Civil and Environmental Engineering Commons^™

Effect Of Competitive Adsorption Between Specialty Admixtures And Superplasticizer On Structural Build-Up And Hardened Property Of Mortar Phase Of Ultra-High-Performance Concrete, Le Teng, Jingjie Wei, Kamal Khayat, Joseph J. Assaad

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This study aims to enhance structural build-up of ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) without influencing the initial flowability, which is critical in repair applications (e.g., use of UHPC in thin bonded overlays for bridge deck rehabilitation). Specialty admixtures, such as a viscosity-modifying admixture (VMA), have been used to enhance the structural build-up at rest. However, the use of specialty admixtures can increase superplasticizer (SP) demand to maintain proper flowability; the synergistic effect of these admixtures on structural build-up is not well understood as the coupled admixture content can reverse the net effect on yield stress, viscosity, and thixotropy. In this study, VMAs …

Verification Of Astm Centrifugation Equations For Soil Suction Determination, Esteban Maclein Miranda Pinzon

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The unit correction constant (B) in the ASTM D6836 standard needs to be evaluated. The B-value was proposed to be 0.00548 instead of 0.00553. This apparent discrepancy led to an investigation comparing the predicted and measured suction values for high air entry (HAE) ceramic disks. A Beckman-Coulter Model J6-MI six-bay centrifuge and a WP4C Dewpoint Potentiameter were used in the testing program. HAE ceramic disks rated with bubbling pressures of 3-bar and 5-bar were used as analogue soil specimens. The HAE ceramic disks were spun in the small-scale centrifuge to apply prescribed suction amounts and then placed in the WP4C …

Alkali Silica Reaction Mitigation Using Glycerin, Ana Laura Errigo Chanis

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The use of glycerin as a concrete additive to reduce alkali silica reaction (ASR), was evaluated and is presented in this study. Specifically, the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) ultra-accelerated alkali silica reaction testing procedure by means of autoclaving was employed to examine the use of glycerin for ASR mitigation or reduction by analyzing mortar bar expansion data. The fine aggregates used in this investigation consisted of highly reactive Jobe Sand or Los Lunas Sand with an autoclave expansion of 0.5 and 0.4 percent, respectively. The laboratory investigation was performed by recording the amount of expansion of the …

Comparison Of Condition Prediction Models To Prioritize Sewer Pipe Inspections, Madhuri Arjun

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

Over time, wastewater collection systems deteriorate, necessitating ongoing adjustments and the development of asset management frameworks by utility proprietors to maintain the performance of their assets. Any asset management framework should emphasize the importance of asset inspection and condition assessment for system-efficient operation and maintenance. In the United States, closed-circuit television (CCTV) is the most common method for inspecting the interior of sewer pipelines. This procedure is expensive and time-consuming due to a city's extensive inventory of pipes. Due to the immense quantity of these pipes, every municipality can only inspect some sections of sanitary sewer pipes promptly. Therefore, the …

Artificial Intelligence-Based Evaluation Of Pipeline Structures Using Multi-Sensor Robots, Mohammad Shaher Moh'd Rababeh

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

ABSTRACT: ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE-BASED EVALUATION OF PIPELINE STRUCTURES USING MULTI-SENSOR ROBOTS Mohammad Shaher Rababeh, Ph.D. The University of Texas at Arlington, August 2023 Supervising Professor: Ali Abolmaali All around the world, pipeline systems are safe, efficient, and cost-effective for transporting liquids such as stormwater and wastewater. However, different defects develop in pipeline structures with aging and use. Leaks and significant failures might create severe danger for the environment, and for humans in urban areas. This deterioration in pipelines happens under the influence of different factors. In general, observing and evaluating pipelines will allow us to understand its behavior under various conditions …

Breaking The Lignin Barrier With Termite Tav5 Treatment Technology (T4): Biopower And Biofuel From Agricultural Waste, Hussain Ali

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

Bioenergy obtained from anaerobic digestion of lignocellulose biomass is one of the promising candidates to help move towards a fossil fuel free future. Agriculture waste has up to 90% lignocellulose content, and the eight leading US crops produce over 500 million tons of residue each year. Unfortunately, lignin is resistant to microbial attack under low oxygen conditions which normally occur in anaerobic digesters, and it often shields lignocellulose components (cellulose and hemicellulose) from decomposition as well. Traditional physical/chemical methods for destroying lignin are typically costly due to energy and chemical requirements and can create toxic intermediates (Rahimi et al., 2020). …

