Civil Engineering Commons^™

Bs News March/April

Building Services Engineering

No abstract provided.

On The Interaction Between Bathymetry And Climate In The System Dynamics And Preferred Levels Of The Great Salt Lake, Ibrahim Nourein Mohammed, David G. Tarboton

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

The Great Salt Lake is a terminal lake whose level is determined by the balance between inflows and outflows. We examine the causes for multimodality in the distributions of lake level and hence volume and area that have previously been examined from a system dynamics perspective. We focus on the role of bathymetry in the dynamics of this system and show that some of the modes that are observed and that represent preferred system states are attributable to features of the bathymetry described using the topographic area‐volume relationship. Being a terminal lake, the only “outflow” is evaporation, which depends directly …

Meeting Engineering Program Objectives Through Service Learning Opportunities In Developing Countries, Jeffrey M. Plumblee, Lansford Bell, Leidy E. Klotz

Publications

The civil engineering profession, in an adaptive reaction to emerging roles for civil engineers, is recognizing the need for new engineers to possess a more robust skill set than just the typical design background. This paper describes the efforts of Clemson Engineers for Developing Countries (CEDC) to fulfill the more nontraditional and often unaddressed “learning outcomes” noted by ASCE’s Civil Engineering Body of Knowledge for the 21st Century as important prerequisites for licensure. The learning outcomes are addressed through ongoing international service learning projects in Cange, Haiti. The paper focuses on the following four outcomes and their fulfillment methods: leadership, …

Development Of An Open Source Bridge Management System, Michael H. Scott

TREC Final Reports

A bridge management system is developed using the Tcl scripting language in conjunction with the OpenSees finite element software framework. Fully programmable and string-based, Tcl is ideal for implementing live load analysis through scripts and experimenting with emergent bridge rating methodologies. Since Tcl is an interpreted language, the application also has the important advantage that new bridge capacity models and rating factor calculations can be implemented on multiple platforms without compiling source code. The network programming features of Tcl give the system access to databases for conducting internet-based bridge rating. The system is demonstrated for rating a conventionally reinforced concrete …

Health, Transportation, And The Built Environment: Building A Roadmap For Change With Smaller Cities, Cynthia Carlson, Semra Aytur, Kevin Gardner, Shannon Rogers

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications

Presentation at the 2011 Active Living Research Annual Conference.

A Microsimulation Of Traffic, Parking, And Emissions At California Polytechnic State University – San Luis Obispo, Steven Michael Kilbert

Master's Theses

Traffic and parking congestion are significant issues at many universities nationwide. The delays experienced result in wasted time, money, and fuel for students, faculty and staff, not to mention the negative contributions to the environment. This paper quantifies the amount of vehicle emissions generated during an average morning peak hour in the university environment. Using VISSIM and CMEM microsimulation packages, a model is created for California Polytechnic State University- San Luis Obispo to aggregate the collective transportation behaviors and practices of the campus and recognize the implications these behaviors pose on the transportation network as a whole. Reasonable estimates are …

Understanding The Impact Of Indot Projects On Automotive Industry Cluster Logistics Costs: A Case Study Of The Honda Plant, Ananth Iyer, Barry K. Partridge, Mary Pilotte, Pete Mast, Gerald Simms

JTRP Technical Reports

No abstract provided.

Risk Based Models For The Optimization Of Oil And Gas Supply Chain Critical Infrastructure, Kingsley Oseloka Achebe

Dissertations

The oil and gas sector faces a broad array of risks and uncertainties, affecting short- and long-term planning, and causing adverse effects in the energy sector. To predict and minimize them, risk based supply chain models were developed for the oil and gas supply chain critical infrastructure.

First, the events and activities were categorized as short term and long term, and their risk ratings derived, by analyzing data from past events and site visits. The result showed that events like the Israel – Arab war, successful hurricane, and production increase or decrease, had a risk rating of approximately 7.

Second, …

Application Of Mass/Stiffness Eccentricity To Control Response Of Structures Subjected To Earthquake Ground Motion, Bakhtiar Feizi

Dissertations

This dissertation is driven by the concept that engaging more modes in the response of structures can be used to mitigate its translational dynamic response. One such an approach is to engage torsional modes through engineered eccentricity (mass/stiffness eccentricity), thus, introducing coupled translation-rotation response. This idea was first introduced in a paper published by MacBain and Spillers in 2004. As a follow up to the same idea this dissertation was an attempt to investigate and develop the theory concerning the application of mass/stiffness eccentricity to control the translational motion of structures subjected to earthquake ground motion.

Different discrete and continuous …

Seismic Characterization Of Recycled Aggregate Concrete, Amin Jamali

Dissertations

There are significant environmental benefits of recycling waste concrete and reusing it as aggregate for structural concrete, but the use of Recycled Aggregate Concrete (RAC) is yet limited to non-structural applications such as road sub-base. Widespread application of RAC in areas such as seismic design requires an improved knowledge of RAC behavior under multiaxial state of stresses.

