Civil and Environmental Engineering Commons^™

Bs News September/October

Building Services Engineering

No abstract provided.

Collapse Vulnerability And Fragility Analysis Of Substandard Rc Bridges Rehabilitated With Different Repair Jackets Under Post-Mainshock Cascading Events, Mostafa Fakharifar, Genda Chen, Ahmad Dalvand, Anoosh Shamsabadi

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Past earthquakes have signaled the increased collapse vulnerability of mainshock-damaged bridge piers and urgent need of repair interventions prior to subsequent cascading hazard events, such as aftershocks, triggered by the mainshock (MS). The overarching goal of this study is to quantify the collapse vulnerability of mainshock-damaged substandard RC bridge piers rehabilitated with different repair jackets (FRP, conventional thick steel and hybrid jacket) under aftershock (AS) attacks of various intensities. The efficacy of repair jackets on post-MS resilience of repaired bridges is quantified for a prototype two-span single-column bridge bent with lap-splice deficiency at column-footing interface. Extensive number of incremental dynamic …

Evaluation Of Deterioration Of Structural Concrete Due To Chloride Intrusion And Other Damaging Mechanisms, Sudhir Palle, Brian K. Howell, Theodore Hopwood Ii, Bobby W. Meade

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Kentucky's bridges continue to age and experience distress. The intrusion of chlorides into concrete remains the primary mechanism for deterioration. It leads to reinforcing steel corrosion that damages the adjoining concrete structure. This study found problematic chloride concentrations in Kentucky concrete bridge elements (decks, pier caps, abutments). Chloride levels have been found at concentrations sufficient to initiate reinforcing steel corrosion. In some cases, chloride concentrations were sufficient to cause accelerated corrosion and produce major section loss of reinforcing steel. Advanced stages of corrosion such as these typically require costly repairs and maintenance to extend the service life of bridges.

Field …

Analysis Of Historical Travel Time Data, Mei Chen, Xu Zhang, Eric R. Green

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Travel speed is a critical piece of information for many applications. The Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) states that calculating travel speeds illuminates the performance of the nation’s highway system. New technologies make the collection of speed data more straightforward than ever. Private vendors collect and sell this data, and KTC purchased speed data for 2010-2013 from NAVTEQ (now HERE). The main objectives of the research were to:

• Evaluate private sector speed data and its use in generating travel time based performance measures
• Create a mechanism to integrate this speed data with networks maintained by …

Online Driver’S License Renewal, Valerie J. Keathley, Andrew Martin, Jennifer R. Walton

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The Kentucky Department of Vehicle Regulation is exploring the possibility of developing and implementing online driver’s license renewal. The objective of this project was to: 1) evaluate online driver’s license and REAL ID renewal programs in other states to identify best practices; 2) examine two options to institute online renewal; and 3) identify what legislative changes would be required in Kentucky to authorize an online renewal program. KTC surveyed 25 states with online license renewal programs in place, and received responses from 14 states. Survey respondents indicated that online renewal is more efficient, improves customer service, cuts down on foot …

Conceptual Development Of An Impact-Attenuation System For Intersecting Roadways, Joseph G. Putjenter, Robert W. Bielenberg, Ronald K. Faller, John D. Reid

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

Longitudinal barriers are commonly used to shield hazards, including stiff bridge rail ends and slopes. In some locations, a secondary roadway intersects the primary roadway within the guardrail’s length-of-need (LON). Some intersections may have as little as 15 ft (4.6 m) between the intersection and beginning of the bridge railing, which require short-radius guardrail systems. One short-radius guardrail system has passed several crash tests under AASHTO Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH) standards.

