Civil and Environmental Engineering Commons^™

Study Of Surface And Groundwater Quality And Quantity At Watershed Scale In Mississippi, Dipesh Nepal

Theses and Dissertations

Hydrology and water quality are affected by land use and climate changes. Mississippi’s diverse agro–ecosystem comprises of a range of land use land cover (LULC) including agriculture, forest, wetlands, urban, and grasslands. The objectives of this study were to investigate the impacts of various factors such as Best Management Practices (BMPs), wetlands, LULC, and climate changes on water quality and quantity. The hydrologic and water quality responses to dynamic LULC input in Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) were evaluated. Results showed that agricultural and forest expansion were major drivers of hydrologic and water quality changes in Big Sunflower River …

Cement Stabilization Of Poorly Graded Sand, Lana Grayson Brown Sisung

Theses and Dissertations

Stabilization of poorly graded sand in full-scale applications is challenging. This thesis evaluated cement-stabilized sand and had two objectives: (1) evaluation of stabilized material using the PM device to quantify engineering properties for future comparison to alterative materials and to investigate the effectiveness of the device with sand and (2) investigation of the merits of alternative application of cement to sand to benchmark against other topically applied materials. The PM device was successfully used to recommend 10% cement for field studies with one sand, successfully allowed data collection in laboratory and field applications, and its potential in sand seems promising …

2023 Fall Engr333 Section B Final Report, Ally Gauss, Stuart Johnston, Zachary Rozendal, Nora Terbeek, Samantha Bush, Daniel Cordeiro, David Harris, Nathan Zylstra, Mikayla Bindon, David Schmurr, Zachary Swart, Micah Vandeburg, David Conhoff, Mitchell Cook, Yonggi Kim, Mark Schultz

ENGR 333

Calvin University is currently committed to being carbon neutral by 2057. However, by 2057 the earth will see irreversible damage due to global warming. Because of the constant rise in global carbon emissions, President Boer tasked the students of ENGR-333 to find an earlier date for Calvin to become carbon neutral. Carbon net neutrality involves eliminating the emissions associated with heating and electricity. To have the most immediate impact, it was desired to reduce the most carbon as fast as was cost effective. Starting immediately, Calvin would start buying carbon free electricity from Consumer’s Energy, continuing until 2040 when Consumer’s …

2023 Fall Engr333 Section A Final Report, Owen Kalsbeek, Panashe Makuvaro, Luke Penning, Caleb Gaffner, David Visser, Jared Skaggs, Stephen Langerak, Kyle Borror, Caleb Clark, Michael Lanning, Brayden Raches, Sam Mennega, Seth Devries, Kyle Vandusen, Hayden White

ENGR 333

On 6 December 2017, then-president Michael Le Roy signed the President’s Climate Commitment, which committed Calvin University to carbon neutrality by 2057. Within a global scope, humanity has already emitted approximately 83% of its carbon allowance before causing global warming of 1.5°C. The Paris Climate Accords stated this temperature increase as the point at which humanity’s damage to the planet becomes irreversible. Given this, the year 2057 seemed like a dangerously late date for Calvin to achieve carbon neutrality. These concerns led President Boer to task the students of Engineering 333 with the following question: what earlier year should Calvin …

Climate Change Impact On Bridge Scour Risk In Ny State: A Gis-Based Risk Analysis Model, Muhammad Hassan Butt

Publications and Research

Bridge scour, the primary cause of bridge failure in the United States, escalates post-severe storms, necessitating effective mitigation. This study employs a GIS-based risk analysis model to assess climate change's impact on bridge scour and associated risks in New York State. Data from the National Bridge Inventory, climate hazard maps, and geospatial data are integrated.

Systematic Comparison Of Nonviral Gene Delivery Strategies For Efficient Co-Expression Of Two Transgenes In Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells, Tyler Kozisek, Luke Samuelson, Andrew Hamann, Angela K. Pannier

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Background Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) are being researched for cell-based therapies due to a host of unique properties, however, genetic modification of hMSCs, accomplished through nonviral gene delivery, could greatly advance their therapeutic potential. Furthermore, expression of multiple transgenes in hMSCs could greatly advance their clinical significance for treatment of multifaceted diseases, as individual transgenes could be expressed that target separate pathogenic drivers of complex diseases. Expressing multiple transgenes can be accomplished by delivering multiple DNA vectors encoding for each transgene, or by delivering a single poly-cistronic vector that encodes for each transgene and accomplishes expression through either use …

The Utilization Of Repurposed Whole Textiles To Modify The Mechanical And Hydrogeological Soil Properties: Green Media, Angelis Almanzar-Chevalie, Yehya Elfgeeh, Calvin O. Walters Jr.