Coastal Home Elevation For Flood Mitigation: Structural Safety And Benefit/Cost Analysis, Cedric Ling

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

construction practice along the Texas Gulf coast under uniform floor live load. The first specimen had four panels with monolithically poured grade beams around each panel, while the second specimen had two panels with monolithically poured grade beams supported by additional steel beams. The second specimen also included carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) laminate retrofitting under one of the panels. The slabs were supported by concrete block masonry piers with various contact conditions. It was found that the typical contractor-determined elevation layout can withstand the building code-mandated floor live load. Increased column spacing decreased slab load capacity as expected. The …

Assessing The Treatment Efficiency Of Expanded Shale As A Filter Medium In A Bioswale, Ashish Bhurtyal

Civil Engineering Theses - Archive

This thesis presents a laboratory investigation focusing on the use of expanded shale as a filter media in bioswales. Bioswales are known for their effectiveness in improving water quality by removing pollutants such as total suspended solids (TSS) and turbidity. While conventional filter media with rocks, sand, and mulches have been utilized in bioswales to enhance infiltration capacity, the potential of expanded shale as an engineered media has not been thoroughly assessed and documented. The study conducted a series of thirty experiments involving three different flow conditions to mimic typical Best Management Practices (BMP) applications. The primary focus was on …

Analytical And Experimental Of Electromagnetic Wave Propagation Effect On Moisture And Corrosion In An Inhomogeneous Medium, Dafnik Saril Kumar David

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

This dissertation presents electromagnetic wave studies for infrastructure. The research contributes to a comprehensive understanding of electromagnetic wave propagation in moisture and provides insights into corrosion detection and monitoring in reinforced concrete infrastructure. Three major studies are performed to: 1) understand the multiple wave scattering in inhomogeneous moisture medium, 2) validate the experimental reflection through analytical finite difference time domain simulations with experimental measurements, and 3) evaluate the electromagnetic wave responses in the early stage and post stage corrosion experimentally, and 4) develop rapid corrosion monitoring methodology for field applications by employing cutting-edge electromagnetic wave image processing as refer to …

The Potential Of Iron Electrodes In Electrochemical Cells For The Stabilization Of Synthetic Urine, Skyler Voisin

All Theses

Source separation and urine treatment present the opportunity to significantly reduce influent concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus in wastewater treatment plants and to capture those minerals for reuse. This study aims to use electrochemical cells with a sacrificial iron electrode to produce hydrogen peroxide in situ for the stabilization of urea while dissolving ferrous iron ions to promote the precipitation of phosphate into compounds such as vivianite (Fe₃ (PO₄)₂ ∙ 8 H₂O), a precipitate with potential uses in agriculture and manufacturing. Synthetic urine samples were treated as anolyte, then were given time to form …

Experimental Investigation Of Water Quality Impact On The Compressive Strength Of Concrete, Shayan Sharifzad

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

Water is an indispensable component in concrete, as it enables crucial chemical reactions. Therefore, the quality of water used in concrete plays a vital role in its performance. Contaminated water, sewage, or high-salt water can disrupt the cement's setting process and overall performance. As a result, it is crucial to prioritize the use of drinking water or water of equivalent quality in concrete production. While the ideal water-to-cement ratio for concrete is typically around 0.20, practical considerations often require a higher water content ranging from 0.30 to 0.70. This increased water consumption is necessary to ensure workability and achieve optimal …

Disaster Management And Recovery: Estimating The Disaster Impacts On Construction Costs And Evaluating The Policy Effects On Disaster Recovery, Sooin Kim

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

A rapidly increasing number of natural hazards pose an inevitable threat to communities. More than a hundred natural hazards strike the United States every year, causing numerous fatalities and billions of dollars of property and infrastructure damage. The total cost of U.S. weather and climate disasters since 1980 has already exceeded 2 trillion dollars. As the number of U.S. county-level disasters has approximately tripled in recent decades due to rapid climate change, a greater share of the population is now more likely to expose to natural disasters. Adequate and timely reconstruction and recovery in post-disaster situations are essential for the …

