Civil and Environmental Engineering Commons^™

Construction Aspects And Seismic Analysis Of Typical Buildings In Dolpo, Lhakpa Tsering

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This study delves into the construction aspects and seismic analysis of typical buildings in the challenging terrain of Dolpo, situated within the Himalayan mountain range. Dolpo's unique geological and geographical characteristics, combined with its susceptibility to seismic activity, make it crucial to investigate and understand the dynamics of construction in this remote region. The research explores traditional and contemporary building practices, aiming to elucidate the interplay between construction methodologies and seismic resilience. Through a comprehensive examination of the geological context, structural design, and seismic vulnerability, this study contributes valuable insights to inform the development of robust and earthquake-resistant building strategies …

Harnessing Surrogate Modeling And Machine Learning For Management Of Water Resources And Environmental Systems, Mahdi Erfani

Theses and Dissertations

In a world characterized by increasing and more frequent climate extreme events, population growth, and limited opportunities for infrastructural expansion, the imperative for more efficient and resilient planning, design, and operation of water resources and environmental systems has never been more apparent. Moreover, the emergence of high-dimensional data and the demand for quick and informed decision-making have created a critical challenge for the operation and management of these systems. To address these issues effectively, the ability to rapidly grasp and accelerate the analysis of this data is paramount, and this necessitates the innovative use of machine learning and surrogate modeling …

Field And Laboratory Characterization Of Subgrade Resilient Modulus For The Aashtoware Pavement Me, Kazi Moninul Islam

Theses and Dissertations

The new Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide (MEPDG) uses the subgrade resilient modulus (MR) as the key input parameter to represent the subgrade soil behavior for pavement design. This research focused on field and laboratory characterization of subgrade resilient modulus assessing the effects of predicted distresses and IRI on the flexible pavement. The results of this study are presented in the form of three chapters and peer-reviewed journal manuscripts. Firstly (Chapter 3), MR was obtained indirectly from Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD) data using a back-calculation tool (i.e., SCDOT, BAKFAA, and AASHTOWare 2017) or from empirical correlations with soil index properties. MR …

Evaluation Of The Dynamic Response Of Gravelly Soil Under Different Drainage Conditions, Pressley Margaret Perry

Theses and Dissertations

Throughout history in the field of geotechnical earthquake engineering, there have been numerous experimental investigations on the dynamic behavior of soils. Many of these efforts have been focused on sand and silty sand material due to their susceptibility to liquefaction phenomena. However, gravelly soil material (i.e., soil in which gradation contains primarily gravel and sand) has exhibited this phenomenon in response to earthquake loading in many case histories. Therefore, it is important to extend the experimental assessment of gravelly soil material to develop a better understanding of the cyclic response and to support the development of numerical models. This study …

Investigation Of Discrepancies In South Carolina Traffic Collision Forms, Jackson Wegmet

Theses and Dissertations

The aim of this thesis is to improve the accuracy of information recorded in the South Carolina traffic collision forms. To accomplish this, it examines 200 forms containing information about fatal crashes in work zones between 2014 and 2020 to determine how many discrepancies exist between the written narrative and other fields. In addition to obtaining these statistics, this thesis seeks to identify factors that influence discrepancies. To test the hypothesis that crash complexity and weather influence the investigating officer’s level of processing (a theory developed by Craik and Lockhart in 1972), and consequentially his/her ability to complete the traffic …

The Role Of Membrane Porosity In Ion Removal By Ro/Nf Membranes And Development Of A Regenerable Pac-Loaded Membrane, Yizhi Hou

Dissertations (1934 -)

Reverse osmosis (RO) and nanofiltration (NF) membranes are widely used for water treatment applications. They are charged porous materials, in which size exclusion and charge exclusion work together to dictate solute transport. In this study, membrane porosity was primarily determined by pore size. Thicker, more porous membranes with smaller pores had higher NaCl removal and less permeate water flux. Higher porosity membranes have greater inner pore surface area available to support a greater number of functional groups, thereby rejecting ion flux and increasing ion removal. The Donnan steric pore model (DSPM) was used to determine that the contribution of diffusion …

The Professional Constructor, Full Issue, Volume 48, Number 01

The Professional Constructor

No abstract provided.

