Civil and Environmental Engineering Commons^™

Forecasting Seasonal Hydrologic Response In Major River Basins., A. M. Tanvir Hossain Bhuiyan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Seasonal precipitation variation due to natural climate variation influences stream flow and the apparent frequency and severity of extreme hydrological conditions such as flood and drought. To study hydrologic response and understand the occurrence of extreme hydrological events, the relevant forcing variables must be identified. This study attempts to assess and quantify the historical occurrence and context of extreme hydrologic flow events and quantify the relation between relevant climate variables. Once identified, the flow data and climate variables are evaluated to identify the primary relationship indicators of hydrologic extreme event occurrence. Existing studies focus on developing basin-scale forecasting techniques based …

Chemical And Hydrodynamic Mechanisms For Long-Term Geological Carbon Storage, Susan J. Altman, Wen Deng, For Full List Of Authors, See Publisher's Website.

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Geological storage of CO₂ (GCS), also referred to as carbon sequestration, is a critical component for decreasing anthropogenic CO₂ atmospheric emissions. Stored CO₂ will exist as a supercritical phase, most likely in deep, saline, sedimentary reservoirs. Research at the Center for Frontiers of Subsurface Energy Security (CFSES), a Department of Energy, Energy Frontier Research Center, provides insights into the storage process. The integration of pore-scale experiments, molecular dynamics simulations, and study of natural analogue sites has enabled understanding of the efficacy of capillary, solubility, and dissolution trapping of CO₂ for GCS. Molecular dynamics simulations provide insight on relative wetting of …

Investigation Of Warm Mix Asphalt Overlays And Geosynthetic Pavement Interlayers, William Bolger

All Theses

Geosynthetics play an ever increasing role in enhancing pavements. The construction of asphalt overlays with geosynthetic interlayers is a common method to rehabilitate flexible and rigid pavements. Geosynthetic interlayers provide numerous benefits to a pavement system. When utilized properly, geosynthetic interlayers can prevent water from infiltrating a roadway base and can extend the life of a pavement and assist in absorbing stresses. Geoysnthetics lead to an increase in a pavement overlay's performance and also retard reflective cracking. Warm mix asphalt has become more popular as a result of the search for more sustainable construction practices. WMA and its technologies are …

Sealants, Treatments And Deicing Salt Practices To Limit Bridge Deck Corrosion And Experimental Deck Sealants And Pier Cap Coating On Interstate 471, Danny Wells, Sudhir Palle, Bobby W. Meade, Theodore Hopwood Ii

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This project evaluated the ability of concrete sealants to impede the ingress of chloride ions into concrete bridge decks. Laboratory testing evaluated 24 concrete-penetrating sealants and four film-forming products. The products were selected based on survey results from adjacent state transportation agencies. KTC assisted the KYTC in developing Special Notes for applying four experimental sealants to two bridges (B00056L & B00056R) located on Interstate 471, over 6th Street in New Port, Kentucky. The sealants chosen for the field-testing were intended to reduce the ingress of chloride ions when deicing materials are applied to road surfaces. Pre- and post-application friction test …

Biomass And Lipid Production Of Chlorella Protothecoides Under Heterotrophic Cultivation On A Mixed Waste Substrate Of Brewer Fermentation And Crude Glycerol, Xiaoyu Feng

All Theses

Biodiesel production using Chlorella protothecoides microalgae species has become an attractive topic due to the intense requirements of renewable energy in past decades. While, the expensive capital cost of the carbon and nitrogen substrates for algae growth is becoming a restrictive problem in this filed. In this study, heterotrophic cultivation of Chlorella protothecoides in the dark was conducted in 500mL shake flasks. Chlorella protothecoides growth in mixed substrate of brewer fermentation and biodiesel crude glycerol by-products containing a relatively high concentration of carbon and nitrogen was discussed and compared with that in microalgae basal medium which was supplied with 30 …

Clemson University Science Master's Program In Sustainable And Resilient Infrastructure: A Program Evaluation, Elizabeth O'Sell

