Civil and Environmental Engineering Commons^™

Development Of Techniques For Assessing And Restoring Streams On Surface Mined Lands, Whitney Cole Blackburn-Lynch

Theses and Dissertations--Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

Surface mining is a commonly used method for extracting coal in the Appalachian Coalfields of the U.S. This mining practice produces excess spoil or overburden, which is often placed in adjacent valleys resulting in the creation of valley fills. These valley fills bury headwater streams, which in turn can negatively impact downstream ecosystems. In 2008, the University of Kentucky designed and constructed 1,020 m of ephemeral, intermittent and headwater streams on an existing valley fill (Guy Cove) as a proof-of-concept. The goal of the project was to evaluate whether or not a stream recreation could occur on mined lands, particularly …

Shape Memory Behavior Of Single Crystal And Polycrystalline Ni-Rich Nitihf High Temperature Shape Memory Alloys, Sayed M. Saghaian

Theses and Dissertations--Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

NiTiHf shape memory alloys have been receiving considerable attention for high temperature and high strength applications since they could have transformation temperatures above 100 °C, shape memory effect under high stress (above 500 MPa) and superelasticity at high temperatures. Moreover, their shape memory properties can be tailored by microstructural engineering. However, NiTiHf alloys have some drawbacks such as low ductility and high work hardening in stress induced martensite transformation region. In order to overcome these limitations, studies have been focused on microstructural engineering by aging, alloying and processing.

Shape memory properties and microstructure of four Ni-rich NiTiHf alloys (Ni50.3Ti29.7Hf20, Ni50.7Ti29.3Hf20, …

Crash Frequency Analysis Of Left-Side Merging And Diverging Areas On Urban Freeway Segments: A Case Study Of I-75 Through Downtown Dayton, Ohio, Deogratias Eustace, Aline Aylo, Worku Y. Mergia

Civil and Environmental Engineering and Engineering Mechanics Faculty Publications

This paper analyzes the effect of left- and right-side merging and diverging areas and other variables such as light condition, roadway pavement condition, drivers’ age and presence of construction work zones on the occurrence frequency of crashes. A 6.5-mile (10.5-km) section of I-75 that passes through downtown Dayton, Ohio was considered. The area of interest has a high traffic volume and consists of different geometric design challenges including closely spaced merging and diverging ramps. A four-year record of crash data (2005–2008) and a statistical modeling technique that assumes a negative binomial distribution on generalized linear models (GLMs) were used to …

Examining Multiple Approaches For The Transferability Of Safety Performance Functions, Ahmed Tarek Ahmed Farid

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Safety performance functions (SPFs) are essential in road safety since they are used to predict crash frequencies. They are commonly applied for detecting hot spots in network screening and assessing whether road safety countermeasures are effective. In the Highway Safety Manual (HSM), SPFs are provided for several crash classifications for several types of roadway facilities. The SPFs of the HSM are developed using data from multiple states. In regions where jurisdiction specific SPFs are not available, it is custom to adopt nationwide SPFs for crash predictions then apply a calibration factor. Yet, the research is limited regarding the application of …

Optimization Of Glycerol And Biodiesel Waste Prefermentation To Improve Ebpr, Marzieh Ghasemi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) process efficiency relies on different operational and process conditions especially the type of carbon source available in the wastewater. Acetic acid and propionic acid are the two major volatile fatty acids (VFAs) found in domestic wastewater which can drive biological phosphorus (P) removal to the desired level. However, often domestic wastewater does not have a sufficient amount of VFAs. Due to high acetate and propionate production-cost, it is not economic to add acetate and propionate directly in full-scale wastewater treatment plants. This brought up the idea of using external carbon sources (e. g. molasses …

Characterization Of Waste-To-Energy (Wte) Bottom And Fly Ashes In Cementitious Materials, Jin Woo An

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Waste-to-Energy (WTE) ashes (or called as municipal solid waste incineration ashes) have been recycled in the areas of road bed, asphalt paving, and concrete products in many European and Asian countries. In those countries, recycling programs (including required physical properties and environmental criteria) of ash residue management have been developed so as to encourage and enforce the reuse for WTE ashes instead of landfill disposal. However, the U.S. has shown a lack of consistent and effective management plans as well as environmental regulations for the use of WTE ashes. Many previous studies demonstrated the potential beneficial use of WTE ash …

Arcpy Code, Mohammadhossein Alipour

Streamflow Prediction under Extreme Data-scarcity

No abstract provided.

