Civil Engineering Commons^™

Interdisciplinary Modeling: Water-Related Issues And Changing Climate - New Mexico State University, Laurel Saito, Alexander Fernald, Timothy Link

All ECSTATIC Materials

Graduate course in interdisciplinary modeling: water-related issues and climate change offered at University of Nevada, Reno in Summer 2012.

Development Of System Reliability Models For Railway Bridges, Anna Maria Rakoczy

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Performance of the railway transportation network depends on the reliability of railway bridges, which can be affected by various forms of deterioration and extreme environmental conditions. More than half of the railway bridges in US were built before 1950 and many show signs of distress. There is a need for efficient methods to evaluate the safety reserve in the railway bridges by identification of the most sensitive parts of the bridge.

An accurate estimation of remaining fatigue life of a structural component is very important in prioritizing bridge rehabilitation and replacement. However, existing procedures to evaluate the fatigue behavior of …

Demand Responsive Signal Control Strategy (Drsc) Incorporating Queue Length Information In Real-Time Signal Control, Rahul Rajbhara

Civil & Environmental Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Most of the existing vehicle detection systems, namely inductive loops, video cameras etc. are incapable of measuring the queue lengths at signalized intersections. However, with the advent of modern technology, newer detection methods such as probe vehicles equipped with wireless communications (Connected Vehicles), particularly under the Vehicle Infrastructure Integration [52), and radar detection currently provide this capability [53). This thesis presents a Demand Responsive Signal Control Strategy (termed as DRSC) for an isolated signalized intersection. The control strategy incorporates real-time queue length information (obtained from probe vehicles) into the signal control logic. Demand based maximum green time for each upcoming/new …

Efficient Stand-Alone Generalized Inverse Algorithms And Software For Engineering/Sciences Applications: Research And Education, Subhash Chandra Bose S V Kadiam

Civil & Environmental Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Efficient numerical procedures for finding the generalized (or pseudo) inverse of a general (square/rectangle, symmetrical/unsymmetrical, non-singular/singular, real/complex numbers) matrix and solving systems of Simultaneous Linear Equations (SLE) are formulated and explained. The developed procedures and its associated computer software (under MATLAB computer environment) have been based on "special Cholesky factorization schemes" (for a singular matrix), the generalized inverse of the matrix product, and were further enhanced by the Domain Decomposition (DD) formulation.

Test matrices from different fields of applications have been chosen, tested and compared with other existing algorithms. The results of the numerical tests have indicated that the developed …

Probabilistic Resilience Quantification And Visualization Building Performance To Hurricane Wind Speeds, Berna Eren Tokgoz

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Natural and man made disasters are unpredictable and unavoidable in today's world. Their frequency of occurrence and damages keep increasing. Due to the efforts to reduce negative consequences from such disasters, the concept of resilience has gained so much popularity in disaster management area especially after disasters like the September 11 attacks and Hurricane Katrina. Complex systems of today are under operational risks because of increasing threats and their high level of vulnerability. Hence, such systems need to adapt the concept of resilience for continuous operations. Resilience is a proactive concept which should incorporate both pre-event (preparedness and mitigation) and …

Bs News July/August

Building Services Engineering

No abstract provided.

Load Transfer Assembly, Herbert F. Southgate, Kamyar C. Mahboub, Alireza Zeinali

Civil Engineering Faculty Patents

A load transfer apparatus accommodates movement between adjacent concrete slabs. The load transfer apparatus includes a spine in a form of an elongated hinge having a longitudinal axis A. A first dowel and a second dowel project radially from the spine and are located at two spaced points along said longitudinal axis A.

How Rapidly Should Developing Countries Implement Intelligent Transportation Systems (Its) To Solve The Growing Urban Traffic Congestion Problem?, Mandar Khanal

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Many newly developing countries are growing rapidly. One example is India, currently the second most populous country in the world. According to the Indian Ministry of Urban Development, from 1981 to 2001, the population in six major Indian cities increased twofold while motor vehicles increased eightfold. Such rapid growth in vehicles without a comparable growth in transportation infrastructure leads to increasing traffic congestion. Cities in India are already considered congested today, and are going to be even more congested in the coming years since the rate of urbanization in India in 2006 was only 29% and is expected to grow …

Flexible Urban Drainage Systems In New Land-Use Areas, Jochen Eckart

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Urban drainage systems are influenced by several future drivers that affect the performance as well as the costs of the systems. The uncertainties associated with future drivers and their impact creates difficulties in designing urban drainage systems sustainably. A review of the different future drivers for urban drainage systems illustrates that no sufficient future predictions for the long operational life spans of the systems are possible. This dissertation contends that to deal with future uncertainties, flexibility in urban drainage systems is necessary.