Wide Band-Gap Metamaterials As Seismic Shields, Ashraf Mohammed Daradkeh

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

In the past decade, a new paradigm gained popularity among researchers aiming to protect structures from low-frequency seismic vibrations using metamaterials. However, developing a workable design for metamaterials is still challenging, given the various factors such as material availability, size, and shape of its components. This project proposes a new configuration that can widen the attenuation frequency of metamaterials and evaluates the attenuation ability of double-graded metamaterials. The project investigates unit cell parameters such as but not limited to size, density, and modulus of elasticity to finalize a unit cell with the broadest possible bandgap by using common construction material …

Model Development To Evaluate Consumers’ Intention To Adopt Electric Vehicles, Apurva Pamidimukkala

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

ABSTRACT: The ever-increasing concern over climate change is compelling global economies to employ alternative fuel technology to combat the vehicular emissions of greenhouse gases. Electric vehicles (EVs) offer a viable environmentally friendly alternative that has the potential to facilitate an effective shift towards a sustainable transportation system with low emissions while preserving the environment. However, well-intentioned policies and other incentives have not been able to transcend the factors that prevent their adoption. Therefore, this research aims to develop three models to determine the factors affecting consumers’ willingness to adopt EVs. A questionnaire survey was designed based on an extensive literature …

Estimation Of Suspended Sediment Concentration Along The Lower Brazos River Using Satellite Imagery And Machine Learning, Trevor Stull

Civil Engineering Theses - Archive

ABSTRACT: Suspended sediment transport in river basins is important for many water management planning activities to maintain safe drinking water for the community and maintenance of water quality and waterways for the ecosystem. Currently, the traditional way to measure suspended sediment effectively and reliably is by collecting field samples in the river body, which is very time consuming and only provide a point value of suspended sediment within the waterbody at the instant the sample was taken. This thesis focuses on developing models that estimate suspended sediment concentrations for the lower Brazos River using satellite imagery from publicly available data …

Comparative Mechanical Property Evaluation Of Ultra-High-Performance Concrete Reinforced With High-Strength Steel Straight And Hooked Fibers, Sujan Kumar Singh

Civil Engineering Theses - Archive

This study investigates the tensile properties and ductility of ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) reinforced with high-strength steel hooked fibers with a tensile strength of 445 ksi (3,070 MPa) and compares its tensile performance to that of UHPC reinforced with commonly used high-strength smooth steel microfibers with a tensile strength of 2,160 MPa (313 ksi). The research is based on a proprietary mix developed at the University of Texas at Arlington and investigates the mechanical properties of UHPC with varying fiber volume fractions of 1.5%, 2%, 2.25%, and 2.4%. The experimental results indicate that UHPC reinforced with high strength hooked fibers generally …

Impact Of Granular Activated Carbon On In-Situ Reductive Dechlorination Of Chlorinated Solvents, Reagan Gregory

All Theses

Treatment of chlorinated solvent-contaminated aquifers with in-situ activated carbon offers a simple yet cost-effective treatment opportunity, yet the interactions between activated carbon and the chlorinated solvents and their daughter products are not well understood.

The objective of this research is to demonstrate the impacts of in situ activated carbon on complete reductive dechlorination of chlorinated solvents in contaminated aquifer material with mixed dehalogenating cultures. This research seeks to characterize the sorption of trichloroethene and its daughter products cis-dichloroethene, vinyl chloride, and ethene to granular activated carbon and how that sorption relates to the removal of trichloroethene from contaminated material in …

Vibration Fatigue Of Leaded Solder Joint Interconnects For Pcb Electronics, John Crowder

All Theses

With the increasing prevalence of electronic equipment worldwide, there is also a decrease in the size of the components on their printed circuit boards (PCBs), leading to an increase in the density of these components. A significant amount of failure in electronic equipment is vibration fatigue of solder joints and their attachments. However, the complexity of these PCBs and their components has made finite element modeling (FEM) more complex, adding considerable time to create and analyze a model.

