Civil and Environmental Engineering Commons^™

The Long-Term Outlook Of The Mississippi-Atchafalaya Bifurcation: A Convergence Of Engineering, Economics, And Deltaic Evolution, Thomas Mitchell Andrus

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The most recent and currently active delta lobe of the Mississippi River (MR) is the Atchafalaya-Wax Lake lobe, which was initiated approximately 400 years ago as a result of MR stream capture by the Atchafalaya River (AR). This capture process accelerated in the early to mid-1900s but further progress was prevented by construction and operation of the Old River Control Structure (ORCS) Complex. Many recent studies indicate that MR system below the ORCS is on a retreating geologic trajectory due to contributing factors such as sea level rise, subsidence, faulting, and declining hydraulic stream power. Diversions along the Lower MR …

Reliability Improvement On Feasibility Study For Selection Of Infrastructure Projects Using Data Mining And Machine Learning, Xi Hu

Theses and Dissertations

With the progressive development of infrastructure construction, conventional analytical methods such as correlation index, quantifying factors, and peer review are no longer satisfactory in support for decision-making of implementing an infrastructure project in the age of big data. This study proposes using a mathematical model named Fuzzy-Neural Comprehensive Evaluation Model (FNCEM) to improve the reliability of the feasibility study of infrastructure projects by using data mining and machine learning. Specifically, the data collection on time-series data, including traffic videos (278 Gigabytes) and historical weather data, uses transportation cameras and online searching, respectively. Meanwhile, the researcher sent out a questionnaire for …

Using Fuzzy Models And Time Series Analysis To Predict Water Quality, Zhao Fu, Mei Yang, Jacimaria R. Batista

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Research

Water quality prediction is very important for both water resource scheduling and management. Simple linear regression analysis and artificial neural network models cannot accurately forecast water quality because of complicated linear and nonlinear relationships in the water quality dataset. An adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) that can integrate linear and nonlinear relationships has been proposed to address the problem. However, the ANFIS model can only work in scenarios where input and target parameters have strong correlations. In this paper, a fuzzy model integrated with a time series data analysis method is proposed to address the water quality prediction problem when …

Estimation Of The Axial And Lateral Capacity Of Driven Piles From The Results Of Cone Penetration Test And Finite Element Analysis, Mohsen Amirmojahedi

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Piles play an important role in transportation and bridges. They are used to resist axial and lateral loads transferred to them from structures, earth pressures, incline loads, vehicles, etc. In this study, the capacity of piles for axial and lateral loads is investigated.

The ultimate axial capacity of piles can be estimated using different approaches including static pile load tests, dynamic load tests, statnamic load tests, and static analysis based on laboratory tests (effective and total stress approaches) or in-situ tests (SPT, CPT, etc.). For each approach, different researchers have proposed different solutions for different soils and different piles. Mostly, …

Dynamics Of The Ionospheric Energetics (Dione) 2018, Ryan Davidson, Charles Swenson

Funded Research Records

No abstract provided.

Water Quality Improvement And Pollutant Removal By Two Regional Detention Facilities With Constructed Wetlands In South Texas, Javier Guerrero, Ahmed Mahmoud, Taufiqul Alam, Muhammed A. Chowdhury, Adeniyi Adetayo, Andrew Ernest, Kim D. Jones

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications

Stormwater runoff introduces several pollutants to the receiving water bodies that may cause degradation of the water quality. Stormwater management systems such as detention facilities and wetland can improve the water quality by removing various pollutants associated with the runoff. The objective of this research project is to determine the performance and efficiency of two major regional detention facilities (RDFs) with different designs and structures in reducing pollutants based on various storm events in McAllen, Texas. The two sites are the McAuliffe RDF and the Morris RDF; each site was incorporated with a constructed wetland with a different design and …

The Critical Role Of Humidity In Modeling Summer Electricity Demand Across The United States, Debora Maia-Silva, Rohini Kumar, Roshanak Nateghi

School of Industrial Engineering Faculty Publications

Cooling demand is projected to increase under climate change. However, most of the existing projections are based on rising air temperatures alone, ignoring that rising temperatures are associated with increased humidity; a lethal combination that could significantly increase morbidity and mortality rates during extreme heat events. We bridge this gap by identifying the key measures of heat stress, considering both air temperature and near-surface humidity, in characterizing the climate sensitivity of electricity demand at a national scale. Here we show that in many of the high energy consuming states, such as California and Texas, projections based on air temperature alone …

