Civil Engineering Commons^™

Quantifying The Value Of Adaptability: Bridging Real Options Analysis And Adaptable Building Design, Miranda Grice

All Dissertations

As the demands of the built environment continually evolve, buildings are expected to meet changing occupancy needs, or otherwise they become obsolete. Despite positive research on the benefits of adaptable building design, there is a knowledge gap regarding the long-term economic benefits of these designs. Practical methods are needed to determine if premium costs associated with adaptable designs are justified by the economic benefits inherent in adaptability. Therefore, this dissertation provides a discussion on the application of the financial theory of options analysis to the design of adaptable buildings. Additionally, a model and accompanying tool are presented as a solution …

Field Testing Of Retrofits To Improve The Structural Behavior Of South Carolina Flat-Slab Bridges, Jacob Bowers

All Theses

The South Carolina Department of Transportation manages approximately 2,300 “flat-slab” bridges statewide, with an average age of 58 years, according to the National Bridge Inventory (NBI 2024). Many of these structures were originally designed for H10 or H15 truck loadings, which are significantly below current design standards. As a result, numerous bridges have been load-posted, restricting freight movement, emergency response, and local connectivity. While full replacement provides a long-term solution, it is often cost-prohibitive and disruptive. Accordingly, the South Carolina Department of Transportation is seeking cost-effective retrofit strategies that improve performance and extend the service life of these bridges. Implementing …

Estimation Of The Mechanical Properties Of South Carolina Timber Piles Using Non-Destructive Evaluation Methods And Experimentally-Informed Models, Aashish Sapkota

All Theses

South Carolina has about 2,600 bridges that are supported by nearly 75,000 timber piles. They are increasingly vulnerable to biological decay, cracking and impact damages after decades of service. Current inspection methods used by the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT), such as hammer sounding and awl probing, are labor-intensive and expensive. This study investigated non-destructive evaluation (NDE) methods, including micro-resistance drilling and stress wave timing, as alternatives for assessing timber pile condition.

Ten timber piles were collected from two South Carolina bridges, and their above-grade portions were cut into 40 specimens approximately 13 to 15 inches long. Specimens were …

What Is Passive And Active Release Retrofitting Rainwater Harvesting Systems?, Sarah E. Waickowski, Amy E. Scaroni, Beatriss H. Calhoun

Forestry and Natural Resources

Rainwater harvesting is the collection and temporary storage of rainwater for non-potable applications and stormwater management. Rainwater harvesting systems can be retrofitted with passive or active release to improve how well the systems manage stormwater runoff. This publication contains information that may be useful to municipalities, stormwater professionals, rainwater harvesting system owners and/or managers, homeowner associations, and stormwater educators, among others, on what is passive and active release, including their benefits and where to find more information.

Accident Data Analytics And Ai-Based Auditory Enhancement For Highway Construction Safety, Thinh Nguyen

All Dissertations

This research develops data-driven and AI-enhanced approaches to improve worker safety in highway construction environments. The study integrates advanced analytics and auditory signal enhancement to identify high-risk worker behaviors and improve real-time safety warnings. The work consists of three core studies. The first study applies Sequential Pattern Mining and Social Network Analysis to more than 1,000 construction accident reports to identify high-risk worker actions and their hidden sequential relationships with accident types and consequences. These insights reveal sector-specific risk patterns, supporting the creation of targeted, data-informed safety interventions. The second study introduces an AI-based auditory enhancement model built on a …

Experimental Determination Of Modulus Of Rupture For Concrete Masonry Beams And Implications For The Tms 402/602 Code, Shreedhar K C

All Theses

Currently, the experimental database for Modulus of Rupture (MOR) of masonry beams is limited, and current provisions in TMS 402/602-22 use the MOR values from wallette tests. The primary goal of this research is to experimentally determine the parameters that influence MOR. The secondary goal of this work is to compare the MOR values from beam and bond wrench tests obtained in this study with each other as well as with values published in the literature. The standard ASTM E518 test was used for determining MOR values for beams, and a modified approach to ASTM C1072 that nullifies the eccentricity …

