Civil Engineering Commons^™

Investigation Into The Operation And Safety Of Freeway Auxiliary Lanes: Towards Uniform Design Guidelines, Yubian Wang

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Freeways operate closest to the purest form of uninterrupted traffic flow. There is no constant interruption to traffic flow (such as stop sign and traffic signal), and access is limited to ramp locations. Therefore, at freeways, bottlenecks, if exist, are usually caused by merging and diverging traffic at ramp locations. Bottleneck removal at freeway ramp areas can reduce average freeway commuter delay. Currently, engineers may add auxiliary lanes at ramp areas to mitigate or remove bottlenecks.

The American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO) publication A Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets, commonly known as the "Green …

An Evaluation Of The Cerro Process As An Efficient Ro Concentrate Management System, Guillermo Guadalupe Delgado

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The Concentrate Enhanced Recovery Reverse Osmosis (CERRO) Process is a new method to treat RO concentrate and brackish water with high concentrations of silica and calcium sulfate. Prior investigations have shown that the CERRO process can treat this kind of water without fouling or scaling the membranes, but the main factors that allow the system to operate in such conditions were not studied. The research presented here is an evaluation of the CERRO process as an efficient RO concentrate management system. The parameters of operation of the system were evaluated and improved. The precipitation of calcium sulfate was identified as …

Attitude Towards Green Warehousing In El Paso, Texas: An Exploratory Analysis, Lynda Jeanette Macias

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The increasing reliance on fossil fuels by today's emerging economies has a profound implication on the sustainability of many warehousing and distribution logistical systems worldwide. This research attempts to fill the gap in current green warehousing literature by investigating how warehousing and distribution facilities view greener strategies as a way to increase operation efficiency through a stated preference approach. A survey instrument was developed, and the survey was conducted to identify warehousing characteristics, green practices, and current green views of warehouse managers in El Paso, Texas. The survey results found a balanced outlook within the environment and business needs. Companies …

Adsorption Of Arsenic, Chromium, And Uranium From Saline Water On Clinoptilolite And The Treatment Of The Spent Regenerant By Duffusion Dialysis, Mutiu Olaitan Tanimola

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Among various water purification and recycling technologies, adsorption is a fast, inexpensive and universal method. The development of low-cost adsorbents has led to the rapid growth of research interests in this field. The objective of this present study is the optimization of process parameters in adsorption of arsenic, chromium and uranium ions. The adsorption behavior of natural zeolite (clinoptilolite) has been studied in order to determine its applicability in treating water containing arsenic, chromium and uranium. The multiple adsorption of arsenic As (V), trivalent chromium Cr (III)] and uranium (VI) on natural zeolite (clinoptilolite) in single component and multiple component …

Analysis Of Vehicle Interactions On Interstate Highways: Discrete Choice And Linear System Approaches, Alicia Romo

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The research in this dissertation developed statistical and linear system models to predict driving behavior according to driver attributes, vehicle characteristics, car-following dynamics and/or driving conditions. The scope of this research was limited to the interaction of two vehicles traveling in the same direction on interstate highways.

The statistical models proposed in this research investigated the contributions of the different vehicle types on the manner and likelihood of collision. Discrete choice models were used to estimate the probability of the types of collision (rear-end, angle and sideswipe) as functions of driver attributes, striking and struck vehicle types, pre-crash driving actions …

Recovering Magnesium Hydroxide And Sodium Chloride From Zero Discharge Desalination Concentrate Streams, Alemayehu Asfaw Yetayew

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

UTEP and Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies have been demonstrating and commercializing the Zero Discharge Desalination (ZDD) technology as part of a three year project sponsored by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. ZDD is able to achieve up to 98% recovery by desalinating brackish groundwater. ZDD is typically comprised of a reverse osmosis (RO) or nanofiltration (NF) system and a unique variation of electrodialysis called electrodialysis metathesis (EDM). The ZDD technology increases the yield of fresh water from water supplies that contain enough CaSO4 to cause precipitation problems when the water is treated with RO or NF alone. The EDM …

Investigation Of Wastewater Treatment Plant Sustainability Potential In Terms Of Resource Recovery Essentials, Aoife Moloney

Theses

This thesis aims to explore the sustainability potential which exists in Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTP's); particularly focusing on nutrient, energy, and water recovery and reuse. The core of the research will focus on the establishment of a sustainable Resource Recovery Treatment Plant (RRTP) plan for Limerick Main Drainage (LMD) WWTP, and potentially utilising this as a case study plant which could act as a foundation example within the sector.