All Theses

The Clemson University Science Master's Program (SMP) in Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructure is a program which aims to link engineering, materials, construction, environment, architecture, business, and public policy to produce graduates with unique holistic perspective and expertise to immediately contribute to the workforce in the area of sustainable and resilient infrastructure. A program evaluation of the SMP has been performed to study the effectiveness of the SMP and identify areas where the goals and vision of the SMP are achieved and areas where improvements can be made. This was completed by analysis of trends within survey responses, review of Master's …

Post-Tensioning To Prevent End-Region Cracks In Pretensioned Concrete Girders, Michael Willis

All Theses

Web-splitting cracking during and immediately after prestress transfer is a common problem in pretensioned concrete beams, often with lasting effects on the durability and performance. By providing an entry point for chlorides and other corrosives, end-region cracks enable degradation of reinforcing steel and further cracking. Current practices offer a variety of methods for controlling end-region cracking. However, methods for preventing--not just controlling or repairing--end-region cracks are necessary to improve prestressed concrete construction. Vertical end-region post-tensioning is a developing method for preventing web-splitting cracks. The purpose of this document is to explore implementation methods of post-tensioning using the turn-of-the nut procedure, …

Preliminary Evaluation Of Kenaf As A Structural Material, Andrew Sheldon

All Theses

Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) is an annual fiber plant that is kin to cotton and okra and native to east-central Africa, though it is currently grown in numerous locations around the globe. The plant's apparent high strength and light weight along with its environmental and sustainability advantages makes it a good candidate for use in structural materials. The goal of this study was to design a kenaf product that resembled parallel strand lumber and required minimal processing of the kenaf. The mechanical properties of the two main components of kenaf, the bast fibers and the core, were evaluated using experimental …

Effect Of Particle Shape And Size On Compressibility Behavior Of Dredged Sediment In A Geotextile Tube Dewatering Application, Louis Lafata

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

Each year, more than 250 million cubic yards of sediment need to be dredged from U.S. ports, harbors and waterways to maintain navigability. This is accomplished by dredging, the process of excavating submerged sediment by means of scooping or suction. Dredged sediments have low solids content, typically between 10% and 20% for hydraulic dredging. Geotextile tubes are one of many methods utilized to dewater these sediments, which is a process of removing water from sediment that contains low percent solids. Understanding the engineering behavior of slurries inside geotextile tubes is critical for the evaluation of the properties of the dewatered …

Response Of Large River Fishes To A Prolonged High Water Event In The Missouri River, Nebraska, Nicholas Paul Hogberg

School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Regulation and modification of large rivers to accommodate human uses have been a root cause of freshwater biodiversity declines. The Missouri River is among the most drastically-altered large river systems in North America, with a series of mainstem impoundments in the upper watershed altering flow characteristics downstream, and channelization throughout the lower river homogenizing instream habitat and reducing off-channel habitat. Precipitation events during the winter and spring 2010-2011 caused flooding of the greatest magnitude and duration since reservoir completion. The large magnitude and long duration of this flood made it unlike any flood in recent history and provided a unique …

Organizational Accountability In The W.A.S.H. Sector: Integrating Sustainability Factors Into The Definition Of Success, Kaitlyn Jeanis

HIM 1990-2015

The world's poorest people, most of whom reside in under-developed nations, lack access to clean water and sanitation facilities, nutritious food, and education (UMP, 2005). These conditions are linked to malnutrition, disease, and low life expectancies (WHO). In an effort to reduce global poverty, the United Nations (UN) adopted the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Under Goal 7c the UN denotes that by 2015 the population without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation as compared to the proportion who do should be halved. As a response to this objective the international development (ID) sector has implemented projects aimed …

Influence Of Limestone Powder Content And Size On Transport Properties Of Self-Consolidating Concrete, Rebecca Kendal Spitek