Site conditions provided by the Nebraska Department of Roads were used to determine the constraints for a new safety treatment for intersecting roadways and include intersection radii, …

Mgs Dynamic Deflections And Working Widths At Lower Speeds, Nicholas A. Weiland, Cody S. Stolle, John D. Reid, Ronald K. Faller, Robert W. Bielenberg, Karla A. Lechtenberg

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

The Midwest Guardrail System (MGS) has been full-scale crash tested in many configurations, including installations adjacent to slopes, with different types of wood posts, with and without blockouts, for culvert and bridge applications, and at high flare rates. Although the performance of the MGS and the dynamic deflection and working width of the barrier have been examined, little is known about the dynamic deflection and working width of the MGS when impacted at lower speeds. The MGS is a relatively low-cost barrier, and the Test Level 3 (TL-3) version could be installed for TL-2 and TL-1 applications. The barrier is …

Modified Inverse First-Order Reliability Method (I-Form) For Predicting Extreme Sea States, Aubrey Celia Eckert-Gallup

Civil Engineering ETDs

Environmental contours describing extreme sea states are generated as the input for numerical or physical model simulations as a part of the standard current practice for designing marine structures to survive extreme sea states. Such environmental contours are characterized by combinations of significant wave height (Hs) and energy period (Te) or peak period (Tp) values calculated for a given recurrence interval using a set of data based on hindcast simulations or buoy observations over a sufficient period of record. The use of the inverse first-order reliability method (I-FORM) is standard design practice for generating environmental contours. This thesis develops enhanced …

Analysis Of Traffic Crash Data In Kentucky (2010-2014), Eric R. Green, Kenneth R. Agent, Jerry G. Pigman, Michael A. Fields

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report documents an analysis of traffic crash data in Kentucky for the years of 2010 through 2014. A primary objective of this study was to determine average crash statistics for Kentucky highways. Rates were calculated for various types of highways and for counties and cities. Difference criteria were used for exposure.

Nonstationary Internal Tides Observed Using Dual-Satellite Altimetry, Edward D. Zaron

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Dual-satellite crossover data from the Jason-2 and Cryosat-2 altimeter missions are used in a novel approach to quantify stationary and nonstationary tides from time-lagged mean square sea surface height (SSH) differences, computed for lags from 1 to 1440 h (60 days). The approach is made feasible by removing independent estimates of the stationary tide and mesoscale SSH variance, which greatly reduces the sampling error of the SSH statistics. For the semidiurnal tidal band, the stationary tidal variance is approximately 0.73 cm(2), and the nonstationary variance is about 0.33 cm(2), or 30% of the total. The temporal correlation of the nonstationary …

Development Of A Pedestrian Demand Estimation Tool, Kelly Clifton, Patrick Allen Singleton, Christopher D. Muhs, Robert J. Schneider

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Most research on walking behavior has focused on mode choice or walk-trip frequency. In contrast, this study is one of the first to analyze the destination choice behaviors of pedestrians. Using about 4,500 walk trips from a 2011 household travel survey in the Portland, OR, region, we estimated multinomial logit pedestrian destination choice models for six trip purposes. Independent variables included terms for impedance (walk-trip distance); size (employment by type, households); supportive pedestrian environments (parks, a pedestrian index of the environment variable called PIE); barriers to walking (terrain, industrial-type employment); and traveler characteristics. Unique to this study was the use …

Comparisons Of Linear Regression Models For Properties Of Alkaliactivated Binder Concrete, Arkamitra Kar, Udaya B. Halabe, Indrajit Ray, Avinash Unnikrishnan

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Concrete with alkali-activated binder (AAB) is increasingly considered as a better alternative to conventional portland cement (PC) concrete due to its superior sustainable and green properties. In order to promote the practical usage of AAB concrete, a previous study by the present authors proposed models on correlations among their mechanical and nondestructive properties. The present study extends the previous knowledge by proposing new improved models using linear regressions to predict compressive strengths and modulus of elasticity from ultrasonic pulse velocities. The models are developed for both unstressed and stressed AAB concrete with different curing temperatures. The accuracies of the models …

