Civil and Environmental Engineering Commons^™

Visual And Photogrammetric Observations Of An Internal Erosion Failure, T. L. Wahl, R. V. Rinehart, M. J. Klein, J. B. Rittgers

International Symposium on Hydraulic Structures

A 0.91-m (3-ft) high, homogeneous, silty clay embankment was tested to investigate erosion processes occurring during failure by internal erosion. The embankment was constructed in a 3.79-m (12.44-ft) wide test flume equipped with a clear acrylic viewing window at the abutment where failure was initiated. Failure was initiated at mid-height when an embedded 12-mm (½-inch) diameter rebar was removed from the embankment. The test lasted approximately 48 minutes, and during that time the erosion pipe enlarged dramatically. The test was stopped just before the collapse of the soil bridge over the enlarged pipe.

Erosion was visually monitored during the test …

Shear Stress Distribution Prediction In Circular Channels Using Tsallis Entropy, H. Bonakdari, Z. Sheikh Khozani

International Symposium on Hydraulic Structures

Detailed knowledge of flow and shear stress distribution in channels is essential in accurately calculating the rates of sediment transport and deposition for geomorphic adjustment. Circular cross sections are usual in sewer channels and the sedimentation of suspended material is a significant matter in such sections. In this study, an analytical model is extended to predict the shear stress distribution in circular channels based Tsallis entropy concept. A new formula for estimating shear stress distribution in circular channels is derived by maximizing the Tsallis entropy subject to mass conservation. The distribution derived from the Tsallis entropy is examined using experimental …

Folsom Dam Auxiliary Spillway – Design Innovations And Construction Lessons Learned, C. Y. Wan, C. M. Nolan

International Symposium on Hydraulic Structures

The new Folsom Dam Auxiliary Spillway gated Control Structure, part of the overarching Joint Federal Project, was recently completed. To make operation and maintenance activities for this activity more user-friendly, this project implemented innovative designs, and a select few related to the tainter gate (seals, dogging system, and anchor inspection access) are presented in this paper. This project also provided additional monitoring capacity to the trunnion anchors, both during and post-construction, both physical and data, with great results. Further, this paper discusses some lessons learned on tainter gate specifications during gate construction and installation. Building and bridge construction specifications were …

Discharge Correlations For Spillways With Radial Gates, Gerald A. Schohl

International Symposium on Hydraulic Structures

Equations used at the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) to compute free and gated (orifice) discharges through spillways with radial gates are presented along with correlations based on TVA model test data for discharge coefficients and submergence factors. The correlations and data may be applicable for estimating discharges through gated spillways that are similar to those at TVA and for which specific model test data are unavailable. Included in this paper, perhaps for the first time in the literature, are correlations and data indicating for given gate opening the headwater at which flow begins the transition from free discharge to gated …

State-Of-The-Practice Review Of Maintenance Closure Structures For Large Spillway Gates, C. M. Johnson, R. T. Indri, F. G. Snider, S. M. Planck, K. F. De Lapp

International Symposium on Hydraulic Structures

Maintenance, remediation, and inspection of large spillway gates are best performed in a dry, dewatered state due to reduced overall cost, worker safety, and improved work quality. Provision for gate dewatering has become a key design consideration for new spillways. Unfortunately, many existing spillways were not originally constructed with gate dewatering capabilities. Therefore, maintenance and inspection work has often been scheduled during planned drawdowns or seasonally low reservoir levels. However, for operators of hydroelectric, flood control, water supply, and multi-purpose dams, artificial drawdowns can significantly impact operations, flood protection, downstream habitat, and revenue generation. Aging gates deteriorate and require significant …

Advanced Gate Operation Strategies In Hec-Ras 5.0, C. R. Goodell

International Symposium on Hydraulic Structures

The Hydrologic Engineering Center’s River Analysis System (HEC-RAS) is designed for computing water surface profiles and inundation maps, but it is also able to handle flow through gated structures using a variety of equation sand techniques. HEC-RAS has a small selection of built-in gate types, representing some of the more common gates that are used for controlling flow at dams and canal structures. Each gate type in HEC-RAS has a set of empirical equations that are used to compute head loss through the structure for a given flow. There are also two operational schemes that can be chosen for gates: …