Publications and Research

The utilization of repurposed whole textiles to modify the mechanical and hydrogeological soil properties investigates the impact of adding repurposed textiles to lightweight engineered soil, documenting changes in unit weight, water content, and hydraulic conductivity. This study builds upon prior findings, which demonstrated significant alterations in hydrogeological properties when incorporating textile fabric (3% by weight at an aspect ratio of 1:1). Functioning as reinforcement, these fibers enhance the soil's strength, stability, and structural integrity—especially advantageous in erosion-prone areas, regions susceptible to landslides, or locations requiring heightened load-bearing capacity. The outcomes of this parametric study lead to green roof farms playing …

Biological Nitrogen And Phosphorus Removal From Wastewater Under Low Dissolved Oxygen (Ldo) Conditions, Bashar Al-Daomi

Dissertations and Theses

This study examines the complexities of the integration of different technologies for nutrient removal, investigating parameters like sludge residence time (SRT), carbon-to-nitrogen (C/N) ratio, Anaerobic/Oxic (A/O), and Anaerobic/Oxic/Anoxic (A/O/A) systems, continuous and intermittent aeration regimes, and air OFF/air ON periods ratios for efficient nitrogen and phosphorus removal.

Two continuous aeration systems were implemented: The first aimed to carry out a simultaneous nitrification and denitrification (SNdN) process for nitrogen and phosphorus removal under low dissolved oxygen (DO) and C/N ratio conditions. This system operated with 4.5-5-day total sludge age in a single-stage anaerobic/oxic (A/O)-SBR, performing stepwise DO reduction at varying DO …

2023 Fall Engr333 Seminar Presentation File, Michael Lanning, Panashe Makuvaro, David Harris, Stuart Johnston

ENGR 333

File for student presentation on Carbon Neutrality for Calvin University, given by students in the Fall 2023 class of ENGR333.

Predictive Modeling Of Asphalt Pavement Performance Using Artificial Neural Networks, Rami Khalifah

Civil Engineering Theses

This thesis highlights the significance of using the Resilient Modulus (Mr) and Soil-Water Characteristic Curve (SWCC) coefficients within the scope of pavement design. It aims to demonstrate the importance of pavement quality and safety by developing a prediction model for bleeding and rutting depth in asphalt pavements using data from the Long-Term Pavement Performance (LTPP) database and the National Catalog of Natural Subgrade Properties Database. Additionally, the thesis builds predictive models using Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs), which include a single hidden layer and multiple neurons. The developed Mr and SWCC models in this thesis utilized the basic soil index properties …

Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (Qacs) In Wastewater Influent And Effluent Throughout The Covid-19 Pandemic, Anna K. Mahony, Patrick J. Mcnamara, William A. Arnold

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) are used in consumer and industrial products, including disinfectants. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, disinfectant use has increased, purportedly increasing loads to wastewater treatment plants and the environment. To understand how the increased usage has affected QAC loadings to treatment plants and to determine how effectively plants remove QACs from liquid effluent that is discharged to surface and groundwaters, influent and effluent wastewater samples were collected from four treatment plants (treatment capacities < 5 MGD to > 100 MGD) for 21 months beginning in May 2020. Influent QAC concentrations were hundreds of μg/L and effluent QAC concentrations were < 1 μg/L, corresponding to an average removal of 98% from all four plants. The most prevalent QACs in influent were those used most commonly in disinfectants, specifically benzylalkyldimethylammonium compounds (BACs) and short-chain dialkyldimethylammonium compounds (DADMACs), and influent levels of these compounds were correlated with QAC sales. Prior to this study, ethylbenzylalkyldimethylammonium compounds (EtBACs) had not been studied, and they comprised 13 ± 6% of QACs in influent. While removal was high at all plants, low μg/L concentrations were still continuously discharged into the environment. For QACs with equivalent alkyl chain lengths, those with aromatic substituents (BACs and EtBACs) appear to be removed more effectively than those with only alkyl chains (DADMACs).

