Civil and Environmental Engineering Commons^™

Development Of A Methodology To Delineate Hurricane Evacuation Zones, Nandagopal Meduri

LSU Master's Theses

The main focus of this study is to exhibit a simple and easily implemented process to identify hurricane evacuation zones. The proposed study presents a new methodology to delineate hurricane evacuation zones. The new methodology helps in easier identification of zones, thereby making the task of evacuation officials easier. Hurricane evacuation zones were identified based on the elevation of the points comprising the study area. An area layer was created based on the storm surge models run, and were overlaid with zip code boundary layer and land use data available. Elevation point file data was superimposed on the study area …

Development Of A Neural Network Approach For The Assessment Of The Performance Of Traffic Sign Retroreflectivity, Nagajyothi Swargam

LSU Master's Theses

The goal of the research was to develop a new predictive tool for assessing the performance of traffic sign retroreflectivity and to compare the developed tool with the existing linear regression models. Retroreflectivity decreases as sign sheeting ages. Currently Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (LADOTD) replace signs with low reflectivity based on driver complaints. This practice might have resulted in premature sign replacement (removal of signs with several years of in-service life still remaining) or in non-replacement of signs that are not in compliance with LADOTD minimum reflectivity standards. In this study, both neural network models and regression models …

Application Of Stochastic Downscaling Techniques To Global Climate Model Data For Regional Climate Prediction, Suchita Potta

LSU Master's Theses

Global warming is the most important issue of the present day that affects the climate drastically. This research was carried out to find out the effects of Global warming on Louisiana in future on a very finer spatial and temporal scale. For this purpose spatial downscaling technique is used, where finer resolution climate information is derived from a coarser resolution Global Climate Model (GCM) output. Empirical/statistical downscaling method is used in which sub grid scale changes are calculated as a function of large scale climate. For this purpose a stochastic weather generator and two Global models are considered. The two …

Development Of A True Triaxial Apparatus For Soil Testing, Heath Stuart Williams

LSU Master's Theses

This thesis presents the development of a True Triaxial Testing TTT Apparatus. The TTT apparatus developed has the capabilities of applying the three principal stresses to a rectangular prismoidal specimen independently. The minor principal stress is provided by the cell pressure. The major principal stress is provided by a load actuator traveling at a constant velocity. A LabView software program instantaneously reads instrumentation, makes calculations, and commands a second load actuator to induce an intermediate principal stress that maintains a constant b-value; where b-value is equal to the intermediate principal stress minus the minor principal stress divided by the major …

Assessment Of Shearing Phenomenon And Porosity Of Porous Media Using Microfocus Computed Tomography, Bashar Adeeb Alramahi

LSU Master's Theses

Microfocus x-ray computed tomography (μCT) is a powerful non-destructive scanning technique to study the internal fabric of granular materials. In this thesis, μCT was applied to two cases. The first case involves studying the behavior of particles in a triaxial specimen during shearing. Three-dimensional translation and rotation of the particles were tracked throughout the shearing process, and they were used to calculate the local strain distributions. Moreover, the local dilatancy angle distribution was calculated throughout experiment. These distributions were compared to study the changes in the behavior of the particles at different stages of the test. It was noticed that …

Scalability Of Car-Following And Lane-Changing Models In Microscopic Traffic Simulation Systems, Yan Zhang

LSU Master's Theses

Microscopic simulation models are more and more widely used to support real-time control and management functions in the field of transportation engineering. However, even with today¡¯s advancement in computing power, microscopic simulation modeling remains a computationally intensive process that imposes limitations on its potential use for modeling large-scale transportation networks. While microscopic features of a simulated system collectively define the overall system characteristics, it is argued here that the simulation process itself is not necessarily free of redundancy which, if reduced, could substantially improve the computational efficiency of simulation processes without substantially compromising the overall integrity of the simulation process. …

Development Of Resilient Modulus Prediction Models For Base And Subgrade Pavement Layers From In Situ Devices Test Results, Ravindra Gudishala