The main objective of this research is the characterization of seismic properties of RAC by developing a stress-strain model which can reasonably describe the behavior under both unconfined and confined conditions. An extensive experimental program, including testing of several plain RAC cylinders as …

Developing Deterioration Models For Nebraska Bridges, George Morcous Ph.D., Afshin Hatami Ph.D.

Mid-America Transportation Center: Final Reports and Technical Briefs

Nebraska Bridge Management System (NBMS) was developed in 1999 to assist in optimizing budget allocation for the maintenance, rehabilitation and replacement needs of highway bridges. This requires the prediction of bridge deterioration to calculate life-cycle costs. At the meantime, the approach adopted to predict the deterioration of bridge components is based on national average deterioration rates, which are one drop in the deck condition rating every eight years and one drop in the superstructure and substructure condition rating every ten years. This approach does not account for the impact of traffic volume, structure and material type, and environment impacts, in …

Crash Analysis Of I-64 Closure In St. Louis County, Ghulam H. Bham Ph.D., Uday R.R Manepalli

Mid-America Transportation Center: Final Reports and Technical Briefs

On January 2, 2008, the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) closed significant portions of Missouri Interstate 64 (I-64) in St. Louis County for reconstruction. During the planning stages of this project, the proposal to close all lanes of I-64 was met with public concern regarding the possible safety risks associated with diverting I-64 traffic to adjacent roadways. A specific concern was the possibility of increased crash rates on roads designated to receive I-64 traffic flow. The following research was conducted to assess the actual outcomes related to these concerns. Crash analyses and crash rate analysis of 2008 and 2009 crash …

Performance Measures Of Warm Asphalt Mixtures For Safe And Reliable Freight Transportation Phase Ii: Evaluation Of Friction And Raveling Characteristics Of Warm Mix Asphalt Mixtures With Anti-Stripping Agents, Hosin David Lee Ph.D., P.E., Yongjoo Thomas Kim Ph.D.

Mid-America Transportation Center: Final Reports and Technical Briefs

The viscosity of asphalt decreased significantly when 0.5% of WMA additive was added,but it remained relatively steady as the dosage rate increased up to 3.0%. The reduction pattern in viscosity as the dosage rate increases was similar for both CECABASE RT® and LEADCAP at all test temperatures of 120°C,125°C, 130°C and 135 °C and a similar pattern was observed for both Sasobit® and Rediset. Based on the ABCD test device, the virgin asphalt binder PG 64-34 cracked at -51.0°C and the PG 64-28 cracked at -41.3°C. As the WMA additives were increased from 0.5%to 3.0%, the cracking temperatures increased slightly,but …

Assessing The Damage Potential In Pretensioned Bridges Caused By Increased Truck Loads Due To Freight Moments (Phase Ii), Robert J. Peterman Ph.D., P.E., Steven F. Hammerschmidt M.S.C.E.

Mid-America Transportation Center: Final Reports and Technical Briefs

With aging and deterioration of bridges, evaluation of existing conditions of their structural elements becomes vital to engineers and public officials when deciding how to repair or replace the structures. The ability to obtain necessary information on these conditions is often expensive and time consuming, especially for concrete bridges where the reinforcement is not available for inspection. Employing the surface-strain relief method could allow for accurate evaluation of aged or damaged prestressed members. The surface-strain relief method was developed to measure initial or pre-existing strains in a concrete member. It involves relieving the strain in the member and measuring the …

Effectiveness Study On Temporary Pavement Marking Removals Methods, Dr. Yong Cho, Dr. Jae-Ho Pyeon, Koudous Kabassi

Mid-America Transportation Center: Final Reports and Technical Briefs

This study was conducted to identify effective temporary marking removal methods and procedures on concrete and asphalt pavements. Pavement markings provide guidance to road travelers and can lead to accidents when not properly removed. Current state guidelines on removal do not provide clear and objective methods of measurement. After testing the most common removal methods, this research concluded that removing markings by chemical was not only cost efficient, result-oriented, and effective compared to other methods, but it was also safe to the environment and road users. Finally, a baseline of measurements was developed by the research team for this project, …

A Financial Impact Assessment Of Ld 1725: Stream Crossings Presentation, New England Environmental Finance Center

Economics and Finance

This report looks at the potential financial impact of LD 1725 on the estimated 30,000 stream crossings in the State of Maine that would be affected by the law. Our research for this report included the analysis of nearly 2000 stream crossings and the data collection necessary for the development of extensive stream crossing replacement cost models. We found that the 1.2 bankfull requirements in LD 1725 would result in a 75% ‐ 250% increase in structure widths for stream crossing projects across the state. An upsize of this magnitude would increase the cost of replacing stream crossings statewide by …

