Civil and Environmental Engineering Commons^™

A Software System For Large-Scale Structural Optimization, Keith M. Macbain

Dissertations

This work is driven by recent developments in mathematical programming, the state-of-the-art of structural optimization, the spectacular performance of linear programming algorithms, and computer hardware developments which imply that applications of structural optimization might be used commonly in engineering design. Currently, there are few general purpose optimization routines available to the structural engineer and much of the work has addressed specific classes of problems. Further, there is little widespread use of the available routines, partly due to the large amount of familiarity one must have with the specific details of both the problem and the optimization method. In response, it …

Characterization Of The Dependant Pile Capacity In Glacial Deposits By Dynamic Load Tests, Upendra L. Karna

Theses

A study of the effects of time on axial pile capacity in glacial deposits is presented in this report. The dynamic and static load database test results of the Route 21, Viaduct Replacement project are studied and analyzed. In this project two sizes (18-inch and 24-inch dia.) of closed end pipe piles varying in length 100 to 150 feet driven through highly variable glacial deposits were utilized. Within a small reach the subsurface conditions and the behavior of pile capacity with time varied considerably. About 112 piles were tested dynamically by Pile Driving Analyzer. Restriking was performed on fifty-nine piles …

Ultrasonic Assessment Of Stabilized Soils, Nazli Yesiller, James L. Hanson, Mumtaz A. Usmen

Civil and Environmental Engineering

The feasibility of using ultrasonic testing, in particular P-wave velocities, to evaluate stabilized soils was investigated. A high-plasticity clay soil that was stabilized with lime, cement, and lime - fly ash mixtures was used in the study. The testing program consisted of determination of P-wave velocities and compression characteristics of the stabilized soils immediately after compaction and subsequent to 7 days and 28 days of curing. Variation of velocity with stabilizing agent, curing time, and also with the compression characteristics of the soils was investigated. It was observed that P-wave velocities were higher for samples stabilized with cement compared with …

Stress-Temperature Effects On Peat Compression, James L. Hanson, Tuncer B. Edil, Patrick J. Fox

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Laboratory and field tests have shown that accelerated compression of peat soils occurs in response to moderate heating and an effective overconsolidation is produced on subsequent cooling. This phenomenon has been termed thermal precompression. In this study, long-term laboratory and field tests were conducted to investigate secondary compression behavior of peat as a function of stress and temperature. Stepstress and step-temperature compression tests were conducted on two peat soils. Dramatic effects were observed upon heating and cooling. A field test site in Middleton, Wisconsin, USA was constructed to test the thermal precompression concept for in situ peats. The site contained …

Improved Direct Displacement-Based Design Procedure For Performance-Based Seismic Design Of Structures, Rakesh K. Goel, Anil K. Chopra

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Direct displacement-based design requires a simplified procedure to estimate the seismic deformation of an inelastic SDF system, representing the first (elastic) mode of vibration of the structure. This step is usually accomplished by analysis of an “equivalent” linear system using elastic design spectra. In this paper, an equally simple procedure is developed that is based on the well-known concepts of inelastic design spectra. This procedure provides: (1) accurate values of displacement and ductility demands, and (2) a structural design that satisfies the design criteria for allowable plastic rotation. In contrast, the existing procedure using elastic design spectra for equivalent linear …

Using Genetic Algorithms And Swat To Minimize Sediment Yield From An Agriculturally Dominated Watershed, Misgana K. Muleta, John W. Nicklow

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Non-point source pollution is well recognized as one of the most critical environmental hazards of modern times. In Illinois, non-point source pollution is the major cause of water quality problems, and soil erosion from agricultural lands is the major source of such pollution. Accelerated by anthropogenic activities, soil erosion reduces crop productivity and leads to subsequent problems from deposition on farmlands and in water bodies. Watershed management, however, promotes protection and restoration of these natural resources while allowing for sustainable economic growth and development. In this study a discrete time optimal control methodology and computational model are developed for determining …