Virus Control Aboard A Commuter Bus, Hamid Rahai, Jeremy Bonifacio

Mineta Transportation Institute

A major health concern for public transit users is exposure to viruses from other passengers. This numerical study examines virus containment aboard a public bus with changes to the bus ventilation system. The virus was modeled as a 2.5 µm round solid particle released from the mouth of the infectious passenger at a rate of 21 particles per second at a mouth velocity of 0.278 m/sec. The air delivery to the cabin was two linear ceiling slots spanning the length of the bus delivering 59.38 m3/min (2,097 CFM) of air at a mean velocity of 1 m/sec. Two different axial …

Low-Voltage Ride-Through Capability Improvement Of Type-3 Wind Turbine Through Active Disturbance Rejection Feedback Control-Based Dynamic Voltage Restorer, El M. Boulaoutaq, Asma Aziz, Abdelmounime El Magri, Ahmed Abbou, Mohamed Ajaamoum, Azeddine Rachdy

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Disconnections due to voltage drops in the grid cannot be permitted if wind turbines (WTs) contribute significantly to electricity production, as this increases the risk of production loss and destabilizes the grid. To mitigate the negative effects of these occurrences, WTs must be able to ride through the low-voltage conditions and inject reactive current to provide dynamic voltage support. This paper investigates the low-voltage ride-Through (LVRT) capability enhancement of a Type-3 WT utilizing a dynamic voltage restorer (DVR). During the grid voltage drop, the DVR quickly injects a compensating voltage to keep the stator voltage constant. This paper proposes an …

Channel Morphology Of A Leaky Coastal Plain River: The Congaree River, Sc 1884-2022, William Nicholas Logan

Theses and Dissertations

Downstream changes in river planform can be associated with changes in geologic controls and often signal changes in channel geometry, bed slope, or bed material grain size. While previous studies documented downstream trends in channel geometry and planform for a variety of rivers, there is a gap in the literature on spatial and temporal trends in channel geometry on the fluvial part of Coastal Plain rivers, i.e., the not-tidally influenced part. The literature highlights the existence of crevasse splays in natural levees that allow floodplain inundation below bankfull conditions as unique feature of channels and floodplains in the Coastal Plain. …

Floodplain And In-Channel Sedimentation In The Bedrock Congaree River, Sc, Mahsa Ahmadpoor

Theses and Dissertations

The Congaree River planform is characterized by an abrupt increase in channel sinuosity in the downstream direction. Such a change is not typical of alluvial meandering rivers but has been observed in mixed bedrock-alluvial rivers. This motivated the first study of this dissertation, specifically designed to determine if the Congaree River is indeed a mixed bedrock-alluvial river in its low sinuosity (upstream) reach. To test this hypothesis, sonar-based measurements of channel bed and sublayer elevation were performed from Columbia to the Congaree River-Wateree River confluence. The sublayer is here defined as the first surface visible in the sonar measurements underneath …

Electric Freight Transportation System Planning And Truck Operation Optimizations, Xuanke Wu

Theses and Dissertations

The substantial demand for fossil fuel consumption is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, drawing considerable public attention to health and environmental problems. As a result, vehicle electrification is currently recognized as the most effective approach to reduce CO2 emissions from transportation. However, compared to traditional fossil fuel-powered vehicles, electric vehicles have notable disadvantages, including higher upfront purchasing price, longer recharging time, and most significantly, lower driving ranges. All these challenges can potentially result in increased overall operational costs for logistics companies. This thesis proposes a comprehensive optimization modeling framework for electric freight transportation system planning and operations with …

Semi-Annual Progress Report #12, Missouri University Of Science And Technology. Inspire - University Transportation Center

Semi-Annual Progress Reports

No abstract provided.