Fracture Energy Method For Determining Stiffness In Polymer Modified Asphalt Binders Using The Single Edge Notched Beam, Alejandro Rosales

McNair Scholars Research Journal

Transverse cracking is a prevalent problem that occurs in asphalt pavement binders in cold climates and diminishes the integrity of the road as well as shortens the life span of the road leading to premature failure. Current specification for testing asphalt pavement binders for transverse cracking fails to accurately model the behavior of modified asphalt binders because it does not take into account the effects of physical hardening. Furthermore, current specification, which employs the use of the bending beam rheometer (BBR) and direct tension tests, was developed through the use of unmodified asphalt pavement binders and so it does not …

Modelling Of Highway Bridge Traffic Loading: Some Recent Advances, Bernard Enright, Colin C. Caprani, Eugene J. Obrien

Conference papers

The accurate estimation of site-specific lifetime extreme traffic load effects is an important element in the cost-effective assessment of bridges. In recent years, the improved quality and increasing use of weigh-in-motion technology has meant that better quality and larger databases of vehicle weights are now available. This has enabled measurements of the regular occurrence of extremely heavy vehicles, with weights in excess of 100 t. The collected measurements have been used as the basis for building and calibrating a Monte Carlo simulation model for bridge loading. The computer programs written to implement this model generate simulated traffic in two lanes …

Structural Health Monitoring For Damage Detection Using Wired And Wireless Sensor Clusters, Thomas Terrell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Sensing and analysis of a structure for the purpose of detecting, tracking, and evaluating damage and deterioration, during both regular operation and extreme events, is referred to as Structural Health Monitoring (SHM). SHM is a multi-disciplinary field, with a complete system incorporating sensing technology, hardware, signal processing, networking, data analysis, and management for interpretation and decision making. However, many of these processes and subsequent integration into a practical SHM framework are in need of development. In this study, various components of an SHM system will be investigated. A particular focus is paid to the investigation of a previously developed damage …

Evaluating The Use Of Steady Burn Warning Lights On Drums For Workzone Safety, Prasad Nannapaneni

Wayne State University Dissertations

Abstract

EVALUATING THE USE OF

STEADY BURN WARNING LIGHTS ON DRUMS

FOR WORK ZONE SAFETY

by

PRASAD LAKSHMI VARA NANNAPANENI

May 2011

Advisor: Dr. Timothy Gates

Major: Civil Engineering

Degree: Doctor of Philosophy

Roadway maintenance and repair has become increasingly commonplace in the United States over the past several decades as our roadway infrastructure has continued to age and deteriorate. Maintenance and repair work on an existing roadway often presents the challenge of maintaining traffic on the existing roadway while work is being performed, thereby necessitating the use of what is commonly referred to as a roadway "work zone". One …

Characteristics And Causal Factors Of Claims In Michigan Highway Construction Projects, Abel K. Sahlool

Wayne State University Dissertations

The US highway system is the largest road network system in the world. MDOT administers about 9,722 route-miles, (28,000 lane-miles) of roadway networks in Michigan. Every year, hundreds of projects worth millions of dollars are let by the State Transportation Agency (STA).

Majority of these projects are successfully completed within the original scope of work, budget, schedule, and without litigation. However; some projects end up in litigation and disputes costing tax payers a great amount of money and the STA a great amount of resources. The number and cost of these construction claims has been substantially increasing in recent years. …

Investigating Rfid For Linear Asset Management, Judy A. Perkins Ph.D., P.E., Erick C. Jones Ph.D., P.E., Cssbb, Judith L. Mwakalonge Ph.D., E.I.T

Mid-America Transportation Center: Final Reports and Technical Briefs

A linear asset is defined as an asset whose length plays a critical role in its maintenance. Examples of such assets include roads, pipelines, and railroad tracks. Major features of a roadway asset include traffic lights, number of lanes, speed limits, guardrails, and highway billboards. Linear assets, along with their features, are hard to physically access; therefore, previously captured inventory information files may be inaccurate. To address this problem, some of the transportation agencies are investigating technologies that will assist in solving this asset inventory problem. Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is a technology that uses communication via radio waves to …

Improving The Freight Transportation Roadway System During Snow Events: A Performance Evaluation Of Deicing Chemicals, Christopher Y. Tuan, Barbara M. Gerbino-Bevins

Mid-America Transportation Center: Final Reports and Technical Briefs

The ability of state DOTs to adequately clear roadways during winter weather conditions is critical for a safe and effective freight transportation system. Variables affecting winter maintenance operations include the type of precipitation, air and pavement temperature, traffic, wind, time of day, day of week, and maintenance equipment. The main objective of this study is to identify the best practices for normal deicing operations, based on the performance rating of deicing chemicals. Optimum deicer/brine ratios and the associated application rates will be determined for various weather conditions. The best practices will ensure effective deicing operation and economical use of deicing …

Impact Of Large 0.7 Inch Strand On Nu-I Girders, Maher K. Tadros Ph.D., P.E., George Morcous Ph.D.

