Civil Engineering Commons^™

Adaptivity For Meshfree Point Collocation Methods In Linear Elastic Solid Mechanics, Joshua Wayne Derrick

Theses and Dissertations

This study presents the behavior of local node adaptivity for point collocation meshfree numerical methods and its application to linear elastic solid mechanics. A bisection approach to meshfree adaptivity will be presented with numerical examples showing that convergence is achieved. A threshold value is required from the user and this value is an acceptable change in gradient for the problem. If the change in gradient between 2 nodes exceed this limit, a node is added at the mid-point between the two nodes. This process applies to all nodes in the model. Once the refinement is complete, the model is processed …

Interfacial Bond Between Reinforcing Fibers And Calcium Sulfoaluminate Cements: Fiber Pullout Characteristics, Robert B. Jewell, Kamyar C. Mahboub, Thomas L. Robl, Arne C. Bathke

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications

The results of an experimental investigation on the influence of the interfacial bond of reinforcing fibers embedded in a calcium sulfoaluminate matrix on the fiber-pullout peak load and energy consumption are presented. Bonding at the fiber-matrix interface plays an important role in controlling the mechanical performance of cementitious composites—in particular, composites formed from sulfate-based systems (calcium sulfoaluminate [CSA] cements), as opposed to the silicate systems found in portland cement. Various types of fibers were selected, including polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polypropylene, and copper-coated steel. The fibers were embedded in three different matrixes: two sulfate-based cements including one commercially available CSA cement …

Introductory Editorial: Water Microbiology, Patrick J. Mcnamara, Mark J. Krzmarzick

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

Pervious Vs. Impervious Pavement: An Engineering Approach To Cost Efficiency, William Vanlandeghem

Honors Theses

This research attempts to make a comprehensive comparison between the relatively new breed of pavement, pervious concrete, and asphalt, a more popular and accepted pavement type. Pervious concrete is mainly used as a pavement surface for green purposes; however, this thesis delves into the possibility that pervious concrete may be able to offer benefits that allow the green alternative to be cost efficient as well. The comparison will be made over the entirety of the surface life including each pavement design and the materials used, the surface drainage, and the maintenance of each. The pavements were analyzed from a real …

A Microsimulation Of Novel Intersection Designs, Aman Kinfemichael Woldetinsae

Civil and Environmental Engineering Master's Project Reports

The focus of this project is to see how a turbo roundabout and a protected intersection designs behave when they are applied on two study sites in Portland, OR. PTV VISSM is used to model, analyze and compare the performances of these designs with the existing intersection. In addition, the best features of the protected intersection and the turbo roundabout were combined to create a new intersection design that is safer for the bicyclists and also performs better than the existing intersection.

The analysis is conducted for five different volume scenarios for both the study sites. The results of the …

Adjusting Ite’S Trip Generation Handbook For Urban Context, Kelly J. Clifton, Kristina Marie Currans, Christopher D. Muhs

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

This study examines the ways in which urban context affects vehicle trip generation rates across three land uses. An intercept travel survey was administered at 78 establishments (high-turnover restaurants, convenience markets, and drinking places) in the Portland, Oregon, region during 2011. This approach was developed to adjust the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) Trip Generation Handbook vehicle trip rates based on built environment characteristics where the establishments were located. A number of policy-relevant built environment measures were used to estimate a set of nine models predicting an adjustment to ITE trip rates. Each model was estimated as a single measure: …

Exploring Thresholds For Timing Strategies On A Pedestrian Active Corridor, Sirisha Murthy Kothuri, Peter Koonce, Christopher M. Monsere, Titus Reynolds

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Traditional signal timing policies have typically prioritized vehicles over pedestrians at intersections, leading to undesirable consequences such as large delays and risky crossing behaviors. The objective of this paper is to explore signal timing control strategies to reduce pedestrian delay at signalized intersections. The impacts of change in signal controller mode of operation (coordinated vs. free) at intersections were studied using the micro-simulation software VISSIM. A base model was developed and calibrated for an existing pedestrian active corridor. A hypothetical network of three intersections was used to explore the effects of mode of operation and measures of delay for pedestrians …

Timetable Management Technique In Railway Capacity Analysis: Development Of The Hybrid Optimization Of Train Schedules (Hots) Model, Hamed Pouryousef

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

There are two general approaches to improve the capacity in a rail corridor, either by applying new capital infrastructure investment or by improving the operation of the rail services. Techniques to evaluate the railway operation include modeling and optimization through the use of commercial timetable management and rail simulation tools. However, only a few of the existing tools include complete features of timetable management techniques (e.g. timetable compression) are equipped with an optimization model for rescheduling and timetable improvement and this is especially true when it comes to the U.S. rail environment that prevalently uses unstructured operation practices.

