Civil and Environmental Engineering Commons^™

Hot Mix Asphalt Longitudinal Joint Evaluation, Annette Porter

Civil Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Longitudinal joints are the portion of the road where two lanes meet and are formed because the lanes are paved at different times. Longitudinal joints tend to be the weakest portion of the roadway, and yet few regulations exist to control their quality. Currently, Arkansas specifications for asphalt pavement do not include any requirements for the measurement of joint quality. The purpose of this research project is to determine the most effective method for evaluating longitudinal joints in hot-mix asphalt (HMA) pavements. Most of the literature concerning longitudinal joints focuses on density as the determining factor of quality because density …

Hydrologic Information Systems: Advancing Cyberinfrastructure For Environmental Observatories, Jeffery S. Horsburgh

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Recently, community initiatives have emerged for the establishment of large-scale environmental observatories. Cyberinfrastructure is the backbone upon which these observatories will be built, and scientists' ability to access and use the data collected within observatories to address research questions will depend on the successful implementation of cyberinfrastructure. The research described in this dissertation advances the cyberinfrastructure available for supporting environmental observatories. This has been accomplished through both development of new cyberinfrastructure components as well as through the demonstration and application of existing tools, with a specific focus on point observations data. The cyberinfrastructure that was developed and deployed to support …

Uncertainty Analysis For Land Surface Model Predictions: Application To The Simple Biosphere 3 And Noah Models At Tropical And Semiarid Locations, Joshua K. Roundy

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Uncertainty in model predictions is associated with data, parameters, and model structure. The estimation of these contributions to uncertainty is a critical issue in hydrology. Using a variety of single and multiple criterion methods for sensitivity analysis and inverse modeling, the behaviors of two state-of-the-art land surface models, the Simple Biosphere Model 3 and Noah model, are analyzed. The different algorithms used for sensitivity and inverse modeling are analyzed and compared along with the performance of the land surface models. Generalized sensitivity and variance methods are used for the sensitivity analysis, including the Multi-Objective Generalized Sensitivity Analysis, the Extended Fourier …

Practices For Seamless Transmission Of Design Data From Design Phase To Construction Equipment Operation: A Synthesis Study, Philip S. Dunston, James Monty

JTRP Technical Reports

The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT), in response to requests from the construction contracting community, has chosen to examine how to facilitate their contractors’ use of three-dimensional machine control (3D-MC) systems, especially GPS-based systems. INDOT recognizes that the prerequisite 3D project model, if available in its intelligent electronic form, may be leveraged by both INDOT and its project partners to automate the performance of tasks other than construction. Therefore, INDOT was compelled to initiate this study to investigate the state of technology and the experiences of other state transportation agencies (STAs) and to synthesize that information to formulate recommendations for …

Highway-Railway At-Grade Crossings: Trackbed And Surface Pressure Measurements And Assessments, Jerry G. Rose, Daniel M. Durrett, Lindsay A. Walker, Jason C. Stith

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Techniques are described for installing instrumentation within highway/railway crossings – to measure vertical pressures under moving highway and railway loadings – using earth pressure cells. Also, techniques are described for installing instrumentation between rail base/tie plate interfaces – to measure vertical pressures under moving railway loadings – using pressure sensitive ink sensors. In addition, the sensors were used to measure the surface pressures imparted by highway vehicles on crossing surfaces. Data is presented for several crossings including a wide variety of conditions and loading intensities. The data serves to quantify pressure gradients within highway/railway crossings for application to structural design …

Housing Market Outlook: San Luis Obispo, Ca And Surrounding Area, Gabe Randall, Scott D. Kelting

Construction Management

Starting between 1999 and 2000, national home prices began a period of unprecedented growth, increasing at a pace more than 8 times their annual average until peaking in early 2006. National home prices appreciated over 100% on average during the 6 year period before declining 27% from 2006 through Q4 2008. Markets across the sunbelt, namely Florida, Southern California, and Arizona saw prices appreciate as much as 180 % from 2000 to their peak in 2006; these areas have also declined the fastest and hardest, falling as much as 50% and boasting the highest foreclosure rates in the country.