Truck Drivers And Autonomous Trucks: A Topic Modeling Analysis Of Truck Driver Posts, Noah Britt, Amy M. Schuster, Shubham Agrawal, Chu-Hsiang Chang, Jenna A. Van Fossen, Elizabeth A. Mack, Sheila R. Cotten

Publications

Social media provides a rich, alternative data source to interviews or survey-based research to study hard-to-reach populations (e.g., truck drivers, because of their transient work structure and unique subculture). This study uses public social media posts from the largest trucking forum in the United States to examine truck drivers’ views on autonomous trucks (ATs), which are poised to transform the trucking industry. We expand on traditional qualitative strategies of analyzing social media data by combining newer methods, including BERT-based topic modeling, sentiment analysis, stance detection, emotion analysis, topic similarity, and location analysis through a social interaction network, to analyze a …

Wires, Roads, And Real-World Challenges: An Interdisciplinary Case Study Bridging Roadway And Electric Utility Design, Juliann A. Lloyd

All Theses

Electric utilities are a foundational component of modern society and depend heavily on civil engineers for planning, design, construction, and maintenance. However, educational content related to this industry is often underrepresented in civil engineering programs. To bridge this gap, a case study activity was implemented in two transportation engineering courses at Clemson University. The case study introduced students to the integration between electric utility infrastructure and roadway design by simulating a realistic and common conflict scenario faced by Departments of Transportation (DOTs) nationwide.

Students were placed in interdisciplinary teams, with each member assigned a specialized role such as Land Agent, …

Modeling Disaster Resilience Through A Human-Centered Lens: Exposure, Vulnerability And Adaptation, Tong Liu

All Dissertations

The core of reframing and operationalizing disaster resilience with a human-centered lens is to incorporate concepts from socio-ecological resilience into engineering resilience to better understand the humans’ capability for disaster adaptation. Existing studies have drawn practical implications by identifying actionable thresholds for infrastructure systems under disasters, which can be easily applied by policymakers, emergency managers and municipal agencies. However, how individuals interact with, respond to, or adapt under these infrastructure thresholds remain understudied. This hinders the operationalization of disaster resilience at the human scale.

First, I examined exposure by analyzing how configuration and distribution of urban infrastructure systems, such as …

Studies On The Effects Of Operator Fatigue On Performance, Trust, And Workload Demand In Human-In-The-Loop Ai-Enabled Drone Systems, Snowil Lopes

All Dissertations

Civil infrastructure must be regularly inspected to ensure its safety and reliability. Traditionally, risk engineers performed these inspections manually and in person. However, with the introduction of drones equipped with artificial intelligence (AI), inspections of civil infrastructure can now be conducted remotely. These AI-enabled drones capture and analyze images, helping engineers monitor large and complex structures from a distance. However, working with integrated systems consisting of multiple drones, especially those with varying levels of reliability, can be challenging. Operators must divide their attention, determine how much to trust each drone, and manage mental workload, which can affect their performance. Another …

Laboratory Performance Evaluation Of Hot Mix Asphalt Mixtures With Incorporations Of Different Recycled Plastic Additives Using The Dry Method, Alvaro A. Cerdas Murillo

All Theses

Asphalt pavements are susceptible to distresses such as cracking, rutting, and moisture damage, which reduce service life and increase maintenance costs. This study evaluated the use of recycled materials from HDPE and LDPE plastics (shredded and pelletized) and PET fibers of two lengths as asphalt mixture additives to provide a sustainable approach to improve performance. The materials were incorporated into two control mixtures designed with the Balanced Mix Design (BMD) method. Laboratory testing assessed cracking and rutting resistance, moisture susceptibility, abrasion resistance, and dynamic modulus across a range of conditions.