This dissertation …

Stabilization Of Iron Mine Tailings Through Microbially Induced Calcite Precipitation, Noah D. Buikema

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

Mine tailings are deposited into large-scale impoundments. Seasonal temperature fluctuations destabilize particles on the impoundment surface. Wind-induced shear stresses on the destabilized particles can in turn result in suspension of micron-sized particles into the atmosphere, creating dust storms that pose hazards to humans and the environment. Thus, efficient and sustainable methods of dust abatement are needed. One novel method for controlling dust emissions is biomodification. For example, Sporosarcina pasteurii can promote biocalcification in soil via ureolysis. However, application of this method to fined grained materials, such as mine tailings, is challenging. The goal of this work was to perform a …

Development Of A Fundamental Rating System For Identifying Sprawl: A Case Study Utilizing Small Cities In Michigan, Jonathan T. Riehl

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

Urban sprawl research generally fits into one or more of four realms including definitions, causes, components, and consequences. Although research on consequences continues to thrive, research on components is in its adolescence, primarily due a lack of consensus on definition. Recent studies such as Ewing et al. 2014 have narrowed the list of sprawl metrics to about 20 within four factors including development density, land use mix, activity centering, and street accessibility.

This main product of this research is a Sprawl Scorecard for small Michigan cities varying in size from Traverse City, nearly 50,000 people in the urban cluster, down …

Civil Engineering/ Graduate Students/ Johnston & Jeffryes/ University Of Minnesota/ 2012, Lisa Johnston, Jon Jeffryes

Data Information Literacy Case Study Directory

From the University of Minnesota, this case study describes the seven modules that comprise their data information literacy program for students in Civil Engineering. The modules include: data management, organization and documentation, data access and ownership, data sharing and re-use, and preservation. Materials include a book chapter describing the case study, the syllabus for the program, a template for developing a data management plan and the evaluation forms that were used.

Utilizing Ultrasonic Technology To Manage Algal Blooms In Lake Rockwell, Mackenzie Kaser, Andrew Perdue

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the effectiveness of ultrasonic technology to manage algal blooms in Lake Rockwell. Lake Rockwell is the drinking water source for the city of Akron, OH and the surrounding areas. One of the main issues facing the City of Akron Water Treatment Plant is cyanobacteria, or blue-green algae. Cyanobacteria releases toxins, which makes conventional water treatment processes more difficult. Our proposed solution to manage algal blooms in Lake Rockwell is ultrasonic technology. This system emits vibrations that destroy the algal cells and prevent new blooms from forming. Our plan involves three master buoys …

Parameters Estimation Of Material Constitutive Models Using Optimization Algorithms, Kiswendsida Jules Kere

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Optimization Algorithms are very useful for solving engineering problems. Indeed, optimization algorithms can be used to optimize engineering designs in terms of safety and economy. Understanding the proprieties of materials in engineering designs is very important in order to make designs safe. Materials are not really perfectly homogeneous and there are heterogeneous distributions in most materials. In this paper, Self-OPTIM which is an inverse constitutive parameter identification framework will be used to identify parameters of a linear elastic material constitutive model. Data for Self-OPTIM will be obtained using ABAQUS simulation of a dog-bone uniaxial test. Optimization Algorithms will be used …

Parametric Study Of Self-Centering Concentrically-Braced Frames In Response To Earthquakes, Nicholas F. Roth

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This research project consisted of the use of computer aided numerical software to test the response of an earthquake resistance system within various buildings when exposed to various design-level earthquakes. This research project is an extension of an existing NSF research project. The relevant questions and investigations of this and the greater project surround the performance of an earthquake resistance system with the intentions of better understanding its abilities and limitations. This project has been aided by Dr. David Roke, the faculty sponsor, in order to perform the research and collect, organize, and analyze the data. This research was performed …

Numerical Simulation Of Prestressed Precast Concrete Bridge Deck Panels Using Damage Plasticity Model, Wei Ren, Lesley Sneed, Yang Yang, Ruili He

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

No abstract provided.

