Civil and Environmental Engineering Commons^™

Rainfall Organization And Geomorphologic Controls On The Flood Response Of Mild-Slope Basins In The South Atlantic Region Of Us, Yiwen Mei

Master's Theses

This study uses data from the Tar-River Basin in North Carolina to explore how space-time rainfall variability influences the hydrologic response from observational and modeling perspectives. For understanding the basin scale effect, the Tar-River Basin is divided into four cascade sub-basins ranging from 1106 km² up to 5654 km². The study evaluates the catchments’ response to rainfall for a large number of storm events by computing the event runoff coefficient based on streamflow observations and through simulations from a semi-distributed hydrological model. Comparison of observed to simulated hydrographs from the hydrological model shows that distributed rainfall forcing …

Concentration Effects And Ion Properties Controlling The Fractionation Of Halides During Aerosol Formation, Marcelo I. Guzman, Richa R. Athalye, Jose M. Rodriguez

Chemistry Faculty Publications

During the aerosolization process at the sea surface, halides are incorporated into aerosol droplets, where they may play an important role in tropospheric ozone chemistry. Although this process may significantly contribute to the formation of reactive gas phase molecular halogens, little is known about the environmental factors that control how halides selectively accumulate at the air-water interface. In this study, the production of sea spray aerosol is simulated using electrospray ionization (ESI) of 100 nM equimolar solutions of NaCl, NaBr, NaI, NaNO(2), NaNO(3), NaClO(4), and NaIO(4). The microdroplets generated are analyzed by mass spectrometry to study the comparative enrichment of …

Structural Properties Of Iclt Wall Panels Composed Of Beetle Killed Wood, David Edward Wilson

Theses and Dissertations

Interlocking Cross Laminated Timber (ICLT) wall panels are a new wood construction product similar to Cross Laminated Timber panels. Besides being an innovative structural system, they also utilize beetle killed timber from many of the forests that have been devastated by the Mountain Pine Beetle. Three tests were performed on three ply ICLT panels measuring 8 feet (2.44m) wide, 8 feet (2.44m) tall and 8.5 inches (21.6cm) thick to determine the racking, flexural and axial strengths of the wall panels. After each test was performed the walls were disassembled and investigated for cause of failure. Using the data from the …

Development And Testing Of Chemically-Based Self-Consolidating Concrete, Mahdi Arezoumandi, Mark Ezzell, Jeffery S. Volz

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Self-consolidating concrete (SCC) has the potential to significantly reduce costs associated with concrete construction. SCC is a highly flowable, Non segregating concrete that has a variety of advantages over conventional concrete (CC). However, SCC is not without its problems, which can include increased creep and shrinkage, as well as decreased bond and shear strength. the goal of this research project was to evaluate the creep, shrinkage, and shear behavior of a chemically Based SCC mix. One of the benefits of a chemically Based approach is the potential to eliminate the negative side effects of many SCC mixes. the investigation included …

High-Volume Fly Ash Concrete For Sustainable Construction, Jeffery S. Volz

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

With worldwide production of fly ash approaching 800 million tons annually, increasing the amount of fly ash used in concrete will remove more material from the solid waste stream and reduce the amount ending up in landfills. However, most specifications limit the amount of cement replacement with fly ash to less than 25 or 30%. Concrete with fly ash replacement levels of at least 50% - referred to as high-volume fly ash (HVFA) concrete - offers a potential green solution. the following study investigated the structural performance of HVFA concrete compared to conventional Portland-cement concrete. Specifically, the research examined both …

Coseismic Tectonic Surface Deformation During The 2010 Maule, Chile, MW 8.8 Earthquake, Keith Kelson, Robert C. Witter, Andrés Tassara, Isabelle Ryder, Christian Ledezma, Robb Moss, Laurie Johnson