Bridge Deck Surface Damage Assessment Using Point Cloud Data, Issa Al Shaini, Adriana Trias Blanco

Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering Departmental Research

Bridge deck condition assessments are typically conducted through visual inspections and by incorporating traditional contact sensors for Non-Destructive Evaluation techniques such as hammer sounding and chain dragging, which require the keen expertise of trained inspectors. The accuracy of these inspections is proportional to the level of deterioration of the bridge deck, as the ability of the inspectors is correlated to the apparent level of damage. This study aims to improve the accuracy of bridge deck inspection processes by utilizing non-destructive evaluation techniques, including analyzing point cloud data gathered via Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) as a geometry-capturing tool for identifying …

Truck Platooning Reshapes Greenhouse Gas Emissions Of The Integrated Vehicle-Road Infrastructure System, Huailei Cheng, Yuhong Wang, Dan Chong, Chao Xia, Lijun Sun, Jenny Liu, Kun Gao, Ruikang Yang, Tian Jin

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions has turned into a pillar of climate change mitigation. Truck platooning is proposed as a strategy to lower emissions from vehicles on roads. However, the potential interactive impacts of this technology on road infrastructure emissions remain unclear. Here, we evaluate the decarbonization effects of truck platooning on the integrated vehicle-road system at a large-scale road network level, spanning 1457 road sections across North America. We show that truck platooning decreases emissions induced by truck operations, but it degrades faster the durability of road infrastructure and leads to a 27.9% rise in road emissions due to more …

Effectiveness Of The Different Eutectic Phase-Change Materials In Cooling Asphalt Pavement, Jiasheng Dai, Feng Ma, Zhen Fu, Jenny Liu, Chen Li, Yingjie Hou, Hanli Wu

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Choosing a Phase-Change Material (PCM) Adapted to the Specific Phase-Change Temperature (Tm) Required for Each Temperature Condition is of Utmost Importance in Cooling Pavements. Eutectic Phase-Change Materials (EPCMs) Realize the Customization of the Desired Tm and Reduce the Difficulty of Matching PCMs. This Work Aims to Investigate the Effectiveness of a Group of Binary/ternary EPCMs with Tm Ranging from 30 to 60 ℃ and Melting Enthalpies of Around 200 J/g as Thermal Regulation Components for Different Asphalt. to Achieve This Goal, the Thermal and Rheological Properties of Phase-Change Asphalt Binders (PCAB) Were Evaluated by Differential Scanning Calorimeter, Thermogravimetric, Fourier Transform …

Optimization Of Hydraulic Cylinder Positioning For Wind Tower Hydraulic Erection System, Anbesh Rawal

Master's Theses

Wind produced electricity is a rapidly growing field with wind towers serving as critical components. Conventionally, special cranes are commonly used for wind tower erection. This study explores the use of hydraulic cylinders for small-scale wind tower erection. The thesis aims to find the optimal position of hydraulic cylinder connections in a hydraulic erection system for safe and energy-efficient tower erection and retraction and to enhance the performance and longevity of the system.

Structural analysis was conducted to investigate various hydraulic cylinder positioning configurations, ensuring minimal force exertion while maintaining structural integrity. The study included the selection of locally available …

Rheological And Mechanical Properties Of Kenaf And Jute Fiber-Reinforced Cement Composites, Seongwoo Gwon, Seong Ho Han, Thanh Duc Vu, Chanyoung Kim, Myoungsu Shin

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This study investigated the rheological and mechanical properties of cement composites with kenaf and jute fibers for use in shotcrete. The length and volume fractions of the fiber were varied; the rheological properties were analyzed in terms of air content, compression and flexural tests were conducted, and the degree of fiber dispersion was assessed using fluorescence microscopy. The rougher surfaces of the jute fibers led to a higher yield stress and viscosity of the composite compared to the kenaf fibers. The use of 10-mm-long jute fibers at 2.0% volume fraction led to optimal rheological properties while 30-mm-long jute fibers at …

Exploring Relationship Between Driver’S Roadway Familiarity, Distracted Driving, Reckless Driving, And Injury Severity On Work Zone Crashes, Hamza M. Bani Khalaf