Life-Cycle Greenhouse Gas Emissions And Water Footprint Of Residential Waste Collection And Management Systems, Mousa Maimoun

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Three troublesome issues concerning residential curbside collection (RCC) and municipal solid waste (MSW) management systems in the United States motivated this research. First, reliance upon inefficient collection and scheduling procedures negatively affect RCC efficiency, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and cost. Second, the neglected impact of MSW management practices on water resources. Third, the implications of alternative fuels on the environmental and financial performance of waste collection where fuel plays a significant rule. The goal of this study was to select the best RCC program, MSW management practice, and collection fuel. For this study, field data were collected for RCC programs …

An Improved Biosolid Gasifier Model, Hannah Mclean

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As populations increase and cities become denser, the production of waste, both sewage sludge and food biomass, increases exponentially while disposal options for these wastes are limited. Landfills have minimal space for biosolids; countries are now banning ocean disposal methods for fear of the negative environmental impacts. Agricultural application of biosolids cannot keep up with the production rates because of the accumulation of heavy metals in the soils. Gasification can convert biosolids into a renewable energy source that can reduce the amount of waste heading to the landfills and reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. A recently published chemical kinetic …

Data-Driven Simulation Modeling Of Construction And Infrastructure Operations Using Process Knowledge Discovery, Reza Akhavian

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Within the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) domain, simulation modeling is mainly used to facilitate decision-making by enabling the assessment of different operational plans and resource arrangements, that are otherwise difficult (if not impossible), expensive, or time consuming to be evaluated in real world settings. The accuracy of such models directly affects their reliability to serve as a basis for important decisions such as project completion time estimation and resource allocation. Compared to other industries, this is particularly important in construction and infrastructure projects due to the high resource costs and the societal impacts of these projects. Discrete event simulation …

Applications Of Computer Vision Technologies Of Automated Crack Detection And Quantification For The Inspection Of Civil Infrastructure Systems, Liuliu Wu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Many components of existing civil infrastructure systems, such as road pavement, bridges, and buildings, are suffered from rapid aging, which require enormous nation's resources from federal and state agencies to inspect and maintain them. Crack is one of important material and structural defects, which must be inspected not only for good maintenance of civil infrastructure with a high quality of safety and serviceability, but also for the opportunity to provide early warning against failure. Conventional human visual inspection is still considered as the primary inspection method. However, it is well established that human visual inspection is subjective and often inaccurate. …

Base Flow Recession Analysis For Streamflow And Spring Flow, Debapi Ghosh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Base flow recession curve during a dry period is a distinct hydrologic signature of a watershed. The base flow recession analysis for both streamflow and spring flow has been extensively studied in the literature. Studies have shown that the recession behaviors during the early stage and the late stage are different in many watersheds. However, research on the transition from early stage to late stage is limited and the hydrologic control on the transition is not completely understood. In this dissertation, a novel cumulative regression analysis method is developed to identify the transition flow objectively for individual recession events in …

Sustainability Assessment Of A Municipal Utility Complex: A System Of Systems Approach, Tarek Fahmy

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Construction of municipal utility complexes has to support continuing population growth, economic development, and a widespread of social interest in environmental preservation. Municipalities face challenges in designing, constructing, and operating environmentally sustainable utility complexes, and their primary goal in developing such a complex is to minimize the environmental impact resulting from energy production and waste treatment (both liquid and solid), management, and disposal. However, decision and policy makers lack a system of systems approach that takes into account multiple interdependent systems comprised of the functional system (infrastructure, facilities, operations within the complex…), the economic system, the social/cultural system, and the …

Exploration And Development Of Crash Modification Factors And Functions For Single And Multiple Treatments, Juneyoung Park

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Traffic safety is a major concern for the public, and it is an important component of the roadway management strategy. In order to improve highway safety, extensive efforts have been made by researchers, transportation engineers, Federal, State, and local government officials. With these consistent efforts, both fatality and injury rates from road traffic crashes in the United States have been steadily declining over the last six years (2006~2011). However, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA, 2013), 33,561 people died in motor vehicle traffic crashes in the United States in 2012, compared to 32,479 in 2011, and it …

Mathematical Modeling Of Carbon Removal In The A-Stage Activated Sludge System, Thomas Nogaj

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research developed a dynamic activated sludge model (ASM) to better describe the overall removal of organic substrate, quantified as chemical oxygen demand (COD), from A-stage high rate activated sludge (HRAS) systems. This dynamic computer model is based on a modified ASM1 (Henze et al., 2000) model. It was determined early in the project that influent soluble COD, which is normally represented by a single state variable in ASM1, had to be subdivided into two state variables (SBs and SBf, or slow and fast fractions) to simulate the performance of A-stage systems. Also, the addition of state variables differentiating colloidal …

Safety At Intersections In Oregon: A Preliminary Update Of Statewide Intersection Crash Rates, Daniel R. Hazel