There is a genuine need to investigate more sustainable options in wastewater treatment (WWT); increasing energy and sludge management costs are a real issue for non-sustainable WWTP's given that thousands of …

Path Clearance For Emergency Vehicles Through The Use Of Vehicle-To-Vehicle Communication, Craig Jordan, Mecit Cetin, R. Michael Robinson

VMASC Publications

The study described in this paper evaluated and tested a new strategy to enable emergency response vehicles (EVs) to navigate through congestion at signalized intersections more efficiently. The proposed strategy involves the use of vehicle-to-vehicle communication to send messages to alert vehicles to the approach of the EV and to provide specific instructions on maneuvering to allow the EV to proceed through congested signalized intersections as quickly as possible. This movement is achieved by creation of a split in the vehicle queue in one lane at a critical location to allow the EV to proceed at its desired speed but …

Assessing Appropriate Technology Handwashing Stations In Mali, West Africa, Colleen Claire Naughton

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Proper hand hygiene is the most effective and efficient method to prevent over 1.3 million deaths annually from diarrheal disease and Acute Respiratory Infections (ARIs). Hand hygiene is also indispensable in achieving the fourth Millennium Development Goal (MDG) to reduce the childhood mortality rate by 2/3rds between 1990 and 2015. Handwashing has been found in a systematic review of studies to reduce diarrhea by 47%#37; and is, thus, capable of preventing a million deaths (Curtis et. al., 2003). Despite this evidence, hand washing rates remain seriously low in the developing world (Scott et al., 2008).

This study developed and implemented …

Geometric Optimization Of Retroreflective Raised Pavement Markers, Lukai Guo

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

As the field service life of retroreflective raised pavement marker (RRPM) is much shorter than expected, it is necessary to identify the causes and thus improve the RRPM structural design to mitigate the main failure modes, such as poor retention from pavements, structural damage, and loss of retroreflectivity. One strategy for extending RRPM service life is to enhance RRPM geometric characteristics to decrease critical stresses in markers. The main purpose of this thesis is to analyze the relationship between stresses, failure modes, and RRPM profiles. Based on this research, some measures are suggested in order to avoid corresponding failure modes …

Cardinal Raúl Silva Henríquez Bridge During The 2010 Chile Earthquake, Zuocai Wang, Genda Chen, W. Phillip Yen, Ian G. Buckle

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This paper presents a case study of the Cardinal Raúl Silva Henríquez Bridge, which experienced significant damage during an earthquake that occurred in Chile on February 27, 2010. Supported by reinforced concrete and steel columns of varying heights, the superstructure of the bridge consisted of 22 steel-girder spans, with one intermediate expansion joint located at the middle of the bridge. At each end of the bridge, the bottom flanges of the girders were welded to their bearing steel plates, which were embedded and anchored into the bridge abutment. Two, three-dimensional, finite element models (global versus local) with beam and solid …

Thermo-Elasto-Plastic Behavior Of Biaxially Loaded Steel Beam-Columns Inducing Those From World Trade Center Towers, Yanhong Zhao

Civil & Environmental Engineering Theses & Dissertations

An experimental and theoretical investigation into the behavior of biaxially loaded steel beam-columns is conducted including the effects of high temperature. Systems of materially nonlinear differential equations of beam-column equilibrium are first formulated for both ambient and high temperature conditions. An iterative finite integral procedure is formulated and programmed to solve the governing differential equations. To check the validity of the theoretically predicted behavior and strength of the beam-columns, a series of forty-two laboratory tests are conducted at both ambient and high temperature up to 950°F. Upon achieving a good agreement between the predicted beam-column behavior and that observed in …