Bending Behavior Of Carbon/Epoxy Composite Isobeam Structures, Brandon A. Asay

Theses and Dissertations

This research demonstrated the fabrication, flexural testing, and analysis of nominally 5 ft (1.5 m) 6-bay and 10 ft (3 m) 12-bay carbon/epoxy IsoBeam™ structures. The rectangular cross-section was 5 in (12.7 cm) wide by 10 in (25.4 cm) high. The IsoBeam structure is a composite lattice structure that is a geometric derivative of the IsoTruss® structure. Modifying the geometry to yield a rectangular cross-section provides additional applications for these beams as structural elements in buildings, aircraft, vehicles, and other structures. The diameters of the constituent members of the IsoBeam, namely the longitudinal and diagonal members, were sized such that …

Molecular View Modeling Of Atmospheric Organic Particulate Matter: Incorporating Molecular Structure And Co-Condensation Of Water, James F. Pankow, Marguerite Colasurdo Marks, Kelley C. Barsanti, Abdullah Mahmud, William E. Asher, Jingyi Li, Qi Ying, Shantanu H. Jathar, Michael J. Kleeman

Chemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

Most urban and regional models used to predict levels of organic particulate matter (OPM) are based on fundamental equations for gas/particle partitioning, but make the highly simplifying, anonymized-view (AV) assumptions that OPM levels are not affected by either: a) the molecular. characteristics of the condensing organic compounds (other than simple volatility); or b) co-condensation of water as driven by non-zero relative humidity (RH) values. The simplifying assumptions have allowed parameterized chamber results for formation of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) (e.g., “two-product” (2p) coefficients) to be incorporated in chemical transport models. However, a return towards a less simplistic (and more computationally …

Integrating Distributed Sources Of Information For Construction Cost Estimating Using Semantic Web And Semantic Web Service Technologies, Mehrdad Niknam, Saeed Karshenas

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

A construction project requires collaboration of several organizations such as owner, designer, contractor, and material supplier organizations. These organizations need to exchange information to enhance their teamwork. Understanding the information received from other organizations requires specialized human resources. Construction cost estimating is one of the processes that requires information from several sources including a building information model (BIM) created by designers, estimating assembly and work item information maintained by contractors, and construction material cost data provided by material suppliers. Currently, it is not easy to integrate the information necessary for cost estimating over the Internet.

This paper discusses a new …

Investigating The Correlation Between Freeway Service Levels And Freeway Service Patrol Assists, Nora Chin

Master's Theses

The Bay Area Metropolitan Transportation Commission’s (MTC) Freeway Service Patrol’s highway motorist response service is reporting a reduction in their service levels. We analyze the relationship between the reduction in the Bay Area Freeway Service Patrol’s (FSP) motorist assists and changes in vehicle miles traveled (VMT), California Highway Patrol (CHP) reported incidents, and cover research on the impact of new and old vehicle fleet turnover. VMT and CHP incidents have differential effects on FSP assists. Although incidents occurring on freeways with high traffic flows tend to cause more congestion, the trend in local VMT along Bay Area freeway corridors does …

Project Delivery Methods For The Construction Of Public Schools In The Southeastern United States, Dennis C. Bausman

The Professional Constructor

Construction of new facilities is a risky enterprise due to the situational aspects of the project, multiple parties involved in the process, timing and budget constraints, and the design features and quality levels required by the owner. Decision makers are charged with selecting a project delivery system to successfully manage the design and construction process in order to meet the owner’s needs. This paper documents the delivery methods utilized for the construction of public schools in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina from 2006 to 2012 and provides insight into the reasons for the delivery method selections made by …

Construction Degree Graduates: An Evaluation Of Depth Of Skill Understanding And Skill Priority By Construction Industry Professionals, Ben F. Bigelow, Edelmiro Escamilla, Lauren Kuecker

The Professional Constructor

Previous studies have been conducted to determine the skills the construction industry expects graduates and entry level professionals to possess. The majority of those studies report soft skills and technical expertise as the main qualities graduates should have upon entering the industry. Many differing skills have been reported, but neither the expected depth of understanding in those skills nor the industry’s priority of those skills have been explored. To do so, a survey was administered to members of the Construction Industry Advisory Council at Texas A&M University asking these questions. Depth of understanding was evaluated on a four level basis …