At present, profound insights about defining, measuring, and generating flexible urban drainage systems do not exist. This research …

Investigation Of Trends And Predictive Effectiveness Of Crash Severity Models, James E. Mooradian

Master's Theses

This thesis describes analysis using ordinal logistic regression to uncover temporal patterns in the severity level (fatal, serious injury, minor injury, slight injury or no injury) for persons involved in highway crashes in Connecticut, focusing on the demographic split between senior travelers (65 years and over) and non-senior travelers. Existing state sources provide data describing the time and weather conditions for each crash and the vehicles and persons involved over the time period from 1995 to 2009 as well as the traffic volumes and the characteristics of the roads on which these crashes occurred. Findings indicate an overall increase in …

Hardy, Nathaniel (Sc 524), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Manuscript Collection Finding Aids

Finding aid and scan (Click on "additional files" below) for Manuscripts Small Collection 524. Receipt written15 June 1836 by Nathaniel Hardy of Day, Schmitz and Baldwin, Louisville, Kentucky, to Eli McLean, South Union, Kentucky, for payment of $300 on castings for water works for the Shaker Society at South Union.

Seismic Hazard Assessment Of Oregon Highway Truck Routes, Peter Dusicka, Selamawit Tesfayesus Mehary

TREC Final Reports

This research project developed a seismic risk assessment model along the major truck routes in Oregon. The study had adopted federally developed software tools called Risk for Earthquake Damage to Roadway Systems (REDARS2) and HAZUS-MH. The model was the first time REDARS2 has been adopted and used in research outside of the original development team, presenting a number of unique challenges. The development of the model was a complex, intensive process that required a significant research effort, manipulation and adjustment of data. Furthermore, limitations of the software tools themselves had been identified that prevented the inclusion of important aspects such …

Effects Of Alternate Cementitious Materials On Compressive Strength And Environmental Impacts Of Cement Mix Designs., Mitchell R. Bush

Materials Engineering

Specific proportions of Portland cement, fly ash, and blast furnace slag cement mixtures where chosen by a ternary phase diagram to be investigated. By experimental testing and company data history fly ash was limited to not exceed 30% and contribution of Portland cement must be over 50%. Ten chosen mix designs were batched by following ASTM C305-94 and cured for twenty-eight and forty-two days, the extended cure length allows the reaction of pozzolanic material with calcium hydroxide to complete. Compressive strength testing at forty-two days yielded low strength for mix designs with 20% or less Portland cement compared to our …

Legacy Effects In Material Flux: Structural Catchment Changes Predate Long-Term Studies, Daniel J. Bain, Mark B. Green, John L. Campbell, John F. Chamblee, Sayo Chaoka, Jennifer M. Fraterrigo, Sujay S. Kaushal, Sherry L. Martin, Thomas E. Jordan, Anthony J. Parolari, William V. Sobczak, Donald E. Weller, Wilfred M. Wollheim, Emery R. Boose, Jonathan M. Duncan, Gretchen M. Gettel, Brian R. Hall, Praveen Kumar, Jonathan R. Thompson, James M. Vose, Emily M. Elliott, David S. Leigh

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Legacy effects of past land use and disturbance are increasingly recognized, yet consistent definitions of and criteria for defining them do not exist. To address this gap in biological- and ecosystem-assessment frameworks, we propose a general metric for evaluating potential legacy effects, which are computed by normalizing altered system function persistence with duration of disturbance. We also propose two distinct legacy-effect categories: signal effects from lags in transport and structural effects from physical landscape changes. Using flux records for water, sediment, nitrogen, and carbon from long-term study sites in the eastern United States from 1500 to 2000, we identify gaps …

An Inverted Teaching Model For A Mechanics Of Materials Course, Jeffery S. Thomas, Timothy A. Philpot

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Instructors at Missouri University of Science and Technology have been offering certain sections of a mechanics of materials course in an inverted format for the past two years. In this format, students learn the concepts outside of class, using a textbook, animations and videos developed by the authors, and work on homework either individually or in groups during the optional class time. Students take eight multiple-choice exams and a final exam that is common to both the inverted sections and the more traditional lecture-based sections. Homework in the inverted sections is assigned but not graded. The in-class exams are given …

Regression-Based Prioritization And Data Modeling For Customized Civil Engineering Data Collection, Omar Kanaan

