Civil and Environmental Engineering Commons^™

Preliminary Bond Capacity Exploration Between Monolayer Graphene And Cementitious Composites, Yanping Zhu, Chuanrui Guo, Genda Chen

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This Study Aims to Explore Bond Capacity between Monolayer Graphene and Cementitious Composites for the First Time through a Pullout Test. the Low-Pressure Chemical Vapor Deposition Method Was Used to Synthesize Monolayer Graphene on the Copper Substrate to Be Embedded in the Mortar Made by the Briquette Mold. the Bond Capacity between Them Was Higher Than the Tensile Strength of the Copper Sheet with As-Grown Monolayer Graphene on the Surface Since All Specimens Failed in Fracture with Embedment Length of More Than 30 Mm. the Monolayer Graphene Enhanced the Copper Tensile Fracture Stress and Normalized Energy during the Test as …

Coating Condition Detection And Assessment On The Steel Girder Of A Bridge Through Hyperspectral Imaging, Pengfei Ma, Jiaoli Li, Ying Zhuo, Pu Jiao, Genda Chen

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The organic coating of bridge steel girders is subjected to physical scratches, corrosion, and aging in natural weathering. The breakdown of the coating may cause serviceability and safety problems if left unnoticed. Conventional coating inspection is time-consuming and lacks information about the coating's chemical integrity. A hyperspectral imaging method is proposed to detect the condition of steel coatings based on coating-responsive features in reflectance spectra. A field test was conducted on the real-world bridge, which shows obvious signs of degradation. The hyperspectral signature enables an assessment of the coating's health and defect severity. The results indicated that the coating scratch …

Alkali-Silica Reaction Mitigation Using Alternative Supplementary Cementitious Materials, Craig Newtson, Judit M. Garcia, Seyedsaleh Mousavinezhad

Data

Over the past few decades, Class F fly ash has been widely used in concrete as a supplementary cementitious material (SCM) due, in part, to its ability to mitigate alkali-silica reaction (ASR). However, future availability of fly ash is uncertain as the energy industry shifts towards renewable sources, resulting in the closure of coal-burning power plants. Therefore, there is a growing need to find alternatives to fly ash that are both cost effective and environmentally friendly. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of ground-granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS), metakaolin, and a locally available natural pozzolan mined from a pumicite …

Accelerated Sulfate Attack Testing For Concrete, Craig Newtson, Seyedsaleh Mousavinezhad, William Toledo, Federico Aguayo

Data

Extensive research has been conducted on sulfate attack of concrete structures, however, the need to adopt use of more sustainable materials is driving a need for a quicker test method to assess sulfate resistance. Class F fly ash, which is a byproduct of coal combustion for electricity generation, has historically been used in concrete mixtures to improve sulfate resistance. However, environmental considerations and evolving energy industry has decreased its availability, requiring the identification of economically viable and environmentally friendly alternatives to fly ash. Another challenge in addressing sulfate attack durability issues in concrete is that the standard sulfate attack test …

Alkali-Silica Reaction Mitigation Using Alternative Supplementary Cementitious Materials, Craig Newtson, Judit M. Garcia, Seyedsaleh Mousavinezhad

Publications

Over the past few decades, Class F fly ash has been widely used in concrete as a supplementary cementitious material (SCM) due, in part, to its ability to mitigate alkali-silica reaction (ASR). However, future availability of fly ash is uncertain as the energy industry shifts towards renewable sources, resulting in the closure of coal-burning power plants. Therefore, there is a growing need to find alternatives to fly ash that are both cost effective and environmentally friendly. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of ground-granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS), metakaolin, and a locally available natural pozzolan mined from a pumicite …

Accelerated Sulfate Attack Testing For Concrete, Craig Newtson, Seyedsaleh Mousavinezhad, William Toledo, Federico Aguayo

