Civil and Environmental Engineering Commons^™

Development Of A Simplified Analytical Method To Estimate The Seismic Response Of Reinforced Concrete Frames With Solid Masonry Infills, Austin Reese

Civil Engineering Theses - Archive

This thesis discusses the analysis of the lateral force-vs-drift relation of reinforced concrete (RC) frames with masonry infill panels under in-plane lateral loads. Such structures have been the topic of several studies due to their recurring catastrophic failures during seismic events. Due to the large number of variables that can affect their seismic performance and lead to various possible failure mechanisms there is no widely accepted method for the assessment of the structural behavior of infilled frames under seismic loads. A parametric study was performed here using detailed analytical models which provided insight to the influence of the various design …

Enhancing Effectiveness Of Aashto Type Prestressed Concrete Bridge Girder Through Fiber Reinforced Polymer Strengthening, Farzia Haque

Civil Engineering Theses - Archive

Fiber-reinforced polymers (FRP) are newly used materials by structuralengineers compared to concrete, steel, and wood. One area in which FRP is being used more and more is the strengthening of structurally deficient concrete bridges. FRP strengthening of the bridge girder improves flexural, shear, corrosion, seismic, and impact resistance. ACI 440 committee report outlined design procedure for flexure, shear, axial force, and combined axial and bending forces based on the available research, which are considered to be conservative and also pointed out the areas that still require research. Besides experimental, analytical, and field tests finite element analysis of FRP strengthened structural …

Pavement Performance Monitoring Using Dynamic Cone Penetrometer And Geogauge During Construction, Ahmed Nawal Ahsan

Civil Engineering Theses - Archive

Proper design life of road network system requires adequate quality control measures during the construction process to ensure proper material quality and sufficient strength in between the materials. Laboratory tests are often time consuming and sometimes, are not practical while the construction work is going on, in-situ techniques can efficiently evaluate the material properties through simple and less time consuming procedures. Dynamic Cone Penetrometer and Geogauge can play a vital role as an in-situ testing equipment because both have the potential to measure the change in material properties through field tests being performed in the field. Both in-situ techniques was …

Development And Validation Of The Structural Health Evaluation (SheTm) Program, Steven Worley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Overwintering Biology And Tests Of Trap And Relocate As A Conservation Measure For Burying Beetles, W. Wyatt Hoback, Adrienne Conley

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

Burying beetles are carrion beetles and utilize dead animal carcasses for feeding and reproductive efforts. They assist with decomposition, prevent the spread of disease, and reduce the number of pest species. The largest species of carrion beetle, the American burying beetle, is a federally endangered insect and its distribution has been reduced by 90%. The conservation of this species is important in maintaining a healthy ecosystem. Overwintering biology and trap and relocation were studied to determine how this beetle survives freezing temperatures and to find whether trap and relocation could be a suitable conservation management measure.

Trap and relocation is …

Co-Occurrence Of The Cyanotoxins Bmaa, Daba And Anatoxin-A In Nebraska Reservoirs, Fish, And Aquatic Plants, Maitham Ahmed Al-Sammak, Kyle D. Hoagland, David A. Cassada, Daniel D. Snow

Nebraska Water Center: Faculty Publications

Several groups of microorganisms are capable of producing toxins in aquatic environments. Cyanobacteria are prevalent blue green algae in freshwater systems, and many species produce cyanotoxins which include a variety of chemical irritants, hepatotoxins and neurotoxins. Production and occurrence of potent neurotoxic cyanotoxins β-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA), 2,4-diaminobutyric acid dihydrochloride (DABA), and anatoxin-a are especially critical with environmental implications to public and animal health. Biomagnification, though not well understood in aquatic systems, is potentially relevant to both human and animal health effects. Because little is known regarding their presence in fresh water, we investigated the occurrence and potential for bioaccumulation of cyanotoxins …

Study On Surface Permeability Of Concrete Under Immersion, Jun Liu, Feng Xing, Biqin Dong, Hongyan Ma, Dong Pan