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Tectonic deformation from the 2010 Maule (Chile) M_w 8.8 earthquake included both uplift and subsidence along about 470 km of the central Chilean coast. In the south, deformation included as much as 3 m of uplift of the Arauco Peninsula, which produced emergent marine platforms and affected harbor infrastructure. In the central part of the deformation zone, north of Constitución, coastal subsidence drowned supratidal floodplains and caused extensive shoreline modification. In the north, coastal areas experienced either slight uplift or no detected change in land level. Also, river-channel deposition and decreased gradients suggest tectonic subsidence may have occurred in …

Seismic Hazard Assessment Of Oregon Highway Truck Routes, Peter Dusicka, Selamawit Tesfayesus Mehary

TREC Final Reports

This research project developed a seismic risk assessment model along the major truck routes in Oregon. The study had adopted federally developed software tools called Risk for Earthquake Damage to Roadway Systems (REDARS2) and HAZUS-MH. The model was the first time REDARS2 has been adopted and used in research outside of the original development team, presenting a number of unique challenges. The development of the model was a complex, intensive process that required a significant research effort, manipulation and adjustment of data. Furthermore, limitations of the software tools themselves had been identified that prevented the inclusion of important aspects such …

Effects Of Alternate Cementitious Materials On Compressive Strength And Environmental Impacts Of Cement Mix Designs., Mitchell R. Bush

Materials Engineering

Specific proportions of Portland cement, fly ash, and blast furnace slag cement mixtures where chosen by a ternary phase diagram to be investigated. By experimental testing and company data history fly ash was limited to not exceed 30% and contribution of Portland cement must be over 50%. Ten chosen mix designs were batched by following ASTM C305-94 and cured for twenty-eight and forty-two days, the extended cure length allows the reaction of pozzolanic material with calcium hydroxide to complete. Compressive strength testing at forty-two days yielded low strength for mix designs with 20% or less Portland cement compared to our …

An Empirical Study Of Particulate Matter Exposure For Passengers Waiting At Bus Stop Shelters In Portland, Oregon, Usa, Adam Moore, Miguel A. Figliozzi, Christopher Michael Monsere

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Current guidelines for the location and design of bus stops do not take into account air quality or exposure considerations for waiting passengers. This paper compares the exposure of transit riders waiting at three-sided bus stop shelters that either: 1) face roadway traffic, or 2) face away from roadway traffic. Shelters were instrumented with devices to monitor particulate matter concentration inside and outside the shelter, wind speed and direction, and vehicle counts. Data were collected at three shelters during both the morning and afternoon peak periods. Bus shelter orientation is found to have a significant effect on the concentration of …

3d Digital Modeling For Urban Design + Planning, Emmanuel Velazco

City and Regional Planning

Cities throughout the country face a number of challenges in dealing with the changing development needs of the 21st century. In urban planning, the fusion of social, environmental, political, economic, and functional considerations are required. Today, local, state, and federal governments are experiencing an economic downturn, making resources scarce to plan for smarter development, attain greater public interest, and economic revival.

The primary objective of this project is to provide innovative solutions in city and regional planning using software applications, such as Google SketchUp, that enable assessment of various urban design projects. A second objective was to create a 3D …

High Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement In Hot Mix Asphalt, Alan Norton Jr

Theses and Dissertations

When old roads have to be replaced, the existing pavement, known as Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP) is ripped up, milled, and stockpiled and can be used in the creation of new mixes in order to save money and resources. New Jersey state specifications limit the percentage of RAP that can be used to 15% for surface courses and 25% for the intermediate and base courses; however, other states have implemented much higher RAP percentages. The limitations are placed because the interaction between the virgin and residual RAP binder is unknown, with respect to the amount of residual binder that is …

Temporary Flood Barriers, Sarah M. Mccormack, Chris Vandyke, Ashley Suazo, Doug Kreis

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report investigates the use and effectiveness of temporary flood barriers (TFBs) to mitigate the impacts of flood waters on Kentucky’s roadways. TFBs are structures, usually filled with sand, which are constructed along the edges of roadways and thus serve as a buffer against rising waters. In doing so, they can protect the structural soundness of roads, and ensure that roads remain open to traffic during flood events. The report is divided into four main sections. The first chapter introduces the concept of TFBs and notes situations in which they have been effectively deployed. The second chapter surveys the different …