Mechanical Characteristics Of Organically Modified Fly Ash-Kaolinite Mixtures, Xin Kang

Doctoral Dissertations

"Fly ash is a hazardous waste material to the environment. Beneficial reuse of fly ash, however, brings economic and environmental benefits, i.e., decreases the cost of disposal, reduces greenhouse gas emission, and improves mechanical properties of construction materials. Due to the lack of pozzolanic properties, the reuse rate of Class F fly ash in geotechnical engineering is relatively low (ACAA 2013). In order to promote the effectiveness and sustainability of high volume reuse of class F fly ash in geotechnical engineering, biopolymers (Chitosan, and Xanthan gum) and synthetic polymers (Polyethylene Oxide, PEO) were used instead of the traditional stabilizers to …

The Impact Of Triclosan On The Spread Of Antibiotic Resistance In The Environment, Daniel E. Carey, Patrick J. Mcnamara

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Triclosan (TCS) is a commonly used antimicrobial agent that enters wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and the environment. An estimated 1.1 × 10⁵ to 4.2 × 10⁵ kg of TCS are discharged from these WWTPs per year in the United States. The abundance of TCS along with its antimicrobial properties have given rise to concern regarding its impact on antibiotic resistance in the environment. The objective of this review is to assess the state of knowledge regarding the impact of TCS on multidrug resistance in environmental settings, including engineered environments such as anaerobic digesters. Pure culture studies are reviewed …

Development Of Computer Simulation Model For Urban Region Using Xp-Swmm In Savannah, Georgia, Matthew Dale Ricks

Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this thesis was to determine if it is possible to create, calibrate, and validate a computer simulation model given a limited amount of measured data. In June 1999, significant flooding was experienced throughout the Casey Canal North drainage basin in Savannah, Georgia. Time-depth rainfall data from a single gage was recorded for this event, along with peak water surface elevations throughout the basin. The computer model chosen for this application was XP-SWMM, which was approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to simulate both one dimensional and two dimensional hydraulic models. XP-SWMM was chosen due to its …

Drilled Shaft Skin Resistance Design In The Cooper Marl, William J. Gieser

Theses and Dissertations

As drilled shafts have become a more popular foundation type in the Charleston, South Carolina area, there has been an ongoing goal of optimizing drilled shaft design while maintaining the structural integrity of the foundation. In the Charleston area, the primary bearing stratum for deep foundations is the Cooper Marl, a calcareous Oligocene formation. Research performed from 2002 to 2004 on load test data from drilled shafts constructed in the Cooper Marl and soil properties from three test sites for the Cooper River Bridge explored the relationship between the measured skin resistance and geotechnical properties. In the 15 years since …

The Simulation & Evaluation Of Surge Hazard Using A Response Surface Method In The New York Bight, Michael H. Bredesen

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Atmospheric features, such as tropical cyclones, act as a driving mechanism for many of the major hazards affecting coastal areas around the world. Accurate and efficient quantification of tropical cyclone surge hazard is essential to the development of resilient coastal communities, particularly given continued sea level trend concerns. Recent major tropical cyclones that have impacted the northeastern portion of the United States have resulted in devastating flooding in New York City, the most densely populated city in the US. As a part of national effort to re-evaluate coastal inundation hazards, the Federal Emergency Management Agency used the Joint Probability Method …

Experimental Study Of Longitudinal Sorting Of Particles Differing In Size And Density, Nabila Mahjabeen

Theses and Dissertations

Transport, deposition and erosion of sediment particles differing in size, shape and density may result in particle segregation, which in geosciences applications is generally referred to as sediment sorting. A thorough understanding of sediment sorting processes is important to describe and model a wide variety of natural processes such as the decrease in particle size and/or density in a fluvial system (downstream fining and/or lightening), the formation of economic placers, concentration of heavy minerals, chemical and metal pollutants etc. Sorting of sediment grains associated with sediment transport in the streamwise direction results in the development of longitudinal sorting patterns. Vertical …

Color Removal From Pulp Mill Effluent Using Coal Ash Produced From Georgia Power Coal Combustion Plants, Christopher B. Willett

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Two environmental concerns currently face Georgia: coal fly ash (CFA) waste from coal power plants, and the effluent generated by pulp mills. Pulp mill effluent discolors surface waters into which it is discharged, and has been proven to negatively impact the dissolved oxygen and carbon necessary for aquatic life. The proposed solution is a cost-effective adsorption treatment using an inexpensive but abundantly available waste material: CFA. CFA possesses beneficial properties that allow it to effectively remove contaminants, and is available at significantly reduced cost. The primary research objective was to define treatment parameters that would result in the maximum removal …

Roadway Determinants Of Bicyclist Multi-Pollutant Exposure Concentrations, Alexander Y. Bigazzi, Miguel A. Figliozzi

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Due to poorly quantified traffic-exposure relationships, transportation professionals are unable to easily estimate exposure differences among bicycle routes for network planning, design, and analysis. This paper estimates the effects of roadway characteristics on bicyclist multi-pollutant exposure concentrations, controlling for meteorology and background conditions. Concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOC), carbon monoxide (CO), and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) are modeled using high-resolution on-road data. This paper also compares exposure differences on immediately parallel high-traffic/low-traffic facilities and is the first study to quantify VOC exposure differences by facility. Results indicate that average daily traffic (ADT) provides a parsimonious way to characterize the …