ETD Archive

Motor vehicles have been an integral part of the American way of life, providing an unprecedented degree of mobility. Yet for all its advantages, motor vehicle crashes claim the lives of over 31,000 people in the United States every year, leaving more than three million injured. To prevent these crashes, the causes must be understood and addressed. This study developed a Bayesian Networks (BN) model – a model for reasoning “what-if” questions – to explore the relationship between drivers’ roadway familiarity, distracted driving, reckless driving, and crash severity at work zones. This study examined the crashes that occurred in Ohio …

Treatment Of Combined Dye And Protein Wastewater By Coagulation Process, Siriwat Tanongsak

ETD Archive

The treatment of combined dye and protein wastewater is a major environmental concern, due to its complex composition and high organic content. In this study, the effectiveness of the coagulation process for the treatment of combined dye and protein wastewater was investigated. Results of the study showed that the coagulation process was effective in removing suspended solids, color, and organic matter from the combined dye and protein wastewater. The removal efficiency varied depending on the type and dosage of the coagulant used. Among the coagulants tested, alum and ferric chloride were found to be the most effective in removing suspended …

Decoding Usage And Adoption Behavior Of The Low-Carbon Transportation Market: An Ai-Driven Exploration, Vuban Chowdhury

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The transportation sector stands as a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in the United States, with its environmental impact steadily escalating over the past few decades. This has prompted government agencies to facilitate the adoption and usage of low-carbon transportation (LCT) options as alternatives to fossil-fuel-powered transportation. LCTs include modes of transportation that minimize the overall carbon footprint of the transportation sector by relying on energy sources that are environmentally sustainable. These sustainable transportation options have also garnered significant interest in the transportation research community. For government agencies and researchers alike, a comprehensive understanding of the adoption and usage …

Examining The Impact Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Older Adults' Activity Participation And Mode Usage In A Rural State: A Case Study Of Arkansas, Arna Nishita Nithila

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The objective of the study was to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the activity participation and mode usage of older adults residing in Arkansas, a predominantly rural state. Leveraging primary data collected from 1,017 older adult participants, the study employed Latent Class Analysis (LCA) to capture older adults’ heterogeneity in travel behavior and found three distinct classes: Frequent Traveler, Moderate Traveler, and Non-Traveler, based on their activity participation, mode usage during the pandemic and the pandemic’s impact on their trips. Subsequently, a Multinomial Logit Model (MNL) was employed to examine how socio-demographic attributes, residential locations, and health …

Determining The Effect Of The Presence Of Food Deserts On The Number Of Crashes In Census Tracts In Arkansas, Lizbeth Juarez-Bartolo

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Food deserts, areas with limited access to grocery stores which sell fresh produce, dairy, and meats, are a growing concern in many communities. The presence of a food desert is known to cause great impacts on the physical health of the people residing within them, but there is little to no research on a food desert’s influence on the traffic safety of the location in which it encompasses. Based on previous studies into food deserts, studies suggest that food inaccessibility is mostly felt by rural residents. Since rural residents must travel farther distances on more hazardous rural roadways to access …

Diffusive Gradients In Thin-Films Passive Samplers For Quantitation Of Per- And Polyfluoroalkyl Substances In Water: Kinetic Modeling, Experimental Methods, And Outlook For Regulatory Monitoring, Samuel Hodges

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Environmental sampling is the backbone of regulatory compliance in public water systems. Coupled with continuously improving analytical capabilities, grab sampling has revealed the ubiquity of emerging contaminants in water resources such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPAs) Method 533 and 537.1 specify 0.25 L grab samples undergo a solid phase extraction (SPE) to enrich PFAS up to 250-fold in 1 mL of methanol prior to analysis by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). This process can achieve lowest concentration minimum reporting levels (LCMRLs) between 0.53–16 ng•L−1 for the twenty-nine prioritized PFAS in drinking waters. However, toxicity …

Self-Consolidating Concrete Design For Drilled Shaft Structural Applications, Grady S. Caton

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Self-consolidating concrete (SCC) is a relatively new concrete technology which allows the concrete to be placed without the need for manual or machine vibration. This innovation reduces labor costs, construction times, and can provide a smooth, finished surface. However, this technology is used in the United States primarily in the precast and prestressed concrete industry. The utility of SCC in structural applications, such as areas of dense reinforcement or locations where complex geometry makes consolidation impossible, is also advantageous. In this study, a series of SCC mixtures were developed both with and without fly ash replacement. These mixtures were then …