Accident Patterns In Road Construction Work Zones, Tariq Shehab, Leah Phu

The Professional Constructor

Traffic safety in road construction zones has always been a major concern for engineering practitioners, departments of transportation, law enforcement professionals, researchers and many others. Due to the deteriorated condition of road and underground infrastructure facilities in the United States, the number of rehabilitation projects and their associated traffic accidents have increased over the past few years. To perform the needed road and underground utility rehabilitation activities in safer environments, researchers need to understand the causes behind these accidents. Although many researchers have been exploring the safety of many construction activities, research pertaining to road construction projects is lacking and …

Reviewer Thank You, Jason Lucas

The Professional Constructor

No abstract provided.

A Framework For Small-Scale Construction Projects By Ngos In Developing Countries, James D. Goedert, Bradley Cory

The Professional Constructor

This paper outlines a theoretical framework for NGOs who are building small-scale construction projects in developing countries. The framework is a step-by-step procedure to guide NGOs from developing project parameters at the start of the project with the partner to a locally controlled sustainable project closeout. The authors used the integrative project delivery approach along with past construction research models and personal experience to guide the development of the framework. Steps within the framework are illustrated using five projects from three countries. This work assumes that the ultimate objective of the project is local operational sustainability with the NGO’s presence …

Work Vehicle Warning Lights: Color Options And Effectiveness, Brian K. Howell, Jerry G. Pigman, Kenneth R. Agent

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

KTC reviewed existing regulations, guidance, and practices to assess the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s warning lights program on highway work vehicles. The Kentucky Revised Statutes categorizes KYTC vehicles as “public safety vehicles” and requires their use of amber lights. Because the use of red can be confused with emergency vehicles, KYTC prohibits the use of red on work vehicles. At the national level, standards for warning light colors do not exist. Rather, AASHTO provides guidance on roadway operations equipment and recommends the use of amber and white lights as the primary warning light colors for highway vehicles. AASHTO guidance also prescribes …

14-12 Capacity Analysis Of Pedestrian Facilities Involving Individuals With Disabilities, Mohammad Sadra Sharifi, Keith Christensen, Anthony Chen

Transportation Research Center Reports

Walking facilities are important infrastructures that must be designed to accommodate the behavior of pedestrians in order to be effective. Heterogeneity in pedestrian composition is one important factor generally overlooked in walking facility design guidelines. Particularly, individuals with disabilities are often ignored due to lack of available data on their pedestrian behaviors. A controlled, large-scaled walking experiment involving individuals with disabilities was conducted at Utah State University to observe individual pedestrian behaviors in various walking facilities; these facilities include passageway and bottleneck formations. The purpose of this report is twofold: (1) to model time headway between different individual types using …

14-04 Conditions That Influence Drivers' Yielding Behavior At Uncontrolled Crossings And Intersections With Traffic Signal Controls, Robert Wall Emerson, Eugene Bourquin, Dona Sauerburger, Janet Barlow

Transportation Research Center Reports

There is a dearth of studies on how pedestrian who are blind might positively influence driver yielding in different travel situations. This project assessed common pedestrian behaviors (head turning, holding a cane, taking a step, holding up a hand, exaggerated cane movement, standing without a cane) on yielding rate for right turning traffic at lighted intersections as well as at entry and exit lanes at roundabouts. Data replicated previous findings on yielding rates for displaying a cane (about 60%), holding up a hand (65% to 80%), or taking one step into the roadway (80% to 100%) and also showed that …

14-11 Travel In Adverse Winter Weather Conditions By Blind Pedestrians, Dae Shik Kim, Robert Wall Emerson, Dave Guth, Richard Long