Retraining Investment For Alberta’S Oil And Gas Workers For Green Jobs In The Solar Industry, Theresa K. Meyer, Carol Hunsberger, Joshua M. Pearce

Michigan Tech Publications

If oil sands are to be eliminated from the energy market to protect the global environment, human health and long-term economic welfare, a significant number of workers will be displaced in the transition to renewable energy technologies. This study outlines a cost-effective and convenient path for oil and gas workers in Alberta to be retrained in the burgeoning solar photovoltaic (PV) industry. Many oil and gas workers would be able to transfer fields with no additional training required. This study examines retraining options for the remainder of workers using the most closely matching skill equivalent PV job to minimize retraining …

Assessment Of Spatial Variability Of Groundwater Potential Using Remote Sensing And Gis-Based-Criteria Evaluation For Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, Augustina Alexander

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

Groundwater is an important resource for the continuous provision of water supply in both urban and rural areas. Lack of enough knowledge about the spatial variability of groundwater potential zones (GWPZS) has a negative impact on groundwater extraction development and management and may result into over exploitation. In this study, analytic hierarchy approach (AHP)-coupled with multi criteria decision analysis (MCDA) and GIS techniques were employed to integrate hydrogeological, geological as well as topographical data to assess spatial variability of groundwater potential zones of Dar es Salaam city. Seven thematic layers such as lithology, slope, land-use, lineament, drainage, soil, and rainfall …

Designing A Model Of Solar Photovoltaic Water Pumping System For Off-Grid Localities In Tanzania, Imani Mruma

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

Modeling of photovoltaic (PV) water pumping system for rural water localities is vital especially in these modern days, in Tanzania. This is due to the rise of high number of solar-powered rural water projects constructed lacking appropriate design. The fate result into poor and substandard projects delivering below expectations. Kikombo Solar Water Project situated in Dodoma; Tanzania is one among poorly designed solar project chosen as a case study to validate proposed model. The main problem of Kikombo project is unsatisfactory amount of water from domestic points to satisfy population demand. This matter has been raised by pumping-station attendants and …

Extraction And Characterization Of Fibres From The Bark Of Ficus Nekbudu Tree, Liberato V Haule

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

This paper investigates the extraction and characterization of fibres from the bark of the ficus nekbudu tree. The Ficus Nekbudu Fibres (FNF) was extracted from the bark by retting in water and then treatment with sodium hydroxide solution. The extracted FNF was analysed for chemical composition, physical, tensile, surface, structural and thermal stability properties. Findings on the chemical composition indicated that FNF has cellulose (49.9 %), lignin (13.4%), ash (7.1%) and water content (8.1%). From the physical investigation it was found that FNF has density (1.42 ± 0.005 g/cm3) and moisture regain (9.2 ±0.3%). From mechanical investigation it was found …

Assessing Spatio-Temporal Variations And Trends Of Rainfall Over Somalia From 1991 To 2020, Paul Ts Limbu Sr

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

This study aims to examine the spatiotemporal variability and trends of rainfall over Somalia using the Mann-Kendall (MK) test and Sen’s slope estimator to investigate the trend and magnitude of the rainfall changes and the arithmetic mean and coefficient of variation (CV) to examine the rainfall variability. To achieve this aim, the gridded monthly satellite rainfall datasets from Climate Hazards Group InfraRed Precipitation with Station (CHIRPS) for the period between 1991 and 2020 were used. Results show that annual rainfall generally exhibits bimodal rainfall distribution, March to May (Gu) and September to November (Deyr), though southern coastal regions receive extended …

Application Of Mangrove Timber In Reinforcing Concrete, John K. Makunza Jkm

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

Use of mangrove timber beams for supporting floor slabs in historic buildings in Zanzibar Stone Town is still applied although the available structural data on mangrove timber is inadequate. This concern has called for an investigation on the structural properties of mangrove timber, so that the information obtained could help to establish the structural strength of the existing floor slabs in historic buildings. Hence, mangrove timber specimens were sampled from Zanzibar, and tested in the laboratory for their strengths in tension, compression and shear. The test results showed that mangrove is a hardwood timber of strength class D70, the highest …

Vulnerable Road User Safety: Data Collection, Analysis, And Countermeasures, Anahita Kakhani