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

In this paper, concrete specimens are immersed in ultrapure water, to study the evolutions of surface permeability, pore structure and paste microstructure following the prolonging of immersion period. According to the results, after 30-day immersion, the surface permeability of concrete becomes higher as compared with the value before immersion. However, further immersion makes the surface permeability decrease, so that the value measured after 150-day immersion is only half that measured after 30-day immersion. The early increase in surface permeability should be mainly attributed to the leaching of calcium hydroxide, while the later decrease to the refinement of pore structure due …

Public Private Partnership Pitfalls In Toll Roads, Mahran Maher Zatar

Civil Engineering Theses - Archive

Public-Private Partnership (PPP) has been one of the most effective concepts in developing infrastructure projects. By bringing in creative skills and management efficiency from business practice, private companies can potentially improve efficiency and productivity in implementation of major capital projects and provide an effective approach to meet project objectives. The main idea behind the partnership in toll roads delivery is putting together the strengths of both public and private sectors in order to provide services in the most cost-effective manner, on time, and with the highest quality. However, the criteria on which governments judge the "success" of PPP projects is …

Development Of Linear Regression Model For Predicting Water Quality Parameters From Anaerobic Treatment Of Vinasse, Shammi Rahman

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

One of the most prominent biofuels today is ethanol. The production of ethanol from biomass, whether from sugar crops, starch crops, dairy products, or cellulosic materials, results in the production of a high-strength liquid waste called vinasse. Approximately 12 liters of vinasse are produced for every 1 liter of ethanol. Vinasse is high in solids and organic content, with biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) ranging from 30 to 40 g/L, and a low pH, typically from 3-5. Traditionally, in countries such as India, Brazil, and other Latin American countries, vinasse has been disposed of by applying it as a fertilizer on …

An Investigation Of Durability And Reliability Of Hdpe Pipe For Large Diameter Water Transmission Applications, Divyashree

Civil Engineering Theses - Archive

The drinking water infrastructure in the North America requires a durable and reliable water transmission pipe material. Thus, it is important to study pipe performance, so that water utilities can benefit from cost-effective and efficient pipe installations and longer design life. All pipe materials deteriorate overtime and every pipe has unique properties with advantages and limitations. During a pipe's life cycle, failures occur due to numerous factors such as age, loading conditions, environmental conditions, installation quality, manufacturing procedures, operation and maintenance strategies and so on. The fatigue performance under cyclic loading in conducted, since very limited information is available on …

Comparison Of Deflection Measurement Methods Of Large Diameter Steel Pipes With Control Low Strength Material, Saman Farrokhi Gozarchi

Civil Engineering Theses - Archive

This study investigates the structural integrity of large diameter (108 inch) steel pipes with mortar lining embedded with Controlled Low Strength Material (CLSM) during installation. Field tests were carried out in the prove-out section of line J which is a 2 mile (3.21 km) section of an Integrated Pipeline network (IPL) that will ultimately run a length of 150 mile (241.4 km) from Lake Palestine to Lake Benbrook. The prove-out is a section of line J that was used for experimental research for the use of CLSM as an embedment material and calibrate Finite Element Method (FEM) model for the …

Comparative Analysis Of Flood Frequency Based On Radar-Based Precipitation Data And Precipitation Trends, Simeon Andrew Benson

Civil Engineering Theses - Archive

This study utilizes radar-based precipitation data from the National Weather Service West Gulf River Forecast Center to extract the depth-area-duration relationships via the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' software HEC-MetVue. Extreme storms from 1997-2013 were analyzed to determine the characteristics for synthetic design storms. Design storms of 10, 25, 50 and 100 year return periods were developed and simulated using the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' hydrologic modeling tool, HEC-HMS. Finally, flood frequency analysis using the existing method was carried out for comparison and hydrologic impact assessment. The depth-area-duration curves produced were converted to areal-reduction factors for comparison with Technical …

Strength And Stiffness Characteristics Of Lime Stabilized Soil In A Flexible Pavement Design, Andrew James Domke