Exploring Travel And Activity Behavior In Transit-Oriented Developments: Insights Into Transportation Benefits And Travel Demand Modelling, Sanghoon Son

Civil & Environmental Engineering Theses & Dissertations

As a sustainable urban development and transportation planning strategy, researchers and planners are increasingly interested in transit-oriented development (TOD). By integrating transit system and neighborhood design, TOD aims to provide a livable environment that is alternative mode friendly, higher density, and mixed-use to residents and workers in the vicinity of transit stations. Despite the recent growing interest in TOE), however, transportation benefits of TOD are not well quantified and characteristics of TOD are not adequately reflected in travel demand models.

This dissertation contributes to understanding of the travel and activity behavior by comprehensively exploring them in the context of TOD. …

Library Holdings (2013) Ce Report, Georgia Southern University, Zach S. Henderson

Program Accreditation Reports (2013-2023)

This document is a part of the 2013 Library Holdings Report for the Zach S. Henderson Library at Georgia Southern University. The report includes data for the library resources and services supporting the research of the Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering and Computing, Department of Civil Engineering and Construction.

Microsimulation Evaluation Of Eurocode Load Model For American Long-Span Bridges, Bernard Enright, Colm Carey, Colin Caprani

Articles

The ability to accurately predict traffic loading is essential for cost-effective bridge maintenance and repair programs. The traffic load model currently used in the United States for the design of long-span bridges was developed over three decades ago. In the meantime vehicle characteristics and traffic patterns have changed. The Eurocode for traffic loading is more recent, but was calibrated only for bridges up to 200 m long. In this work, Weigh-In-Motion traffic records from 11 different sites across Alabama are used to establish congested traffic loading. Traffic microsimulation is used to generate the congestion, based on the real traffic data. …

Chapter Green Nanotechnology: Development Of Nanomaterials For Environmental And Energy Applications, Rachel Fagan, Changseok Han, Joel Andersen, Suresh Pillai, Polycarpos Falaras, Anthony Byrne, Patrick S.M. Dunlop, Hyeok Choi, Wenjun Jiang, Kevin O’Shea, Dionysios D. Dionysiou

Books/Book Chapters

This book chapter discusses the syntheses of various nanomaterials, for green nanotechnology applications in detail. Special attention is given to the development of emerging areas, such as environmental as well as energy materials. Various approaches for preparing nanostructured photocatalysts, such as titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, iron oxide, and metal sulfides, different conventional methods and novel methods, including sol-gel methods, hydrothermal methods, microwave-assisted methods and sonochemical methods are introduced. The use of nanomaterials as photocatalysts, supporting materials for solar cells, and disinfectants is reported for environmental remediation and energy applications. Advanced applications of nanomaterials for water detoxification, air purification, and the …

A Methodology To Consolidate Transit Stops For Enhancing Transit Users Travel Times, Mohammad Nurul Hassan

Theses

This study develops a methodology to consolidate transit stops. It develops a mathematical model and a program which takes stop consolidation decision(s) according to users travel time savings and desired accessibility. The model iterates until the users travels time savings are maximized. The study tests this mathematical model in different hypothetical scenarios. Six factors (distance between stops, passengers’ activity, average cruising speed, and maximum walkable distance, frequency of service and percentage of decreased passengers) with multiple levels were set to build the scenarios. Three responses (percentage of consolidated stops, percentage of travel time savings and percentage of operating …

Investigation Of The Mechanical Behavior Of I-Shaped Steel Beams Strengthened By Mechanically-Fastened Frp Laminates, Hothifa Nayef Rojob

Theses

Retrofitting and strengthening of steel structures have gained significant importance due to the highly increasing number of deteriorated steel structures in many places around the globe. The conventional method of retrofitting or strengthening of steel structures by replacing steel members or attaching additional external steel plates are usually time-consuming, corrodible, and a cumbersome task. Many of the drawbacks of the conventional retrofitting systems can be overcome through the use of Fiber Reinforced Polymers (FRP) due to their high strength-to-weight ratio. Furthermore, FRP materials are corrosion resistant, which makes them more durable especially when environmental deterioration is a concern. In recent …

