Civil and Environmental Engineering Commons^™

2010 Spring Engr333 Project Final Report, Eric Ledy, Rachel Jelgerhuis, Jasper Gondhi, Michael Gondhi, Steve Brink, John Mantel, Kyle Harvey, Jim Vanleeuwen, Jacob Speelman, Mitch Brummel, Tyler Van Dongen, Nathan Van Heukelum, Lynette Hromada, Jen Meneely, Matthew Brouwer, Marc Eberlein, Steve Demaagd, Tim Opperwall, Andrew Dejong, Joel Love, Alex Boelkins, Amanda Hollinger, Betsy Huyser, Jason Dornbos, Jason Handlogten, Justin Karsten, Matt Milan

ENGR 333

Calvin is developing plans for a new data center to provide business continuity and quick recovery in the event of a disaster. The new data center will not replace the existing data center; rather, it will provide redundancy for the operations of the campus. Because of the energy demands of data centers, there is a worldwide push for energy efficiency. So-called “green data centers” provide the same functionality as a normal data center with reduced energy usage and reduced energy costs. Calvin, like most organizations, must weigh the long-term economic benefits of energy efficiency projects against higher initial cost. The …

Comparison Of Model Evaluation Methods To Develop A Comprehensive Watershed Simulation Model, Misgana K. Muleta

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Comprehensive environmental models such as the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) are becoming an integral part of decision making processes for effective planning and management of natural resources. Before their use as decision making aid, however, models must be properly evaluated to improve their prediction accuracy and reduce the likelihood of making decisions that could lead to undesirable policy outcomes. Model evaluation refers to practices such as quality analysis of input data, sensitivity analysis, calibration and verification, and uncertainty analysis. Many methodologies have been developed for model evaluations over the years. One of the major limitations of the existing …

Spatial Variability Of Levees As Measured Using The Cpt, Robb E.S. Moss, J. C. Hollenback, J. Ng

Civil and Environmental Engineering

The spatial variability of a soil deposit is something that is commonly discussed but difficult to quantify. The heterogeneity as a function of lateral distance can be critical to the design of long engineered structures such as highways, bridges, levees, and other lifelines. This paper presents a methodology for using CPT measurements to quantifying the spatial variability of cone tip resistance along a levee in the California Bay Delta. The results, presented in the form of a general relative variogram, identify the distance at which the maximum spatial variability is achieved for a given soil strata. This information helps define …

2010 Spring Engr333 Poster 1, Eric Ledy, Rachel Jelgerhuis, Jasper Gondhi, Michael Gondhi, Steve Brink, John Mantel, Kyle Harvey, Jim Venleeuwen, Jacob Speelman, Mitch Brummel, Tyler Van Dongen, Nathan Van Heukelum, Lynette Hromada, Jen Meneely, Matthew Brouwer, Marc Eberlein, Steve Demaagd, Tim Opperwall, Andrew Dejong, Joel Love, Alex Boelkins, Amanda Hollinger, Betsy Huyser, Jason Dornbos, Jason Handlogten, Justin Karsten, Matt Milan

ENGR 333

Calvin is developing plans for a new data center to provide business continuity and quick recovery in the event of a disaster. The new data center will not replace the existing data center; rather, it will provide redundancy for the operations of the campus. This new data center will be placed in the Spoelhof Complex. Because of the energy demands of data centers, there is a worldwide push for energy efficiency. So-called “green data centers” provide the same functionality as a normal data center with reduced energy usage and reduced energy costs. Calvin, like most organizations, must weigh the long-term …

2010 Spring Engr333 Poster 2, Eric Ledy, Rachel Jelgerhuis, Jasper Gondhi, Michael Gondhi, Steve Brink, John Mantel, Kyle Harvey, Jim Vanleeuwen, Jacob Speelman, Mitch Brummel, Tyler Van Dongen, Nathan Van Heukelum, Lynette Hromada, Jen Meneely, Matthew Brouwer, Marc Eberlein, Steve Demaagd, Tim Opperwall, Andrew Dejong, Joel Love, Alex Boelkins, Amanda Hollinger, Betsy Huyser, Jason Dornbos, Jason Handlogten, Justin Karsten, Matt Milan

ENGR 333

The new redundant data center requires that Network Operations Center personnel are able to monitor certain conditions within the data center for the safety of the server equipment. Server equipment will fail if it gets too hot or if the surrounding environment becomes too humid, therefore the baseline instrumentation design must monitor both temperature and humidity in the data center. The system must also be capable of remotely alerting NOC personnel when there is a problem.