Designing A Steel Gate Dam Across An Ephemeral River – Tempe Town Lake Dam Design, Stewart S. Vaghti, Dean B. Durkee, Andrew J. Lynch

International Symposium on Hydraulic Structures

After the existing Tempe Town Lake downstream dam failed unexpectedly in 2010, the City of Tempe, AZ, USA was tasked with designing and constructing a replacement dam to maintain their lake, pass flows in the ephemeral Salt River, and deliberately lower to avert flooding. Through an alternatives evaluation process, a hydraulically operated steel gate system was selected from a field of twenty studied alternative configurations to replace the existing rubber bladder system.

The gate design produced eight 32.3 meter (106 foot) long, 6.4 meter (21 foot) tall, and 118,000 kilogram (260,000 pound) steel gates operated by single-acting hydraulic cylinders and …

Usace Portland District Spillway Gate Rehabilitation Program, Laurie Ebner, William Fortuny, David Hamernik, Matthew Hess, Mark Sawka

International Symposium on Hydraulic Structures

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Portland District has 90 spillway radial Tainter gates. There are 42 gates at the 11 Willamette Valley Basin projects, 5 gates at the two Rogue Basin projects and 43 gates at the two Columbia River projects. Since 2001 there have been various studies, inspections and incidents that have prompted the Portland District to become concerned about the structural integrity and mechanical and electrical reliability of these gates. In 2008, load induced buckling was observed on three of the four Tainter gate end frames at Foster Dam which led to emergency repairs. Additional observations …

Hydraulic Structures-The Future Of Design, Thomas North

International Symposium on Hydraulic Structures

The state of the art of design of hydraulic structures is changing rapidly. Although hydraulic structures include a broad spectrum of applications, there is an increasing need for specialization in planning, design, materials, construction, risk and hazard assessment, aging infrastructure, and lifecycle maintenance.

Today’s role of hydraulic structures involves improving water management practices, water quality, and environmental restoration and protection. Hydraulic design has expanded to include water planning as well as improvements in the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of locks, dams, spillways, and outlet works. The challenges affecting planning and design involve understanding the role of government policies, economics, …

Numerical Investigation Of Usbr Type Iii Stilling Basin Performance Downstream Of Smooth And Stepped Spillways, Daniel Valero, Daniel Bung, Brian M. Crookston, Jorge Matos

International Symposium on Hydraulic Structures

Recent systematic studies on air-water flows have included stepped spillways. However, to date little has been investigated about how the hydraulic conditions on the stepped spillway may affect the design of traditional energy dissipation structures. In this paper, both smooth chute and stepped chute configurations terminating with the USBR type III stilling basin are tested by means of numerical modelling, allowing a qualitative comparison. Unsteady RANS equations have been employed altogether with VOF and RNG k-ε for free surface tracking and turbulence modeling, respectively. Eight different Froude numbers (F) ranging from 3.1 to 9.5 have been analyzed for a type …

Baffle Designs To Facilitate Fish Passage In Box Culverts: A Preliminary Study, H. Chanson, W. Uys

International Symposium on Hydraulic Structures

Waterway culverts and road crossings are very common design in water systems, ranging from rural roads to national highways and urban drainage networks. Engineers and biologists need better, more reliable prediction 'tools' during the design stages to compare the bio-engineering performances of a range of design options. Present expertise in environmental hydraulics of culverts is deficient because of the many empirically-based design guidelines which are sometimes outdated and often inadequate for fish passage. In all the cases, the turbulence of the flowing waters must be optimised efficiently to maximise fish migration. This project focused on the development of simple solutions …

Spillway Rock Scour Analysis - Composite Of Physical & Numerical Modelling, Paradise Dam, Australia, E. J. Lesleighter, E. F.R. Bollaert, B. L. Mcpherson, D. C. Scriven