Civil and Environmental Engineering Master's Project Reports

This research aims to provide a preliminary update to statewide intersection crash rates for the state of Oregon using 2008-2013 crash data and a statewide sample of 129 intersections where two (or more) state-owned facilities intersect. Using intersections where state-owned facilities represent both the major and minor legs of the intersection allows for the maintenance of up-to-date intersection crash rates by eliminating time-intensive traffic volume data collection. Due to the frequency and severity of crashes at intersections, development of easily obtained intersection crash rates is important to assess trends and effectiveness of safety countermeasures employed at these locations in the …

Identifying High Crash Risk Roadways Through Jerk-Cluster Analysis, Seyedeh Maryam Mousavi

LSU Master's Theses

The state-of-the-practice for most municipal traffic agencies seeking to identify high-risk road segments has been to use prior crash history. While historic traffic crash data is recognized to be valuable in improving roadway safety, it relies on prior observation rather than future crash likelihood. Recently, however, researchers are developing predictive crash methods based on “abnormal driving events.” These include abrupt and atypical vehicle movements thought to be indicative of crash avoidance maneuvers and/or near-crashes. Because these types of near-crash events occur far more frequently than actual crashes, it is hypothesized that they can be used as an indicator of high-risk …

Quantitative Non-Destructive Evaluation Of Rebar Diameter And Corrosion Damage In Concrete Using Ground Penetrating Radar, Md Istiaque Hasan

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

The purpose of this study is to develop new methods for quantitative estimation of rebar diameter and loss of area of rebar due to corrosion using Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR). The existing methods of determining the rebar diameter using GPR are not accurate and the existing methods for evaluating corrosion using GPR are qualitative. The study included in this dissertation uses a 2.6 GHz antenna to estimate the diameter of rebar using two different approaches. The approaches use digital image processing of GPR ragargrams and maximum normalized reflection amplitude form the rebar to estimate the diameter. A novel method to …

Discrete Element Modeling Of Geogrid Reinforced Granular Media, Asheesh Pradhan

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

Geogrids have proven to be economical solution in improving ground conditions for construction in foundations, retaining walls, railway tracks, and pavements. Hence researchers have started studying the geogrid reinforcement in detail to understand the working of geogrid and parameters affecting it. Following the advent of faster computers and efficient algorithms researcher have started using discrete element method (DEM) to study geogrid reinforcement since DEM provides particulate level of interaction and understanding and is the closest resemblance of the physical phenomenon. However, the research works are widely spread lacking comprehensive review of factors that can affect such models. This research studies …

Characterization Of Two Biochars Derived From Horse Muck And Their Ability To Reduce Pathogen Transport In Soil, David Griffith

Theses and Dissertations--Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

Biochars have been created and characterized from a variety livestock manure biomass including poultry, dairy, and swine. However, no research has been conducted on the physical and chemical makeup of biochar pyrolyzed from horse muck. Two horse muck derived biochars containing either straw (HS) or woodchip (HW) bedding were pyrolyzed at 700°C and characterized for their physical and chemical properties. Tests revealed both biochars had high alkalinity, moderate specific conductivity, and low surface area as compared to other biochars in the literature. HS contained more mineral structures than HW. Scanning electron microscopy presented differences in particle shape, size, and presence …

Effect Of Heavy Vehicle On Conventional And Joint Work Zone Merges, James Joseph Dillard

LSU Master's Theses

Lane merges in construction work zones are guided by the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). The MUTCD typical lane closure guides merging vehicles from one lane into another; from the closed lane, where the construction work is taking place into the open lane. The conventional lane merge often creates conflicts for motorists because queues typically form in the open lane and aggressive drivers use this opportunity to drive in the closed lane as far as they can until forced to merge in the open lane. As a result, the conventional lane merge can create differential speeds and queue …

Evaluation Of Louisiana Friction Rating Table By Field Measurements, Yogendra Prasad Subedi

LSU Master's Theses

This study aims to evaluate the current Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (LADOTD) friction rating table by field measurements and provide recommendations for the frictional mix design guidelines. The current friction rating table is based on the Polished Stone Value (PSV) of coarse aggregate as the only surface friction guideline in a wearing course mixture design, which is only one of many factors that affect the pavement surface friction. To achieve the objective, the pavement surface friction and texture properties were measured using Lock-Wheel Skid Trailer (LWST), Dynamic Friction Tester (DFT) and Circular Track Meter (CTM). Twenty two different …

Driver Response And Safety Effect Of Three-Foot Bicycle Passing Laws, Nelida Andreina Herrera

LSU Master's Theses

The long and tragic history of vehicle-bicycle crashes in the United States has increasingly led to calls for legislative action to provide greater protections for bicyclists on the nation’s roadways. Among the most common of these actions are the three-foot passing laws. Recent history suggests that these laws may contribute to reducing the number of vehicular/bicycle-related collisions as well as their accompanying deaths and injuries, but few, if any, studies have shown how they substantively affect driver behavior. This thesis builds upon the results of recent research quantifying the effects of the three-foot passing laws by comparing key behavioral aspects …