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Self-consolidating concrete (SCC) requires higher cementitious materials content than conventional vibratory-placed concrete. This requirement leads to higher time-dependent properties (i.e., shrinkage (drying and autogeneous) and creep), increases formwork pressure, and results in a higher production cost. One alternative to alleviate excess creep and shrinkage, and to reduce cost, is to replace a portion of cementitious materials with mineral additives. The objective of this study was to examine the role of limestone powder, as a partial replacement of cementitious materials, on transport properties of self-consolidating concrete (SCC). A total of 10 different SCCs, including a control concrete, was prepared and test …

Salinity Management In The Upper Colorado River Basin: Modeling, Monitoring, And Cost-Equity Challenges, Jongho Keum

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Salinity issues in the Upper Colorado River Basin have been a serious concern to the western United States and northern Mexico. The Colorado River salinity is mainly come from geologic materials located in the Upper Colorado River Basin. Natural weathering and human activities, such as irrigation, accelerate the dissolution of saline materials. Economic damages due to salinity in the Colorado River Basin are estimated at $295 million in 2010, for example, reduced crop yield, plugging of water pipes and fixtures, and ecological health of rivers. In order to manage salinity in the Upper Colorado River Basin, SPARROW model has been …

Volatile Organic Compounds (Vocs) In Indoor Air: Emission From Consumer Products And The Use Of Plants For Air Sampling, Todd A. Wetzel

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Adults living in North America spend an estimated 80-90% of their time indoors where they can be exposed to a wide range of volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) found in home construction materials and consumer products (e.g. molded plastics, adhesives, cleaning products, paints, etc.). Some of these VOCs are known to be harmful if exposure concentrations are high or occur over a long period of time. Vapor intrusion (VI), the process by which VOCs in the soil or groundwater migrate to indoor air from a contaminated site, can also contaminate indoor air. Since remediation activities to prevent or stop VI are …

Considerations For Hood Placement And Design Downstream From A Fixed-Cone Valve, Barry Jacob Prettyman

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

In many hydroelectric projects there is a need to safely dissipate the energy associated with the elevation of the water surface. When the flow is not passing through the turbines, bypass valves are often used. A valve that is commonly used is the fixed-cone valve. Fixed-cone valves, also known as Howell-Bunger valves, are devices often used to safely reduce flow energy at dams with medium to high heads. The valve directs the outflow into a conical hollow jet, which requires a large area for energy dissipation. The flow is controlled by an adjustable sleeve, also known as the gate which …

Evaluation Of Composting Of Municipal Solid Waste, J. Ryan Stebbins

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Millions of tons of organic waste are lost each year by being deposited in landfills instead of being composted. Composting would increase the life of landfills and reduce the loss of renewable resources. Current composting techniques take approximately 6 months to break down the organic components, such as yard trimmings and food waste. In addition, a large amount of area is required for the windrows piles. Recycling techniques help to separate organics, such as yard trimmings and food waste, from the municipal solid waste (MSW) stream for composting. However, these techniques are time consuming, costly, and not extensively practiced. Since …

Labyrinth Weirs: A Look Into Geometric Variation And Its Effect On Efficiency And Design Method Predictions, Tyler Robert Seamons

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The rehabilitation of dams often requires spillway capacity upgrades. Replacing a less hydraulically efficient linear weir with a labyrinth weir can be an effective way to increase discharge efficiency (discharge at a given upstream head) for a fixed-width channel. Labyrinth weirs are linear weirs folded in plan view to increase total spillway crest length (which in turn increases discharge efficiency within a channel). Labyrinth weirs potentially have limitless geometric configurations. This study was performed to analyze the effects of varying certain geometric parameters on discharge efficiency and design method predictions.

Due to limited cross-sectional flow area near the upstream apex, …

The Effects Of Pipewall Offsets On Water Meter Accuracy, Jesse M. Pope

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Accurate flow measurement is essential for the management of any type of fluid system. In order for a meter to accurately measure the flow, some installation requirements must be met. These installation requirements are meant to produce a condition where there are limited flow disturbances as the fluid enters the meter. If flow disturbances do occur, the meter may produce inaccurate measurements.