Legacy Effects In Material Flux: Structural Catchment Changes Predate Long-Term Studies, Daniel J. Bain, Mark B. Green, John L. Campbell, John F. Chamblee, Sayo Chaoka, Jennifer M. Fraterrigo, Sujay S. Kaushal, Sherry L. Martin, Thomas E. Jordan, Anthony J. Parolari, William V. Sobczak, Donald E. Weller, Wilfred M. Wollheim, Emery R. Boose, Jonathan M. Duncan, Gretchen M. Gettel, Brian R. Hall, Praveen Kumar, Jonathan R. Thompson, James M. Vose, Emily M. Elliott, David S. Leigh

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Legacy effects of past land use and disturbance are increasingly recognized, yet consistent definitions of and criteria for defining them do not exist. To address this gap in biological- and ecosystem-assessment frameworks, we propose a general metric for evaluating potential legacy effects, which are computed by normalizing altered system function persistence with duration of disturbance. We also propose two distinct legacy-effect categories: signal effects from lags in transport and structural effects from physical landscape changes. Using flux records for water, sediment, nitrogen, and carbon from long-term study sites in the eastern United States from 1500 to 2000, we identify gaps …

Kentucky Department Of Vehicle Regulation Internet Applications Study, Andrew Martin, Jennifer Walton

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The study identified 107 unique interactive services, and 13 unique information services on state vehicle regulation agency web sites. The average state has roughly 15 percent of all existing services. States with larger populations, number of registered vehicles and drivers tend to have more total services and transaction services. The general flow of the data indicates a fast level of growth, as companies and individuals embrace the efficiency and flexibility of online transactions. The W3C Unicorn Validator, Link Sleuth, Web Accessibility Checker and Hubspot Marketing Grader scores were combined to generate a web design score for each state. Washington received …

Performance-Based Analysis Of A Reinforced Concrete Shear Wall Building, Garrett Richard Hagen

Master's Theses

PERFORMANCE-BASED ANALYSIS OF A REINFORCED CONCRETE SHEAR WALL BUILDING

Garrett Richard Hagen

In this thesis, a special reinforced concrete shear wall building was designed per ASCE 7-05, and then the performance was investigated using the four analysis procedures outlined in ASCE 41-06. The proposed building was planned as a 6-story office building in San Francisco, CA. The structural system consisted of a two-way flat plate and reinforced concrete columns for gravity loads and slender structural walls for seismic loads. The mathematical building models utilized recommendations from ASCE 41-06 and first-principle mechanics. Moment-curvature analysis and fiber cross-section elements were used in …

Regression-Based Prioritization And Data Modeling For Customized Civil Engineering Data Collection, Omar Kanaan

Masters Theses

Civil engineers frequently face the challenges of acquiring sufficient data to satisfy the informational needs of various decision making scenarios having time, budget, and resource constraints. This thesis focuses on exploring how statistical analysis of historical data sets can be used to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of future data collection activities in transportation engineering and construction project control. Pearson's correlation, multiple regression, Akaike information criterion, and Bayesian information criterion are applied to two cases of data collection and analysis to understand the relative importance of various parameters within each case. Case I analyzes National Bridge Inventory (NBI) data to …

Model Performance Sensitivity To Objective Function During Automated Calibrations, Misgana Muleta

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Previous studies have reported limitations of the efficiency criteria commonly used in hydrology to describe goodness of model simulations. This study examined sensitivity of model performance to the objective function used during automated calibrations. Nine widely used efficiency criteria were evaluated for their effectiveness as objective function, and goodness of the model predictions were examined using 13 criteria. Two cases (Case I: Using observed streamflow data and Case II: Using simulated streamflow) were considered to accomplish objectives of the study using a widely used watershed model (SWAT) and good-quality field data from a well-monitored experimental watershed. Major findings of the …

Structural Health Monitoring Of A Bridge Structure Using Wireless Sensor Network, Cheekian Teng