Masters Theses

Civil engineers frequently face the challenges of acquiring sufficient data to satisfy the informational needs of various decision making scenarios having time, budget, and resource constraints. This thesis focuses on exploring how statistical analysis of historical data sets can be used to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of future data collection activities in transportation engineering and construction project control. Pearson's correlation, multiple regression, Akaike information criterion, and Bayesian information criterion are applied to two cases of data collection and analysis to understand the relative importance of various parameters within each case. Case I analyzes National Bridge Inventory (NBI) data to …

Documenting The Construction Of A Plain Concrete Bridge Deck And An Internally Cured Bridge Deck, Carmelo Di Bella, John Schlitter, Neal Carboneau, Jason Weiss

Indiana Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) Technical Reports

Durable and long lasting concrete is important, especially for bridge decks, which are susceptible to premature cracking and corrosion of the reinforcing steel. To increase the durability of the concrete and its service life, many transportation agencies use high-strength concretes. However, high-strength concretes often have problems with early age cracking due to shrinkage. These cracks can then open a path for chloride ions (found in road salts) to reach the reinforcing steel. The results of this research, which compared bridge installations on two structures in Monroe County, Indiana, confirm that internally cured concrete presents a better alternative to traditional plain …

Deviations In Standard Aggregate Gradation And Its Affects On The Properties Of Portland Cement Concrete, Marcus Balitsaris

All Theses

Aggregate gradation is the particle size distribution of both the stone and sand present in the concrete matrix. It is an aggregate property that has been heavily researched for over a century but the effects of which on concrete properties is still somewhat misunderstood. Past research has revealed that aggregate gradation dictates the proportion of aggregate to cement paste in concrete, and can play a major variable that determines the overall durability of the construction material. Increasingly, aggregate in South Carolina are failing to meet the standard aggregate gradation for portland cement concrete, however, the effects of such failed aggregate …

Resource Allocation Framework: Validation Of Numerical Models Of Complex Engineering Systems Against Physical Experiments, Joshua Hegenderfer

All Dissertations

An increasing reliance on complex numerical simulations for high consequence decision making is the motivation for experiment-based validation and uncertainty quantification to assess, and when needed, to improve the predictive capabilities of numerical models. Uncertainties and biases in model predictions can be reduced by taking two distinct actions: (i) increasing the number of experiments in the model calibration process, and/or (ii) improving the physics sophistication of the numerical model. Therefore, decision makers must select between further code development and experimentation while allocating the finite amount of available resources. This dissertation presents a novel framework to assist in this selection between …

Co-Removal Of Atrazine And Nitrate From Groundwater Using A Mulch Biofilm, Allison L. Cole

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The popular broadleaf herbicide atrazine is often found in contaminated groundwater along with other agricultural chemicals, such as nitrate. Mulch biowalls, a passive treatment placed in situ, can inexpensively remediate groundwater by intercepting and treating a contaminant plume. Three types of organic mulch: cedar, cypress, and hardwood were evaluated for their ability to act as supporting materials for a biowall to simultaneously remove atrazine and nitrate from groundwater. Physical and chemical properties of the mulch were characterized. Cedar mulch had the highest organic carbon content, 996 mg/g. The adsorptive capacity of the mulch for atrazine and nitrate, in mono …

Short Term Monitoring Of Suspender Cables On An In-Service Highway Bridge, Gannon Stromquist-Levoir

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Near Surface Hydrometeorology For Sustainable Water Management, V. Sridhar, W. T. A. Jaksa

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Due to strong interactions between the land and atmosphere and the resulting feedbacks as altered by the anthropogenic changes, it is critical to quantify the surface fluxes and boundary layer properties that has direct implications on the regional evolution of hydrometeorology. This study evaluates the impact of irrigation using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) numerical weather prediction (NWP) model in the Snake River Basin in Idaho. Our simulation extends for the period in the growing season and compares the control and irrigation runs to assess the irrigation induced cooling on the surface energy balance. Understanding this near surface cooling …

Study Of The Compressive Strength Of Aluminum Curved Elements, Christine M. Shepherd

Honors Theses

Currently, the Specification for Aluminum Structures (Aluminum Association, 2010) shows thin-walled aluminum plate sections with radii greater than eight inches have a lower compressive strength capacity than a flat plate with the same width and thickness. This inconsistency with intuition, which suggests any degree of folding a plate should increase its elastic buckling strength, inspired this study. A wide range of curvatures are studied—from a nearly flat plate to semi-circular. To quantify the curvature, a single non-dimensional parameter is used to represent all combinations of width, thickness and radius. Using the finite strip method (CU-FSM), elastic local buckling stresses are …

