) and mortar, is emerging as a construction system for affordable, sustainable and high-quality dwellings. Compelling features of earthen masonry are local availability of suitable soils, thermal insulation properties, humidity control within healthy ranges, and relatively low carbon footprint. SEM is also appealing for the construction of affordable houses in rural areas and farmlands, where underrepresented and underprivileged groups often live. In fact, the lack of affordable housing is an issue across the United States where low-income families are most affected, often committing more than half of their …

Modeling Human-Structure Interaction Using A Controller System, Albert Ricardo Ortiz Lasprilla

Theses and Dissertations

The effects of human loads on structures are difficult to predict because they depend on the type of activity people are performing. However, models for typical activities such as standing, sitting and jumping have been proposed in the literature. Traditional models represent the human body as a system of lumped masses, dampers and springs arranged in a system with multiple degrees of freedom. Arguably, these models might not fully represent the human body because lumped masses, dampers and springs cannot add energy to the overall system. Furthermore, people could react differently to different levels of excitation and other environmental conditions. …

Multiscale Modeling Of Water Transport And The Influence Of Water Quality Parameters On Membrane Processes, Linkel Kwabena Boateng

Theses and Dissertations

Membrane-based desalination processes have become a viable means of producing potable water to meet water resource needs in both industrialized and developing nations. Extensive experimental investigation, in conjunction with computational modeling is critical in the development of sustainable and cost-effective desalination technologies. The overall goal of this dissertation is to develop a multiscale modeling framework to elucidate water and salt transport mechanisms and the influence of water quality parameters on membrane processes. The key tasks involved in this study are: establish a criterion for estimating water flux using Bayesian inference; develop a multiscale framework to connect molecular dynamics (MD) simulations …

Determination Of Non-Nuclear Alternative To The Nuclear Density Gauge Through Laboratory And Field Testing, Janine Abyad

Theses and Dissertations

Pavement performance is dependent on the compaction quality of unbound subgrade and base/subbase layers beneath flexible pavements. Pavement distresses can be linked to compaction defects within these layers. In current practice, the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) utilizes the nuclear density gauge (NDG) for evaluating compaction quality based on minimum density requirements, typically 95% of the Proctor maximum dry density (MDD). However, there are concerns with using the NDG. The goal of this study was to replace the NDG with non-nuclear alternative method(s) as acceptance tools during field compaction. To achieve this, a laboratory procedure for compacting large samples …

An Investigation In Construction Cost Estimation Using A Monte Carlo Simulation, Jeffrey D. Buchholtz

Theses and Dissertations

The Air Force estimates military construction (MILCON) costs early in a project’s development as a part of the funding approval process. However, many of the initial cost estimates deviate significantly more than expected from the actual project costs, hindering funding allocation efforts. There is a need for improved estimation techniques. This research examines a cost estimation model for the initial programming stages of a project when only general scope information is available.

This study develops a Monte Carlo simulation based on historical construction cost data to predict project costs base on facility type. For a given facility type, the research …

An Investigation Of The Impact A Rov Competition Curriculum Has On Student Interest In Stem, Specifically Technology And Engineering, Daniel Gordon Bates

Theses and Dissertations

This research investigates the impact a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) program has on student interest in, and perception of, technology and engineering (sTEm). ROV programs embed areas of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) into their curriculum; however, emphasis for this study is placed on interest and perception of the "T" and "E" of STEM. Although there are many articles detailing the benefits of ROV programs, there is little empirical data documenting the impact on student interest and perception of sTEm. This study outlines the background of a few major ROV programs in the U.S.; specifically Utah Underwater Robotics (UUR), …

Optimum Pick Point Locations For Straight, Singly Symmetric Steel Plate Girders, J. Andrew Pratt

Theses and Dissertations

Optimal pick point location is discovered in order to have the full buckling capacity of a suspended, non-prismatic, singly symmetric plate girders. The results show that a significant increase in stability occurs at the pick point location of 0.25L, where L is the span length. This recommendation can be utilized in the field to save construction cost and time because of how simplistic it is to use. A finite element software, ABAQUS 6.14, is used to determine the buckling capacities at different pick point locations and of different cross sections. The dimension of the cross sections and span lengths for …

Typical And Darkened Portland Cement Concrete Pavement: Temperature, Moisture, And Roughness Analyses, Tenli Waters

Theses and Dissertations

The objectives of this research were to 1) investigate the effects of lower concrete albedo on the thermal behavior of concrete pavement by directly comparing temperatures and moisture contents of typical and darkened concrete pavements and 2) investigate changes in roughness of both typical and darkened concrete pavements as a result of changes in temperature and moisture gradients. The scope of the research included instrumentation, testing, and analysis of typical and darkened concrete pavements constructed in northern Utah.Procedures related to field testing included infrared thermography, thermocouple readings, sensor data collection, and roughness surveys. Elevation surveys and albedo measurements were also …