LSU Master's Theses

Currently, the design of flexible pavements is generally conducted based on static properties such as California Bearing Ratio and soil support value. These properties do not represent the actual response of the pavement layers under traffic loadings. Recognizing this deficiency, the current and the 2002 mechanistic –empirical guide for design of pavement structures recommended the use of resilient modulus for characterizing the base and subgrade soil and for the design of flexible pavements. The objective of this study was to develop models to estimate the resilient modulus of base and subgrade soils from in situ test devices. Two types of …

Bacterial Plume Dynamics In The Marshland Upwelling System Employed In The Near Freshwater Conditions, Benjamin Kojo Addo

LSU Master's Theses

The marshland upwelling system (MUS) was installed in a floatation marsh along the banks of the Bayou Segnette Waterway, Louisiana. This site was characterized by native groundwater of low salinity regime. Previous studies focused on the removal of fecal pathogens from settled/raw and secondarily treated wastewater under high saline groundwater conditions. The objectives of this research were to: 1) quantify the impact of natural die-off on bacterial removal within the MUS, 2) determine bacterial retardation rates in laboratory-repacked sandy loam soil columns, and 3) evaluate the effectiveness of the MUS in removing fecal pathogens from settled, raw wastewater. Varying salinities …

Removal Of Toxic Organics In Wetlands: A Mechanistic Model, Luz Edith Florez

LSU Master's Theses

The ability of removing toxic organic compounds in natural systems is important due to the capacity of these toxicants to increase risk of diseases when they are ingested by humans. This study developed a mechanistic model to estimate the removal efficiency of toxic organics in wetlands using the tanks-in-series model. Sensitivity analyses were performed for different values of the hydraulic loading rate and two kinds of wetlands: bottomland hardwood forest and freshwater marsh. It was observed the effect in the removal efficiency by the number of cell in series was principally perceived for values of N between 1 and 4; …

Comprehensive Evaluation Of Animated Instructional Software For Mechanics Of Materials, Timothy A. Philpot, Richard H. Hall

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

During the past three years, the Basic Engineering Department at the University of Missouri--Rolla has been developing a second-generation suite of instructional software called MecMovies for the mechanics of materials course. In the Fall 2003 semester, MecMovies was integrated into assignments throughout the entire semester for one of the six UMR mechanics of materials sections. This paper presents a comparison of student performance in the experimental section with student performance in five control sections along with discussion of student qualitative ratings and comments.

Estimating Energy Savings In Compressed Air Systems, Chris Schmidt, J. Kelly Kissock

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

Compressed air is typically one of the most expensive utilities in an industrial facility. As a result, potential savings opportunities are aggressively sought out and identified. Once identified, projected energy savings must be calculated in order to justify the cost of implementing the savings opportunity. It is important to calculate projected energy and cost savings as accurately as possible. Unfortunately, savings are frequently overestimated because the methods used to estimate savings neglect to consider important factors such as compressor control and type, storage, and multiple compressor operation.

In this paper, a methodology is presented for modeling air compressor performance and …

A Highway Travel Information System: Forecasting And Publicizing Delays In The Indiana State Highway Network, Shu-Ling Yu, Jon D. Fricker

JTRP Technical Reports

The Highway Travel Information System (HTIS) is a long-term pre-trip information system providing information about expected events, such as road construction. The HTIS can be beneficial to both highway travelers and roadway project schedulers. Project schedulers can use the HTIS to check the forecasted traffic impacts of a proposed construction project schedule. If the schedule would cause unacceptable delays, a scheduler can try new schedules to reduce the delay. Travelers who have flexible schedules and would like to do pre-trip planning can obtain knowledge of traffic conditions in the near future from HTIS to avoid unnecessary delays. An approach called …

An Analysis Of Seismic Hazards In Indiana, Jennifer Haase, Robert Nowack, Chi Hyun Park, Alison Hunyar, John Hill, Michael Hamburger