Structural Damage Detection Robust Against Time Synchronization Errors, Guirong Yan, Shirley J. Dyke

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Structural Damage Detection based on Wireless Sensor Networks Can Be Affected Significantly by Time Synchronization Errors among Sensors. Precise Time Synchronization of Sensor Nodes Has Been Viewed as Crucial for Addressing This Issue. However, Precise Time Synchronization over a Long Period of Time is Often Impractical in Large Wireless Sensor Networks Due to Two Inherent Challenges. First, Time Synchronization Needs to Be Performed Periodically, Requiring Frequent Wireless Communication among Sensors at Significant Energy Cost. Second, Significant Time Synchronization Errors May Result from Node Failures Which Are Likely to Occur during Long-Term Deployment over Civil Infrastructures. in This Paper, a Damage …

Sensitivity Analysis Of B-Factor In Microwave Emission Model For Soil Moisture Retrieval: A Case Study For Smap Mission, Dugwon Seo, Tarendra Lakhankar, Reza Khanbilvardi

Publications and Research

Sensitivity analysis is critically needed to better understand the microwave emission model for soil moisture retrieval using passive microwave remote sensing data. The vegetation b-factor along with vegetation water content and surface characteristics has significant impact in model prediction. This study evaluates the sensitivity of the b-factor, which is function of vegetation type. The analysis is carried out using Passive and Active L and S-band airborne sensor (PALS) and measured field soil moisture from Southern Great Plains experiment (SGP99). The results show that the relative sensitivity of the b-factor is 86% in wet soil condition and 88% in high vegetated …

East Bay Energy Consortium Meeting Agenda, May 3, 2010, East Bay Energy Consortium

East Bay Energy Consortium Meeting Agenda

No abstract provided.

Simplified Procedure For Seismic Evaluation Of Piles With Partial-Moment Connection To The Deck In Marine Oil Terminals, Rakesh K. Goel

Civil and Environmental Engineering

This paper presents development of a simplified procedure for seismic evaluation of piles with partial-moment connection typically used in marine oil terminals. The current seismic evaluation procedure of the piles in marine oil terminals includes monitoring material strains specified in the Marine Oil Terminal Engineering and Maintenance Standard (MOTEMS) during the nonlinear static pushover analysis to estimate the displacement capacity of piles. This investigation developed closed-form formulas for estimating the displacement capacity of piles by using a simple pile-deck connection system. The displacement capacity estimated from these formulas ensures that the material stain limits specified in the MOTEMS is not …

Flexural Cracks In Fiber-Reinforced Concrete Beams With Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Reinforcing Bars, Won K. Lee, Daniel C. Jansen, Kenneth B. Berlin, Ian E. Cohen

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) reinforcing bars have attracted considerable attention for applications where corrosion of steel reinforcement is problematic. Due to the generally low elastic modulus and poor bond characteristics of FRP as compared to steel reinforcing bars, the use of FRP results in larger crack widths under service loads. Fiber-reinforced concrete (FRC) is proposed for use with FRP to reduce crack widths. The work presented herein includes the results from 16 beams tested under four-point bending with either Grade 420 (Grade 60) steel or FRP reinforcing bars, and either plain concrete or FRC. A modified Gergely-Lutz model was applied to …

An Investigation Into The Retrofitting Of Air Source Heat Pumps Into Fabric Improved, Detached, Oil Centrally Heated Dwellings In Rural Ireland, Ciara Ahern

Other resources

In Ireland the predominant house type is detached housing which constitutes 43 % of entire stock. 72% of the detached housing stock is rurally located and 68% is heated by fuel oil. 82% of houses in Ireland have a radiator heating system. Detached housing, due to larger size and high surface area to volume ratio, has a greater heat loss per m² than all other house types of the same construction period. It follows that, if a heat pump can be successfully deployed in a house of this type it can be successfully deployed in almost all other house …

Implications Of Climate-Driven Variability And Trends For The Hydrologic Assessment Of The Reynolds Creek Experimental Watershed, Idaho, V. Sridhar, Anurag Nayak