Performance-Based Engineering For Evaluation And Retrofitting Non-Ductile Reinforced Concrete Buildings Incorporating Aftershock Hazard, Ruilong Han

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

Performance-based engineering (PBE) provides a probabilistic tool for assessing the seismic risk and performance of buildings. Only the mainshock hazard has been included in the current PBE framework, although the concern on aftershock hazard has been increased recently. This study develops methodologies to incorporate aftershock hazard into a PBE framework, and assesses the seismic risk and performance of non-ductile reinforced concrete (RC) frame buildings under mainshock and aftershock hazards. A seismic retrofit strategy for these buildings, base isolation, is also evaluated using the developed methodologies.

A methodology for synthesizing aftershock ground motions is proposed and validated to resolve the challenge …

Numerical Study Of Structural Responses Of Rigid And Flexible Pavements Under Heavy Vehicles’ Loading, Rezwana Kabir

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

The highway system serves as the most critical transportation link in the economic development of a nation. In Michigan, about 74% of all the commodities delivered annually are transported by heavy trucks. The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) permits multi-axle (11 axles) heavy truck with gross vehicle weight (GVW) limit of 164,000 lb., unlike many states having GVW limit of 80,000 lb. The effect of these heavy truck loadings on pavements might accelerate the rate of deterioration for flexible and rigid pavement structures. More detailed knowledge of the interaction of trucks with the pavement structure is essential for better management …

Behavior Of Crimped Cold-Formed Steel C-Section Beams, Jeffrey Devon Smith

Masters Theses

"This work covers the behavior of crimped cold-formed steel C-section beams under flexural loading. The specific beam shape that was tested was 600S162-54. The crimps were placed in the flange and web of the beam to curve the beam. Three crimp sizes were tested: 0.5 degree, 1.5 degree, and 3.0 degree. In construction practice, the company placed a reinforcing steel band that overlapped the crimped areas to restore strength. These various crimp degrees were tested to evaluate how much strength, if any, was lost. The reinforcing steel band was tested simultaneously with the beam to evaluate if its presence significantly …

3d Numerical Modelling Of Micropiles Interaction With Soil & Rock, Audai Kamal Theinat

Masters Theses

"A 5-span bridge along the Foothills Parkway of the Great Smoky Mountains, TN, was recently completed. Two out of the four piers were instrumented to measure the load transfer in the foundations. The foundations consisted of twenty 10-inch micropiles under the pile cap for each pier. Strain gages were installed and monitored at the different stages of construction. The objective of this research is to examine the interaction between the ground and micropiles using the field data performance and numerical modelling. The 3D computer model consists of the micropile foundation within the steep rock bedding planes and overburden soils. The …

An Investigation Of Shear-Friction Of Lightweight Aggregate Concretes, Kristian Krc

Masters Theses

"This thesis reports the results of research initiated to evaluate the influence of lightweight aggregate type and casting procedure on shear transfer across an interface of concretes cast at different times. The topic of shear transfer has been evaluated and revisited in recent PCI Design Handbooks. In this test program, a series of cold joint as well as monolithic specimens are evaluated. The peak shear strength and post peak behavior are examined. The experimental matrix included 28 push-off specimens that were either cast monolithically or cast at different times creating the condition referred to as a cold joint. The variables …

Advanced Sustainable Concrete Materials For Infrastructure Applications, Kaylea Ann Smith

Masters Theses

"This study was performed to examine the effects of cement replaced by high volumes of Class C fly-ash on durability characteristics of concrete up to 120 days. Specifically, this study investigates possibility of amending American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) to allow High Volume Fly-ash (HVFA) concrete to cure until later ages prior to testing instead of 28 days. Five mix designs were compared with varying fly-ash percentages from 0 to 70% (by total cementitious mass). No other additives were present in any of the five mix designs. Water-to-cementitious ratio (w/cm) and total cementitious material remained constant as 0.40 …

Shear-Friction Of Sand-Lightweight Clay And Slate Aggregate Concretes With Varied Reinforcement Ratios, Samantha Lynn Wermager

Masters Theses

"This thesis focuses on the structural properties of sand-lightweight aggregate concrete in terms of shear transfer strength at cold-joint interfaces. This type of interface is common for precast concrete connections which are typically designed using the shear-friction concept. This testing program was meant to expand the shear-friction database and evaluate the appropriateness of current shear-friction design provisions with respect to sand-lightweight concrete. This study builds on the work done by Shaw (2013) who studied lightweight expanded shale aggregate concrete. The current study included thirty-two push-off specimens constructed from sand-lightweight concrete with a target compressive strength of 5,000 psi. Either expanded …