Studying Platoon Dispersion Characteristics Under Heterogeneous Traffic In India, Jijo Mathew, Helen Thomas, Anuj Sharma, Lelitha Devi, Laurence Rilett

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Faculty Publications

Platoons are created by signalized intersections which control travel patterns of vehicles. It is common for platoons to disperse during normal traffic operations. While platoon dispersion has been studied extensively under homogenous and lane disciplined traffic conditions, this characteristic under heterogeneous conditions has not been addressed adequately. This study will be one of the first steps in this direction and will lead to better understanding and simulation of platoon dispersion under Indian conditions.

Data describing platoon dispersion was collected with video recording systems along an arterial in Chennai, India. The Robertson’s model parameters calibrated for this data was found to …

Bs News January/February

Building Services Engineering

No abstract provided.

Modeling Of The Resilient Modulus For Recycled Asphalt Pavement Applications In Base Course Layers, Ehab Noureldin, Magdy Abdelrahman

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The resilient modulus (M_R) is an important parameter for the base course layer in the pavement design process. Use of recycled asphalt pavement (RAP) for this layer must take into consideration the effect of various factors that may occur in the field on the M_R. Previous numerical models used for the granular base layer could be used for the RAP. The study reported here examined the suitability of RAP procedures under the effect of different factors (e.g., water content, dry density, freeze-thaw cycles). Various percentages of the RAP (50%, 75%, and 100% by weight) were employed …

The Guayule Plant: A Renewable, Domestic Source Of Binder Materials For Flexible Pavement Mixtures, David Newton Richardson, Steven Michael Lusher

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Due to the rising price of crude oil, flexible pavement costs have increased significantly. This price pressure has resulted in the increased use of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) and/or reclaimed asphalt roofing shingles (RAS) because of the binder (asphalt cement) they contain. This has increased demand for recycling (rejuvenating) agents which return the RAP/RAS binders to their original state by 1) restoring maltenes (petroleum oils and resins) that have been depleted due to age-hardening/oxidation, and 2) reducing their viscosity. The project concept was to design a flexible pavement mixture (FPM) produced with little-to-no virgin petroleumbased binder which implied the use …

Effect Of Crumb Rubber Modifier Dissolution On Storage Stability Of Crumb Rubber-Modified Asphalt, Amir Ghavibazoo, Magdy Abdelrahman, Mohyeldin Ragab

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Crumb rubber-modified asphalt (CRMA) extensively suffers from high-temperature storage instability. Because of the higher density of the crumb rubber modifier (CRM) particles, they settle down to the bottom of storage tanks and cause variation between physical properties of the top and bottom samples. The storage stability of the CRMA changes under different interaction parameters and consequently different mechanisms of interaction. In this research the mechanism of separation under different levels of CRM dissolution was investigated by using Stokes' law. The extent and mechanism of CRM dissolution in asphalt was controlled through regulating interaction temperature and interaction mixing speed. A standard …

Performance Enhancement Of Crumb Rubber-Modified Asphalts Through Control Of The Developed Internal Network Structure, Mohyeldin Ragab, Magdy Abdelrahman, Amir Ghavibzaoo

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Control of the internal network structure of crumb rubber-modified asphalt (CRMA) was investigated for its effect on property development in the study presented in this paper. The investigation included evaluation by rheological and interrupted shear tests. Rheological testing involved the monitoring of the changes of the produced complex modulus (G*) and phase angle (δ) for CRMA. In the interrupted shear tests, the shear stress profile for the produced CRMA was investigated. It was found that triggering the critical conditions of the combined interaction of speed, temperature, and time was essential to inducing the formation of the three-dimensional network …

Enamel Coated Steel Reinforcement For Improved Durability And Life-Cycle Performance Of Concrete Structures: Microstructure, Corrosion, And Deterioration, Fujian Tang