This research investigated the effect on accuracy that different types of 12-inch flow meters have as a result of being installed in pipelines of differing inside diameter. The types of meters chosen for this research were the portable …

Effects Of Froude Scaling On Velocity-Induced Vortices In Physical Models, Michael S. Budge

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The Utah Water Research Laboratory at Utah State University proposes to examine further a little known issue frequently seen in research conducted. The Utah Water Research Lab frequently conducts physical model studies of hydraulic structures for organizations around the world during the design process. These studies allow engineers to determine potential design revisions though simulations of operations including flood flows. Often, vortices, or whirlpools, occur in these models. Vortices are common occurrences at intakes in hydraulic structures such as dams and pump sumps. They can be detrimental to the operation and efficiency of these structures.

The purpose of this work …

Nonlinear Weir Hydraulics, Mitchell R. Dabling

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

A hydraulically undersized control structure (i.e., an emergency dam spillway) could result in water overtopping a dam or riverbanks. To increase hydraulic capacity and reduce flooding risk, nonlinear weirs are being used to replace undersized linear weirs during control structure rehabilitation. The complex geometry of a nonlinear weir creates an infinite number of designs and three-dimensional flow patterns. This study investigates four subjects to further knowledge on two types of nonlinear weir, the piano key and labyrinth.

Weir submergence is a condition when the downstream water level of a weir exceeds the weir crest elevation, and can influence the head-discharge …

Uniform Temperature Predictions And Temperature Gradient Effects On I-Girder And Box Girder Concrete Bridges, Edyson Rojas

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) created the Long-Term Bridge Performance (LTBP) program with the objective of acquiring quality scientific data for in-service bridge performance throughout the United States. This information will be used to improve the practices of bridge design and maintenance. To accomplish this objective, a variety of sensors were installed on a bridge south of Sacramento, California and a bridge near Perry, Utah. Data from the sensors is constantly gather and analyzed.

This research analyzed the data from the temperature sensors in order to investigate the effect of temperature changes in the California and Utah bridges over a …

Investigating The Physical Properties And Runoff Treatment Capability Of Pervious Concrete Containing Granular Activated Carbon, Mark Elias Elkouz

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

A current environmental concern is that of urban stormwater runoff, which can carry a multitude of contaminants and could threaten or impair surface waters. Pervious concrete (PC) is a type of concrete with significant void spaces that can facilitate infiltration and lead to less runoff. The EPA cites previous research to show that pervious pavement structures reduce such contaminants as metals and total suspended solids. Since Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) is a well-known contaminant adsorbent, the purpose of this research was to determine if PC with added GAC would result in improved runoff treatment, while still maintaining its material properties. …

Highway Routine Maintenance Cost Estimation For Nevada, Monika Hagood

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

State highway agencies are obligated to maintain existing roads for the highway systems to work efficiently and with greater longevity. Every year NDOT is responsible for approximately 13,150 lane miles of existing infrastructure. With that in mind, resources need to be provided to maintain the highway system.

The purpose of this research was to estimate annual routine maintenance cost for several typical treatment methods of highways. Five prioritization categories of highways used by NDOT were considered. Linear regression models were developed that present the relationship between costs including total maintenance cost and five maintenance cost components: labor, equipment, materials, manpower …

Modeling Of Short Term And Long Term Impacts Of Freeway Traffic Incidents Using Historical Data, Vidhya Kumaresan

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Traffic incidents are major contributors to non-recurring traffic congestion in most urban areas in United States. In addition to losses in terms of injury and property damage, freeway incidents also produce negative effects on the system including increased travel delays, fuel consumption and vehicle emissions. Incident management strategies are aimed at reducing the impacts caused by such incidents. Development of guidelines or models to quantify the impacts of these incidents on the society can aid in analyzing the effectiveness and economic feasibility of such incident management strategies.