Post-Overlay Flexible Pavement Performance Modeling And Its Application In Sustainable Asphalt Overlay Policy Making, Chunfu Xin

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Highway pavement is a critical component of the highway transportation infrastructure. After the construction of a pavement system, pavement condition will deteriorate over time due to a combination effect of material aging, traffic loading, and environmental impact. To restore the pavement performance and to reduce its adverse effects on public users and environment, asphalt overlay activities are conducted frequently during the service life of a pavement. As a key component that bridges the overlay policies with future pavement performance, economic cost and environmental impact, the forecast accuracy of post-overlay pavement performance model is extremely important. However, most of previous studies …

Rapid Cross-Section Imaging With Magnetic And Impedance Sensors For Grout Anomaly Detection In External Post-Tensioned Tendons, Hani Freij

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Post-tensioned (PT) bridges have had severe corrosion issues with tendons that fail suddenly without prior notice. The corrosion of external post-tensioned tendons has been associated with grout deficiencies/anomalies from inadequate grouting. Deficiencies include voids, regions of chalky low strength grout, and regions where excessive water content or even free water is present. In those zones mechanical bonding of strand to the grout is degraded and, of more concern, the strand steel risks corrosion failure reducing the expected lifespan of the structure. As tendons are critical structural components, it is important to detect those deficiencies during inspection preferably by a cross …

Studies Of Oval Tube And Fin Heat Exchangers, Phillip Nielsen

Discovery Day - Prescott

Heating Ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) is a system which changes the temperature of the surroundings for the purposes of cooling or heating. This system requires energy to maintain a temperature difference from the outside temperature. This is important since minimized power is one of the requirements for the system to achieve a better efficiency. Optimizing the flow over the evaporator coils is one way to increase the cooling efficiency. This will reduce the power required to have a sustainable system. Optimizing the flow to increase the energy transfer between the fins and the incoming air could result in a greater …

Tech Comm Eagle Eye-Tracking Control System, Gabiella Lail, Robert Shaw, Hunter Smatla, Matthew Gary

Discovery Day - Prescott

Mobile eye-tracking systems provide usability research support as well as access to a wide range of robotics and technical communication research opportunities. Optical tracking systems are often prohibitively expensive and do not provide the mobility or flexibility needed for a variety of research application possibilities. Our team proposes building a simple mobile eye-tracking system to be used in-house at ERAU for heat-mapping, robotics, control systems, and various technical communication applications in a structured research environment. The mobile eyetracking system will become part of a larger research and hands-on technical communication usability lab and research center. The research team intends to …

Collaborative Sharing Of Multidimensional Space-Time Date In A Next Generation Hydrologic Information System, Tian Gan, David G. Tarboton, Jeffery S. Horsburgh, Pabitra Dash, Ray Idaszak, Hong Yi

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

In hydrologic research, there is a need to manage, archive, and publish data in a discoverable way to increase data reuse, transparency, and reproducibility. Multidimensional space-time data are commonly used in hydrologic research, and systems are needed for sharing and exchanging such data. Simply exchanging files may result in loss of metadata information and can be challenging when files are large. We developed an approach to manage, share, and publish multidimensional space-time data in HydroShare, a next generation hydrologic information system and domain specific repository. This paper presents the design, development, and testing of this approach. We selected the Network …

The Challenge Of Calculating U-Factors For Cold-Formed Steel C-Shape Wall Assemblies Using Framing Factors, American Iron And Steel Institute

American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) Specifications, Standards, Manuals and Research Reports (1946 - present)

No abstract provided.

Development Of A U-Factor Calculation Procedure For Cold-Formed Steel C-Shaped Clear Wall Assemblies, American Iron And Steel Institute

American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) Specifications, Standards, Manuals and Research Reports (1946 - present)

No abstract provided.