Mid-America Transportation Center: Final Reports and Technical Briefs

The NU I-Girder series uses a unique cross-section and high-strength concrete to achieve longer spans. The objective of this project was to develop the quality control and design criteria required to introduce 0.7 inch strands at 2 in. spacing in NU I-Girders. Compared to 0.5 inch strands, only 1/2 of the total number of strands would be needed. This would result in immediate labor savings in precast concrete product costs. More importantly, having the ability to introduce almost twice the prestressing force, compared to 0.5 inch strands, and 135% of the prestressing force, compared to 0.6 inch strands, could result …

A Framework For The Nationwide Multimode Transportation Demand Analysis, Hojong Baik Ph.D., Yuepeng Cui, Tao Li

Mid-America Transportation Center: Final Reports and Technical Briefs

This study attempts to analyze the impact of traffic on the US highway system considering both passenger vehicles and trucks. For the analysis, a pseudo-dynamic traffic assignment model is proposed to estimate the time-dependent link flow from the intercity travelers on the network covering the continental U.S. A two-stage simulation scheme was designed to separate the intercity and non-intercity travelers involved in the link flow. The fuel consumption and emissions from the intercity travelers are estimated based on data in Mobile, the emission model developed by EPA. The suggested methodology could be adopted in further deployment of a nationwide transportation …

Transit System Evaluation Process: From Planning To Realization, K Bartman, Jennifer Ogle, Mashrur Chowdhury, Anne Dunning

Publications

Many frameworks exist to help transit agencies plan, operate, and monitor the performance of transit in rural and urban communities. No framework integrates these three critical business practices into one coherent and flexible framework useful to rural and small-sized cities. The primary objective of this research was to integrate planning, operations, and performance measurement activities into a framework designed to evaluate transit in the context of overall mobility. By combining planning, evaluation, and performance monitoring processes, a succinct framework useful to transit agencies and planners was created. In addition to city entities, colleges and universities operating or contracting transit systems …

Role Of Information On Probability Of Traffic Conflict On The Onset Of Yellow, Nathaniel P. Burnett, Anuj Sharma

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Faculty Publications

This paper examines the effect of information provided to drivers through advance warning flashers (AWFs) on driver’s probability of conflict at the onset of yellow at a high-speed intersection. AWFs are specifically designed to minimize the number of vehicles trapped in their respective dilemma zones at the onset of yellow. A probit modeling technique was used to establish dilemma zone boundaries. Based on the dilemma zone boundaries probability of a perceived conflict curves was computed and compared against actual conflicts observed at each of the studied intersections. The comparison between the actual and theoretical probability of conflict curves generated a …

Evaluating Beat Structure And Truck Allocation For The Tarrant County Courtesy Patrol, Farzad Daneshgar

Civil Engineering Theses - Archive

Non-recurring congestion poses a significant concern to urban freeway drivers. Effective incident management relies on many tools to lessen the overall impact of crashes, road debris, and stalled/disabled vehicles. While many of the tools are based in a region's traffic management center, many urban areas have adopted freeway service patrol (FSP) programs that patrol the freeway network searching for incidents, providing aid to motorists, and assisting with incident management and clearance. While FSP operations can be assessed in terms of response and clearance times, FSP management must consider the beat structure and fleet allocation. This investigation considers response time and …

Characterization And Evaluation Of Gas Generation Potential Of Municipal Solid Waste From A Closed Section Of A Landfill, Sonia Samir

Civil Engineering Theses - Archive

At present, there are more than 40 closed municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills around DFW and North Texas. A closed landfill might have potential benefits for gas recovery and utilization due to the presence of organic components in the MSW. The decomposition of organic components of MSW produces gas. The decomposition process after landfill closure may continue for 20 to 100 years depending on the operational practice of the landfill. However, to evaluate the methane potential of a closed landfill it is important to have the understanding of the characteristics of the existing or decomposed landfill wastes. The current study …

The Last Planner System For Realiable Project Delivery, Alok Patel

Civil Engineering Theses - Archive

The Last Planner System is a production planning system designed to produce predictable work flow and rapid learning in programming, design, construction and commissioning of projects. The Last Planner System (LPS) is developed by Glenn Ballard and Greg Howell as a production planning and control system to assist in smoothing variations in construction work flow, developing planning foresight, and reducing uncertainty in construction operations. The LPS challenges the old practices of developing schedules and pushing them from top management down to frontline people to execute. It advocates collaborative planning, performing collaborative constraint analysis, and learning from planning failures. The LPS …