Civil Engineering Commons^™

Impact Of Interface Condition On Performance Of Thin Asphalt Overlays, Cheng Zhu

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Asphalt overlay has been widely used in the United States as a cost-effective maintenance approach to keep the pavement in a satisfactory condition. In recent years, many studies have been conducted to investigate the overlay asphalt mix design, overlay pavement design, and quality control/quality assurance for the asphalt overlay pavement. In Texas, thin overlays (lift thickness less than 2 in.) and ultra-thin overlays (lift thickness of 0.5 in. to 0.75 in.) seem to be more beneficial than conventional asphalt overlays. For this type of overlay, the bonding condition between the overlay and existing AC layer is crucial for the pavement …

A Performance-Based Analysis Of Balanced Mix Designs, Elias Aaron Castillo

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The Superpave design procedure was established to provide a more representative design methodology and to minimize typical pavement distresses such as fatigue cracking and permanent deformation. This Superpave design methodology was developed on the premise that the voids in mineral aggregate can evaluate the quality and constructability of asphalt mixture during the design and production phases. With the increased use of recycled materials, recycling agents, modified binders and warm mix asphalt additives, several highway agencies including the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), have investigated whether the Superpave volumetric-based design method is enough to ensure appropriate performance of the final product. …

Relating Surface Resistivity To Corrosion Of Rebar Embedded In Portland Cement Concrete, Luisa Alejandra Morales

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Reinforced concrete is widely used as a construction material known for its durability and proficiency of withstanding large forces in severe environments. Despite that the majority of these structures result in long-term performance, there is still a large number of failures of reinforced concrete structures as a result in corrosion of the reinforcement and concrete degradation. It is critical to assess the state of the corroded structure to decide on whether maintaining or replacing the structure is needed. The objective of this study is to characterize a relationship between the steel reinforcement corrosion and the concrete's resistivity. It is widely …

Quantifying Spatiotemporal Patterns Of Past And Future Urban Trends In El Paso, Tx And Their Impact On Electricity Consumption Using Nlcd Data And The Ca-Markov Model, Joanne Michelle Moyer

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

As cities continue to grow, their urban form continues to evolve over. Understanding this evolution allows for planners, engineers, and decision makers to plan for a sustainable community. Change analysis was conducted for El Paso, Texas county to determine the areas of growth within the past 15-years (2001-2016). The results indicate that growth has primarily occurred within the city of El Paso, in particular Districts 5 (east side), 1 (west side), and 4 (northeast), with District 5 experiencing substantial growth. Developed sub-categories medium and High intensity experienced the fastest growth, which represents single-family housing and compact/commercial areas. However, landscape metrics …

Performance Measure Methodology Of Project Management Practices In Local Government Agencies, Johanes Johanes Makahaube

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Local government agencies have adopted project management practices to deliver public work projects. The agencies need to measure project management performance to ensure the consistency, control, and monitoring of the project delivery process. However, local government agencies have not adopted a systematic method to measure the organization's project-management performance. At present, there is a gap regarding methods to measure project management performance in delivering construction projects. This study aims to assist local government agencies in improving their project management processes by implementing a comprehensive methodology to assess project management's performance. This dissertation is organized into three major chapter-papers: the first …

Performane Characterization Of Stabilized Materials In Pavement Foundations, Mohammad Rashidi

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Cementitious Stabilization has been widely used to improve the strength and durability of granular materials for the construction and rehabilitation of pavement structures. Improved mechanical properties and durability of the stabilized materials combined with relatively low cost makes it an attractive method for design engineers. Although this technique appears simple and straight forward, engineering properties of individual soils and aggregates may alter widely due to heterogeneity in soil composition, difference in micro structure among soils, heterogeneity of geologic deposits and differences in chemical interactions of water with soil particles. These differences necessitate the comprehensive study in order to provide the …

Prevention Of Harmful Algal Blooms By The Mitigation Of Phosphorus Nutrient Loading Via Filtration By Steel Wool And Activated Carbon, Samantha Zidd, Sara Kidd, Ronald Simpson

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) are a devastating ecological and economic consequence of the abundance of nutrient-rich agricultural runoff entering aquatic ecosystems (Baker et al. 2014). Bioavailable phosphorus from synthetic fertilizers is one of the major nutrients contributing to this global issue. Preliminary studies indicate that dissolved phosphorus can be removed from an aqueous environment when passed through a composite mixture of granular steel wool particles and activated carbon (Erickson, Gulliver, and Weiss (2007). Further research was conducted using higher quality concentration measurements to determine what grades of steel wool (0000, 000, 00) and types of activated carbon (GAC, PAC, EAC) …