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model was used to assess the implications of long-term climate trends for the hydroclimatology of the Reynolds Creek Experimental Watershed (RCEW) in the Owyhee Mountains, Idaho of the Intermountain West over a 40- year period (1967-2006). Calibration and validation of the macroscale hydrology model in this highly monitored watershed is key to address the watershed processes that are vulnerable to both natural climate variability and climate change and . The model was calibrated using the streamflow data collected between 1997 and 2006 from the three nested weirs, the Reynolds Mountain East (RME) , …

Equilibrium Studies And Kinetics Mechanism For The Removal Of Basic And Reactive Dyes In Both Single And Binary Systems Using Edta Modified Rice Husk, Siew-Teng Ong, Weng-Nam Lee, Pei-Sin Keng, Yung-Tse Hung, Sie-Tiong Ha

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

The potential of using ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid modified rice husk (ERH) to remove different types of dyes, namely basic and reactive dyes were studied. Sorption characteristic of ERH showed that it was pH dependent. The kinetics of sorption for both dyes was rapid within the first 60 min regardless of its initial concentration. Using the pseudo-second order kinetics model, the predicted uptakes of Methylene Blue (MB) and Reactive Orange 16 (RO16) agreed closely with experimental values obtained. Three isotherm models were used to fit with equilibrium data, namely Langmuir, Freundlich and BET models. It was found that the equilibrium fitted …

Ie Tools In Construction - Small Tools Spreadsheet, Ronald Goodson

All Theses

This document will explore the development and implementation of a spreadsheet tool that will provide for effective planning, procurement, and management of 'small tools' on a construction site - small tools are relatively inexpensive items that are usually handheld. The following five chapters cover the development of the spreadsheet. Both methodology and the calculation process are explored in detail and all facets of the spreadsheet are explained. A key component of the development process is that end users were involved in the entire development process to ensure the spreadsheet met their needs. In general, users input several criteria regarding work …

Analytical Seismic Fragility Curves For Skewed Multi-Span Steel Girder Bridges, Ian Sullivan

All Theses

Most of the past seismic fragility studies on typical highway bridges in the Central and Southeastern United States (CSUS) have focused on regular multi-span bridges with little to no skew. However, past earthquakes and studies have shown that skewed multi-span simply supported bridges may also be susceptible to earthquake damage, specifically causing coupled responses (longitudinal and transverse) that place more demand on individual components. With over 27 percent of simply supported steel girder highway bridges in the CSUS having a skew angle over 15 degrees, there is a specific need to further quantify the vulnerability of such bridges exposed to …

Plutonium - Humic Acid Stability Constant Determination And Subsequent Studies Examining Sorption In The Ternary Pu(Iv) - Humic Acid - Gibbsite System, Trevor Zimmerman

All Theses

Plutonium has been released to the environment through a variety of intentional and unintentional mechanisms, including atmospheric testing, disposition from weapons manufacturing processes, and subsurface disposal. Therefore, a thorough understanding of the chemical, physical, and biological processes affecting plutonium transport is imperative. It has been shown that humic acid (HA) (a refractory component of natural organic matter (NOM)) can effectively solubilize plutonium (Santschi et al., 2002). Increased solubility may result in enhanced subsurface transport, due to the higher concentration of Pu in the aqueous phase. In contrast, the formation of ternary surface complexes may hinder actinide transport. Solution pH is …

Fringe Visibility Enhanced Extrinsic Fabry-Perot Interferometer Using A Graded Index Fiber Collimator, Yinan Zhang, Yanjun Li, Tao Wei, Xinwei Lan, Ying Huang, Genda Chen, Hai Xiao

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

We report a fringe visibility-enhanced extrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometer (EFPI) by fusion splicing a quarter-pitch length of a graded-index fiber (GIF) to the lead-in single mode fiber (SMF). The performance of the GIF collimator is theoretically analyzed using a ray matrix model and experimentally verified through beam divergence angle measurements. The fringe visibility of the GIF-collimated EFPI is measured as a function of the cavity length and compared with that of a regular SMF-EFPI. At the cavity length of 500 μm, the fringe visibility of the GIF-EFPI is 0.8, while that of the SMF-EFPI is only 0.2. The visibility-enhanced GIF-EFPI may …

Factors Affecting Asphalt Pavement Density And The Effect On Long Term Pavement Performance, Jonathan Fisher, Clark Graves, Phillip Blankenship, Salman Hakimzadeh-Khoee, R. Michael Anderson

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The Kentucky Transportation Center, the Asphalt Institute, and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet worked together in order to identify factors that affect asphalt pavement density, and to then evaluate their effect on long term pavement performance.