Technical Note: A New Method For The Lagrangian Tracking Of Pollution Plumes From Source To Receptor Using Gridded Model Output, R. C. Owen, R. E. Honrath

Michigan Tech Publications, Part 1

Lagrangian particle dispersion models (LPDMs) are powerful and popular tools used for the analysis of atmospheric trace gas measurements. However, it can be difficult to determine the transport pathway of emissions from their source to a receptor using the standard gridded model output, particularly during complex meteorological scenarios. In this paper we present a method to clearly and easily identify the pathway taken by only those emissions that arrive at a receptor at a particular time, by combining the standard gridded output from forward (e.g., concentration) and backward (e.g., residence time) LPDM simulations. By comparing the pathway determined from this …

Sustainability And Civil Engineering, Jeremy D. Rodgers

Ohio Valley Regional Student Conference

No abstract provided.

Aisi Manual -- Cold-Formed Steel Design, 2008 Edition, American Iron And Steel Institute

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

The material contained herein has been developed by the American Iron and Steel Institute Committee on Specifications for the Design of Cold-Formed Steel Structural Members. The Committee has made a diligent effort to present accurate, reliable, and useful information on cold-formed steel design. The Committee acknowledges and is grateful for the contributions of the numerous researchers, engineers, and others who have contributed to the body of knowledge on the subject.

With anticipated improvements in understanding of the behavior of cold-formed steel and the continuing development of new technology, this material may eventually become dated. It is anticipated that AISI will …

Water For Life: A Journey To Nicaragua Exploring Sustainable Development, Edwin P. Maurer

Civil, Environmental and Sustainable Engineering

When I first arrived in the Peruvian Altiplano as a Maryknoll missioner 15 years ago, I was struck by the presence of a beautifully engineered system of irrigation canals extending through several communities. Engineers love to solve problems, and seeing progress like this in a very poor region of mostly subsistence farming was encouraging…until I learned that it had never delivered a drop of water, and probably never would. The design of the system had been done by outsiders unfamiliar with the intricacies of farming in the harsh, high-elevation climate, completely unaware of the unique form of land ownership. As …

Assessing Reservoir Operations Risk Under Climate Change, Levi D. Brekke, Edwin P. Maurer, Jamie D. Anderson, Michael D. Dettinger, Edwin S. Townsley

Civil, Environmental and Sustainable Engineering

Risk-based planning offers a robust way to identify strategies that permit adaptive water resources management under climate change. This paper presents a flexible methodology for conducting climate change risk assessments involving reservoir operations. Decision makers can apply this methodology to their systems by selecting future periods and risk metrics relevant to their planning questions and by collectively evaluating system impacts relative to an ensemble of climate projection scenarios (weighted or not). This paper shows multiple applications of this methodology in a case study involving California's Central Valley Project and State Water Project systems. Multiple applications were conducted to show how …

Integrated Reliability And Sizing Optimization Of A Large Composite Structure, Christopher D. Eamon, Masoud Rais-Rohani

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research Publications

In this paper, we present the application of probabilistic design modeling and reliability-based design optimization (RBDO) methodology to the sizing optimization of a composite advanced submarine sail structure under parametric uncertainty. With the help of probabilistic sensitivity analysis, the influence of individual random variables on each structural failure mode is examined, and the critical modes are treated as probabilistic design constraints under consistent lower bounds on the corresponding reliability indices. Whereas the failure modes are applied to structural components in the solution of the RBDO problem, the overall system reliability is also evaluated as a post-optimization step. The results indicate …

Sustainable Portland: Implementation Series 2, New England Environmental Finance Center

Climate Change

The Portland Municipal Climate Change Working Group prepared a report in March 2008 that outlined several recommendations as a commitment by the City to address greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) produced during daily municipal operations. The Municipal Climate Action Plan was written in partnership with Clean Air – Cool Planet and Portland officials, and acknowledges under Recommendation #2 that an employee energy efficiency program would provide significant positive impact on the City’s reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Best practices from three cities show that focus on the greening of City Hall is critical in developing a program that promotes partnerships, community …

Case Study In Implementing A Service-Learning Class In A Construction Management Curriculum, Philip L. Barlow

Construction Management

Service-learning is a pedagogical approach which gives the students an opportunity to develop professional and social skills in concert with learning and reflecting on curricular material. This is achieved through a student’s active participation in a meaningful community service project, open and interactive reflection, formal class lectures, and discussions. This case study discusses the results of implementing a pilot service-learning undergraduate class in a state university construction management program. The course was offered as a two-credit hour voluntary technical elective in the Spring quarter of 2008. The organization of this study first puts service-learning into context by giving a brief …

Carbon Sponsoring: A New Idea In Personal Carbon Trading, Direct Carbon Offset Pledges For Travel, Alexander Y. Bigazzi