Theses and Dissertations

The safety of pedestrians and bicyclists (vulnerable road users) has become a paramount global concern, especially with a 53% and 31% surge in related crashes over the past decade in the U.S. Despite transportation agencies implementing various safety measures to address this issue, the number of severe injuries among these road users continues to climb annually. This underscores the urgent need for innovative methodologies and technologies to pinpoint the factors compromising their safety. To do so, this study aimed to introduce and employ techniques and countermeasures to gain deeper insight into risks faced by vulnerable road users. This study includes …

Modeling Leaf-Level Transpiration: Exploring The Consequences Of Assumed Saturated Vapor Pressure In Leaves, Danlyn L. Brennan

Dissertations and Theses

Understanding the dynamics of water transport through leaf intercellular airspaces (IAS) and its impact on transpiration is crucial for accurate predictions of plant water use and ecosystem response to changing climates. This study investigates the implications of assuming undersaturation of water vapor in the IAS for transpiration predictions and explores potential modifications to standard modeling approaches.

A dynamic 1D soil-plant-atmosphere continuum using a stomatal optimization model (SPAC-SOT) framework was used to simulate the response of tree species, P. edulis, to prolonged drought and varying environmental conditions. Comparisons between two model assumptions (saturated vs. undersaturated IAS) reveal notable differences in …

Developing A Smart And Sustainable Public Transportation System: A Case Study In Camden, New Jersey, Zahra Vafakhah

Theses and Dissertations

The transportation sector is a major contributor to air pollution and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions. As a significant source of emissions, public transportation presents an opportunity for mitigation through electrification. However, transitioning to an electric bus fleet necessitates substantial investments in bus procurement and charging infrastructure. To address the associated costs, this study introduces a mixed-integer linear mathematical model developed to optimize the location of on-route fast charging stations within bus networks. The central objective of this optimization formulation is to minimize the overall cost of establishing the charging infrastructure. The study employs a real-world case study focusing on a …

Simultaneous 3d Construction And Imaging Of Plant Cells Using Plasmonic Nanoprobe-Assisted Multimodal Nonlinear Optical Microscopy, Kun Liu, Yutian Lei, Dawei Li

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Faculty Publications

Nonlinear optical (NLO) imaging has emerged as a promising plant cell imaging technique due to its large optical penetration, inherent 3D spatial resolution, and reduced photodamage; exogenous nanoprobes are usually needed for nonsignal target cell analysis. Here, we report in vivo, simultaneous 3D labeling and imaging of potato cell structures using plasmonic nanoprobe-assisted multimodal NLO microscopy. Experimental results show that the complete cell structure can be imaged via the combination of second-harmonic generation (SHG) and two-photon luminescence (TPL) when noble metal silver or gold ions are added. In contrast, without the noble metal ion solution, no NLO signals from the …

Simultaneous 3d Construction And Imaging Of Plant Cells Using Plasmonic Nanoprobe-Assisted Multimodal Nonlinear Optical Microscopy, Kun Liu, Yutian Lei, Dawei Li

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Faculty Publications

Nonlinear optical (NLO) imaging has emerged as a promising plant cell imaging technique due to its large optical penetration, inherent 3D spatial resolution, and reduced photodamage; exogenous nanoprobes are usually needed for nonsignal target cell analysis. Here, we report in vivo, simultaneous 3D labeling and imaging of potato cell structures using plasmonic nanoprobe-assisted multimodal NLO microscopy. Experimental results show that the complete cell structure can be imaged via the combination of second-harmonic generation (SHG) and two-photon luminescence (TPL) when noble metal silver or gold ions are added. In contrast, without the noble metal ion solution, no NLO signals from the …

Common Ground Newsletter Fall 2023, Missouri University Of Science And Technology

Common Ground

- Free-Format Education

- S&T student selected as national ASCE ambassador

- Heart of a servant

- Exploring history, architecture of Chicago

Thermotolerance And Hydrogen Production Potential Of Salt-Tolerant Microflora From Salt Fields, Tsuyoshi Imai, Gede Adi Wiguna Sudiartha, Jantima Teeka, Prapaipid Chairattanamanokorn, Alissara Reungsang, Yung-Tse Hung