International Symposium on Hydraulic Structures

A number of problems and solutions of rock scour downstream of spillways have been evaluated using a composite approach, based on the gathering of detailed data from a physical model and utilising those data in a sequence of calibration and application of numerical modelling of the scour. Our paper will describe the application of the Computational Scour Model (CSM - Bollaert, 2002 and subsequent) as the numerical procedure that makes the composite approach a proven methodology for such problems. The paper will focus on a case study application of the procedure based on the experiences of flooding and scour at …

Interaction Of Hydraulic Structures With Air, Water, And Rock: The Challenge Of Researchers And Designers, Anton J. Schleiss

International Symposium on Hydraulic Structures

Since the last ten years, financial crisis has strongly impacted the global economy, which was mainly the result of un-controlled financial speculations at the stock markets highlighted by the revelations regarding offshore companies. Fortunately, the field of construction of large infrastructures, such as hydraulic schemes, has been left relatively untouched by this crisis. In order to stimulate their economies, many governments across the world have injected significant sums into sustainable infrastructures development.

Impact Of Sludge Layer Geometry On The Hydraulic Performance Of A Waste Stabilization Pond, Faissal Romaric Ouedraogo

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Improving the hydraulic performance of waste stabilization ponds (WSPs) is an important management strategy to not only ensure protection of public health and the environment, but also to maximize the potential reuse of valuable resources found in the treated effluent. To reuse effluent from WSPs, a better understanding of the factors that impact the hydraulic performance of the system is needed. One major factor determining the hydraulic performance of a WSP is sludge accumulation, which alters the volume of the pond.

In this study, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis was applied to investigate the impact of sludge layer geometry on …

Full Proceedings: Hydraulic Structures And Water System Management, International Association For Hydro-Environmental Engineering And Research, United States Society On Dams

International Symposium on Hydraulic Structures

No abstract provided.

Hydraulic Structures And Water System Management-Ishs2016 In Perspective, Brian M. Crookston, Blake Tullis

International Symposium on Hydraulic Structures

Hydraulic structures are vital features in our water infrastructure, as they help meet the diverse and challenging demands of society, including conveyance, flood protection, environmental and ecological impacts, and systems management. Indeed, there are a number of challenges facing engineers today. This 6^th IAHR International Symposium on Hydraulic Structures (ISHS2016) brought together domestic and international expertise from research, practice, and implementation in a forum for knowledge exchange and networking discussion on critical issues related to hydraulic structure research, performance, operations, maintenance, and community implications. It continued the rich tradition of this series by stimulating interest on advancement in the …

Development Of An Instrument To Measure The Entrepreneurial Mindset Of Engineering Students, Cheryl Q. Li, Ronald S. Harichandran, Maria-Isabel Carnasciali, Nadiye O. Erdil, Jean Nocito-Gobel

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications

This work in progress describes the development of an instrument to measure entrepreneurial mindset of engineering students. The need for developing the entrepreneurial mindset of engineering students is being recognized by many universities. However, very few comprehensive, generalized and well-validated instruments are available for assessing the entrepreneurial mindset of engineering students. Most research and educational efforts focus on the design and implementation of engineering entrepreneurship programs, but assessment practices have not kept up.1-2 There are several reasons for the shortfall in assessment practices: 1) Introducing engineering students to entrepreneurship is a relatively new trend and it will take time for …

Integrating E-Learning Modules Into Engineering Courses To Develop An Entrepreneurial Mindset In Students, Nadiye O. Erdil, Ronald S. Harichandran, Jean Nocito-Gobel, Maria-Isabel Carnasciali, Cheryl Q. Li

Engineering and Applied Science Education Faculty Publications

Engineering graduates who will be leaders in today’s rapidly changing environment must possess an entrepreneurial mindset and a variety of professional skills in addition to technical knowledge and skills. An entrepreneurial mindset applies to all aspects of life, beginning with curiosity about our changing world, integrating information from various resources to gain insight, and identifying unexpected opportunities to create value. The Kern Entrepreneurial Engineering Network (KEEN) defines curiosity, connections and creating value as three core components of an entrepreneurial mindset. These 3Cs coupled with associated engineering skills forms KEEN’s entrepreneurial mindset framework. An entrepreneurial mindset enables engineers to develop sound …

