Civil and Environmental Engineering Commons^™

Strengthening Of Lightweight Reinforced Concrete Beams Using Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymers (Cfrp), Tariq Al Jaafreh

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

This research aimed to investigate the effect of utilizing “Fiber Reinforced Polymer” (FRP) on the light weight concrete beams. The main hypothesis is that such utilization of the FRP will lead to strengthened lightweight beams. The research that has been done on this relationship is somewhat broad in the scope and have mostly focused on the normal-weight concrete. However, only few studies that have considered the light weight concrete. Eight Beams were tested in this research under four point bending test. Two beams were taken as a control beams without any external bonding of Carbon Fiber Reinforced polymer. Another two …

Comparison Of Construction Methods For Building An Underground Freight Transportation In Texas, Niloofar Rezaei

Civil Engineering Theses - Archive

Freight transportation by trucks constitutes approximately 80% of total freight transportation in Texas and it is expected to approximately double by the year 2040. Social and environmental costs are adverse impacts of moving freights by trucks. Underground Freight Transportation (UFT) significantly reduces these negative impacts and is more sustainable method of freight transportation. UFT includes close-fitting vehicles carrying freight through underground pipelines or tunnels between terminals. The main objective of this research is to compare two construction methods: (1) tunneling using tunnel boring machine (TBM) and (2) tunneling using open-cut. To conduct this research, a comprehensive literature search on various …

Enhancing Productivity By Using Building Information Modeling Applications In Pipeline Construction Projects, Harsha Vardhan Reddy Guduru Penusila

Civil Engineering Theses - Archive

Building Information Modeling (BIM) is a technology and associated set of processes to produce, communicate, and analyze building models. BIM is a new concept within the construction industry. The objective of this thesis is to utilize BIM in pipeline construction projects as one of the pioneering steps to reduce rework and delays due to unforeseen conditions. This thesis presents evaluation and recommendations to help pipeline construction industry’s transition from traditional two-dimensional drawings to a BIM management process aiding owners and contractors to develop and implement a basic form of BIM technique to manage their projects. This thesis uses two pipeline …

Enhanced Seismic Performance Of Special Truss Moment Frames And Staggered Truss Framing System For Seismically Active Areas, Sanputt Simasathien

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

Due to their ability to achieve large column-free floor spaces, special truss moment frames (STMFs) and staggered truss frames (STFs) are unique valuable options for structural engineers. However, although STMFs and STFs offer a wide range of structural, architectural, and economical benefits, limited research data is available on the seismic performance of these systems. STMF system is a relatively new type of steel framing system for use in high seismic areas. STMFs dissipate earthquake energy through ductile special segments located near the mid-span of the truss girders, while the other members outside the special segment, including truss members, columns, and …

Investigation Of Strength-Enhancement Mechanism And Size Effect On Ultimate Shear Strength Of Steel Fiber-Reinforced Concrete (Sfrc) Slender Beams, Mohammad Reza Zarrinpour

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

This research study consists of two separate phases. In the first phase, an experimental study was conducted to identify the shear-enhancement and failure mechanisms behind the ultimate shear strength of steel fiber-reinforced concrete (SFRC) slender beams by utilizing the full field deformation measuring capability of digital image correlation (DIC) technology. A total of 12 large-scale simply supported SFRC and RC beams with a range of heights including 12 in. (305 mm), 18 in. (457 mm), 24 in. (610 mm), 36 in. (915 mm), and 48 in. (1220 mm) were tested under monotonic point load. The greater shear strength in SFRC …

Using Ceramic Waste Powder In Producing Self-Compacting Concrete, Sama Tarek Sayed Taha