Investigation Of Structural Capacity Of Geogrid-Reinforced Aggregate Base Materials In Flexible Pavements, Eric J. Sweat

Theses and Dissertations

The installation of geogrid as a means of extending the service life of a roadway or reducing the required base course thickness of a pavement structure has become increasingly popular. The realization of these benefits depends largely on the degree to which the geogrid reinforcement leads to an increase in the stiffness of the aggregate base course layer. The objective of this research was to investigate the structural capacity of geogrid-reinforced aggregate base materials in flexible pavements through full-scale testing. The scope involved field testing at two sites in northern Utah that each included five different geogrid-reinforced sections and five …

Quantifying Computer Vision Model Quality Using Various Processing Techniques, Samantha Anna Ruggles

Theses and Dissertations

Recently, the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) has increased in popularity across several industries. Most notable, however, is the impact that this technology has had in research at academic institutions worldwide. As the technology for UAVs has improved, with that comes easier to operate, more accessible equipment. UAVs have been used in various types of applications and are quickly becoming a preferred method of studying and analyzing a site. Currently, the most common use of a UAV is to monitor a location of interest to a researcher that is difficult to gain access to otherwise. The UAV can be …

Friction Bit Joining Of Dissimilar Combinations Of Gadp 1180 Steel And Aa 7085 – T76 Aluminum, Lorne Steele Atwood

Theses and Dissertations

Friction Bit Joining (FBJ) is a method used to join lightweight metals to advanced high-strength steels (AHSS). The automotive industry is experiencing pressure to improve fuel efficiency in their vehicles. The use of AHSS and aluminum will reduce vehicle weight which will assist in reducing fuel consumption. Previous research achieved joint strengths well above that which was required in three out of the four standard joint strength tests using DP980 AHSS and 7075 aluminum. The joints were mechanically tested and passed the lap-shear tension, cross-tension, and fatigue cycling tests. The t-peel test configuration never passed the minimum requirements. The purpose …

Reservoir Sedimentation: The Economics Of Sustainability, Matthew William George

Theses and Dissertations

Despite mounting demand for a more sustainable worldwide water supply system, available reservoir capacity is relentlessly diminishing due to sedimentation. This fact, coupled with a decrease in the rate of dam construction, indicate an impending water supply dilemma. In the future, dams should be designed following a life cycle management approach rather than the typical short-sighted design life technique.Neither sustainable reservoir lifespans nor intergenerational equity is achieved through conventional cost-benefit analyses (CBA), which render all benefits and costs projected to occur more than several decades into a project as negligible. Consequently, future expenditures, including dam decommissioning or retrofitting with sediment …

Quantifying Transit Access In New York City: Formulating An Accessibility Index For Analyzing Spatial And Social Patterns Of Public Transportation, Maxwell S. Siegel

Theses and Dissertations

This paper aims to analyze accessibility within New York City’s transportation system through creating unique accessibility indices. Indices are detailed and implemented using GIS, analyzing the distribution of transit need and access. Regression analyses are performed highlighting relationships between demographics and accessibility and recommendations for transit expansion are presented.

Finite Element Modeling Of Shallowly Embedded Connections To Characterize Rotational Stiffness, Trevor Alexander Jones

Theses and Dissertations

Finite element models were created in Abaqus 6.14 to characterize the rotational stiffness of shallowly embedded column-foundation connections. Scripts were programmed to automate the model generation process and allow study of multiple independent variables, including embedment length, column size, baseplate geometry, concrete modulus, column orientation, cantilever height, and applied axial load. Three different connection types were investigated: a tied or one part model; a contact-based model; and a cohesive-zone based model. Cohesive-zone modeling was found to give the most accurate results. Agreement with previous experimental data was obtained to within 27%. Baseplate geometry was found to affect connection stiffness significantly, …

Lateral Resistance Of H-Piles And Square Piles Behind An Mse Wall With Ribbed Strip And Welded Wire Reinforcements, Andrew I. Luna

Theses and Dissertations

Bridges often use pile foundations behind MSE walls to help resist lateral loading from seismic and thermal expansion and contraction loads. Overdesign of pile spacing and sizes occur owing to a lack of design code guidance for piles behind an MSE wall. However, space constraints necessitate the installation of piles near the wall. Full scale lateral load tests were conducted on piles behind an MSE wall. This study involves the testing of four HP12X74 H-piles and four HSS12X12X5/16 square piles. The H-piles were tested with ribbed strip soil reinforcement at a wall height of 15 feet, and the square piles …