Publications

Extensive research has been conducted on sulfate attack of concrete structures, however, the need to adopt use of more sustainable materials is driving a need for a quicker test method to assess sulfate resistance. Class F fly ash, which is a byproduct of coal combustion for electricity generation, has historically been used in concrete mixtures to improve sulfate resistance. However, environmental considerations and evolving energy industry has decreased its availability, requiring the identification of economically viable and environmentally friendly alternatives to fly ash. Another challenge in addressing sulfate attack durability issues in concrete is that the standard sulfate attack test …

Investigating Disparities And Safety Equity In Pedestrian Nighttime Crashes In Michigan, Sia Isaria Mwende

Masters Theses

For the past eleven years (2011 - 2021) in Michigan, 76 percent of all fatal pedestrian crashes occurred at night. Over the same period, about 36 percent of pedestrian nighttime crashes were fatal or incapacitating (KA), while only 25 percent of daytime pedestrian crashes were fatal or incapacitating (KA). Previous studies suggest that, overall, poor neighborhoods and racial minorities are associated with more pedestrian crashes. With more fatal and incapacitating pedestrian crashes occurring at night, it is imperative to examine how these crashes are distributed by economic status and racial makeup. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the racial and …

Assessing Boil Water Notices As Health-Risk Communication: Risk Perceptions, Efficacy, And Compliance During Winter Storm Uri, Ashleigh M. Day, Sydney O'Shay, Khairul Islam, Matthew W. Seeger, Shawn P. Mcelmurry

Open Data at Wayne State

Winter Storm Uri was an extreme disaster that impacted much of the United States during February of 2021. Texas and Oklahoma were generally not prepared for such an event and experienced massive power grid failures. This led to cascading risks including water system disruptions and many boil water notices (BWNs). The breakdown of some communication channels and the inability to enact protective actions due to power outages, as well as travel limitations on public roads, complicated both dissemination and implementation. Under these conditions, a non-representative, cross-sectional, survey was collected to assess individuals experience BWNs and how perceived efficacy impacts compliance. …

Freeze-Thaw Damage Assessment Of Engineered Cementitious Composites Using The Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy Method, Ru Bai, Shuguang Liu, Changwang Yan, Ji Zhou, Lihe Lu, Lin Li

Civil and Architectural Engineering Faculty Research

The mechanical properties of engineered cementitious composites (ECC) in service in cold regions can be significantly degraded by periodic freezing and thawing. In this work, the damage degree of freeze–thaw of ECC was systematically assessed by using the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) technique. In addition, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Relaxometry measurements were also performed to obtain pore structure parameters, and the uniaxial tensile tests were also carried out to analyse the tensile performance after freeze–thaw cycles. From the acquired results, it was demonstrated that the EIS behaviour of ECC varied with the freeze–thaw cycles. The diameter of the Nyquist curve …

Modeling Potential Damages Of Hurricanes At The Facility Scale: A Case Study Of Eglin Air Force Base, Alexander J. Baldwin, Christopher M. Chini, Steven J. Schuldt, Justin D. Delorit

Faculty Publications

Tropical cyclones have intensified and are expected to strengthen throughout the 21st century due to climate change impacts. Storm intensification poses a serious threat to coastal municipalities and infrastructure that are not designed to withstand future wind and storm surge potential. Coupled modeling software has been widely used to replicate extreme weather events and simulate climate change effects to understand the magnitude of vulnerability coastal regions face. However, these studies are often conducted at too coarse resolutions to provide decision makers with actionable information for facility-level adaptation. This study addresses this limitation using a coupled modeling approach by simulating climate-intensified …

Multi-Hazard Socio-Physical Resilience Assessment Of Hurricane-Induced Hazards On Coastal Communities, Omar M. Nofal, Kooshan Amini, Jamie E. Padgett, John W. Van De Lindt, Nathanael Rosenheim, Yousef M. Darestani, Amin Enderami, Elaina J. Sutley, Sara Hamideh, Leonardo Duenas-Osorio

Michigan Tech Publications

Hurricane-induced hazards can result in significant damage to the built environment cascading into major impacts to the households, social institutions, and local economy. Although quantifying physical impacts of hurricane-induced hazards is essential for risk analysis, it is necessary but not sufficient for community resilience planning. While there have been several studies on hurricane risk and recovery assessment at the building- and community-level, few studies have focused on the nexus of coupled physical and social disruptions, particularly when characterizing recovery in the face of coastal multi-hazards. Therefore, this study presents an integrated approach to quantify the socio-physical disruption following hurricane-induced multi-hazards …