Ky-Ctds Kentucky Contract Time Determination System (Kyspr 99-195-Lf), Donn E. Hancher, Raymond F. Werkmeister

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This paper reports on the results of research that was funded by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KyTC) to develop a new method for determining construction contract time for its highway construction contracts. The current and other DOT systems were analyzed to determine how a new system could provide better estimated duration. It was pre-determined that a PC computer based system was best suited. The development of the system input was developed from KyTC engineers with construction experience. The study advisory committee worked with Kentucky Transportation Center research engineers to develop the basis for the new contract time determination system, called …

Asymmetric Low-Velocity Impact Of A Finite Layer, Minggang Zhou, William P. Schonberg

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The dynamic indentation of structural elements such as beams and plates continues to be an intriguing problem, especially for scenarios where large area contacts can occur. Standard methods of indentation analysis typically use a dynamic beam theory solution to obtain an overall load-displacement relationship and then a Hertzian contact solution to determine local stresses under the impactor. However, previous static and dynamic modeling efforts have shown that the stress distribution in the contact region will differ significantly from a Hertzian one when the contact length exceeds the thickness of the beam. In such cases point contact can no longer be …

Strain Rate And Aging Effect On The Mechanical Properties Of Sheet Steels, Chi Ling Pan, Shaojie Wu, Wei Wen Yu

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This study was primarily involved with the experimental determination of the dynamic mechanical properties of five different sheet steels. The nominal yield strengths of these five types of sheet steels ranged from 172 to 690 MPa (25-100 ksi) and the range of strain rates varied from 10-4 to 1.0 mm/mm/s. All these five materials were studied in both longitudinal and transverse directions under various strain rates, and some materials were also tested under different strain rates and different amounts of prior cold stretching. In addition, two types of steels were tested to estimate the aging effect on the mechanical properties …

Diagnostic Load Testing Of Two-Way Posttensioned Concrete Slab, Antonio Nanni, M. Mettemeyer

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Diagnostic load testing techniques have been used to verify in situ that existing structures have the required load-carrying capacity. This paper discusses the diagnostic load testing and finite-element modeling of a two-way posttensioned concrete slab with the purpose of illustrating the features of this full-scale testing method. The slab was modeled using a commercial finite-element package and the results were verified experimentally. The test loads were applied using hydraulic jacks. Negative internal bending moments were generated at critical locations equivalent to those produced by a 92 psf (4.40 kPa) superimposed uniformly distributed load. Positive internal bending moments were also produced …

Axial Strength Of Purlins Attached To Standing Seam Roof Panels, John A. Stolarczyk, James M. Fisher

American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) Specifications, Standards, Manuals and Research Reports (1946 - present)

The purpose of this research was to determine the axial load capacity of Z-purlins with one flange attached to a standing seam roof system. The axial load capacity was determined by developing a relationship between the flexural uplift buckling strength and the axial buckling strength in the Z-purlin. This relationship was investigated using finite element models and by conducting a parametric study. At the conclusion of the parametric study, confirmatory tests were conducted to verify the finite element results. Lastly, a relationship has been provided that relates the axial buckling strength in the Z-purlin to the flexural uplift buckling strength.

Self-Monitoring, Pseudo-Ductile, Hybrid Frp Reinforcement Rods For Concrete Applications, C. E. Bakis, Antonio Nanni, J. A. Terosky, S. W. Koehler

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The feasibility of hybrid -fiber-reinforced-polymer rods that demonstrate the important safety features of self-monitoring capability and pseudo-ductility is demonstrated. The rods are intended to be the basis of improved pultruded reinforcements for concrete or other civil applications where safety is of critical importance. The lowest elongation fiber in the seven rods investigated is carbon, which by virtue of its piezo resistivity allows the monitoring of deformation and fracture throughout an entire rod with simple electronic equipment. Resistance measurements obtained during quasi-static tests clearly reveal failure of the carbon fibers. Following this easily detected event, higher loads can be safely sustained …