Doctoral Dissertations

"This study is aimed (a) to statistically characterize the corrosion-induced deterioration process of reinforced concrete structures (concrete cracking, steel mass loss, and rebar-concrete bond degradation), and (b) to develop and apply three types of enamel-coated steel bars for improved corrosion resistance of the structures. Commercially available pure enamel, mixed enamel with 50% calcium silicate, and double enamel with an inner layer of pure enamel and an outer layer of mixed enamel were considered as various steel coatings. Electrochemical tests were respectively conducted on steel plates, smooth bars embedded in concrete, and deformed bars with/without concrete cover in 3.5 wt.% NaCl …

Numerical Analyses Of Long Carbon Fiber Reinforced Concrete Panels Exposed To Dynamic Loading, Zahra Sadat Tabatabaei

Doctoral Dissertations

"The purpose of this research was to evaluate impact and blast performance of long carbon fiber reinforced concrete experimentally and numerically. Experimental tests were conducted on plain concrete (PC), reinforced concrete, and four different types of long carbon fiber reinforced concrete (LCFRC). The results from each test were then compared to one another. This comparison indicates that adding long carbon fibers to concrete both increases the post-cracking behavior of concrete and decreases the spalls in either an impact or blast test. Among all of the fibers tested, Fiber Type B3 outperformed the other fibers, absorbing more energy during impact. Numerical …

Watershed-Scale Hybrid Stochastic-Deterministic Modeling Framework And Diffused Sources Superpositioning, Ruby Juvah Damalie

Civil & Environmental Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Predicting hydrologic system behavior is imperative to planning and management of water resources. The study developed an integrated hybrid stochastic and deterministic framework to improve prediction accuracy for overland flow and diffused sources in a watershed. The methodology includes sampling input parameters at system level and contribution of nonpoint source from hydrologically disconnected areas (heretofore referred to as system-level approach and superpositioning respectively). System-level approach includes the integration of a topography-based sampling grid generalized linear model developed by the study and Monte Carlo methods. The superpositioning method adopts in-stream water quality equation for overland flow pollution estimation.

The system-level approach …

Investigation Into The Relationship Between Hurricane Storm Parameters And Damage, Jeremy S. Young

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

“Economic damage, such as damage to property and infra-structure, from hurricane surges depends on two factors 1) the depth of coastal inundation and 2) the area covered by the surge” (Irish et. al 2007). Typically, damage estimates are developed after hurricanes have dissipated. To have the ability to predict hurricane damage in advance based upon various physical parameters would be a technical advance that could aid vulnerable coastal communities with hurricane planning. This thesis advances this goal forward by relating “Total Normalized Damage” to “Surge Scale” along with other key parameters. In this thesis Total Normalized Damages are compared to …

Disinfection Performance Of Peracetic Acid In Florida Wastewater Reuse Applications, Killian Eckert

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

As Florida’s population continues to grow and urbanization increases, traditional freshwater sources are in danger of being exhausted. Wastewater reuse programs offer a way to create a potable offset in order to protect these freshwater sources and the environments in which they are found. Reuse regulations for the disinfection of wastewater are increasingly becoming more stringent. In addition to tough regulations, operating costs have also become a driving force behind a movement to assess new and potentially economical chemicals and processes for disinfection. The objective of this thesis is to assess the disinfection performance of peracetic acid (PAA), an alternative …

Shear And Fracture Behavior Of High Performance Concretes, Mahdi Arezoumandi

Doctoral Dissertations

"Concrete is the most widely used man-made material in the world. Like other materials, it has been improved over time. Nowadays, with continued development of science and technology, a new generation of concretes is produced and is termed high performance concretes. A review of previously published work indicates that very few studies (in some cases none) have addressed the structural behavior of full-scale, high performance concrete elements. This study investigated the shear and fracture behavior of two types of high performance concrete - high-volume fly ash concrete (HVFAC) and self-consolidating concrete (SCC). The HVFAC incorporates up to 70% cement replacement …