Transportation Research Center Reports

Winter weather creates many orientation and mobility (O&M) challenges for people who are visually impaired. Getting the cane tip stuck is one of the noticeable challenges when traveling in snow, particularly when the walking surface is covered in deep snow. We compared four different cane tips: 1) metal glide, 2) marshmallow roller, 3) roller ball, and 4) bundu bahser. There was a statistically significant difference in frequency of sticking among the different cane tips. Post hoc analyses revealed that the sticking frequency for the metal glide tip was significantly higher than that for the roller ball tip, for the bundu …

14-10 Innovative Park-And-Ride Management For Livable Communities, Ziqi Song, Yi He

Transportation Research Center Reports

Park-and-ride (P&R) has been recognized as an effective way to tackle the challenge of the last-mile problem in public transportation, i.e., connecting transit stations to final destinations. Although the design and operations of P&R facilities have been extensively investigated, there is a pressing need for a theoretically sound methodology for planning and managing P&R facilities. It is critically important to investigate where P&R facilities should be strategically located and how often transit service should be provided such that the net social benefit can be maximized.

This project proposes an integrated planning methodology for locating P&R facilities and designing transit services …

14-09 Alternatives For Providing A Safe Passage For Non-Motorized Traffic Across An Existing Highway Bridge, U. B. Attanayake, L. A. Lopez

Transportation Research Center Reports

Non-motorized transportation increases mobility choices, relieves congestion, promotes local economy, reduces greenhouse gas emission, promotes a healthy lifestyle, and improves quality of life. Recently, there is an emphasis on developing integrated transportation systems with off-road shared use paths and on-road facilities. A majority of highway bridges that are located on the planned or existing non-motorized paths have become bottle-necks for non-motorized traffic. Therefore, there is a need to evaluate the bridges on non-motorized paths to identify safe passage alternatives to non-motorized traffic. The owner agencies need to have access to a methodological process to evaluate a site for the best …

14-01 Exploring The Equity Dimensions Of Us Bicycle Sharing Systems, C. Scott Smith, Jun-Seok Oh, Cheyenne Lei

Transportation Research Center Reports

Research over the past several decades has made it increasingly clear that livable communities are inextricably linked with the provision of opportunities for active and/or non-motorized transportation; i.e., walking, cycling and their variants. An emerging phenomena that is working within the broader movement of active transportation is public bicycle sharing systems (BSS). Such systems have grown considerably in the US in recent years and, in some cases, are dramatically changing the ecology of urban transport. Alongside celebrations of the early successes of US BSS, have been criticisms that these systems have not been adequately integrated into lower-income communities; a pattern …

Water Expert: A Conceptualized Framework For Development Of A Rule-Based Decision Support System For Distribution System Decontamination, J. L. Gutenson, A. N. S. Ernest, J. R. Fattic, L. E. Ormsbee, A. A. Oubeidillah, X. Zhang

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications

Significant drinking water contamination events pose a serious threat to public and environmental health. Water utilities often must make timely, critical decisions without evaluating all facets of the incident. The data needed to enact informed decisions are inevitably dispersant and disparate, originating from policy, science, and heuristic contributors. Water Expert is a functioning hybrid decision support system (DSS) and expert system framework that emphasizes the meshing of parallel data structures in order to expedite and optimize the decision pathway. Delivered as a thin-client application through the user's web browser, Water Expert's extensive knowledgebase is a product of inter-university collaboration …

Assessment Of Empirical Equations For The Compression Index Of Fine-Grained Soils In Missouri, Site Onyejekwe, Xin Kang, Louis Ge

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The use of correlations and empirical relationships in geotechnical engineering provides a fast, cost-effective means of predicting the value of a parameter based on the values of certain other, possibly more easily determined, parameters. The correlation between two or more soil properties has been found to be dependent in varying degrees on soil type, the testing method used to obtain the numerical value of the parameter itself and the homogeneity of the soil. Many empirical correlations among soil properties have been published. These correlations, based on widely sourced data, may not be appropriate for local situations. Hence, there is a …