Creating A Pedestrian Level-Of-Service Index For Transit Stops: Evidence From Denver’S Light Rail System, Patrick Gallagher

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Computer-Aided Engineering Tools For Structural Health Monitoring Under Operational Conditions, Priscilla O. Mensah-Bonsu

Master's Theses

This thesis presents two different applications of computer-aided non-destructive approaches for structures monitored under operational conditions. The first part of the thesis is the development of a graphical user interface (GUI) software for real-time autonomous assessment of structural health condition based on the signature vibration properties of the structure under study. The program, called ConImote2, operates on the wireless sensor network platform called imote2. ConImote2 is created in the Matlab platform for accessibility and to enable extension of its capabilities by the user. The primary goal of creating the program is to overcome the issue of data inundation from SHM …

Laboratory And Field Evaluation Of Two Warm-Mix Additives In Connecticut And Validation Of An Alternative Moisture Susceptibility Test, Alexander K. Bernier

Master's Theses

The first official state Warm-Mix Asphalt (WMA) pavement project in Connecticut was constructed between July 20th and 22nd, 2010 and it involved three experimental sections, i.e. one section with a conventional HMA (control section) and two WMA sections with different technologies, wax and foamed asphalt. All three sections are located on Route 70 in central Connecticut. The materials were collected in loose form and reheated and compacted in laboratory conditions (laboratory fabricated specimens). This paper discusses the effect of mix type on the results from several tests conducted in the laboratory, such as Semi-Circular Bending, Hamburg Wheel Tracking, Indirect Tensile, …

Prestressed Concrete Wind Turbine Supporting System, Ibrahim Lotfy

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Wind energy is one of the most commercially developed and quickly evolving renewable energy technologies worldwide. Wind turbines are commonly supported on tubular steel towers. As the turbines are growing and the towers are elevating, an increase in structural strength and stiffness is required to withstand the applied forces. Recent studies established concrete as a more economic and durable alternative to steel especially when the tower height exceed 240ft. Presently, concrete towers are not common due to their perceived heavy weight and assembly complexity. One of the systems that have been mentioned in the literature consists of precast rings that …

Developing A Family Of Curves For The Hec-18 Scour Equation, Timothy Calappi, Carol J. Miller, Donald Carpenter, Travis Dahl

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research Publications

Accurate pier scour predictions are essential to the safe and efficient design of bridge crossings. Current practice uses empirical formulas largely derived from laboratory experiments to predict local scour depth around single-bridge piers. The resulting formulas are hindered by insufficient consideration of scaling effects and hydrodynamic forces. When applied to full-scale designs, these formula deficiencies lead to excessive over prediction of scour depths and increased construction costs. In an effort to improve the predictive capabilities of the HEC-18 scour model, this work uses field-scale data and nonlinear regression to develop a family of equations optimized for various non-cohesive soil conditions. …

Analyzing Traffic Engineering Applications In The Rhode Island Transportation System To Determine Potential Environmental Sustainability, Michael R. Pezzullo

Senior Honors Projects

Transportation engineering is the application of technology and scientific principles to the planning, functional design, and management of facilities for any mode of transportation in order to provide for the safe, rapid, comfortable, convenient, economical, and environmentally compatible movement of people and goods. Traffic engineering is a specific segment of transportation engineering that deals with the planning, geometric design, and traffic operations of roads, streets and highways, their networks, terminals, abutting lands, and relationships with other modes of transportation. In the midst of this, is the concern for environmental compatibility, which continues to be of growing interest especially with regard …

Efficacy Of Geosynthetic Separators And Filters: An Evaluation Of Test Sections In Marked Tree, Arkansas, Ashique Ali Boga

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Field and laboratory tests were conducted on 18 full-scale, geosynthetic reinforced, roadway test sections located in Marked Tree, Arkansas. Base course, geosynthetic, and subgrade samples were collected, and pavement depth, in-situ density and in-situ hydraulic conductivity measurements were obtained during a geotechnical site investigation. The performance of sections containing geotextile products being used for separation and filtration (Carthage Mills FX-66, Mirafi 570, Propex 2006, Propex 2044, and Propex 4553) was investigated.

Moisture content, sieve analysis, Atterberg limits, modified proctor, specific gravity, and hydraulic conductivity tests were performed on the acquired soil samples. Transmissivity and permittivity testing was conducted on the …