By determining which variables are most influential to pavement performance (i.e. roller pattern, temperature when rolled, etc.), and then monitoring the attention given to those variables, Kentucky would be able to increase the service life of asphalt roadways by at least 25%, therefore saving as much as $30 million annually on a resurfacing budget of $129.2 million (2007), while still maintaining the current roadway level …

Distracted Driving – Preliminary Analysis And Survey, Jerry G. Pigman, Kenneth R. Agent, Eric R. Green

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report primarily focuses on an attempt to document the level of driver distraction existing in Kentucky through an analysis of crash data and by conducting an observational survey of drivers. Additional research is cited as a means of comparing other studies with results from Kentucky, as well as establishing a definition of distracted driving. The status of laws related to use of cell phones in other states was summarized, and the recently passed legislation in Kentucky was noted by incorporation of the full text as an appendix.

It was determined from analysis of Kentucky data that if the three …

Laboratory Approach To Modeling The Initiating Mechanism In The Piping Failure Of Sandy Soils, Olalekan O. Olorunsola

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

This research intends to develop a testing apparatus to measure the critical gradient in sandy soils. The designed apparatus will be used in subsequent studies to develop a relationship between critical hydraulic gradient, soil properties and the inclination of the exit face.

This study evaluates several design modification to assess the effects of the modifications, and develop a design that most closely models the field mechanism of piping initiation. The design is initiated from a conceptual design and is executed into the first version. This design is called the Alpha Version. The next version, or more precisely, the Beta Version, …

Safety And Driver Behavior Studies At Multiple Lane Approaches To Stop-Controlled Intersections, Karen Schurr, Daniel Sitorius

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

Multiple-lane approaches (MLAs) controlled by stop signs are becoming increasingly common in Nebraska. Installation of MLAs occurs when a single approach lane can no longer adequately serve the minor road traffic volume, and a signal is unwarranted because Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) warrants are not satisfied (7, FHWA, 2003). A common example of a location at which MLA stop-controlled intersections can occur in Nebraska is the rural intersection of two state or federal highways. Forty such intersections in Nebraska were available for study in this research. Additionally, such intersections are often located in suburban areas of Nebraska …

Responses Of Problematic Algae To Algaecide Exposures, West Bishop

All Theses

Excessive growths of algae can cause significant disruption of critical water resource usages including: drinking, irrigation, recreation as well as be aesthetically displeasing. Water resource managers are often compelled to take action to mitigate these nuisance algal infestations. Algaecides can be efficient and effective management options to rapidly suppress algal blooms and restore water usages. However, laboratory and field data are required to accurately predict responses to an application as well as potential risks to non-target organisms. Laboratory experiments were used to measure the responses of problematic algae to algaecide exposures and evaluate the margin of safety to sensitive, non-target …

A Comparison Of Small Scale Laboratory Experiments With The Environmetnal Protection Agency Reccomended Dense Gas Dispersion Models: An Assessment Of The Validity Of Salt Bath Modeling Of Atmospheric Flows, Katie Betz

All Theses

Accurate dense gas dispersion modeling is important in a number of fields from modeling smoke movement in a room to the spreading of dense toxic gas releases such as resulted from the Chlorine spill in Graniteville, SC in 2005. To this end, a series of small scale laboratory experiments using instantaneous releases of a cylindrical, finite volume of dense salt water were performed. In the experiments, the horizontal spread of the dense liquid over a flat surface(i.e. gravity current front position over time) was measured.
The results of these small scale experiments were compared to two dense gas dispersion models …

Liquefaction Analysis Of Three Pleistocene Sand Deposits That Did Not Liquefy During The 1886 Charleston, South Carolina Earthquake Based On Shear Wave Velocity And Penetration Resistance, Aaron Geiger