Civil Engineering Theses - Archive

Lime treatment has proven to be a useful tool for stabilizing expansive soils. Expansive soils cause major damage to flexible and rigid pavements every year, since seasonal changes in soil moisture creates cyclical changes in the forces acting on a pavement. The use of lime to stabilize soil can reduce the soil's swell potential and add strength and stiffness to a pavement's subgrade. Due to the improved physical properties, lime stabilized soil (LSS) can be considered as part of the structural pavement layers. Utilizing LSS as a subbase in the pavement structure can reduce the thickness of the more expensive …

Long-Term Effects Of Synthetic Fibers On Concrete Pipes, Sasan Farrokhi Gozarchi

Civil Engineering Theses - Archive

The studies undertaken by this research were to evaluate the long-term performance and durability of synthetic fiber-reinforced concrete pipes. The target long-term performance is for 9000 hours. Two sets of pipes 8 ft. (2400 mm) long with inside diameters of 24 in. (600 mm) and 36 in. (1200 mm) were manufactured, with a wall thickness of 3 and 4 in., respectively. The pipes were produced based on ASTM C76, for a Class III type with a Wall B. The two set of pipes included RCP's (as control) and SYN-FRCP's. The SYN-FRCP's had several fiber dosages ranging from 6 lb/yd3 (3.5 …

Context-Aware Mobile Augmented Reality Visualization In Construction Engineering Education, Arezoo Shirazi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Recent studies suggest that the number of students pursuing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) degrees has been generally decreasing. An extensive body of research cites the lack of motivation and engagement in the learning process as a major underlying reason of this decline. It has been discussed that if properly implemented, instructional technology can enhance student engagement and the quality of learning. Therefore, the main goal of this research is to implement and assess effectiveness of augmented reality (AR)-based pedagogical tools on student learning. For this purpose, two sets of experiments were designed and implemented in two different construction …

Membrane Efficiency Of A Dense Prehydrated Gcl, Michael A. Malusis, Akmal Daniyarov

Other Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

An Analysis Of The Protected-Permitted Left Turn At Intersections With A Varying Number Of Opposing Through Lanes, Alexander Navarro

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Flashing Yellow Arrow Left Turn signal is quickly becoming prominent in Central Florida as a new method of handling left turns at traffic signals. While the concept of a protected-permitted left turn is not groundbreaking, the departure from the typical display of a five-section signal head is, for this type of operation. The signal head introduced is a four-section head with a flashing yellow arrow between the yellow and green arrows. With this signal head quickly becoming the standard, there is a need to re-evaluate the operational characteristics of the left turning vehicle and advance the knowledge of the …

The Fate Of Nitrogen And Phosphorus From A Simulated Highway Cross-Section, Zuzanna Wasowska

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Nutrient pollution as a result of excessive fertilizer application is of major concern for Florida's water resources. Excess fertilizer can be lost either via surface runoff or by leaching through the soil mass eventually reaching water bodies and leading to eutrophication. The focus of this study is to analyze the effect of low rainfall intensities and overland flow from an adjacent roadway surface on the loss of nutrients from two different fertilizers. This study focuses on the fate of the nitrogen and phosphorus present in fertilizers utilized by the Florida Department of Transportation for the stabilization of highway embankments. This …

Characterization Of Dynamic Structures Using Parametric And Non-Parametric System Identification Methods, Ayad Al Rumaithi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The effects of soil-foundation-structure (SFS) interaction and extreme loading on structural behaviors are important issues in structural dynamics. System identification is an important technique to characterize linear and nonlinear dynamic structures. The identification methods are usually classified into the parametric and non-parametric approaches based on how to model dynamic systems. The objective of this study is to characterize the dynamic behaviors of two realistic civil engineering structures in SFS configuration and subjected to impact loading by comparing different parametric and non-parametric identification results. First, SFS building models were studied to investigate the effects of the foundation types on the structural …

