Civil Engineering Commons^™

Study Of Salt Wash Water Toxicity On Wastewater Treatment, Mostafa F. Hashad, Surabhi Sharma, Loring F. Nies, James E. Alleman

JTRP Technical Reports

This research effort focused on evaluating the toxicity of the saline waste water generated from washing of Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) deicing trucks and to study the feasibility of discharging it into wastewater treatment plants. Performance of activated sludge treating wastewater under varying levels of salt concentration was studied by measuring the Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), activated sludge oxygen uptake rate (OUR) and Turbidity. For the COD tests, wastewater was tested with salt concentrations ranging from 0 mg/L – 1500 mg/L. Within this range there is no impact of salt on COD stabilization, suggesting that the microorganisms are not …

Stiffness Of Hot-Mix Asphalt, Terhi K. Pellinen, Shangzhi Xiao

JTRP Technical Reports

This research was initiated from a need to evaluate marginal mixtures that do not meet the Superpave mix design criteria for the air voids content requirements for the construction of hot mix asphalt pavements. The developed criteria is comprised of the base criteria derived from test data of as-placed field cores normalized to 7.5% air voids content, which provides the minimum stiffness and strength requirements for a mixture as a function of the traffic level. The stiffness of pavement cores is measured using Simple Shear Tester to obtain shear stiffness |G*| of mix and strength is measured using indirect tensile …

Corridor Mapping Using Aerial Technique, James Samuel Bethel, Boudewijn H W Van Gelder, Ali Fuat Cetin, Aparajithan Sampath

JTRP Technical Reports

With properly designed LIDAR control, assessment of 3D as-builts is attainable with an average over-all horizontal (planimetric) error of 0.324 ft (9.9 cm). Specifically, with an RMS error of 0.284 ft (8.7 cm) in Northing, and 0.255 ft (7.8 cm) in Easting. The average over-all vertical (height) error is 0.003 ft (0.1 cm) with a 0.108 ft (3.3 cm) RMS error. Lidar recognizable control (2m x 2m chevrons) was spaced at approximately 200m parallel to the direction of the axis of the project corridor, and at 60m sideway intervals. The project corridor was about 6 km long. Least Squares Image …

Filter Performance And Design For Highway Drains, Sangho Lee, Philippe L. Bourdeau

JTRP Technical Reports

The research is an investigation of soil filtration by geotextile fabrics, with the ultimate objective of improving design and long-term performance of underdrain systems in Indiana highways. Experiments were conducted in the laboratory using the best available techniques, Flexible Wall Gradient Ratio Test and Rapid Retention Test, in order to assess soil-filter compatibility and monitor geotextile clogging, for a range of materials and testing conditions. Field information was also collected and samples from highway reconstruction project were examined for their long-term performance. The main findings relate to the influence of the amounts of silt and clay and the state of …

Investigation Of Coarse Aggregate Strength For Use In Stone Matrix Asphalt, Brandon J. Celaya, John E. Haddock

JTRP Technical Reports

Stone Matrix Asphalt is a gap-graded hot-mix asphalt mixture composed of a coarse aggregate skeleton and a binder-rich mortar. The mixture type was first introduced to the United States in 1991, with one of the first test sections placed on I-70 near Richmond, Indiana. To help control the selection of coarse aggregate, the Indiana Department of Transportation specified a maximum Los Angeles Abrasion loss value of 30 percent. An investigation into the coarse aggregate specifications for use in Stone Matrix Asphalt was completed in this study. Emphasis was placed on evaluating various tests that may be useful is specifying coarse …

Impact Of Camera And Lighting Position On Video Detection Precision, Avery Rhodes, Kristofer Jennings, Darcy M. Bullock

JTRP Technical Reports

On well-illuminated approaches, vehicle headlight reflections on the pavement were observed to cause video detection units to activate early. This early activation results in a dramatic increase in the length of the effective vehicle detection zone. This observed variation in the effective length of the vehicle detection zone that varies by ambient lighting condition and camera placement presents a very serious impediment for traffic engineers to design vehicle extension intervals that operate correctly during day, night and transition periods. Furthermore, the stochastic variation in the length of the vehicle detection zone length has the potential to create driver expectancy issues. …

Development Of Criteria For The Utilization Of Cement Kiln Dust (Ckd) In Highway Infrastructures, R Asha Sreekrishnavilasam, Maria Caterina Santagata

JTRP Technical Reports

This research addressed the recycling of cement kiln dust (CKD), a by-product of cement manufacturing. While significant quantities of CKD are generated every year, its utilization in construction has been to this day quite limited. Additionally, the issue of reusing already landfilled CKD has remained almost completely unexplored. The work made use of three fresh CKDs collected at different instances from the same U.S. plant, as well as CKD obtained from different locations in a 12 year old landfill adjacent to the plant. A comprehensive experimental study of the physio-chemical and engineering properties of the CKDs was performed, and the …

Remediation Of Aromatic Hydrocarbons In Low Permeability Soils: Updating The Remediation Decision Tree (Synthesis Study), Inez Hua, Andy Hopf

JTRP Technical Reports

Because of the large number of technologies for in situ remediation, the very different types of contaminants to which these technologies are applicable, and the wide range of field conditions, it can be difficult to choose an optimal technology for a specific site. Sorting and prioritizing the various factors which contribute to the success of a particular clean-up can be daunting. Furthermore, non-technical factors, such as those in the legal, political, or financial realm, may also influence which technology is ultimately chosen. Most in situ treatment methods are effective in permeable soil. However, much of Indiana soil is low-permeability, so …