Micro-Ct Inspection Of Impact Damage In Carbon/Epoxy Rods, Lindsey Charlene Cahoon

Theses and Dissertations

Various configurations of unidirectional carbon/epoxy composite rods were impacted radially, inspected using micro-CT scanning equipment, and tested in axial compression to measure the residual strength after impact. This data was used to correlate the relationship between impact energy, residual strength, and the peak crack area and total crack volume along the length of the specimens. These specimens represent local members of open three-dimensional composite lattice structures (e.g., based on isogrid or IsoTruss® geometries) that are continuously fabricated using advanced three-dimensional braiding techniques. The specimens were radially impacted with 2.5 J (1.9 ft-lbs), 5.0 J (3.7 ft-lbs), 7.5 J (5.6 ft-lbs), …

Computing Research In Academia: Classifications, Keywords, Perceptions, And Connections, Sung Han Kim

Theses and Dissertations

The Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) recognizes five computing disciplines: Computer Science (CS), Computer Engineering (CE), Information Technology (IT), Information Systems (IS), and Software Engineering (SE). Founded in 1947 the ACM is the world's largest society for computing educators, researchers, and professionals. While Computer Science has been a degree program since 1962, the other four are relatively new. This research focuses on understanding the graduate research in four of the five ACM disciplines (CS, CE, IT, and IS) using a large body of thesis and dissertation metadata. SE is not found in the metadata and graduate work in SE is …

Roadway Safety Analysis Methodology, Samuel Thomas Mineer

Theses and Dissertations

The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) Traffic and Safety Division continues to advance the safety of the state roadway network through network screening and decision making tools. In an effort to aid UDOT in meeting this goal, the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Brigham Young University (BYU) has worked with the Statistics Department in developing analysis tools for highway safety, specifically the Utah Crash Prediction Model (UCPM) and the Utah Crash Severity Model (UCSM). Additional tools and methodologies, such as the "Hot Spot Identification and Analysis," have been created to summarize the roadway characteristics, crash data, and possible …

Implementation Of Bim In The Municipal Plan Review Process, Liz Shantalle Ricardo Belliard

Theses and Dissertations

Obtaining a building permit is an important step for any construction project. Whether it is for a new construction or a remodel job, the process involves a plan review performed by building officials. The purpose of this research was to explore ways in which Building Information Modeling (BIM) could be used to aid code officials during the plan review process. The objectives of the study were to determine if the level of detail in BIM was complete enough to allow a plan review to be perform accurately, to identify the extent to which architects are comfortable with using their models …

Evaluation Of Unbound Pavement Layers Moduli Using The Miniaturized Pressuremeter Test, Alaa Mohammed Shaban

Theses and Dissertations

A small version of pressuremeter known as Miniaturized Pressuremeter (MPMT) was designed and built to provide high quality pavement parameters. The device, which is a modified version of PENCEL Pressuremeter (PPMT) has a 6 inch inflatable probe capable of quickly and reliably measuring the stress-strain response of thin pavement layers. The MPMT stress-strain data can be used as inputs to evaluate existing pavement structures as a part of a pavement management system, and as critical inputs in empirical pavement design methods. To check in-situ operational performance of the new probe, twenty four MPMT and PPMT tests were performed in parallel …

Civil Engineer Company Grade Officer Training Needs Analysis For Contingency Operations, Brian S. Greszler

Theses and Dissertations

In terms of active duty personnel, the USAF is the smallest it has ever been since its creation in 1947. With fewer personnel to accomplish essential tasks, the training of Airmen is more important than ever. Outdated and irrelevant training can lead to gaps in the knowledge of trainees. The purpose of this research was to analyze the training needs of Civil Engineer (CE) Company Grade Officers (CGOs) in the contingency environment. This was done by first conducting a Job Analysis (JA). The JA resulted in a list of 36 critical tasks and 58 important Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). …

Enhancing Virtual Team Dynamics, Freddie L. Stephens Ii

Theses and Dissertations

With the activation of the Air Force Civil Engineer Center in 2012, the United States Air Force initiated an effort to centralize installation and mission support management throughout the Air Force, while decentralizing the execution at the base level. The measurement of success for such a decision extends beyond the reduction of overhead costs. The goal was to build a responsive, mission-focused organization. This research evaluated specific factors associated with the characteristics of virtual team dynamics to improve the perceived responsiveness of a centralized organization. Leader-member exchange (LMX) theory is a relationship-based approach to leadership that focuses on the quality …