Water Scarcity And Fish Imperilment Driven By Beef Production, Brian D. Richter, Dominique Bartak, Peter Caldwell, Kyle Fankel Davis, Peter Debaere, Arjen Y. Hoekstra, Tianshu Li, Landon Marston, Ryan Mcmanamay, Mesfin Mekonnen, Benjamin L. Ruddell, Richard R. Rushforth, Tara J. Troy

Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute: Faculty Publications

Human consumption of freshwater is now approaching or surpassing the rate at which water sources are being naturally replenished in many regions, creating water shortage risks for people and ecosystems. Here we assess the impact of human water uses and their connection to water scarcity and ecological damage across the United States, identify primary causes of river dewatering and explore ways to ameliorate them. We find irrigation of cattle-feed crops to be the greatest consumer of river water in the western United States, implicating beef and dairy consumption as the leading driver of water shortages and fish imperilment in the …

Using Scrap Tires As An Aggregate In Chip Seal - Phase Ii, Alireza Pourhassan, Ahmed Gheni, Mohamed Elgawady

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Technical Reports

Chip seals are one of the most cost and performance effective pavement preservation treatments commonly used in the United States. An eco-friendly chip seal pavement, in which the natural aggregate was replaced by crumb rubber obtained from scrap tires, was recently developed by the research team at Missouri S&T, creating rubberized chip seal. This project investigated and optimized the performance of rubberized chip seal under different scenarios. During this project, laboratory chip seal specimens with different sizes were prepared and tested under simulated traffic loads with different loading parameters and environmental conditions. Also, the feasibility of the implementation and performance …

Investigating The Experimental Process For Partial Replacement Of Cement With Sugarcane Bagasse In The Construction Industry, Amany G. Micheal Prof., Rania Moussa, Nadin Dawoud

Centre for Advanced Materials

In the last few decades there has been speedily increasing in the agriculture and industrial wastes. This causes many environmental issues and raises the potential to contaminate the natural resources of living such as water, air and soil. Recently, the amount of organic waste produced daily has been rising, while it is poorly managed. It is either burned or disposed improperly, which effect negatively the environment and public health. On the other hand, during the cement production process many wastes, and pollutants are generated which have major negative impacts on the environment. Cement is considered as a substantial constituent of …

Simulating Cement Hydration Using Hydcem, Niall Holmes, Denis Kelliher, Mark Tyrer

Articles

HYDCEM is a new cement hydration model to simulate volumetric changes and predict phase assemblage, degree of hydration, heat release, compressive strength and chemical shrinkage over time for PC and limestone binders undergoing hydration for any w/c ratio and curing temperatures between 5 and 45 °C. While models should never completely remove experimental analysis, they are an aid to better understand cement hydration and microstructure development by allowing users analyse different binders in a relatively short time. HYDCEM, written in MATLAB®, is aimed at complementing more sophisticated thermodynamic models giving users a reasonable prediction of hydration behaviour over time, using …

Identifying Opportunities For Educators To Pursue Collaboration At The Interface Of Nursing And Engineering -- And A Word Of Caution, Daniel B. Oerther, Patricia Yoder-Wise, Beverly Malone

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

No abstract provided.

Scu Faculty & Staff Housing Development, Ayo Ogunfunmi, Deirdre Bonitz, Rachael Han, Spencer Saito

Civil, Environmental and Sustainable Engineering Senior Theses

Due to the high housing costs in the Bay Area, Santa Clara University’s (SCU) faculty and staff have to live further away from campus where the housing market is more affordable, ultimately increasing their commute time and increasing the environmental impact due to transportation. Therefore, SCU has expressed the need to provide affordable housing for their faculty and staff who do not earn enough income to be able to live in the City of San Jose or County of Santa Clara. The project proposed in this report represents the efforts of SCU Civil Engineering students to adhere towards the social, …

Air Quality Analysis Of Merrimack College, Patrick J. Mckeown

Honors Program Contracts

No abstract provided.

Classification Of Seismic Vulnerability Based On Machine Learning Techniques For Rc Frames, Seyed Hooman Ghasemi, Hossein Bahrami, Mahdi Akbari

Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering Departmental Research

Seismic vulnerability means the inability of historical and monumental buildings to withstand the effects of seismic forces. This article presents a classification model to specify the damage state of the Reinforced Concrete (RC) frames based on a collection of datasets from the damaged buildings in Bingol earthquake of Turkey for use in the learning process of the algorithm. The proposed model uses two classifiers including the redundancy and also the construction quality of the buildings to estimate the class of damage from four categories including none, light, moderate and severe. The available database of the considered earthquake includes the information …

Lecture Notes: Nonlinear Optimization And Matlab Optimization Toolbox Example, Lina Sela

All ECSTATIC Materials

No abstract provided.