JTRP Technical Reports

Current USGS probabilistic seismic hazard estimates (Frankel et al., 2002) show a higher seismic hazard in southwestern Indiana than for the rest of the state. This is expected based on past work documenting large pre-historic events in the Wabash Valley, and also based on isoseismal levels of shaking from the New Madrid 1811-1812 earthquakes. When assessing the hazard on a county by county basis, the local soil conditions produce amplification of shaking in regions with soft or unconsolidated sediments relative to firm-rock sites. We have reproduced the probabilistic seismic hazard calculation following the USGS methodology for the state of Indiana …

Continuation Of Research To Determine The Effectiveness Of Its On Borman Expressway, Robert Bertram Jacko, William H. Schneider, Ahmed S. Soliman, Barry K. Partridge

JTRP Technical Reports

This study is a continuation and the final phase of the SPR-2338 project that involves monitoring the ambient air quality levels adjacent to the Borman Expressway. The purpose of this phase was to classify the traffic conditions along the Borman Expressway in terms of ambient air quality levels. The duration of the phase was from April 1, 2002 to April 30, 2004. The study has shown that, in a close proximity to the Borman Expressway, air quality levels mirror the dynamic nature of traffic along the Borman, despite being surrounded by major industrial stationary sources. Therefore, a descriptive model was …

Development Of A Strategy For Preparing An Indot Storm Water Quality Management Plan, Lynn A. Corson

JTRP Technical Reports

The purpose of the study was to conduct research and prepare documents, data tables, reports and GIS maps to be included in the INDOT SWQMP that address each of the following Minimum Control Measures (MCMs) specified in the federal and state regulation: (1) public education and outreach; (2) public participation and involvement; (3) illicit discharge detection with elimination; (4) construction site runoff control; (5) post-construction runoff control and (6) pollution prevention and good housekeeping. The MCMs are minimum measures which, when implemented by INDOT, will ensure that storm water quality meets the minimum water quality standards. The research focused on …

Evaluation Of Surface (Top Down) Longitudinal Wheel Path Cracking, Terhi K. Pellinen, Geoff Rowe, Kalapi Biswas

JTRP Technical Reports

The research involved evaluating three surface cracked pavements during 2002 and 2003. A 500m section of I-65 North of Lafayette was chosen as the first site (designated as Site 1), an I-65 section in downtown Indianapolis was the second site (Site 2), and US-421 in Madison was the third site (Site 3). Site 1 had 11-year old pavement, Site 2 had 12-year old pavement and Site 3 had 4.5-year old pavement. All these sites exhibited longitudinal wheel path cracking which was later identified as top-down cracking. All sites had excellent structural capacity indicating that the top-down cracking was confined in …

Evaluation, Analysis, And Enhancement Of Indot's Utility Accommodation Policy, Carlos A. Arboleda, Hyung Seok Jeong, Dulcy M. Abraham, Sanjiv B. Gokhale

JTRP Technical Reports

The Utility Accommodation Policy (UAP) is a collection of the regulations and practices to control the utility occupancy of all public highway rights-of-way under jurisdiction of the different States. UAPs not only help to regulate the installation of new utilities and the renovation of the currently installed by construction companies, subcontractors, and utilities companies, but also provide a framework to develop and preserve a safe roadside and to minimize possible interferences and impairment to the highway, its structures, appearance, safe operation, construction and maintenance. According to FHWA (2002) “Present FHWA regulations, policies, and practices dealing with utility relocation and accommodation …

Evaluation Of Indot Construction Smoothness Specifications, Terhi K. Pellinen, Shao-Fan Chou

JTRP Technical Reports

Currently, Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) is using the California Profilograph as the standard measuring device in its smoothness specifications. The output derived from the profilograph is called Profile Index (PI). PI represents the total accumulated deviations of the profilograph output traces beyond a tolerance zone (blanking band). At present, INDOT is using 0.2-inch blanking band to evaluate the profile traces, which has raised some concerns because some small unpleasant surface irregularities are covered by the blanking band. The major objective of this study was to develop a rational method for interpreting profilograph traces using 0.0-inch blanking band (zero tolerance) …