Why This Flip Wasn't A Flop: What The Numbers Don't Tell You About Flipped Classes, Heather Noel Fedesco, Troy Cary

IMPACT Publications

This paper details the conversion of a large, required Civil Engineering fluid mechanics course into a more student-centered, active learning-oriented course through the flipping of one lecture per week. In the flipped class, students collaboratively solve homework problems in groups while receiving “expert” feedback from instructors and TAs. To offset the lost lectures, some course material that has been delivered in traditional lectures has been placed online in the form of short videos and textbook readings, with low-stakes quizzes for assessment.

Student learning gains were quantitatively assessed by comparing quiz and final exam scores for three semesters (1 pre-flip and …

Thermal Conductivity Of Binary Sand Mixtures Evaluated Through Full Water Content Range, Benjamin M. Wallen, Kathleen M. Smits, Toshihiro Sakaki, Stacy E. Howington, T.K.K. Chamindu Deepagoda

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications - Archive

A soil’s grain-size distribution affects its physical and hydraulic properties; however, little is known about its effect on soil thermal properties. To better understand how grain-size distribution affects soil thermal properties, specifically the effective thermal conductivity, a set of laboratory experiments was performed using binary mixtures of two uniform sands tightly packed with seven different mixing fractions over the full range of saturation. For each binary mixture, the effective thermal conductivity, l, capillary pressure, hc, and volumetric water content, q, were measured. Results demonstrated that the l–q relationship exhibited distinct characteristics based on the percentage of fine- and coarse-grained sands. …

Modeling The Influence Of Various Water Stressors On Regional Water Supply Infrastructures And Their Embodied Energy, Weiwei Mo, Qiong Zhang

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Water supply consumes a substantial amount of energy directly and indirectly. This study aims to provide an enhanced understanding of the influence of water stressors on the embodied energy of water supply (EEWS). To achieve this goal, the EEWS in 75 North Carolina counties was estimated through an economic input-output based hybrid life cycle assessment. Ten water stressor indicators related to population, economic development, climate, water source, and land use were obtained for the 75 counties. A multivariate analysis was performed to understand the correlations between water stressor indicators and the EEWS. A regression analysis was then conducted to identify …

The Feasibility Of A Land Ferry System To Reduce Highway Maintenance Cost And Associated Externalities, Steve Merrill, Alexander Paz-Cruz, Victor Molano, Pramen P. Shrestha, Pankal Maheshwari, Haroon Stephen, Hanns De La Fuente

Civil and Environmental Engineering and Construction Faculty Research

This study provides an economic evaluation for a Land Ferry, which is a rail system capable of carrying trucks and all other types of vehicles, passengers, and cargo. The Land Ferry system involves a sliding loading system to roll heavy loads onto a flatbed; as a result, loading and unloading of all vehicles and cargo could be accomplished simultaneously. The evaluation for this system included (1) the design of a new track alignment over which the Land Ferry system would run, (2) evaluation of various sources of power, (3) estimation of how many local jobs the Land Ferry would generate, …

Interaction Of Cementitious Systems With Chemical Admixtures, Natallia Shanahan

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The use of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) in commercial construction have been increasing over the last several decades as climate change and sustainability has been gaining global attention. Incorporation of SCMs into concrete mixtures provides several environmental benefits. Since most SCMs are waste by-products of other industries, their use in concrete reduces waste disposal. Additionally, cements substitution with SCMs reduces the carbon footprint of the construction industry. Cement production generates large amounts of CO₂ emissions; the use of SCMs reduces the amount of cement in a concrete mixture thereby reducing emissions from its production.