Civil and Environmental Theses

Self-compacted (i.e. consolidated) concrete (SCC) is a special type of concrete that represents a great advancement towards a better quality of sustainable concrete. This unique type is known for its high flowability and superior levels of surface finish without tendency for segregation. The inherited distinct features can be achieved by the addition of high powder content as filler (i.e. size < 0. 125 mm) in the concrete mixture. The filler enhances the rheological properties of the SCC mixture without the need for using higher cement contents and hence, reduces the cost and heat of hydration. Lately, various regulating measures were imposed by governments and environmental organizations all over the world to seize the negative impact on the ecosystem resulting from huge amounts of solid waste materials being dumped in landfills causing major environmental problems. As a result, the utilization of alternative industrial waste constituents in construction materials has been the research focus for many years to evaluate their competence in SCC industry, and their feasibility as filler materials. In this study, ceramic waste powder (CWP) produced during the polishing process of ceramic tiles will be particularly investigated. Fresh and hardened tests are conducted to evaluate the influence of CWP on the rheological and mechanical properties of SCC mixtures. It was concluded that CWP can be used to successfully produce SCC mixtures with improved fresh and hardened properties. The inclusion of CWP up to 200 kg/m³ in SCC mixtures resulted in denser compacted mixtures with low permeability characteristics and high strength values. In addition to enhanced segregation resistance with good deformability and passing abilities for the mixtures under their own weight. The successful completion of …

Design Of A Folding V-Scraper With Roller For Orchard Applications, Chase Ulrich

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

This senior project discusses the design of a folding 15 ft. wide leveler for orchard use. This design utilized a category 2 three-point hitch to connect the implement to a tractor. The folding mechanism uses the tractors hydraulic system to actuate the folding movement using hydraulic cylinders. The blades, when wings in operational position, are rigid with one another after some assembly. When the implement is folded the width is reduced to nine feet.

Finite Element Modeling Of Shallowly Embedded Connections To Characterize Rotational Stiffness, Trevor Alexander Jones

Theses and Dissertations

Finite element models were created in Abaqus 6.14 to characterize the rotational stiffness of shallowly embedded column-foundation connections. Scripts were programmed to automate the model generation process and allow study of multiple independent variables, including embedment length, column size, baseplate geometry, concrete modulus, column orientation, cantilever height, and applied axial load. Three different connection types were investigated: a tied or one part model; a contact-based model; and a cohesive-zone based model. Cohesive-zone modeling was found to give the most accurate results. Agreement with previous experimental data was obtained to within 27%. Baseplate geometry was found to affect connection stiffness significantly, …

Concise Handbook For Temporary Traffic Control - Construction, Maintenance, And Utility Operations, Indiana Ltap, Ohio Department Of Transportation

Indiana Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) Publications

This handbook gives the basic principles and provides examples for the design, application, installation, and maintenance of the various types of traffic control devices used in temporary traffic control or for incident management. Traffic control in roundabouts has been included in this version. The guidelines presented are in accordance with the standards provided within the Indiana Manual for Uniform Traffic Control Devices (IMUTCD). This handbook is based upon one created by the Ohio Department of Transportation, Guidelines for Traffic Control in Work Zones. Indiana LTAP expresses thanks to ODOT for their permission to reprint this material.

Drinking Water: Hard Water (Calcium And Magnesium), Sharon O. Skipton, Bruce I. Dvorak

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Faculty Publications

Hard water isn’t a health hazard but can be a nuisance within the home. Learn how to test water, interpret the results, and choose a treatment.

Water described as “hard” contains high amounts of dissolved calcium and magnesium. Hard water is not a health risk but can be a nuisance because of mineral buildup on plumbing fixtures and poor soap and/or detergent performance.

Water is a good solvent and picks up impurities easily. As water moves through soil and rock, it dissolves very small amounts of minerals and holds them in solution. Dissolved calcium and magnesium are the two most …

Drinking Water Treatment: Salt-Free Water “Softener” Options, Bruce I. Dvorak

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Faculty Publications

New no-salt technologies may be effective in treating hard water, but consumers should carefully investigate product claims prior to buying a specific treatment device.