Evaluation Procedures For Deploying Spread Spectrum Interconnect, J. V. Krogmeier

JTRP Technical Reports

This purpose of this project was the design and construction of a testbed network for experimentation with spread spectrum communications in the 900 and 2400 MHz band. The current network consists of five fixed nodes and two portable nodes. Of the fixed nodes, three are located in the Purdue MSEE building, one is located in the Harold L. Michael Traffic Operations Laboratory, and one is located in the experimental traffic signal cabinet at the intersection of Stadium and Northwestern Avenues in West Lafayette. The testbed has been used to evaluate spread spectrum radio technologies from vendors Microwave Data Systems, GINA, …

Implementation Of Full-Width Bridge Deck Panels: A Synthesis Study, Jose David Versace, J. A. Ramirez

JTRP Technical Reports

In this synthesis study, information related to full-depth precast deck systems has been collected and analyzed in order to facilitate implementation of full-depth precast deck systems in the state of Indiana. Nine full-depth precast deck systems were identified in the literature review. For girder bridges or similar, a full-depth precast, prestressed deck system (New England Region System) is recommended to be implemented. For bridges with decks spanning in the longitudinal direction, where no precast, prestress deck systems are available, the Exodermic™ Deck System is suggested to be implemented. This system is also an alternative to the New England Region System …

Innovative Environmental Management Of Winter Salt Runoff Problems At Indot Yards, James E. Alleman, Barry K. Partridge, Lee Yeung

JTRP Technical Reports

This INDOT-JTRP project examined an innovative strategy for mitigating, and possibly obviating, the environmental impact of wintertime salt release within INDOT yard areas specifically associated with the generation and release of salt truck wash waters, whereby these waste streams may be beneficially reused in the manufacture of salt brine solutions suitable for subsequent pre-wetting and anti-icing applications. The associated environmental problem stems from the fact that these wash waters carry high-level (e.g., from 100’s of mg/L to percentile-level) salt concentrations whose uncontrolled release via local surface or ground waters will have to be discontinued pursuant to the onset of tightened …

Interaction Between Micro-Cracking, Cracking, And Reduced Durability Of Concrete: Developing Methods For Considering Cumulative Damage In Life-Cycle Modeling, Zhifu Yang, W. Jason Weiss, J. Olek

JTRP Technical Reports

It is becoming increasingly popular to utilize numerical simulation models to predict the long-term performance of concrete pavements and structures. The majority of these models have been developed using laboratory test data that considers concrete in an uncracked state. While uncracked concrete exists as the best case scenario, frequent cracking occurs in real structures that could have a profound impact on life cycle performance. Cracks from several sources may accumulate and interact thereby accelerating the deterioration of concrete. For example, the distributed cracking caused by freeze/thaw damage can substantially increases the rate of water absorption and reduces the load carrying …

Mechanical Behavior Of Non-Textbook Soils (Literature Review), J. Antonio H. Carraro, Rodrigo Salgado

JTRP Technical Reports

Traditionally, soil mechanics has focused on the behavior of two distinct types of geomaterials: clean sands and pure clays. Under the application of external loads, these two types of geomaterials represent and are conveniently associated with two extreme types of soil responses: drained and undrained behavior. The drained behavior of clean sands and the undrained behavior of pure clays have been covered extensively in most soil mechanics textbooks. In order to provide some insight into the mechanical response of additional materials, a literature review on the mechanical behavior of “non-textbook” soils (i.e. soils other than clean sands and pure clays) …