Results showed that PET fibers improved cracking resistance due to …

Community Wastewater Treatment Resilience Assessment, Tristan Veal

All Theses

With the rising threat of climate change and cascading impacts from infrastructure failure there is a growing need to strengthen community resilience. Theoretical and practical resilience frameworks are available, but they vary in aim and scope; there is no standard tool to assess resilience. This research expands on the resilience matrix (RM) application methods of previous research completed by the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and Clemson University. That work focused on drinking water treatment systems and developed a few dozen specific indicators, or metrics, to quantify resilience. This research adds wastewater infrastructure with the aim of identifying …

Wind-Induced Gravel Blow-Off: Experimental Investigations And Predictive Modeling For Resilient Roof Design, Md Safwan Ahsanullah

All Dissertations

Roof gravel blow-off during severe windstorms is a major hazard, leading to roof damage and significant downwind impacts. Understanding the initiation mechanisms for gravel blow-off is critical for improving building design and mitigating windborne debris risks. Existing experimental data on the wind speed required to initiate gravel blow-off have been collected from high-speed, full-scale tests at wind tunnels. While these tests form the basis of current design guidelines, they are expensive and can lack generalizability. As a result, rooftop gravel is frequently blown off at wind speeds below the design thresholds. This dissertation investigates the onset of rooftop gravel motion, …

Collision Hazard Prevention And Notification For Construction Worker Safety Using Audio Surveillance, Kehinde Elelu

All Dissertations

The construction industry faces significant safety challenges, with collision hazards ranking as the second highest cause of annual fatalities and injuries in the United States, as reported by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Current collision detection methods predominantly rely on proximity technologies, which necessitate costly and complex installations on each construction equipment piece. Furthermore, auditory situational awareness declines among workers due to hearing loss and intricate construction noises, which further heightens collision risks. This research introduces an innovative, low-cost, audio-based collision prevention technology aimed at enhancing auditory situational awareness for construction workers exposed to high noise levels. The …

Sustainable And User-Driven Scope Development Framework For Engineering Design Services Of Transportation Infrastructure Projects, Ahmad Zaki Ghafari

All Dissertations

Rapid economic growth has led to a significant increase in transportation demands, exerting unprecedented pressure on infrastructure systems in the United States. State transportation agencies play a vital role in maintaining and developing transportation infrastructure networks within their regions. State transportation agencies face immense pressure from federal and state governments, elected officials, and the public to deliver projects efficiently and within budget. State transportation agencies rely on professional consultants for engineering design services. Engineering design services for transportation infrastructure projects are delayed due to incomplete inaccurate scope. For state Department of Transportation (DOTs), a streamlined scope development process is essential …

Comparative Analysis Of Design-Build And Design-Bid-Build Project Delivery Methods Through Cost, Schedule And Quality Performance For Warehousing And Storage Facilities, Vijaya Ravi Prasanth Reddi

All Theses

Storage facilities are essential for e-commerce operations, providing inventory, distribution, and delivery space. As per the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of warehousing and storage businesses in the United States increased from 15,152 in 2010 to 21,287 in 2024, showing continuous growth over the decade. Given the recent surge, there is a need to understand the performance of these facilities better. This study aims to contrast the measure of quantitative performance of design-build (DB) versus traditional design-bid-build (DBB) project delivery methods (PDM) based on cost, schedule, and quality metrics for storage facilities. This research conducted a literature review to …

Proportioning And Performance Of Ultra-High Performance Concrete (Uhpc) For High Friction Surface Treatment (Hfst) On Pavement And Bridge Decks, Adam R. Biehl

All Theses

High Friction Surface Treatment (HFST) is a roadway remediation technique used to improve pavement’s coefficient of friction, to enhance roadway safety. The application of HFSTs has repeatedly demonstrated the ability to significantly reduce crashes in both wet and dry conditions. Typically, epoxy-resins and calcined bauxite aggregate are used in HFST treatment. However, the high material costs and scarcity of calcined bauxite render this form of HFST an expensive and limited option for roadway rehabilitation. Therefore, the identification of alternative binders and HFST aggregates is needed for broad scale implementation. One potential alternative binder is Ultra-High-Performance Concrete (UHPC), a specialty cementitious …

Advancing Unmanned Ground Vehicle Path Planning With Quantified Map Uncertainty, Israel Afriyie

All Theses

This thesis addresses the complex challenge of path planning for Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGVs) in areas where traditional navigation systems are inadequate, such as unstructured or off-road military zones. Recognizing the limitations of current path planning algorithms, which primarily focus on optimizing for the shortest path and often fail to account for variability and risks, this research proposes an enhanced Hyperstar algorithm. This approach not only considers the fastest route but also integrates maximum delays and visibility risks into its computation, ensuring a balance between swift mission completion and concealment from adversaries.