Impact Of Algae On Sugar Mill Effluents: Water Treatment And Added Value Assessment, Jacob Stephen Foy

LSU Master's Theses

Installations similar to Louisiana sugar mills have been proposed as potential biorefineries for sugarcane, energy cane, and sweet sorghum. The nutrient-rich wastewater generated from the milling process can be used as an algal growth medium. Simultaneously, algae can serve as a water treatment strategy to deplete these effluents of excess nitrogen, phosphorus, and organic carbon. In this research the effluents of a sugar mill were characterized for water quality and nutrient characteristics; the effluents were determined to be suitable for growth of a native Louisiana co-culture of microalgae and cyanobacteria (Chlorella vulgaris/Leptolyngbya sp.); growth rate, biomass productivity and nutrient uptake …

Vibration Control In High-Rise Buildings For Multi-Hazard, Srinivasa Adithya Sailesh Abburu

LSU Master's Theses

Increasing population and migration of people to cities has led to the construction of high-rise buildings. High-rise buildings have received a renewed interest in many city business locations, where land is scarce, as per their economic, sustainability and other benefits. Taller and taller towers are being built everywhere in the world. However, the increased frequency of multi-hazard disasters makes it challenging to balance between a resilient and sustainable construction. As a saying, ‘with new inventions come new problems’. High-rise buildings usually have issues with increased wind loads brought by, for instance, hurricanes, which can decrease their serviceability and cause failure …

Life Cycle Analysis Of An Airlifted Recirculation Aqualculture Facility, Marlon Alberetos Greensword

LSU Master's Theses

Airlift-equipped recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) provide water-circulation, aeration, and degassing efficiently and reliably. This project investigated the need for biofilters in a fish hatchery environment to address biofouling of tank water from hatching eggs. Eggs of various fish species were selected and Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN), and protein loading and content were measured and compared. Means for all samples were: 0.67±0.05g BOD₅/g, 10.89 nitrogen±0.84% and the mean protein content 69.22±3.82%. A statistical analysis indicates that Rachycentron canadum (cobia) and Ictalurus punctatus (channel catfish) is the most representative of the multi-species lot when compared to Balantiocheilus melanopterus …

A Comparative Analysis Of Roundabouts And Traffic Signals Through A Corridor, Melissa Arrigo Lebas

LSU Master's Theses

This thesis presents a case study on an urban arterial corridor consisting of four intersections located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The research evaluates alternative roundabout designs in order to improve traffic flow through a currently congested corridor. The objectives of the research were to evaluate the effect of roundabouts in an urban arterial corridor, select the best alternative for the given corridor characteristics, and test the capacity of the alternative roundabout corridors. The three alternatives that were considered as part of this study were the existing signalized corridor, a partial two-lane roundabout corridor, and a partial three-lane roundabout corridor. Field …

Composite 1-Dimensional Modeling Of The Expanded Small Scale Mississippi River Model, Benjamin Joseph Hartman

LSU Master's Theses

Stream wise 1-dimensional numerical modelling couples well with long term, large domain physical modelling because of its ability to perform simulations quickly. The downsides are limitations in replicating some complex hydrodynamics and sediment transport behavior. In this study, a 1-dimensional model of a section of the Expanded Small Scale Physical Model (ESSPM) is developed using the USACE HEC-RAS software with a goal of investigating the ability of a 1-dimensional model to accurately replicate hydraulics at ESSPM time scales. Additional simulations are conducted to examine the impact of varying distortion scales, non-frictional energy losses and synthetic sediment on hydraulic behavior. The …

Computer Simulation Of Modern Recirculation Systems And Their Production Strategies, Daniel Alt

LSU Master's Theses

Aquaculture has grown to meet the gap created by a growing demand from population growth and a stagnating wild catch. Recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) is a facet of aquaculture developed to allow the culture of fish in closed systems. The fish are able to survive as the various water parameters are kept within safe ranges by engineered systems and rules of operation. Engineers and operators have attempted to improve the efficiencies of these systems to increase their production. These improvements must guarantee the stability of the system for the entire culture cycle of the fish being raised in an RAS. …

Exploration Of The Shrp 2 Naturalistic Driving Study: Development Of A Distracted Driving Prediction Model, Syndney Jenkins

LSU Master's Theses

The SHRP 2 NDS project was the largest naturalistic driving study ever conducted. The data obtained from the study was released to the researching public in 2014 through the project’s InSight webpage. The objectives of this research were to first explore the massive dataset and determine if it was possible to develop prediction models based on several performance measures that could be used to study driver distraction. Time series data on driver GPS speed, lateral and longitudinal acceleration, throttle position and yaw rate were discovered as five appropriate performance measures available from the NDS that could be used for the …