Minimizing Truck-Car Conflicts On Highways, Srinivas Peeta, Weimin Zhou

JTRP Technical Reports

Trucks represent the predominant form of domestic freight movement. Due to the substantial increase in freight truck traffic on the nation’s highways, its influence on traffic flow performance, safety, and quality of travel experience, is garnering increased attention. Several existing studies have addressed the impacts of trucks on highway traffic flow conditions and crashes. This research models the behavior of non-truck drivers vis-à-vis their interactions with trucks by associating a “discomfort level” with every non-truck driver. This discomfort of non-truck drivers in the vicinity of trucks is assumed to be affected by situational factors such as time-of-day, weather, and ambient …

Methodology For The Development Of A Highway Asset Management System For Indiana, Zongzhi Li, Kumares C. Sinha

JTRP Technical Reports

Highway asset management is a systematic process that aims to preserve, expand, and operate highway assets in the most cost-effective manner. It is an analytical tool that facilitates organized, logical, and integrated decision-making in asset management practice. This study proposes a methodology for the development of a highway asset management system that addresses asset valuation, performance modeling, marginal benefit analysis, and multicriteria decision-making, including tradeoff analysis as well as project selection and programming. While most existing management systems deal with individual physical highway assets or system usage only under certainty or risk, this research focuses on the management of an …

Predicting Traffic Conditions At Indiana Signalized Intersections, Rafael I. Perez-Cartagena, Andrzej P. Tarko

JTRP Technical Reports

All of the methods for predicting traffic conditions at intersections provide default values for saturation flow rates and their adjustment factors, lost times, and other parameters. Because these parameters are difficult to measure, the use of the default values is a common practice and it can cause significant bias in the results if the actual local values are different. The main objective of this research was to investigate the variability of capacity and delay parameters used in engineering tools for predicting delays and for determining level of service (LOS) at signalized intersections in Indiana. The variability investigation produced Indiana default …

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Building Services Engineering

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Constructability, Maintainability, And Operability Of Fiber Reinforced Polymer (Frp) Bridge Deck Panels, Makarand Hastak, Daniel W. Halpin, Taehoon Hong

JTRP Technical Reports

Recent advances in composite materials for civil engineering have created interesting possibilities for replacing conventional structural forms with components made out of fiber reinforced composite materials. Composite materials offer several advantages over conventional materials such as a superior strength/weight ratio, a better stiffness/weight ratio, a high degree of chemical inertness, and flexible custom design characteristics. Some of the potential down-stream benefits include lower life-cycle costs, lighter members, high corrosion and fatigue resistance, and higher live load capacity (Seible and Karbhari 1996). Composite materials are clearly having a major impact on how facilities are designed, constructed, and maintained. In order to …

Hazard Elimination Program - Manual On Improving Safety Of Indiana Road Intersections And Sections; Volume 1: Research Report And Volume 2: Guidelines For Highway Safety Improvements In Indiana, Andrzej P. Tarko, Mayank Kanodia

JTRP Technical Reports

The Hazard Elimination Program (HEP) is the section of the Safety Management System that focuses on road improvements and includes analytical tools for identification of safety problems and their remedies. This research project reviews the results of the past research for Indiana and other states and to develop guidelines that present a set of tools for hazard elimination through road improvements. It also includes developing regression models for predicting crash frequencies at all-way and two-way stop-controlled intersections. Negative Binomial regression was used to develop separate models for two-way and all-way stop controlled intersections. These models predict typical frequency of all …

Regionalization Of Indiana Watersheds For Flood Flow Predictions Phase I: Studies In Regionalization Of Indiana Watersheds, A. Ramachandra Rao

JTRP Technical Reports

The following five methods of regionalization of watersheds were tested with Indiana watershed and annual maximum flood data: (1) the L-moment based method, (2) the method based on hybrid cluster analysis, (3) the hybrid cluster method using rainfall data, (4) the fuzzy cluster method, and (5) the method based on artificial neural networks. The results of the L-moment based method and the hybrid cluster method with rainfall data were unacceptable because of the subjectivity involved with the former and the heterogeneity of the of the results obtained by the latter. The remaining three methods gave very similar results. The fuzzy …