In addition to SCMs, modern …

Determination Of Non-Nuclear Alternative To The Nuclear Density Gauge Through Laboratory And Field Testing, Janine Abyad

Theses and Dissertations

Pavement performance is dependent on the compaction quality of unbound subgrade and base/subbase layers beneath flexible pavements. Pavement distresses can be linked to compaction defects within these layers. In current practice, the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) utilizes the nuclear density gauge (NDG) for evaluating compaction quality based on minimum density requirements, typically 95% of the Proctor maximum dry density (MDD). However, there are concerns with using the NDG. The goal of this study was to replace the NDG with non-nuclear alternative method(s) as acceptance tools during field compaction. To achieve this, a laboratory procedure for compacting large samples …

Sustainability At U.S. Urban Water Utilities: A Framework To Assess Key Attributes, Matthew Paul Ries

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Urban water utilities in the United States face challenges due to a combination of external drivers. These include urbanization and population growth, which are stressing a system of aging infrastructure. Compliance with increasing regulations is also a challenge in a fiscally-constrained economic environment. A changing climate threatens infrastructure and past assumptions for water supply and quality. Urban utilities provide clean water and sanitation services to over 80% of the country’s population and its industrial centers. Therefore, the sustainability of these water utilities are crucial to the country’s and the public’s well-being.

New operating models are emerging for a “utility of …

Class C Fly Ash In Pavements, Kromel E. Hanna, George Morcous, Maher K. Tadros

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

No abstract provided.

Modeling Of Soybean Under Present And Future Climates In Mozambique, Manuel António Dina Talacuece, Flávio Barbosa Justino, Rafael De Ávila Rodrigues, Milton Edgar Pereira Flores, Jéssica Garcia Nascimento, Eduardo Eduardo Santos

Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute: Faculty Publications

This study aims to calibrate and validate the generic crop model (CROPGRO-Soybean) and estimate the soybean yield, considering simulations with different sowing times for the current period (1990–2013) and future climate scenario (2014–2030). The database used came from observed data, nine climate models of CORDEX (Coordinated Regional climate Downscaling Experiment)-Africa framework and MERRA (Modern Era Retrospective-Analysis for Research and Applications) reanalysis. The calibration and validation data for the model were acquired in field experiments, carried out in the 2009/2010 and 2010/2011 growing seasons in the experimental area of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in Angónia, Mozambique. The yield …

Identification Of Streamflow Changes Across The Continental United States Using Variable Record Lengths, Kazi Tamaddun, Ajay Kalra, Sajjad Ahmad

Civil and Environmental Engineering and Construction Faculty Research

The study focused on investigating the presence of change patterns in 600 unimpaired streamflow stations across the continental U.S. at different time intervals to understand the change patterns that can provide significant insight regarding climate variability and change. Each station had continuous streamflow data of at least 30 years (the entire dataset covered a range of 109 years). Presence of trends and shifts were detected in water year and the four seasons (fall, winter, spring, and summer) analyzing the water year and seasonal mean flows. Two non-parametric tests, namely, the Mann-Kendall test and the Pettitt’s test were used to identify …

An Investigation In Construction Cost Estimation Using A Monte Carlo Simulation, Jeffrey D. Buchholtz

Theses and Dissertations

The Air Force estimates military construction (MILCON) costs early in a project’s development as a part of the funding approval process. However, many of the initial cost estimates deviate significantly more than expected from the actual project costs, hindering funding allocation efforts. There is a need for improved estimation techniques. This research examines a cost estimation model for the initial programming stages of a project when only general scope information is available.

This study develops a Monte Carlo simulation based on historical construction cost data to predict project costs base on facility type. For a given facility type, the research …

An Investigation Of Motor Vehicle Driver Inattention And Its Effects At Highway–Rail Grade Crossings, Shanshan Zhao

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The relationship between accident injury severity and drivers’ inattentive behavior requires an in-depth investigation – this is especially needed in the case of motor vehicle drivers at highway-rail grade crossings (HRGCs). The relationship between drivers’ personality/ socioeconomic characteristics and inattentive behavior at HRGCs is another topic requiring research. Past educational programs about safe driving at HRGCs have often not been designed to target people who may be in urgent need of such information, which may limit the effectiveness of those programs.

This dissertation thus focuses on the following four objectives: to investigate the association between motor vehicle inattentive driving and …