Structural Health Monitoring Using Novel Sensing Technologies And Data Analysis Methods, Seyedmasoud Malekzadeh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The main objective of this research is to explore, investigate and develop the new data analysis techniques along with novel sensing technologies for structural health monitoring applications. The study has three main parts. First, a systematic comparative evaluation of some of the most common and promising methods is carried out along with a combined method proposed in this study for mitigating drawbacks of some of the techniques. Secondly, nonparametric methods are evaluated on a real life movable bridge. Finally, a hybrid approach for non-parametric and parametric method is proposed and demonstrated for more in depth understanding of the structural performance. …

Development Of A Chemical Kinetic Model For The Combustion Of A Synthesis Gas From A Fluidized-Bed Sewage Sludge Gasifier In A Thermal Oxidizer, Luis Martinez

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The need for sustainability has been on the rise. Municipalities are finding ways of reducing waste, but also finding ways to reduce energy costs. Waste-to-energy is a sustainable method that may reduce bio-solids volume while also producing energy. In this research study bio-solids enters a bubbling bed gasifier and within the gasifier a synthesis gas is produced. This synthesis gas exits through the top of the gasifier and enters a thermal oxidizer for combustion. The thermal oxidizer has an innovative method of oxidizing the synthesis gas. The thermal oxidizer has two air injection sites and the possibility for aqueous ammonia …

Optimization Of Block Layout And Evaluation Of Collection Mat Materials For Polyacrylamide Treatment Channels, Alicia Mcdougal

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Construction sites are frequently cited as major sources of pollution that degrade the quality of surface water. The highly erodible topsoil is transported off site by stormwater runoff causing negative effects downstream. Research has shown that the small particles, which are the most susceptible to erosive forces, have more pollutants associated with them than larger soil particles. Currently, in the state of Florida, it is not permissible to discharge water to a receiving water body if the turbidity is more than 29 Nephelometric Turbidity Units (NTUs) above background or higher than background for an outstanding Florida water body. The removal …

Equity And Fairness In Transport Planning: The State Of Play, Sarah Rock, Aoife Ahern Prof., Brian Caulfield Dr.

Conference Papers

This paper explores the concept of equity, or fairness, in transport. As a pillar of sustainable development, social equity is an important objective of transport planning. The provision of transport infrastructure can have significant equity impacts on society through the distribution of costs and benefits. In recent years, there has been an increase in research interest in transportation related equity issues. The paper outlines the primary theoretical traditions that relate to equity and transport equity, and how equity concerns are currently addressed and evaluated in academia and in practice. Recent research has attempted to establish stronger principles from which to …

Seed Tape Effects On Corn Emergence Under Greenhouse Conditions, Ramarao Venkatesh, Peter R. Thomison, Colette K. Gabriel, Mark A. Bennett, Elaine M. Grassbaugh, Matthew D. Kleinhenz, Scott A. Shearer, Santosh Pitla

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Seed tape has recently received attention as an alternative planting system for smallholder farmers in underdeveloped regions of South America, Africa, China, and India (Mateus, 2014). Seed companies are also developing seed-tape planting systems for germplasm evaluations (Deppermann et al., 2013). Although seed tape has been promoted as a method for ensuring uniform seed spacing and plant density of small-seeded flowers, herbs, and vegetables (Chancellor, 1969), little or no information is available on the use of seed tape for larger-seeded row crops and its effect on crop emergence. The objective of this study was to compare the emergence of corn …

Fate Of Antimicrobials And Antimicrobial Resistance Genes In Simulated Swine Manure Storage, Stacey R. Joy, Xu Li, Daniel D. Snow, John Gilley, Bryan L. Woodbury, Shannon L. Bartelt-Hunt

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

The behavior of three antibiotics (bacitracin, chlortetracycline, and tylosin) and two classes of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), tet and erm, were monitored in swine manure slurry under anaerobic conditions. First-order decay rates were determined for each antibiotic with half-lives ranging from1 day (chlortetracycline) to 10 days (tylosin). ARGs were monitored in the swine manure slurry, and losses of approximately 1 to 3 orders of magnitude in relative abundance were observed during the 40 day storage period. First-order degradation profiles were observed for chlortetracycline and its corresponding resistance genes, tet(X) and tet(Q). Tylosin was degraded to approximately 10% …