Hard water is not a health risk, but many Nebraska consumers find hard water to be a nuisance because of mineral buildup on plumbing fixtures, including water heaters; unsightly film on glass and crystal wares; and poor soap and/or detergent performance. Water described as “hard” contains high amounts of dissolved calcium and magnesium, which are positively charged contaminants called cations.

Water hardness often is expressed as grains of hardness per gallon of water (gpg) or milligrams …

The Influence Of Superabsorbent Polymer (Cassava Startch) On The Rheological Behavior Of Cement Pastes., James Wong

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Rheological properties are the properties typically reference flow properties of concrete and are related to processing, construction, and setting. The purpose of this research was to investigate the influence of superabsorbent polymers (SAP) and superplasticizer (SP) on rheological properties, specifically of cement pastes with 0.35, 0.45 and 0.55 water-to-cement ratios (w/c), SAP water replacement dosages of 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20% and 25% were tested. Tests included rheological measurements of yield stress, viscosity using the Bingham equation and the flow behavior index using Herschel-Bulkley equation. Slump diameter tests were used to measure flow of the cement pastes. Comparisons of slump …

Bs News May/June

Building Services Engineering

No abstract provided.

Century-Long Variability And Trends In Daily Precipitation Characteristics At Three Finnish Stations, Masoud Irannezhad, Hannu Marttila, Chen De-Liang, Bjørn Kløve

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Long-term variations and trends in a wide range of statistics for daily precipitation characteristics in terms of intensity, frequency and duration in Finland were analysed using precipitation records during 1908－2008 from 3 meteorological stations in the south (Kaisaniemi), center (Kajaani) and north (Sodankylä). Although precipitation days in northern part were more frequent than in central and southern parts, daily precipitation intensity in the south was generally higher than those in the centre and north of the country. Annual sum of very light precipitation (0 mm < daily precipitation ≤ long-term 50th percentile of daily precipitation more than 0 mm) significantly (p

Evapotranspiration Estimation: A Study Of Methods In The Western United States, Clayton S. Lewis

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Theoretical water use of well-watered vegetation in the western United States was investigated by comparing a gridded dataset developed from satellite and ground instruments to weather stations representative of irrigated agricultural conditions. Since wetter environments are cooler and therefore subject to lower levels of evaporation than the same scenario with warmer temperatures, models derived from dryland and often populated areas overestimate potential plant needs in semi-arid or arid conditions. Evaluation of the model revealed an acceptable fit for air temperatures and solar radiation but with less confidence in humidity and wind speeds. Ultimately, the last two parameters were minor components …

Werc Task #1 - Efficiency And Particulate Matter Emissions Testing Of Wood Burning Heating Units, Jonathan A. Shumaker

Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

A design of a method for calculating the efficiency and particulate matter emission rates was developed for use on wood stoves. The project was completed for the WERC competition which is an international design contest. The prevalence of wood burning as a form of heating, current EPA regulations, and current market conditions were major factors in forming the necessity of this testing method. Design was not limited to outlining the design specifications, the apparatus was built and run. Optimization of the method continued until completion of the project. If the method would continue to be improved then it would be …

Validation Of An Internal Camera Based Volume Determination System For Triaxial Testing, Leah D. Miramontes

Civil Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Accurate strain and volume measurements are critical to phase relationships and strength determination for saturated and unsaturated soils. In recent years, laboratory-based photographic techniques of monitoring soil specimens have become more common. These techniques have been used to reconstruct 3D models and to determine strain and volumetric changes of triaxial specimens. A new technique that utilized digital photographs of the soil specimen, captured from within a triaxial testing cell, was utilized. Photographs were processed using photogrammetry software to reconstruct 3D models of the soil specimens. By placing camera equipment within the cell, the technique eliminated the need to account for …

Assessing Toxicity Of Endocrine Disrupting Compounds In Wastewater For Water Reuse, Ryan Duchanois

Civil Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Reclaiming treated wastewater for potable water use may be necessary to supplement drinking water sources in water scarce regions. However, Snyder et al. (2003) indicates that endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) are commonly found in wastewater effluents and natural waters around the world. These compounds with endocrine disrupting potential are typically found in personal care products, pharmaceuticals, and pesticides. Furthermore, according to Lemanik et al. (2007), typical wastewater treatment plants are not designed to remove EDCs.