Lecture Notes: Multi-Objective Optimization, Lina Sela

All ECSTATIC Materials

No abstract provided.

Video Conversations - The Future Of The Colorado River, John C. Schmidt, David E. Rosenberg

All ECSTATIC Materials

This video series explores key Colorado River management issues with key managers across the basin. Video discussions in the table on the next page are presented in the order they were recorded. Topics include river ecosystems, California, Upper Basin, Tribal, and Federal perspectives, as well as future hydrology and climate. Each video runs for 60 to 90 minutes. Speakers start by describing how they got to the place they are professionally. There are prepared remarks and questions and answers from participants who attended at the time the video was recorded. Links to suggested readings are provided. Click the VIDEO url …

California High Speed Rail Central Valley Realignment, Jossian Pineda, Devin Schmidt

Civil, Environmental and Sustainable Engineering Senior Theses

The California High-Speed Rail in California has exceeded its budget and proven that typical methods of laying out High-Speed Rail were inefficient and detrimental to residents. By analyzing routes where the High-Speed Rail could instead be routed through medians or dead space around existing freeways, the project team determined the feasibility and cost efficiency of such an undertaking. The team analyzed multiple routes and upon choosing the best route, completed a curve analysis on a portion of the alignment, as well as completed an analysis on typical bridges that would be required. The analysis proved that utilizing this median space …

Evaluation Of The Embedded Environmental Impacts Of The Sanitary Sewer System Using Life Cycle Assessment, Kimberly Law

UCARE: Research Products

This study identifies the overall impact that the installation and construction phase of sanitary sewer systems have on the environment. Construction data on sanitary sewer systems from small Nebraska communities was collected and compared to the operating phase of the sanitary sewer. The operating phase is the energy required for the lift station. Analyzing sanitary sewers during their entire life cycle involved the raw materials, infrastructure construction, installation, operation of the system, and maintenance.

Wastewater treatment systems are meant to reduce the negative impact that humans have on the environment. The purpose of the system is to treat and disinfect …

Correction To: Recommendations Of Rilem Tc 260-Rsc For Using Superabsorbent Polymers (Sap) For Improving Freeze–Thaw Resistance Of Cement-Based Materials (Materials And Structures, (2019), 52, 4, (75), 10.1617/S11527-019-1375-4), Viktor Mechtcherine, Christof Schröfl, Michaela Reichardt, Agnieszka J. Klemm, Kamal Khayat

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Agnieszka J. Klemm is affiliated to Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, UK.

Estimation Of Lubrication Layer Thickness And Composition Through Reverse Engineering Of Interface Rheometry Tests, Alexis Salinas, Dimitri Feys

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

During concrete pumping, a lubrication layer is formed near the pipe wall. Extensive research has been performed on measuring and modeling the properties of this layer and using these values to predict pumping pressures. However, there are numerous discussions in the literature about the composition and thickness of this layer: can it be considered mortar, a micromortar, or is it cement paste? In this paper, possible solutions for the thickness and composition of the lubrication layer are derived from interface rheometry tests. It is assumed that the lubrication layer is composed of one or more concentric layers of paste or …

Hybrid Vehicle-Drone Routing Problem For Pick-Up And Delivery Services Mathematical Formulation And Solution Methodology, Aline Karak

Civil and Environmental Engineering Theses and Dissertations

The fast growth of online retail and associated increasing demand for same-day delivery have pushed online retail and delivery companies to develop new paradigms to provide faster, cheaper, and greener delivery services. Considering drones’ recent technological advancements over the past decade, they are increasingly ready to replace conventional truck-based delivery services, especially for the last mile of the trip. Drones have significantly improved in terms of their travel ranges, load-carrying capacity, positioning accuracy, durability, and battery charging rates. Substituting delivery vehicles with drones could result in $50M of annual cost savings for major U.S. service providers.

The first objective of …