Masters Theses

Bridge Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) has rapidly become one of the main interests in civil engineering field. Inexpensive and efficient SHM method utilizing Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) is helping to facilitate the selection of the bridges that require maintenance. The changes to structural properties (i.e. stiffness) caused by damage (i.e. corrosion) will change the structural responses (i.e. acceleration responses) to ambient motions. Modal analysis algorithms applied to the vibration responses acquired through WSN provide the modal properties (i.e. natural frequency, modal shape and damping ratio) that will change with the changes in stiffness indicating possible existence of damage. Three output-only …

Research On Roadway Performance And Distress At Low Temperature, Yong-Rak Kim, Soohyok Im, Hoki Ban

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

This research project investigated the performance and damage characteristics of Nebraska roadways at low-temperature conditions. To meet the research objective, laboratory tests were incorporated with mechanistic numerical modeling. The three most common pavement structures in Nebraska were selected and modeled considering local environmental conditions and pavement materials with and without truck loading. Cracking of asphalt overlay was predicted and analyzed by conducting finite element simulations incorporated with cohesive zone fracture. Parametric analyses were also conducted by varying pavement geometries and material properties, which could lead to helping pavement designers understand the mechanical sensitivity of design variables on the overall responses …

Safety Improvements At Highway-Railroad Crossing For Pedestrians And Bicyclists And The Assessment Of Long-Term Effects Of Centerline Curbing, Aemal Khattak, Zheng Luo

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

No abstract provided.

Implementation, Design, And Cost Analysis Of A Concrete Washout System, Omar Adina

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

With the increase of environmental pollution in today’s world, many strategies and regulations are being enforced. These enforcements come from the state and federal governments, but public awareness is often overlooked. Stormwater regulations here in California have dramatically changed over the last decade, as the topic is investigated more often.

This senior project encompassed the design prototype and cost analysis of a permanent concrete washout station for the BioResource and Agricultural Engineering Department at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. The design parameters given were to construct a steel bin for the excess concrete to be dumped into during …

An Inverted Teaching Model For A Mechanics Of Materials Course, Jeffery S. Thomas, Timothy A. Philpot

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Instructors at Missouri University of Science and Technology have been offering certain sections of a mechanics of materials course in an inverted format for the past two years. In this format, students learn the concepts outside of class, using a textbook, animations and videos developed by the authors, and work on homework either individually or in groups during the optional class time. Students take eight multiple-choice exams and a final exam that is common to both the inverted sections and the more traditional lecture-based sections. Homework in the inverted sections is assigned but not graded. The in-class exams are given …

Documenting The Construction Of A Plain Concrete Bridge Deck And An Internally Cured Bridge Deck, Carmelo Di Bella, John Schlitter, Neal Carboneau, Jason Weiss

Indiana Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) Technical Reports

Durable and long lasting concrete is important, especially for bridge decks, which are susceptible to premature cracking and corrosion of the reinforcing steel. To increase the durability of the concrete and its service life, many transportation agencies use high-strength concretes. However, high-strength concretes often have problems with early age cracking due to shrinkage. These cracks can then open a path for chloride ions (found in road salts) to reach the reinforcing steel. The results of this research, which compared bridge installations on two structures in Monroe County, Indiana, confirm that internally cured concrete presents a better alternative to traditional plain …

Regional Models Of Internal Tides, Glenn S. Carter, Oliver B. Fringer, Edward D. Zaron

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Internal tides are ubiquitous in the ocean, and they play an important role in a range of ocean processes, for example, particle dispersal, acoustics, and vertical buoyancy flux. The wavelength of internal tides can be as much as 250 km in the open ocean, but as the generation of these tides depends on the angle between the depth-averaged current and the topography, there can be considerable local spatial variability. This range of scales makes it difficult to develop a comprehensive understanding of the processes involved from observations alone. Regional numerical modeling provides a way to study the generation and early …

Analysis Of The Impacts Of Transit Signal Priority On Bus Bunching And Performance, Eric Albright, Miguel Andres Figliozzi