For the purpose of water reuse, benchmarking wastewater treatment for endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) is necessary. The cytotoxicities of five EDCs (namely, amoxicillin, acetaminophen, triclosan, …

Towards A Fast Reconstruction Paradigm For Urban Environments In Developing Regions Affected By Natural Disasters, Christopher Maestri

Civil Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Natural disasters in developing regions often displace people from their homes, into temporary shelters. These temporary shelters often consist of single-story pre-assembled tents designed to provide short-term aid for individual families. Unfortunately, single-story temporary shelters are not sufficient for accommodating large displaced populations in urban settings due to issues of land overcrowding and disruption to utilities providing water sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services (along with many other issues).

This study investigates the feasibility of implementing a multi-story steel structure, constructed with multi-use structural members and special end connectors, into future relief efforts. A multi-use structural member is an element whose …

Analysis Of Bolted Beam-Column Connections With Multiple Bolts Per Row And Column Web Stiffeners, Benjamin C. Sutherland

Civil Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Bolted beam-column connections are a common moment connection used in the design of steel buildings. Existing design guides include design parameters for bolt configurations having one bolt on either side of the beam web for each row of bolts. There is potential for increasing connection strength by adding additional bolts on the outside of these rows. This addition could be useful in retrofit scenarios, or even in the design of new structures. In this research, finite element analysis is used to analyze various beam-column connections and t-stub connections. The modeling methods, research process, and conclusions are explained in the thesis …

Measuring Relative Humidity In Concrete Pavements As A Method To Assess Asr Mitigation Measures, Remington G. Reed

Civil Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Alkali-silica reaction (ASR) in concrete is partly facilitated by available moisture within the concrete. In order to better understand this facilitation and to develop processes for ASR mitigation methods, it is necessary to establish a means of monitoring internal relative humidity (RH) within the concrete. Current procedures for measuring RH are time consuming; requiring several hours of equilibration time and specific external conditions to yield accurate results. In order to better understand RH monitoring, laboratory tests were conducted using commercially available RH probes and different controlled environments. Probes were carefully monitored and calibrated in controlled environments, and laboratory tests on …

Framework Of Performance-Based Contracting For Chip Seal And Striping Maintenance Activities, Kishor Shrestha

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

In the United States, there are more than four million miles of road network and new roads are being constructed every year. Most of the road networks were constructed more than two decades ago. Therefore, the age of the majority of the pavement inventory has exceeded original design life. This results in increased work load for the maintenance division of the state Departments of Transportation (DOTs). To maintain the road system, state DOTs use In-House or outsource maintenance works to private contractors using Method Based Contracting (MBC), or Performance Based Contracting (PBC), or any combination of these three. Literature reviews …

Analysis And Modeling Of Pedestrian Walking Behaviors Involving Individuals With Disabilities, Mohammad Sadra Sharifi

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Walking facilities like walkways and stairs are important infrastructures which must be designed to effectively accommodate the behavior of pedestrians. Heterogeneity in pedestrian composition is one important factor generally overlooked in walking facility design guidelines and handbooks. While individuals with disabilities constitute a significant portion of the population in the United States, they are often overlooked due to lack of available data. To remedy this, large scale controlled walking experiments were performed at Utah State University (USU) to study the walking behavior of various types of individuals with disabilities (including vision and mobility impairments) in different walking environments. These environments …

Live Load Testing And Analysis Of A 48-Year-Old Double Tee Girder Bridge, Victor J. Torres

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

A 48-year-old prestressed double tee girder bridge located on Icy Springs road in Coalville, Utah, was tested for live load. The test measured strains, deflections and rotations. The instruments used for measuring the respective measurements were strain gages, deflectometers ("twangers") and tiltmeters.