The first objective of this study is to calibrate models that relate the …

Progressive Collapse Analysis Of Older Reinforced Concrete Flat Plate Buildings Using Macro Model, Jinrong Liu

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Catastrophic progressive collapse of a building can be triggered by a sudden loss of a load-bearing element in an abnormal loading event. There is a large inventory of reinforced concrete flat plate buildings designed in accordance with older codes. Without using shear and integrity reinforcement in slabs, these older flat plates are vulnerable to progressive collapse. The overall goal of this research is to numerically examine the resilience of older flat plate buildings against progressive collapse due to instantaneous removal of an exterior or interior column.

To achieve the research goal, a macro behavioral model of slab-column frame is created …

Weir-Baffled Culvert Hydrodynamics Evaluation For Fish Passage Using Particle Image Velocimetry And Computational Fluid Dynamic Techniques, Mohanad A. Khodier

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Due to a recent increase in environmental awareness regarding fish passage through hydraulic structures, including culverts, an evaluation of passage of wild brown trout through a weir-baffled, prototype-scale culvert, was conducted under a variety of culvert slopes and discharge conditions. The influence of the fish sample population and the lengths of the individual fish on passage rates were investigated. The data showed that the fish sample size of 25 per test was sufficiently large to minimize sample size dependency. Fish behavior, including resting/staging zone locations, while traversing the culvert was observed and reported. Two preferable resting zones for the fish …

Prediction Of Climate Change Effects On Streamflow Regime Important To Stream Ecology, Sulochan Dhungel

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Streamflow is expected to change with climate change, but a general understanding of how climate change will affect the characteristics of streamflow important to stream ecosystems is lacking. This thesis focused on specific characteristics of streamflow, or the streamflow regime, that are important to stream ecosystems. The need to evaluate the potential impacts of climate change on stream ecosystems makes it important to study how streamflow regime may change. This work has identified 16 characteristics of daily streamflow time series that quantify the patterns and span the aspects of streamflow regimes important for stream ecosystems. Principal component analysis objectively identified …

Causes And Countermeasures For Nappe Oscillation: An Experimental Approach, Aaron Allan Anderson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Weirs are commonly used as spillways to release flows from a reservoir. The freefalling jet on the downstream side of the weir is called the nappe. Under certain hydraulic conditions, determined mainly by the size, design, and construction of the weir, nappe oscillation, otherwise known as nappe vibration, can occur. Characteristics of this dynamic behavior include excessive acoustic energy manifested as sound pressure waves and lowfrequency noise accompanied by horizontal waves or banding on the nappe. Mitigation of this process may be required, especially if the weir operates in close proximity to occupied structures. Instability of water jets moving through …

Flexural, Shear, And Punching Shear Capacity Of Three 48-Year-Old Prestressed Lightweight Concrete Double-Tee Bridge Girders, Christopher S. Pettigrew

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The Icy Springs Bridge in Coalville, Utah carries 2^nd South Street over the Weber River west of Interstate 80. The bridge is owned by Coalville City and was originally constructed in 1965 as a single-span 51-foot long bridge using prestressed concrete double-tee girders. In the fall of 2013 the original bridge was replaced with a new 80-foot long single span bridge using prestressed concrete decked bulb-tee girders. The original girders were salvaged and transported to the Systems, Materials, and Structural Health Lab (SMASH Lab) where a series of tests were performed to determine the total losses in the prestressing …

Impact Of Beaver Ponds On Stream Temperature And On Solar Radiation Penetration In Water, Camilla J. Snow

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Beaver dams alter streams characteristics in a way that promotes the diversity of aquatic species and provides a wide distribution of temperatures within beaver ponds. In order to quantify the spatial distribution of these temperatures, a process-based temperature model was developed for a beaver pond in Northern Utah. This model provided insight into the processes and characteristics that are driving these temperatures. Solar radiation is one of these processes that is often the primary driver of stream temperature. There is a need to develop methods to measure the fate of solar radiation within the water to better represent solar radiation …