Merging Multiple Existing Geotechnical Databases, Charlie Sun, Brad Rister, Eileen Grady

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report discusses a project undertaken by Kentucky Transportation Center (KTC) researchers to create a comprehensive geotechnical database for highway planning, design, maintenance, and repair. The project consolidated multiple geotechnical data sources into a unified database accessible to Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) staff, enabling informed decision making and improving project outcomes. Databases were merged with great attention to detail, ensuring data integrity and coherence. A geotechnical data collector app developed as part of the project supports convenient and efficient data collection in the field, even when phones or tablets lack network connectivity. A rockfall rating app and landslide hazard rating …

Data From: Shallow-Water Habitat In The Lower Columbia River Estuary: A Highly Altered System, Will Templeton, David Jay, Heida Diefenderfer, S. A. Talke

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Datasets

This is the dataset to accompany the article, Shallow-Water Habitat in the Lower Columbia River Estuary: A Highly Altered System [Data set], accepted for publication in Estuaries and Coasts.

OVERVIEW OF THE SUPPLEMENTAL DATA FILES:

The files include water level data for 26 locations across varying time frames, as described below, and Columbia and Willamette River discharge measurements and estimates for observed, naturalized, and adjusted flows.

All water levels:

1. All water levels are reported as six-minute interpolated water level records derived from measured water levels. 2. The first column is date-time with date and time separated by a …

French Drain Project At Woods Humane Society, Thomas Douglas Collins

Construction Management

The Woods Humane Society is a prominent animal care facility that aims to rehabilitate, rescue, and assist in the adoption of dogs and cats in the greater San Luis Obispo area. The property contains multiple dog playpen areas which consist of a concrete slab surrounded by a chain link fence, designed for the animals to have an open space to run around throughout the day. Employees are required to hose down the slab hourly to maintain a clean environment for the animals. When employees hose down the playpen areas, a considerable amount of water runs off the slab and into …

Experimental Characterization And Computer Vision-Assisted Detection Of Pitting Corrosion On Stainless Steel Structural Members, Riley J. Muehler

Master's Theses

Pitting corrosion is a prevalent form of corrosive damage that can weaken, damage, and initiate failure in corrosion-resistant metallic materials. For instance, 304 stainless steel is commonly utilized in various structures (e.g., miter gates, heat exchangers, and storage tanks), but is prone to failure through pitting corrosion and stress corrosion cracking under mechanical loading, regardless of its high corrosion resistance. In this study, to better understand the pitting corrosion damage development, controlled corrosion experiments were conducted to generate pits on 304 stainless steel specimens with and without mechanical loading. The pit development over time was characterized using a high-resolution laser …

Investigation Of Placement Of Polyethylenimine Within Thin Film Composite Reverse Osmosis Membranes For Enhanced Anti-Fouling Properties, Taylor F. Austin

Master's Theses

Fresh water scarcity is an alarming issue for communities across the globe. The development of water recycling and reuse technologies has become crucial in expanding the limited water resources. Reverse osmosis (RO) is among the key processes that can treat wastewater to meet potable water reuse standards. Despite the advancements in RO membrane technologies, many challenges persist regarding the operation and maintenance of RO membranes, such as membrane fouling. Extensive research investigations have focused on developing RO membrane modifications to combat the decreased performance due to fouling. Polyethylenimine (PEI) is a promising polymer used for enhancing the anti-fouling properties of …

Effects Of Individual Strategies For Resource Access On Collaboratively Maintained Irrigation Infrastructure, Jordan L. Stern, Afreen Siddiqi, Paul N. Grogan