Characterization Of Frp Rods As Near-Surface Mounted Reinforcement, Laura De Lorenzis, Antonio Nanni

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The use of near surface mounted (NSM) fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) rods is a promising technology for increasing flexural and shear strength of deficient reinforced concrete (RC) members. As this technology emerges, the structural behavior of RC elements strengthened with NSM FRP rods needs to be fully characterized. Given the variability of material properties and groove geometry, this requires that the tensile properties of the FRP rod and the mechanics of load transfer between NSM FRP rods and concrete be investigated. Tensile and bond tests on commercially available carbon FRP deformed rods for application as NSM reinforcement were carried out using …

Recommending Egyptian Guidelines For Managing Construction And Demolition (C&D) Waste, Marwa Saad Moussa Alansary

Archived Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Needs Assessment For Local Roads And Streets 2001, Indiana Ltap

Indiana Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) Publications

The objective of this study was to investigate the needs of and resources available to local public agencies to construct and maintain their transportation infrastructure. Components of the infrastructure included in this study are roads, bridges and culverts, traffic and traffic safety, and operational and administrative costs. The results of the study indicate there exists a significant shortfall in funding in most of these areas.

Bs News

Building Services Engineering

No abstract provided.

Countermeasures For Fatal Crashes On Two-Lane Rural Roads, Kenneth R. Agent, Jerry G. Pigman, Nikiforos Stamatiadis

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

In the first phase of this study, characteristics of crashes on two-lane rural roads were summarized and compared to all crashes. Also, one-mile sections having high crash rates were identified. In this phase of the study, a detailed analysis was conducted for a random sample of 150 fatal crashes which occurred on a two-lane rural road. Recommendations were made for countermeasures to reduce the number and severity of crashes on this type of roadway. The potential effectiveness of these countermeasures in preventing the crashes or reducing their severity was evaluated.

Crashes were selected from the years of 1996 through 1998. …

Shear Wave Velocity Profiles At Sites Liquefied By The 1999 Kocaeli, Turkey Earthquake, Brady R. Cox

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This paper presents shear wave velocity profiles for 15 sites liquefied by the 1999 Kocaeli, Turkey earthquake. These profiles are used in order to evaluate each liquefaction site by the simplified shear wave velocity procedure. This procedure allowed for the identification of a potentially liquefiable region within the subsurface at each site. Locating this region at each site allowed for the separation of soils that were too stiff to liquefy from soils that were soft enough to liquefy. Once these soft regions had been identified, they were evaluated to separate granular soils expected to liquefy, from fine-grained soils expected not …

Terrain Analysis Using Digital Elevation Models, David G. Tarboton, Daniel Ames

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Ground Movement Associated With Microtunneling, Zhenyang Duan

Doctoral Dissertations

Microtunneling is a trenchless technology for construction of pipelines. Its process is a cyclic pipe jacking operation. Microtunneling has been typically used for gravity sewer systems in urban areas. Despite its good success record overall, several large ground settlement cases caused by microtunneling have been reported. Also, in contrast with large diameter urban tunneling, there are few research projects about the ground settlement caused by microtunneling.

In this dissertation, the ground settlement caused by microtunneling is studied using a theoretical approach, empirical approach, numerical simulation approach, and artificial intelligence approach.

In the theoretical approach, the equivalent ground loss and settlement …

Structural Distress Condition Modeling For Sanitary Sewers, Vani Samyuktha Kathula

Doctoral Dissertations

Sewers represent a very substantial and crucial part of our underground infrastructure and a high level of investment is needed to maintain them. Sewers are generally out of sight and, as long as they continued to function reasonably well, they are also out of mind—that is, until any problems such as structural, hydraulic and functional arise. The criticality of any sewer condition is a combination of the risk of failure and the consequences of it. Therefore, a systematic approach is necessary to fully understand and evaluate the conditions of this underground infrastructure. The present state of the art does not …

Destructive And Non-Destructive Testing Of Bridge J857 Phelps County, Missouri : Strengthening And Testing To Failure Of Bridge Piers, Tarek Alkhrdaji, Antonio Nanni, Genda Chen