Utilizing terrain maps and incorporating uncertainties in map …

Ultra High-Performance Concrete As A High Friction Surface Treatment For Pavements And Bridges, Kyle Maeger

All Dissertations

High Friction Surface Treatment (HFST) is a proven technology to reduce crashes on roadways by increasing the coefficient of friction between vehicle tires and the pavement. However, it is an expensive solution due to the high cost of the two commonly used constituent materials, calcined bauxite aggregate and epoxy resin binders.

This study evaluated the abrasion resistance performance of four alternative HFST aggregates to calcined bauxite using Los Angeles Abrasion and Micro-Deval Abrasion tests, and studied the surface texture utilizing a high-resolution laser scanner and friction utilizing the British Pendulum Test.

This study also assessed the performance of non-proprietary Ultra …

Integrating Artificial Intelligence And Augmented Reality For Enhanced Task Performance In The Construction Industry, Aasish Chandrika Bhanu

All Dissertations

The Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) sector, characterized by its complex tasks, often faces challenges in adopting cutting-edge technologies, a trend that can significantly hinder productivity improvements compared to other industries. This dissertation explores the emerging integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Augmented Reality (AR) within the AEC domain, investigating how effectively this can be implemented to potentially revolutionize industry practices. AI could be used in the AEC domain for advanced analytical and decision-making processes, while AR could be used for training, visualization, and remote collaboration.

In scenarios where construction site workers require expert guidance, these technologies could be helpful. …

Base Case Shear-Wave Velocity Profiles And Non-Linear Material Property Models Of Local Site Conditions In South Carolina For Seismic Site Response Analyses, Ali Sedaghat Shirehjini

All Dissertations

This dissertation presents the development of base case small-strain shear-wave velocity ( ) profiles and non-linear materials property models of local site conditions in South Carolina for seismic site response analyses. The need to address South Carolina's seismic hazards is partly motivated by the 1886 Charleston earthquake (moment magnitude, M_w= 6.7 to 7.5). Required inputs for seismic site response analysis include profile down to a specified reference outcrop condition and non-linear material properties for each layer in the profile. Although firm rock (i.e., ≥ 2,500 ft/s) or hard rock (i.e., ≥ 9,850 ft/s) is commonly assumed for the …

An Emergency Response System To Assist The Movement Of Vehicles During Emergency Operations In Urban Transportation Networks, Jamal Nahofti Kohneh

All Dissertations

Emergency responders need to arrive at the emergency scene as soon as possible, but operating vehicles under emergency conditions can pose a risk to both the responders and other road users, potentially resulting in crashes or delays in emergency operations. In this research, an emergency response system is proposed to assist emergency and non-emergency response vehicles (ERVs and non-ERVs) during emergency operations in a connected vehicle environment. This system collects the information from connected ERVs and non-ERVs, utilizes this information as inputs in the proposed models, and sends instruction messages back to vehicles. The proposed models provide the fastest ERV …

Development And Evaluation Of An Arsenic Transport Model For The Maurice River Watershed, Christina Eddleman

All Theses

For many Superfund sites across the United States, arsenic is one of the most common contaminants of concern that must be cleaned up to protect human and environmental health. Past research and health studies have documented the harmful effects of inorganic arsenic on humans and the environment but selecting an appropriate remediation plan depends on several site-specific factors at each Superfund site. To assist in determining an appropriate remediation plan, sediment and contaminant transport models have been used to simulate the transport of arsenic and other contaminants of concern at contaminated sites to, e.g., make relative comparisons of the efficacy …

Engineering Sustainable Bridge Deck Rehabilitation: Evaluating Mechanical And Electro-Chemical Properties Of Rapid-Set Patching Materials And Their Influence On Repair Durability, James Roberts

All Theses

As the state of the US infrastructure continues to deteriorate over time, a prominent issue especially in the field of reinforced concrete structures has been the ability to properly rehabilitate and extend the design service life of these structures. A majority of our existing reinforced concrete bridges were built in the construction boom during the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s, and were originally designed with a service life of approximately 50 years, thus showing that many structures are close to or have already exceeded their intended service life. Additionally, with a poor history of government infrastructure funding, it is seen to …