Faculty Publications

Built infrastructure for water and energy supply, transportation, and other such services underpins human well-being and socioeconomic development. A fundamental understanding of how infrastructure design and user strategies interact can guide important design decisions as well as policy formulation for ensuring long-term infrastructure viability in conjunction with improved individual user benefits. In this work, an agent based model (ABM) is developed to study this issue for the specific case of irrigation canals. Cooperatively maintained irrigation canals serve essential roles in sustaining agriculture-based economies in many regions. Canal system design can strongly affect benefits derived by distributed users, regional agricultural output, …

Sustainability In Concrete Masonry With Natural Pozzolans, Ceiley L. Davis

Architectural Engineering: Graduate Reports

To achieve greater sustainability in masonry construction for the Western market it is common to replace masonry grout's partial cement content with waste pozzolans. As waste pozzolans are in limited supply, as the coal burning market in the West diminishes, this research investigates viable grout mixtures which replace cement with Natural Pozzolans, a more plentiful sustainable replacement. The present work investigated the percentage of Natural Pozzolans that can be partially substituted for cement for grout mixtures to achieve an axial compressive strength of 2000psi within 28 and 56 days of curing. To determine efficacy per ASTM 476-22, “Standards Specifications for …

The Design And Construction Of A Radio Telescope, Avery Elizabeth Bunting, Kira Hope Tolman

Architectural Engineering

Two architectural engineering students and an electrical engineering student worked together to design and build a radio telescope that is capable of using hydrogen line astronomy to map the galaxy. The telescope is made entirely out of aluminum, which, combined with small deflection limits, made for an iterative design process that focused primarily on constructability and supporting the desired outcomes of the electrical side.

Xenabloom, Sophia Maglabe, Ryer Lauth, Elizabeth Shaw, Sheyna Rongong

Architectural Engineering

Proposal for an architectural and structural design of a shade structure at the Leaning Pine Arboretum, employing the Xenaform typology of Poly Shells, LLC.

Impact Of Traffic On Air Pollution In A Mid-Sized Urban City During Covid-19 Lockdowns, Nathan Hay, Otito Onwuzurike, Somesh Roy, Patrick J. Mcnamara, Margaret L. Mcnamara, Walter M. Mcdonald

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

In this study, we evaluated the changes in air pollutant concentrations around Milwaukee, WI, during and after lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic for a period of 126 days. Measurements of particulate matter (PM₁, PM_2.5, and PM₁₀), NH₃, H₂S, and O₃ + NO₂, were made on a 74-km route of arterial and highway roads from April to August 2020 using a Sniffer 4D sensor mounted to a vehicle. Traffic volume during measurement periods were estimated from smartphone-based traffic data. From lockdown (March 24, 2020–June 11, 2020) to …

Investigation Of Natural Pozzolans: Analyzing The Practicality Of Natural Pozzolans As A Partial Substitute For Cement In Grout Production, Jadyn I. Breien, Andrew J. Baro, Logan T. Marino

Architectural Engineering

This senior project aims to investigate whether natural pozzolans are more sustainable than fly ash and a sufficient substitute for cement in the production of grout. By following the intent of the ASTM (American Society of Testing and Materials) standards, a conclusion will be made to determine if natural pozzolans can contribute comparable strength in compression. The objective is to prove that natural pozzolans should be utilized in the production of grout rather than alternatives such as fly ash because it can provide similar strength while being more economical and more sustainable.

The Center For Centering Dome, Olek Piechaczek, Ryan M. Scharf

Architectural Engineering

The Center for Centering seeks to create a large-scale healing center, conducive to individual centering of the mind and body. This mobile installation provides a relaxing, enclosed space while still maintaining a connection to the outdoors. The clients liked the idea of having a pop-up installation that could be easily set up as a touring display. With a deadline for installation looming in June 2022, a team of students had five months to design and manufacture the structure.