Design Methods For The Control Of Restrained Shrinkage Cracking, Robert J. Frosch, Jacob Kenyon Bice, Jared Bruce Erickson

JTRP Technical Reports

Cracking in concrete bridge decks can result in increased susceptibility to deterioration. As cracks provide direct routes for the ingress of deleterious elements to the reinforcement and superstructure, cracking can lead to reduced service lives for bridge structures. Several factors affect the extent of cracks which develop in bridge decks; however, relatively few are within the control of the designer. The objective of this research was to evaluate the influence of design parameters on the performance of bridge decks with respect to cracking and to develop simple design tools that are appropriate for both steel and nonmetallic reinforcement. This research …

Blind Pedestrians And Their Ability To Navigate Indiana Intersections – A Review Of The Technology Available For Audible Signals, Robert Bertram Jacko

JTRP Technical Reports

Accessible pedestrian signals (APS) that combine audible and vibrotactile signals to a blind or visually impaired and/or disabled pedestrian for both locational and navigational information are available for purchase and installation “off the shelf”. APS systems that have a locating tone produce an audible language statement when it is safe to begin crossing the intersection as well as a vibrating activation button for the hard of hearing and an audible status count-down for the crossing pedestrian are available now. Purdue University has retrofitted two campus intersections with audible, vibrotactile APS and the intersections are regularly used by blind students. Discussions …

Freight Flows Of Indiana, William R. Black

JTRP Technical Reports

Using data primarily from the 1997 Commodity Flow Survey (CFS) this report develops a series of models for estimating the production and attraction of 41 different SCTG commodity groups for 145 geographic units in the United States; 92 of these are the counties of Indiana. This is followed by the calibration of fully-constrained gravity models for the flow of these commodities. Using modal share data from the CFS the generated traffic is divided between the various modes. This project looked primarily at the highway sector and used digital representations of these networks for traffic assignment purposes. A very detailed Indiana …

Assessment And Selection Of Stormwater Best Management Practices For Highway Construction, Retrofitting, And Maintenance, Lynn A. Corson

JTRP Technical Reports

The objectives of this research were:

1. Research existing data for structural and non-structural BMPs pertaining to the Phase II NPDES Stormwater Construction and Post-Construction Minimum Control Measures. Identify BMPs suitable for use in construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation and retrofitting activities along INDOT roadways and facilties.

2. Give consideration to the Indiana geological and meteorological conditions and the INDOT resources available for maintenance of water quality BMPs.

3. Review documents on the INDOT Publications List and make recommendations regarding potential revisions and/or additions to the documents to adequately address the NPDES Stormwater Program requirements as they pertain to INDOT activities.

Effects Of Geometric Characteristics Of Rural Two-Lane Roads On Safety, Samuel Labi

JTRP Technical Reports

The study investigated the safety effects of geometric and other roadway characteristics of rural two-lane roads by collecting and analyzing data and developing crash prediction models, crash reduction factors (CRFs), and cost-effectiveness ratios (CERs). On the basis of these results, and the existing inventory of roads and their geometric deficiencies, physical and monetary needs assessments were carried out under alternative budgeting and crash costing scenarios for the rural two-lane state highway network. It was found that influential crash factors at such roads include section length, traffic volume, lane width, shoulder width, pavement condition, average horizontal curve radius, and grades of …

Constructed Wetlands For The Remediation Of Blast Furnace Slag Leachates, M. K. Banks, A. Paul Schwab, James E. Alleman, James Gregory Hunter, Jason C. Hickey

JTRP Technical Reports

A study was conducted at a site adjacent to I-65 site near Hobart, IN. The pilot scale study was designed to evaluate the use of a subsurface constructed wetland to treat leachate from the slag-based embankment. The constructed wetland proved to be effective in reducing a number of the leachate constituents that impact surface water quality, including pH, TDS, salinity, and sulfate. The system worked best under low flow conditions and extended retention times between surges of leachate into the wetland. The zero flow restriction of the system was met and resulted in elevated concentrations of salts and metals in …

Hydrodynamics And Morphology In The Ems/Dollard Estuary: Review Of Models, Measurements, Scientific Literature, And The Effects Of Changing Conditions, Stefan A. Talke, Huib E. De Swart

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

The Ems estuary has constantly changed over the past centuries both from man-made and natural influences. On the time scale of thousands of years, sea level rise has created the estuary and dynamically changed its boundaries. More recently, storm surges created the Dollard sub-basin in the 14th -15th centuries. Beginning in the 16th century, diking and reclamation of land has greatly altered the surface area of the Ems estuary, particularly in the Dollard. These natural and anthropogenic changes to the surface area of the Ems altered the flow patterns of water, the tidal characteristics, and the patterns of sediment deposition …

A New Approach To Identify The Expected Crash Patterns Based On Signalized Intersection Size And Analysis Of Vehicle Movements, Hari Salkapuram

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Analysis of intersection crashes is a significant area in traffic safety research. This study contributes to the area by identifying traffic-geometric characteristics and driver demographics that affect different types of crashes at signalized intersections. A simple methodology to estimate crash frequency at intersections based on the size of the intersection is also developed herein. First phase of this thesis used the crash frequency data from 1,335 signalized intersections obtained from six jurisdictions in Florida, namely, Brevard, Seminole, Dade, Orange, and Hillsborough Counties and the City of Orlando. Using these data a simple methodology has been developed to identify the expected …