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Efficient and reliable public transit systems provide opportunities to reduce congestion, emissions in urban areas and provide access and mobility to residents. Headway, or the time difference between departing or arriving vehicles, is a useful measure to gauge bus transit performance; because short headways can lead to bus bunching incidents that quickly degrade transit level of service. While Transit Signal Priority (TSP) has been shown to decrease travel time and delay experienced by buses, little work has shown how TSP may affect bus bunching. This research attempts to understand the characteristics of bus trips, especially TSP, that prevent or promote …

An Evaluation Of The Impacts Of An Adaptive Coordinated Traffic Signal System On Transit Performance: A Case Study On Powell Boulevard (Portland, Oregon), Courtney Natasha Slavin, Miguel A. Figliozzi, Wei Feng

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Powell Boulevard is a prime example of a congested urban arterial; this roadway connects US-26 to downtown Portland, Oregon. This facility is one of the most congested arterial corridors in the Portland-metropolitan region. The City of Portland implemented the Sydney Coordinated Adaptive Traffic System (SCATS) in October 2011 in order to improve the operations of the corridor. SCATS has been implemented in a few US cities with mixed results so far. A properly calibrated system can have a significant positive impact on the performance of the traffic signals but its impact on transit performance has not been documented. This was …

Bus Fleet Type And Age Replacement Optimization: A Case Study Utilizing King County Metro Fleet Data, Wei Feng, Miguel A. Figliozzi

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Bus fleet data have consistently shown that vehicle operating and maintenance costs increase as vehicles age. A fleet manager has to deal with the tradeoff between the lower operating and maintenance costs of newer fleets and their higher initial capital costs as well as the tradeoff between conventional and fuel efficient bus technologies. This study formulates and implements a fleet replacement optimization framework that is applied to a case study that compares two bus types: a conventional diesel and a hybrid bus. Employing real-world bus fleet data from King County Metro (Washington State, USA) multiple scenarios are examined to account …

Throwing Frame For Athletes With Dissabilities, Andrew Higgins, Stefan Owechko, Gabriel (Gabe) Terrasas, Kevin Crisfield

Mechanical Engineering

Team Zeus’ senior project was to design, build and test a working throwing frame system for Bridge II Sports, a nonprofit organization in North Carolina. The throwing frame is used to allow athletes and individuals with disabilities to throw shot-put, discus, and javelin using a frame to sit against. Team Zeus was specifically tasked to build a frame that is lighter weight and more transportable than products that are currently on the market. This frame also is adjustable to accommodate a wide range of athlete weights, sizes, and abilities. The final result is a 35lb aluminum frame with two different …

Deviations In Standard Aggregate Gradation And Its Affects On The Properties Of Portland Cement Concrete, Marcus Balitsaris

All Theses

Aggregate gradation is the particle size distribution of both the stone and sand present in the concrete matrix. It is an aggregate property that has been heavily researched for over a century but the effects of which on concrete properties is still somewhat misunderstood. Past research has revealed that aggregate gradation dictates the proportion of aggregate to cement paste in concrete, and can play a major variable that determines the overall durability of the construction material. Increasingly, aggregate in South Carolina are failing to meet the standard aggregate gradation for portland cement concrete, however, the effects of such failed aggregate …

Application Of A Heuristic Method To A Water Distribution System For Determining Optimal Water Quality Monitoring Locations, Lawrence David Johnson

Master's Theses

Although regulations and requirements for water quality source monitoring have increased, drinking water distribution systems can still be considered vulnerable to purposeful or accidental contamination.

This study analyzes the transport of the hypothetical contaminant Cryptosporidium through the distribution system of a city with a population of 30,000 to 50,000 in an attempt to locate the optimal monitoring locations in the distribution system. Cryptosporidium was selected due to its resistance to chlorine and it’s conservative properties for vulnerability assessments. The method for selecting the optimal monitoring locations was taken from Chastain (2004) which developed and examined the method for a virtual …