This paper aims to provide a literature review for the vibration fatigue of leaded solder components, create a test setup, and validate …

Investigation Of Issues Concerning Wellbore Leakage, Ishtiaque Anwar

Civil Engineering ETDs

A range of applications, such as subsurface fluid storage facilities, geothermal wells, and CO2 storage wells, are concerned about leakage along wellbores. The research described in this dissertation was largely directed toward wellbore leakage concerns for the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR). For SPR wellbores, multiple fluids are likely to exist in fractures and flow paths associated with leaky wellbores, including liquids (e.g., liquid hydrocarbon - crude oil) and gases (e.g., gas ex-solved from liquid and/or nitrogen from MIT tests). Anomalous pressure records have been observed at the wellhead of SPR wellbores, indicative of wellbore leakage. In a few cases, …

Repair Of A Wellbore Microannulus, Serafin Garcia Fernandez

Civil Engineering ETDs

In wellbore systems, the microannulus between the steel and the cement has been shown to be a critical leakage pathway. This microannulus offers unique roughness, aperture distribution, and wetting conditions, which are critical in understanding and explaining the potential sealing efficiency of a repair material. An experimental configuration was developed to better understand how a repair material would displace an existing material in the microannulus, visually evaluate potential instabilities on the flow patterns developed, and how efficient the potential repair would be. For that purpose, the experimental configuration consisted of a planar, rough cement surface and a transparent acrylic plate …

Experimental And Numerical Investigation Of Fluid Flow Behavior Through Fractured Wellbore Cement, Mahya Hatambeigi

Civil Engineering ETDs

Leakage from wellbores has been a major challenge in the energy industry, leading to groundwater contamination, reduced productivity, safety hazards, and increased operating costs. Cemented annulus fractures are a common type of leakage pathway in wellbores that can form due to various physical and chemical conditions. The number of wellbore leaks continues to increase globally, making it imperative to develop a better understanding of the complex mechanisms governing fluid flow through fractured wellbore cement. Understanding the behavior of fluid flow through a leaky cemented annulus is crucial for evaluating the leakage potential and risk assessments in wellbore systems, as well …

Developing An Early Warning System Of Highway Slope Failure Based On In-Situ Hydraulic Conductivity Of Soil, Alinda Gupta

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

Highway slope failure is globally a momentous issue. Highway slope failure poses a significant issue in transportation infrastructure. Several factors can contribute to slope failures, including geological conditions, weather events, and human activities. Weather events like heavy rainfall, cyclic shrinkage and swelling can trigger slope failures constructed on high plastic clays. It increases pore water pressure, causing soil saturation, and inducing failure. The consequences of highway slope failures are severe, ranging from traffic disruptions, road closures, and damage to vehicles and infrastructure, to potential injuries or loss of lives. Addressing and mitigating slope failure risks is crucial for ensuring the …

Evaluation Of A First Flush System With Multiple In-Line Bypassing Fuel Separator Components In The Industrial Area Of An Airport, Kazi Rashid

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

ABSTRACT: This dissertation explores the effectiveness of a complex system employed to capture the first flush (FF) generated from industrial activities occurring at an airport. The First Flush System (FFS) utilized by the DFW International Airport is comprised of multiple in-line bypassing fuel separators and located in many parts of the Air Operations Area (AoA) of the airport as well as maintenance areas. The system collects and conveys a portion of the rainfall runoff generated from the drainage areas of the industrial land-use portion of the DFW airport to a Stormwater Pre-treatment Plant (SWPTP) and then to Trinity River Authority …

The Impact Of Improper Solid Waste Management On Public Health Of African Cities. The Case Of Addis Ababa City, Ethiopia., Tesfaye Abebe Alemu

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

Many African cities are generating an ever-increasing amount of waste and the effectiveness of their solid waste collection and disposal systems is currently declining. Therefore, research has been striving to develop a sustainable and integrated solid waste management system that fits the current challenges facing the local environment. The objective of this study is to analyze the impact of improper solid waste management that affects the air and water quality of the near Koshe open dump site and around the Addis Ababa City, and their adverse effect on the public health living around them. The rapid increase of population in …

The Road Map For Sustainable Waste Management In The Federal Democratic Republic Of Ethiopia, Assegid Yimenu