Civil and Environmental Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Public and political consensus expresses the need for broad action to mitigate climate change. To this end, different forms of carbon trading exist to initiate carbon reduction projects. This thesis proposes the idea of carbon sponsoring, a new tool for personal carbon trading. Unlike carbon offsets, the main option for individuals wishing to mitigate their carbon footprint, carbon sponsoring is a purely social instrument involving carbon-reducing pledges. Carbon sponsoring is intended for individuals who seek immediate, direct carbon offsets for their personal emissions. It is not meant as a broad tool correcting the various deficiencies of the carbon trading markets, …

Simulation And Behavior Of Corrosion Deteriorated Reinforced Concrete Members, M. A. Shayanfar, Amir Safiey

Publications

Several reinforced concrete (RC) infrastructures are now crumbling from corrosion of steel bars in concrete. The paper presents the recent advancements in analytical simulation of corrosion aftereffects on behavior of RC members. The model juxtaposes the experimental findings with analytical relationships. The implementation of the model into a nonlinear finite element formulation as well as the experimental and analytical backgrounds are discussed. The abilities of the resulted program have been studied by modeling some experimental specimens showing a reasonable agreement between the analytical and experimental findings.

Embodied Energy Analysis: A Sustainable Construction Design Assessment Tool, Adolf Acquaye, Aidan Duffy, Biswajit Basu

Conference Papers

Embodied energy analysis can be used as a construction design assessment tool in a sustainable matrix for a building. Its implementation however remains challenging mainly because of data measurement errors. A comparison between the deterministic embodied energy (EE) of a building and the stochastic EE of the same building undertaken using Monte Carlo simulation showed a wide variation in results. It is recommended that the specification of EE intensity of building materials in the construction industry can assist in producing accurate and more credible EE values of building.

Ole Miss Engineer 2009

Ole Miss Engineer

No abstract provided.

Computational Simulation Of Strain Localization: From Theory To Implementation, Shouxin Wu

Doctoral Dissertations

Strain localization in the form of shear bands or slip surfaces has widely been observed in most engineering materials, such as metals, concrete, rocks, and soils. Concurrent with the appearance of localized deformation is the loss of overall load-carrying capacity of the material body. Because the deformation localization is an important precursor of material failure, computational modeling of the onset and growth of the localization is indispensable for the understanding of the complete mechanical response and post-peak behavior of materials and structures. Simulation results can also be used to judge the failure mechanisms of materials and structures so that the …

Evaluation Of The Use Of Snowplowable Raised Pavement Markers, Kenneth R. Agent, Eric R. Green

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and durability of snowplowable raised pavement markers (RPM) installed on the RPM system in Kentucky. The durability evaluation dealt with the marker housing.

The data show that continued use of the currently approved snowplowable RPM can be justified if the castings are properly installed on new pavements with a commitment that the pavement will be maintained. An evaluation of centerline rumble strips installations showed that they should be considered on rural, two-lane roads with 12-foot lane widths (having new pavements) and paved shoulders.

Evaluation Of Current Repair Criteria For Longitudinal Barrier With Crash Damage, Doug Gabauer, Hampton C. Gabler

Faculty Journal Articles

To protect motorists and avoid tort liability, highway agencies expend considerable resources to repair damaged longitudinal barriers, such as w-beam guardrails. With limited funding available, though, highway agencies are unable to maintain all field-installed systems in the ideal as-built condition. Instead, these agencies focus on repairing only damage that has a detrimental effect on the safety performance of the barrier. The distinction between minor damage and more severe performance-altering damage, however, is not always clear. This paper presents a critical review of current United States (US) and Canadian criteria on whether to repair damaged longitudinal barrier. Barrier repair policies were …

Development Of A Green Roof Environmental Monitoring And Meteorological Network In New York City, Stuart R. Gaffin, Reza Khanbilvardi, Cynthia Rosenzweig

Publications and Research

Green roofs (with plant cover) are gaining attention in the United States as a versatile new environmental mitigation technology. Interest in data on the environmental performance of these systems is growing, particularly with respect to urban heat island mitigation and stormwater runoff control. We are deploying research stations on a diverse array of green roofs within the New York City area, affording a new opportunity to monitor urban environmental conditions at small scales. We show some green roof systems being monitored, describe the sensor selection employed to study energy balance, and show samples of selected data. These roofs should be …