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Many of the existing reinforced concrete (RC) bridge piers constructed in the first half of this century were designed as gravity piers with minimal flexural reinforcement and no consideration to seismically induced lateral forces. When considered in earlier designs, the seismic lateral forces were typically low. The potential risk of failure of columns on these piers under a moderate earthquake is becoming a growing concern for the transportation management agencies. In addition, flexural strength deficiency in RC columns may arise from the loss of reinforcement due to corrosion, premature termination of the main reinforcement, or inadequate splicing. One method for …

Statistical Properties Of Maximum Likelihood Estimates For Accelerated Lifetime Data Under The Weibull Model, Mahmoud A. Yousef

Doctoral Dissertations

Pipe rehabilitation liners are often installed in host pipes that lie below the water table. As such, they are subjected to external hydrostatic pressure. The external pressure leads to early deformation in the liners, which could ultimately lead to its failing or buckling before its expected service lifetime is achieved. Experiments involving long term buckling behavior of liners are typically accelerated lifetime testing procedures. In an accelerated testing procedure a liner is subjected to a constant external hydrostatic pressure and observed until it fails or for a certain time, t whichever occurs first. Liners that do not fail at time …

Innovative Financing Options For Kentucky’S Transportation Infrastructure, Merl M. Hackbart

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

A strong linkage exists between economic growth and the availability of an adequate and efficient transportation system. Due to its location, geography and economy, this linkage — particularly in regard to highway transportation — is critical to continued economic progress in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. However, Kentucky’s ability to provide the infrastructure investments needed to be competitive in the new “global economy” is constrained by the structure of its funding mechanism, the Road Fund. During the last two decades, Road Fund revenue growth has dramatically lagged the growth of motor vehicle travel. As a consequence, Kentucky faces highway investment needs …

Unsteady Flow Model For An Irrigation Canal Network, Talaat Taher El Gamel

Civil & Environmental Engineering Theses & Dissertations

A mathematical model is developed to route unsteady flow through an irrigation canal network. The model is designed to handle branches, lateral inflow and outflow, sluice gates, and various boundary conditions. The model is developed for use on a personal computer. A specific irrigation canal network in Egypt is used as a case study to verify the model, and the results are presented. Full documentation is included in the appendix.

Adsorption Of Inorganic And Organic Ligands Onto Aluminum Hydroxide And Its Effect In Water Treatment, Peter Pommerenk

Civil & Environmental Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The inorganic anions fluoride, sulfate, and orthophosphate are ubiquitous substances in aqueous environments. These chemicals are also applied in drinking water treatment processes where fluoridation, coagulation with sulfate-based metal salts, or the use of passivating corrosion inhibitors or sequestering agents is practiced. If these ions are present at elevated levels in raw waters or added in the treatment train at points other than directly before entering a finished water reservoir, they can exert a negative influence on the removal of particles and natural organic matter.

Although the water chemistry of these inorganic ions seems to be well understood, their potential …

Quality Control Parameters For Robotic Bridge Painting, Yong Bai, Leonhard E. Bernold

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

To protect a steel bridge from corrosion, periodic painting is needed. Bridge painting operations are dangerous and hazardous to human health. A robotic bridge painting system is being developed to replace the human being. One major problem with robotic bridge painting is how to achieve the specified coating quality, which includes two aspects: (1) the coating thickness; and (2) the coating appearance. To ensure quality of the robotic bridge painting, the writers have investigated: (1) the parameters that affect the coating thickness and appearance; (2) the values of the parameters to achieve the required thickness and appearance for the robotic …

Bs News

Building Services Engineering

No abstract provided.

Fourth International Conferences On Recent Advances On In Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering And Soil Dynamics, Multiple Authors

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

No abstract provided.

Photographic Ensemble - Opening Ceremonies, Multiple Participants

International Conferences on Recent Advances in Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering and Soil Dynamics

No abstract provided.