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Upper mesophilic temperature acclimation of halophilic, hydrogen-producing bacteria from salt fields was investigated in this study, along with the changes in microbial abundance during anaerobic digestion (AD) process. Genomic approaches such as PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and next-generation sequencing (NGS) were performed to profile the microbial communities. During AD, there was a significant abundance of Halanaerobacter lacunarum at 48°C followed by the increase in hydrogen yield, signifying potential contribution from the halophile in the hydrogen production. A decrease in the dominance of H. lacunarum and Halanaerobium fermentans at 42°C, likely due to an increase in other bacterial species, was …

Evaluation Of Digital Twin Approaches For Thermal Modeling And Energy Optimization For Existing Buildings, Jason Bastie Muermann

Theses and Dissertations

Residential, commercial, and industrial building sectors in the United States were responsible for 42% of the nation’s consumption of 100.2 quadrillion BTUs of energy in 2019 [1]. 80% of the nation’s energy is sourced from fossil fuels, including coal, natural gas, and petroleum. Fossil fuels are known contributors to carbon emissions and climate change, making energy reduction vital. Consequently, New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (NJDMAVA) is tasked with evaluating energy consumption and efficiency in all New Jersey Army National Guard (NJARNG) facilities, as mandated by TAG Policy Letter 18-5, Executive Order 13990, and the Energy Independence and …

Robotic Inspection Of Infrastructure Using Vision, Gpr, And Impact-Echo Sensors, Jizhong Xiao

INSPIRE Archived Webinars

Bridges, dams, highways, and tunnels in the U.S. are reaching their life expectancy, and thus have imperative needs for routine inspection and maintenance to ensure sustainability. It is reported that 42% of over 600,000 highway bridges in the National Bridge Inventory (NBI) have exceeded their design life of 50 years, and 42,951 bridges are rated in poor condition and classified as "structurally deficient". To inspect the structurally integrity of bridges, the inspectors also need to detect subsurface defects (i.e., delamination, voids) using NDE instruments such as GPR and impact-echo (IE) device at difficult to access components (i.e., pier, bottom side …

Dual Activation Of Peroxymonosulfate Using Mnfe2O4/G‑C3N4 And Visible Light For The Efficient Degradation Of Steroid Hormones: Performance, Mechanisms, And Environmental Impacts, Kitipong Poomipuen, Chainarong Sakulthaew, Chanat Chokejaroenrat, Athaphon Angkaew, Kanidrawee Techauay, Thapanee Poompoung, Kanokwan Teingtham, Piyaporn Phansak, Piyangkun Lueangjaroenkit, Daniel D. Snow

Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute: Faculty Publications

Single activation of peroxymonosulfate (PMS) in a homogeneous system is sometimes insufficient for producing reactive oxygen species (ROS) for water treatment applications. In this work, manganese spinel ferrite and graphitic carbon nitride (MnFe₂O₄/g-C₃N₄; MnF) were successfully used as an activator for PMS under visible light irradiation to remove the four-mostdetected- hormone-contaminated water under different environmental conditions. The incorporation of g-C₃N₄ in the nanocomposites led to material enhancements, including increased crystallinity, reduced particle agglomeration, amplified magnetism, improved recyclability, and increased active surface area, thereby facilitating the PMS activation and electron …

Social Vulnerability Of The People Exposed To Wildfires In U.S. West Coast States, Arash Modaresi Rad, John T. Abatzoglou, Erica Fleishman, Miranda H. Mockrin, Volker C. Radeloff, Yavar Pourmohamad, Megan Cattau, J. Michael Johnson, Philip Higuera, Nicholas J. Nauslar, Mojtaba Sadegh

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Understanding of the vulnerability of populations exposed to wildfires is limited. We used an index from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to assess the social vulnerability of populations exposed to wildfire from 2000–2021 in California, Oregon, and Washington, which accounted for 90% of exposures in the western United States. The number of people exposed to fire from 2000–2010 to 2011–2021 increased substantially, with the largest increase, nearly 250%, for people with high social vulnerability. In Oregon and Washington, a higher percentage of exposed people were highly vulnerable (>40%) than in California (~8%). Increased social vulnerability of …