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

Solid Waste Management (SWM) is a global issue from its social, environmental, and economic aspects. Poor SWM is one of the significant causes of resource degradation, environmental pollution, and public health problems. In this study, households’ solid waste generation and characterization were determined for selected cities in Ethiopia. Quantitative and qualitative study methods were applied to collect primary and secondary data to assess the household’s MSW generation rate and characterize the waste type's physical composition. The households’ daily MSW generation rates in Bole and Kirkos sub-cities, Addis Ababa, were found to be 0.54 and 0.26 Kg/capita/day, respectively, and the average …

Low Internal Air Space In Plants With Crassulacean Acid Metabolism May Be An Anatomical Spandrel, Alistair Leverett, Anne Borland, Emma Inge, Samantha Hartzell

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM) is a photosynthetic adaptation found in at least 38 plant families. Typically, the anatomy of CAM plants is characterised by large photosynthetic cells and a low percentage of leaf volume comprised of internal air space (% IAS). It has been suggested that reduced mesophyll conductance (g_m) arising from low % IAS benefits CAM plants by preventing the movement of CO₂ out of cells and ultimately minimising leakage of CO₂ from leaves into the atmosphere during day-time decarboxylation. Here, we propose that low % IAS does not provide any adaptive benefit to …

Development And Characterization Of Coal-Based Thermoplastic Composite Material For Sustainable Construction, Haibin Zhang, Wenyu Liao, Genda Chen, Hongyan Ma

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The exploitation of coal and the disposal of waste plastic present significant environmental and economic challenges that require sustainable and profitable solutions. In response, we propose a renewable construction composite material of coal-based thermoplastic composite (CTC) that can be made from low-grade coal and plastic waste. We developed and tested the hot-press fabrication method for this CTC, using coal with a maximum particle size of 4.75 mm and recycled high-density polyethylene (HDPE). The effects of the coal fraction (50–80 wt.%) on compressive properties, thermal properties, microstructure, and ecological and economic efficiencies of the CTC were investigated. Test results revealed that …

Friction And Texture Equipment Correlation Study, David Hacker, Kean H. Ashurst Jr., Clark Graves

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s (KYTC) foremost goal is building and maintaining a safe road network. To accomplish this goal, KYTC needs reliable pavement friction and macrotexture data, both of which influence road performance and safety. KYTC currently measures fiction using a lock-wheel skid tester (AASHTO T 242), however, the agency has not been able to collect data at the network level due to equipment and personnel limitations. In 2020 the Cabinet commissioned a study to collect friction and macrotexture data. Investigators used a sideway-force coefficient routine investigation machine (SCRIM) (AASHTO TP 143) to measure friction. To understand the performance of …

Effect Of Transverse Post-Tensioning On Moment Distribution Between Channel Girders, William Eubanks

All Theses

This thesis investigates the strength of prestressed concrete channel girders used

in bridges in South Carolina and how to improve their load distribution. The specimens

are 30 feet in length, 33 inches wide and 17 inches deep. South Carolina has 377 bridges

containing prestressed concrete channel girders and many of these bridges received a

poor load rating in a recent load rating project conducted by the South Carolina

Department of Transportation (SCDOT). The research included flexural testing of seven

individual channel girders and load distribution tests of three transversely post-tensioned

channel girders. Individual flexural testing was done to determine the …

Combined Behavioral And Engineering Approach To Preventing Highway Fatalities, Benjamin Blandford, Reginald Souleyrette, Caitlin N. Pope, Tony Fields, Erin Lammers-Staats

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Traditional, single-discipline highway safety approaches can be augmented through multidisciplinary approaches that consider both engineering and behavioral interventions (e.g., education, enforcement, public outreach campaigns). Leveraging a systems-based conceptual framework of roadway safety, multiple forms of statistical and geospatial analysis, and SPF modeling and network screening, this report proposes and demonstrates methods for unpacking the influence of behavioral-related factors on crash occurrences and outcomes. The primary focus is on behaviors targeted in the Strategic Highway Safety Plan — aggressive driving, distracted driving, impaired driving, and driving without proper restraint (i.e., seatbelts). Based on application of these methods, the report highlights areas …