Quick Test For Durability Factor Estimation, David Newton Richardson

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) is considering the use of the AASHTO T 161 Durability Factor (DF) as an end-result performance specification criterion for evaluation of paving concrete. However, the test method duration can exceed 75 days before results are known. MoDOT contracted with the Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) to develop a method of approximation of DF based primarily on aggregate testing that would be of a shorter duration. Nineteen different ledge samples representing 18 ledges, 10 geologic formations (nine limestone and one dolomite) were sampled by MoDOT and delivered to Missouri S&T. The ledge …

Analysis Of Load-Induced Strains In A Hot Mix Asphalt Perpetual Pavement, James Crovetti

Transportation Reports with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation

This report presents the findings of a research study conducted to investigate the structural performance of a 275 mm hot mix asphalt perpetual pavement constructed as part of the WIM bypass lane at the Kenosha Safety & Weigh Station Facility. Two separate test sections were constructed using variable binder types and in-place air voids. Asphalt strain sensors were fabricated at Marquette University and installed during the construction of the HMA pavement. Sensors were positioned within the outer wheel path and located at the bottom of the 275 mm HMA pavement and at the interface between the lower layers at a …

Spatiotemporal Estuarine Water Quality Parameterization Using Remote Sensing And In-Situ Characteristics, Kwisun Park Yu

Civil & Environmental Engineering Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation develops a new paradigm in a water quality monitoring approach to parameterize spatiotemporal estuarine water quality with sustainable reliability, less cost and less time. A key underpinning of this paradigm of the spatiotemporal estuarine water quality parameterization is various water quality parameters' interrelationship with ambient water temperature as a common factor, their time dependent characteristics, and spatiotemporal characteristics of remote sensing. It has two core models to provide input data of water quality parameterization model in a system; the transfer function models of the physical system and an analytical temperature time series model. The objective of this dissertation …

Guidelines For Indot-Mpo Coordination, Myron Matlock, Jon D. Fricker

JTRP Technical Reports

Federal legislation, such as the Safe Accountable Flexible Efficient Transportation Equity Act – A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), mandates that each state’s Department of Transportation (DOT) coordinate with the Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPO) within the state in the development and implementation of their Long-Range Transportation Plans. However, federal legislation does not indicate how the DOT and MPOs should work together, resulting in varying collaborative strategies from case to case. Developing a set of collaborative strategies that MPOs in the state of Indiana and the DOT could use during the transportation planning process could result in faster information processing and improved …

Multi-Jurisdictional Issues Related To Congestion Management, Myron Matlock, Jon D. Fricker

JTRP Technical Reports

When a project intended to solve transportation problems such as congestion and access management involves multiple cities, counties, and/or state agencies, disputes can occur due to incompatible interests, resulting in project delays. Creating a mechanism that allows the agencies to communicate and work together during the planning stages can improve the effectiveness of the final plan for the project.

The purpose of this study was to develop and provide transportation agencies with coordination and collaborative strategies that could be used to help the various agencies work together on multiple projects. This study was based on a study of the literature …

Safety Impacts Of Design Exceptions, Nataliya V. Malyshkina, Fred L. Mannering, Jose E. Thomaz

JTRP Technical Reports

Compliance to the Indiana Department of Transportation's (INDOT) highway design criteria is considered essential to ensure the roadway safety. However, for a variety of reasons, situations arise where exceptions to standard-design criteria are requested and accepted after review. This research explores the impact that design exceptions have on the accident severity and accident frequency in Indiana. Data on accidents at 36 roadway sites with design exceptions and 71 without design exceptions are used in this research, and appropriate statistical models are estimated for the severity and frequency of these accidents. The results of the detailed statistical modeling show that presence …

Improved Predictive Power Control Of Cdma System In Rayleigh Fading Channel, Adit Kurniawan, Iskandar Iskandar, Sayid Machdar

Makara Journal of Technology

In this paper an improved prediction-based power control is proposed for code division multiple access (CDMA) systems in Rayleigh fading channel environments. One of the most serious problems which degrades the performance of power control algorithm is the effect of feedback delay. To overcome the effect of feedback delay, power control needs to employ prediction algorithm which utilises the correlation property of the past channel samples measurements to predict the future sample values. In CDMA power control, however, the correlation property of channel measurements is destroyed because the transmit power is continuously updated for each power control interval. The prediction …

Nondestructive Method To Detect Corrosion Of Steel Elements In Concrete, Saeed Javidi Niroumand, Aaron Jon Yakel, Atorod Azizinamini, Marcelo Dasilva

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

No abstract provided.