Experimental And Modelling Evaluation Of Slagging Behaviour Of German Lignite, Martin Kaiser, Alexander Ilyushechkin

Coal Combustion and Gasification Products Journal Archive

The behaviour of mineral matter is important for the characterisation of coal for use in entrained-flow gasification technologies. We investigated four behavioural characteristics—ash fusion temperatures (AFT), slag viscosity versus temperature profiles, temperatures of critical viscosity (TCV), and slag phase compositions—of Rhenish lignite coal ash using laboratory and modelling tools. Our modelling of AFT using coal ash composition provided a wide range of data, with only one (modified) model demonstrating agreement with experimental data. Experimental slag viscosity data were obtained over a temperature range from 1200uC to 1500uC. Where relevant, TCV was also measured. Comparison of these data to the calculated …

Shear Strength Of Chemically Based Self-Consolidating Concrete Beams: Fracture Mechanics Approach Versus Modified Compression Field Theory, Mahdi Arezoumandi, Jeffery S. Volz

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

An experimental investigation was conducted to study the shear strength of full-scale beams constructed with both chemically based self-consolidating concrete (SCC) and conventional concrete (CC). This experimental program consisted of 12 beams without stirrups with three different longitudinal reinforcement ratios. The beams were tested under a simply supported four-point loading condition. The experimental shear strengths of the beams were compared with the shear provisions of both U.S. and international design codes. Furthermore, the shear strengths of the beams were evaluated based on fracture mechanics approaches, modified compression field theory (MCFT), and a shear database of CC specimens. Results of this …

Safety Effect Of Missouri's Strategic Highway Safety Plan: Missouri's Blueprint For Safer Roadways, Mojtaba A. Mohammadi, V. A. Samaranayake, Ghulam H. Bham

Mathematics and Statistics Faculty Research & Creative Works

This study systematically evaluated the changes in motor vehicle crashes that occurred on the Missouri Interstate highway system following the implementation of the Missouri Strategic Highway Safety Plan (MSHSP) between 2004 and 2007. The MSHSP implemented crash injury reduction strategies in enforcement, education, engineering, and public policy. Empirical Bayesian methods were commonly used to evaluate the effects of any change in safety as a result of countermeasures. This paper presents a simple new approach to evaluating the effects of Missouri's safety plans on roadway crashes. For crash data associated with traffic and roadway characteristics, negative binomial regression models were developed …

Alternative Funding Mechanisms For State Transportation Systems In Predominantly Rural States, John E. Anderson, Eric Thompson

Bureau of Business Research Publications

The Transportation Research Board of the National Academies has identified a number of research needs related to alternative transportation finance systems. Alternatives are needed because motor fuels taxes are proving to be insufficient to fund operation and maintenance costs of the transportation system. The long-term trend is likely to be continuing use of motor fuel taxes, supplemented by, or transitioning to, use-based fees. Current research in progress in this area is focused on designing variable fees that will internalize congestion externalities in urban areas. These approaches are particularly well suited to highly urbanized areas, but other approaches may be required …

Full-Scale Field Testing Of Micropiles In Stiff Clay Subjected To Combined Axial And Lateral Loads, Kyle A. Kershaw, Ronaldo Luna

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A series of full-scale micro piles was installed at a site in mid-Missouri for a load-test program to study the effect of combined loading. The micro piles were installed with a 178-mm (7-in.) outer diameter steel casing to a depth of 4.6 m (15 ft) and a bond zone length of 3.0 m (10 ft). The surficial soils at the site consisted of stiff-to-hard clay underlain by weathered silty/sandy shale where the bond zone of the micro piles was located. The load-test program included axial, lateral, and combined-load tests. The ultimate axial and lateral capacity of the piles was initially …