From the recorded measurements a finite element model (FEM) was calibrated to validate the modeling techniques based on the test data. The FEM implemented two joint link elements to connect the flanges of the FEM deck to model the transverse load distribution of the bridge deteriorated shear connectors. The abutment restraints were modeled by one joint link elements. …

Urban Agriculture And Small Farm Irrigation: Case Studies From Cache Valley, Utah, Tyler Pratt

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The socioeconomic landscape of water in Utah is rapidly changing due to population growth, conversion of agricultural land to urban development, and increasing awareness of future water scarcity. The Utah Division of Water Resources (DWRe) forecasts that the currently developed water supplies will not be enough to provide for Utah’s future population, and is pursuing conservation and new development to be able to meet the state’s needs.

Along with the urban growth Utah is experiencing a quickly growing sector of urban and small farm agriculture, but knowledge of water use and current practices in this area is limited. Further research …

Chromium Oxidation By Disinfectants And Oxidants Used In Drinking Water Treatment, Nathan D. Rogers

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This project investigated the behavior of hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI), a potential carcinogen) in drinking water. While Cr(VI) can exist naturally, it can also be oxidized from Cr(III), a known trace nutrient. Recently, the State of California implemented a water regulation specifically for Cr(VI) at 10 parts per billion (ppb). This project completed a comprehensive evaluation of chromium behavior when in contact with common drinking water treatment chemicals including chlorine, monochloramine, chlorine dioxide, potassium permanganate, and ozone.

The results of these oxidation experiments are highly applicable to water treatment facilities. If a treatment plant is using monochloramine, there is no indication …

Size Scale Effects On Linear Weir Hydraulics, Kedric W. Curtis

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Linear weirs are a type of hydraulic structure that have been used for centuries with many different applications. One of the characteristics of weirs that is particularly useful is the head-discharge relationship where the discharge over the weir is directly related to the upstream water depth above the crest. In general, the head-discharge relationship for a weir is determined experimentally using geometrically similar models. Due to space, time, money, and discharge capacity limitations at water laboratories, creating full scale models is not always a feasible option when determining head-discharge relationships for weirs, resulting in the use of smaller scale models. …

Rhizosphere Interactions Between Copper Oxide Nanoparticles And Wheat Root Exudates In A Sand Matrix; Influences On Bioavailability And Uptake, Paul Mcmanus

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) are extremely small particles (less than 1 nm in one or more dimension, or one billionth (10^-9) of a meter) used in a diverse range of industries. They have been shown to travel through water systems, and like pharmaceuticals, can end up in wastewater treatment plants and then be land applied as biosolids, where crops are grown for animal consumption, potentially leading to food chain accumulation.

Cu is an essential micronutrient for plants, but is phytotoxic at higher concentrations. CuO NPs present an increasingly real environmental threat to agriculture in soils treated with …

Physically Based Modeling Of The Impacts Of Climate Change On Streamflow Regime, Nazmus Shams Sazib

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Understanding the implications of climate change on streamflow regime is complex as changes in climate vary over space and time. However, a better understanding of the impact of climate change is required for identifying how stream ecosystems vulnerable to these changes, and ultimately to guide the development of robust strategies for reducing risk in the face of changing climatic conditions. Here I used physically based hydrologic modeling to improve understanding of how climate change may impact streamflow regimes and advance some of the cyberinfrastructure and GIS methodologies that support physically based hydrologic modeling by: (1) using a physically based model …

A Comprehensive Safety Analysis Of Diverging Diamond Interchanges, Holly Lloyd

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

With the implementation of new roadway configurations, there is a great need to study the influence of the roadway design on the crash rate. Utah is one of the leading states in the implementation of the Diverging Diamond Interchange.

In order to determine the effects of the new roadway configuration on the safety of the intersection, this study employs an Empirical Bayes before-after study of the crash rates at selected Diverging Diamond Interchanges in Utah. The results of the Empirical Bayes method were also used to calculate crash modification factors. The total number of crashes at each site were analyzed. …