All Theses

The results of geotechnical investigations at three sites located in the South Carolina Coastal Plain are presented in this thesis. The three sites are called the Hobcaw Barony Borrow Pit site located near Georgetown, SC; the Rest Area Ponds site near Walterboro, SC; and the Lowcountry Sand & Gravel site, also near Walterboro. Near-surface sand deposits at these sites ranged in geologic age from 200,000 to greater than 1,000,000 years. These three sites lie well outside the region of most liquefaction effects observed following the 1886 Charleston earthquake. Investigations conducted at the sites include seismic cone penetration tests with pore …

Affordable Lightweight High Performance Concrete (Alwhpc): Expanding The Envelope Of Concrete Mix Design, Kevin J. Simons

Department of Construction Engineering and Management: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

One way to reduce excess material would be to lighten the load on a structure with the use of affordable lightweight high performance concrete (ALWHPC). Most or all lightweight high performance concrete mixes used today include lightweight aggregates as the coarse aggregate and sand for the fine aggregate. ALWHPC mix designs contain all lightweight aggregates and cementitious materials that are readily available throughout the United States. Instead of 115 – 120 pcf, ALWHPC mix designs range from 88 – 100 pcf and strengths from 2,700 – 8,700 psi compressive strength. This research will explore the use of local lightweight aggregates …

Evaluation Of In-Situ Stiffness Of Subgrade By Resilient And Fwd Modulus, Daehyeon Kim, Yigong Ji, Nayyar Zia Siddiki

JTRP Technical Reports

Resilient modulus has been used for characterizing the stress-strain behavior of subgrade soils subjected to traffic loadings in the design of pavements. With the recent release of the M-E Pavement Design Guide, highway agencies are further encouraged to implement the resilient modulus test to improve subgrade design. A laboratory resilient modus test and a FWD test are usually used to obtain the resilient modulus of subgrade. However, the difference in the resilient modulus obtained from these two methods is considerably large due to the fact that these tests are conducted under different conditions. This difference gives engineers a significant confusion …

Travel Time Reliability In Indiana, Maria Martchouk, Fred L. Mannering, Lakhwinder Singh

JTRP Technical Reports

Travel time and travel time reliability are important performance measures for assessing traffic condition and extent of congestion on a roadway. This study first uses a floating car technique to assess travel time and travel time reliability on a number of Indiana highways. Then the study goes on to describe the use of Bluetooth technology to collect real travel time data on a freeway and applies it to obtain two weeks of data on Interstate 69 in Indianapolis. An autoregressive model, estimated based on the collected data, is then proposed to predict individual vehicle travel times on a freeway segment. …

Comparison Of Agricultural Area Source Ammonia Gas Concentration And Flux Measurements, Emyrei Reese

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study was conducted in order to compare and evaluate a variety of ammonia (NH₃) measurement techniques for determination of ambient gas phase concentration and evaluation of system fluxes. This was accomplished by measuring NH3 emitted from area sources within two dairies, one located in south-central Idaho and another in central California. The measurement techniques utilized included: an array of passive diffusion samplers, a single annular denuder system, a single or paired Fourier transform infrared spectrometer(s) (FTIR), a paired (upwind and downwind) set of differential optical absorption spectrometers (DOAS), and a portable wind tunnel in conjunction with a …

Data Collection And Analysis Methods For Two-Zone Temperature And Solute Model Parameter Estimation And Corroboration, Quinten Glen Bingham

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Water temperature directly affects biological and chemical processes of fresh water ecosystems. Elevated instream temperatures are commonplace in the Virgin River of southwestern Utah during summer due to a hot desert climate and high water demands that result in low stream flows. This is of concern since the Virgin River is home to two endangered species, the Virgin River Chub (Gila seminuda) and Woundfin (Plagopterus argentissimus). Efforts to model instream temperatures within the Virgin River have been undertaken to help mitigate elevated instream temperatures including the development of a two-zone temperature and solute (TZTS) model. This …

Pullout And Tensile Behavior Of Crimped Steel Reinforcement For Mechanically Stabilized Earth (Mse) Walls, Oscar Ernesto Suncar

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Many research studies made on hundreds of MSE walls have shown that in order to get lower values of lateral earth pressure coefficients from an active condition on the backfill soil, thus lower exerted loads and stresses on the reinforcement, the wall needs to yield. This is typical of extensible polymer-based wall systems, such as geosynthetics. Steel systems, on the other hand, are very rigid and do not allow enough deformation on the wall to generate the active condition.

For this research, steel reinforcement for MSE walls that behaves similar to geosynthetics was developed. This was done by using crimps …