Quantifying Hurricane Effects On Housing: Evaluating Damage, Loss, And Shelter Demands Using Historical And Simulated Storm Tracks, Adish Deep Shakya

All Theses

This research introduces an advanced framework which employs parametric wind field models for peak wind speeds, and building fragility curves, loss functions, and demographic data to estimate for estimating housing damage and loss. The uninhabitable units immediate displaced households, short-term and long-term shelter need households are determined. with a particular focus on those eligible for FEMA assistance. The framework's validity is reinforced by a high correlation in the analysis of recent hurricane events between estimated numbers of displaced households and actual FEMA aid recipients, where FEMA aids about 20-60% of the predicted long-term displaced households. A novel application of the …

Analytical And Experimental Studies To Support Codification Of Lightweight Grout For Masonry Design, Cooper Banks

All Theses

Lightweight (LW) aggregates have many potential benefits in masonry construction including minimizing mass, improving thermal performance, and reducing the potential for shrinkage cracking via internal curing. The current masonry design standard, TMS 402/602-22, permits lightweight aggregate in the production of concrete masonry units (CMU), but there has been insufficient testing of masonry assemblies to permit designing with LW grout. Shrestha et al. characterized LW grouts bond to reinforcement, shear strength, tension and shear pullout behavior of anchors and proposed possible reduction factors for design. Hiner characterized the flexural bond strength LW grouted masonry assemblies and proposed possible reduction factors for …

Evaluation Of The Long-Term Performance Of Ogfc In South Carolina, Rishiraj Brahmbhatt

All Theses

Since the 1970s, South Carolina has employed open graded friction courses (OGFC) on high-speed asphalt roadways to enhance wet weather safety. While these mixes have indeed enhanced safety, they still grapple with durability issues, particularly concerning raveling. This research aimed to assess the prolonged performance of OGFC pavements in South Carolina, with a specific emphasis on isolated raveling occurrences. In 2012, the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT), constructed the first Warm Mix OGFC test section in South Carolina on I-20 Eastbound in Kershaw County, spanning 3.9 miles, using the Evotherm additive and excluding fibers. Following the success of this …

Effect Of Latex Modified Concrete Overlays With Reduced Surface Preparation On The Load Distribution And Flexural Strength Of Channel Girders, Samuel Dodd

All Theses

This thesis investigates the use of a Latex Modified Concrete (LMC) overlay to increase the strength of prestressed channel girders and enhance their ability to distribute load. The research conducted in this thesis involved material testing of several different LMC mixes and flexural testing of an LMC overlay and girder system. The material testing was used to determine a reasonable LMC mix design and surface preparation method to be used for the overlay. Based on material testing it was concluded that a rapid-set mix and pressure washing of the girder surfaces were a reasonable mix design and surface preparation for …

Development Of Scope Of Services For Procurement Of Professional Consultant Services On Transportation Projects – A Study Of South Carolina Department Of Transportation, Ajay Jadhav

All Dissertations

Project Scoping Process (PSP) is one of the significant steps that starts at the very beginning of the project life cycle. During project initiation phase, project scoping is kicked off which includes documenting a list of project-specific goals, deliverables, tasks, costs, and deadlines. The scoping phase duration depends on the project complexity and involves various stakeholders, establishing team, confirming the project purpose and need, initiating the environmental revie process, determining the level of environmental documentation and permit requirements, conducting survey, identifying project risks and tools to mitigate them, and evaluating public involvement strategies. A well-defined PSP is therefore essential for …

Investigation Into The Load Transfer Mechanism Of Trees To Develop An Innovative Foundation Configuration Using 3d Finite Element Modeling, Kaleb Boland

All Theses

This study was inspired by a tree’s reliance on its root system that enables it to withstand a natural disaster, such as an extreme hydroclimatic event or hurricane. This curiosity has led to an investigation into what makes this possible, developing a new and innovative foundation configuration for infrastructure systems, and a new possible construction material and method. This study provides results on a material that does not have conventional testing procedures or standards: a tree root. The trees studied are common to the upstate of South Carolina, which are Pine, Sweetgum, and White Oak. According to the results, on …