In winter 2022, the students developed custom geometry to minimize the number of individual parts and built a ¼ scale model of …

Filters For Fiji: A Modified Cracker Box Biosand Filter For Rural Fiji, Geneva Newell, Cameron Lowrey, Thomas Burt, Lexie Caterine

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Water quality remains a major issue throughout rural Fiji, as current solutions rely on outside organizations providing money or technology. The goal of Filters for Fiji’s research was to develop a sustainable water filtration method for the people of rural Fiji, through ethnographic and biological research. In order to be sustainable, the filter had to be inexpensive (less than USD$15), simply built and maintained, and suitable for the end-user. The driving question of the research was: can a plastic, modified biosand filter be constructed from materials that could be sourced locally in rural Fijian communities? To answer this question, feedback …

Tandem Crane Lifts Of Long Span Ppcgs Case Study, Giovana Sousa

Construction Management

The goal of this research is to compile the data from tandem crane lifts, specifically of long span girders, to determine the proper configuration for this type of work. There have been numerous failed attempts at lifting long span girders, and these failures are all unique. Much of the findings until recently have tended to be job-specific and never became widely available for public knowledge. In learning about these cases and understanding the reasons for these failures, I hope to provide concise information so that future people can avoid repeating the same mistakes. The objective is to provide insight on …

Pcra-Icra Pre-Construction Risk Assessment/Infection Control Risk Assessment Course, Devin Alan Deiranieh

Construction Management

The Preconstruction Risk Assessment and Infection Control Risk Assessment (PCRA/ICRA) course is a collaboration between Cal Poly San Luis Obispo’s Construction Management Department, Cal Poly’s California Center for Construction Education, Green Advantage, LLC and Thomas Kommer, J.D. The goal is to create a certification course in which industry professionals become certified, signifying their knowledge and understanding of PCRA/ICRA practices associated with construction in the environment of patient care. The project began with the PCRA/ICRA manual authored by Stellar Performance, LLC. Working with Nicholas Schorno, the author developed the learning material for the course. The learning material consists of power point …

Well Pump Enclosure Upgrade & Custom Gate For City Farm Slo, Joey Martin

Construction Management

City Farm SLO sits on seventeen acres of the Calle Joaquin Agricultural Preserve. The non-profit organization aims to enable farmers, educate youth, engage the community, and promote regenerative farming. One of the prevailing issues on the farm was a lack of security for their well pump system on site. The existing fence was loose, flimsy, and wrapped around the pump’s control panels. Additionally, there was no locking gate to secure the enclosure and prevent vandalism. The main goals of this project were to provide an enclosure that was more secure, visually appealing, and would last a long time. To accomplish …

The Benefits And Intricacies Of Self-Performing Work For General Contractors, David Steven Economos

Construction Management

In the construction industry, the trend regarding self-performing services ebbs and flows as a result of the ever-evolving market and new patterns that influence the industry. Recent studies have indicated that contractors plan to increase the amount of work they self-perform in the future, however research on the analysis of benefits, intangible and tangible, and intricacies self-perform services provide for a company is scarce and minimal. This case study analyzed the perception, experience, and knowledge of three various contractors of different sizes who procure different sectors of work in different geographical locations of the United States. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, …

Mep Comparison Of 3d Printed Homes And Stick Framed Homes, Carsen Quick

Construction Management

New construction technology is one of the most intriguing subjects in the construction industry, and new technologies are constantly being developed and improved on. In recent years, 3D printing has been developed and introduced into the residential construction industry. The content of this report aims to showcase the promising new technology of 3D printing in residential construction. In order to create new knowledge on this subject, an MEP comparison between 3D printed homes and traditional stick framed homes will be analyzed. This project was done in collaboration with a Northern Californian construction company, Emergent 3D. A site visit with Emergent …

Comparative Analysis Of Construction Scheduling: Consultant-Led Vs. Project Team-Led Approaches, Elijah J. Stennett

Construction Management

Efficient and accurate construction scheduling plays a pivotal role in the successful completion of construction projects. Most construction companies understand this importance, and they heavily rely on their schedulers. This research paper investigates the advantages and drawbacks of employing a consultant-led scheduling approach compared to a scheduling process managed solely by the project team. To assess the effectiveness of the two scheduling approaches, two companies and their scheduling practices were analyzed, and project management individuals were interviewed from each company. The findings reveal that a consultant-led approach brings specialized expertise in scheduling software, provides advantages in court litigation, and provides …