Comparing In-Situ Liquefaction Triggering Procedures For Sites In Arkansas, Sagar Barua

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

There currently exists a significant amount of uncertainty when designing piles for bridge foundations in liquefiable soil. Currently ARDOT engineers use a Standard Penetration Test (SPT) based liquefaction spreadsheet developed 10 years ago to evaluate liquefaction triggering. Since this spreadsheet was developed, updates to the liquefaction triggering procedures have been published making the spreadsheet out-of-date. Moreover, additional methods of liquefaction evaluation using cone penetration test (CPT) and shear wave velocity (Vs) provide added means of evaluating liquefaction potential. This thesis updates ARDOT's liquefaction triggering evaluation methodology with the newest procedures and incorporates additional empirical liquefaction hazard estimates such as the …

Developing Asphalt Mix Design Specifications Based On Apa And Ideal-Ct Testing, Jonathan Stonestreet

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Some asphalt mixes, following the Superpave mix design procedure, have been reported to be too stiff, making cracking a prevalent form of pavement distress. Additionally, cracking has been reported to be the main form of distress of asphalt pavements in the State of Arkansas. These facts have heightened state agencies’ interest in better performing asphalt pavements, with Arkansas resolving to explore performance-based balanced mix designs (BMD), not yet explored in the state. The primary objective of this document is to present the completed study of balanced mix designs, based on the rutting and cracking potential of asphalt pavement mixtures through …

2023 Fall Engr333 Section B Poster, Ally Gauss, Stuart Johnston, Zachary Rozendal, Nora Terbeek, Samantha Bush, Daniel Cordeiro, David Harris, Nathan Zylstra, Mikayla Bindon, David Schmurr, Zachary Swart, Micah Vandeburg, David Conhoff, Mitchell Cook, Yonggi Kim, Mark Schultz

ENGR 333

Poster of Section B of ENGR-333 Fall 2023.

2023 Fall Engr333 Section A Poster, Owen Kalsbeek, Panashe Makuvaro, Luke Penning, Caleb Gaffner, David Visser, Jared Skaggs, Stephen Langerak, Kyle Borror, Caleb Clark, Michael Lanning, Brayden Raches, Sam Mennega, Seth Devries, Kyle Vandusen, Hayden White

ENGR 333

Poster of Section A of ENGR-333 Fall 2023.

Characterizing Technology Impacts On Driving Behaviors, Crash Risks, And Infrastructure Performances, Jobaidul Boni

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

In recent years, an increase in driver distraction appears due to the rise in smartphone usage and the introduction of social media. Researchers put significant efforts in examining the impacts of distracted driving, mostly focused on distraction like texting or phone call. However, scant research exists to identify the underlying factors causing the distracted driving particularly caused by social media or showing their safety implications at complex geometries such as intersections and highways. This dissertation offers three independent studies reviewing the impact of technology on drivers' actions using field tests and simulation experiments. The first field tests conducted at three …

Evaluation Of Vertical And Lateral Load Capacity Of Recycled Plastic Pin, Sehneela Sara Aurpa

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

RPPs have been in use as a sustainable and effective technique to stabilize and reinforce weak ground for geotechnical purposes. Application of RPP in stabilization of slopes and improvement of load carrying capacity of foundation soil has yielded tremendous results. However, to facilitate the seamless integration of RPPs in design of foundation requires the load carrying capacity of RPP to be known. As RPP has been in use for both its vertical and lateral load carrying capacity, exploration of the load capacity of this material is essential. The objective of the study is to determine the load carrying capacity of …

Transportation Network Criticality Estimation For Hurricane Preparedness And Response Using Vulnerability Assessments, Mehrdad Arabi

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

The resilience of urban transportation networks is crucial for effective evacuation, and search and rescue operations as hurricane events become more severe and frequent. This dissertation presents a comprehensive approach to identifying and evaluating critical transportation links which are crucial for emergency preparedness and response. Integrating socio-economic and environmental vulnerabilities with traditional traffic management approaches, the research underscores the importance of equitable evacuation strategies that cater to the most vulnerable populations. Employing advanced spatial analysis and data analytics with real-time GPS data, the three individual papers in this dissertation offer a dynamic assessment of evacuation behaviors, capturing the complexities of …