Implementation Of Real-Time Decision Support Technology At Akron Water Reclamation Facility, Hunter Durbin

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Advances in computer science, data analytics, hardware, and software are changing the way that sewer collection systems are able to operate. By combining these technologies into something called a Real-Time Decision Support System (RTDSS), operators of sewer collection systems can make operational decisions supported by data being recorded throughout the sewer system in real-time. A RTDSS has the potential to optimize the available capacity of a sewer collection system at a lower cost compared to traditional construction solutions. The City of Akron is in the process of implementing a RTDSS in their sewer collection system. This report analyzes how the …

The Future Of Roundabouts In Northeast Ohio, Bret Baker

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

For my honors project, I plan on doing a formal analysis of the type of intersection known as roundabouts. I want to approach the general topic of roundabouts and then focus on local roundabouts in Northeast Ohio. My analysis would include roundabouts currently in use, in the process of being constructed, as well as roundabout projects currently in design and future projects. I want to answer the questions, "What does the future of roundabouts look like in Northeast Ohio? Will there be more? Are they better than the traditional signalized or traffic sign intersections?" I will be using this information …

Water Condensation Collection For Disaster Relief, Tyler Gaydosh

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Numerous populations experience sudden, unexpected circumstances where drinking water supply may be compromised. Current leading response strategies include the delivery of disposable water bottles, a simple and effective way of meeting the demand of fresh drinking water. The lack of reusability results in problems with waste and cost. Any response to provide drinking water to a population in these circumstances must consider a prolonged crisis and these limitations: minimal delivery opportunities, power supply, and waste management (e.g., aftereffects of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico). A review of alternatives for water collection was done to determine a viable collection method that …

Comparision Of Fillet-Welded Base Plate Fatigue Design For Highway Support Structures With Laboratory Research Tests, William Shea

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

There are many types of vertical structures along highways that serve unique purposes. These structures include traffic signs for directing, warning, or regulating traffic, luminaires for distributing and directing light, traffic signals supporting equipment such as traffic lights, and combination structures including any combination of the aforementioned structures. Highway support structures are typically fabricated from steel or aluminum and are designed to the guidelines and specifications of the AASHTO Standard Specifications for Structural Supports for Highway Signs, Luminaires, and Traffic Signals. The structures are connected to a foundation by anchor bolts through a welded base plate. Often a cause …

Applications Of Ultra-High Performance Concrete, Zachary Plevny

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The main objective of this research paper is to determine the current applications of ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC). A second objective is to determine the reason UHPC is used in various applications. More than 17 bridges in the United States have been built with UHPC components. A handful of state departments of transportation have deployed UHPC components within their infrastructure, and many more are actively doing research and considering the use of UHPC. So, this is a relatively new material that is becoming more widely used. The following seven projects, which include UHPC components are discussed in detail: Mars Hill …

Evaluation And Modeling Of Electrodialysis For High-Recovery Brackish Water Desalination, Shahrouz Jafarzade Ghadimi

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This research investigates the feasibility of desalination of brackish water with electrodialysis (ED), using laboratory testing and mathematical modeling. Several experiments were performed to characterize ion-specific transport and to evaluate tradeoffs between salinity removal and specific energy consumption. A 200 cm2 Ameridia ED stack was used to perform desalination experiments with real brackish groundwater from the Kay Bailey Hutchison desalination plant in El Paso, Texas, and the results showed limiting current density of 160 A/m2 for 5 cm/s. A higher conductivity reduction was observed for flow velocity of 5 cm/s compared to 13 cm/s. Ion transport selectivity (based on relative …

A Survey Of Education In Civil Engineering, Tyler Fuller

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This paper provides an overview of the current education requirements in the field of civil engineering. This is achieved through means of an anonymous survey sent to civil engineering academics and data gathered from the published curricula of ten existing civil engineering programs. These ten programs were selected by means of a random number generator from the list of institutions the survey was sent to. Such an overview is important for gauging the effectiveness of civil engineering education for current and future students.

Steel Bridge Truss Analysis, Alastair Seed

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The purpose of this project is to conduct a study comparing the effectiveness of different cross frame orientations in lowering the deflection of the main stringers of a bridge. Three different orientations of cross frames were researched; vertical, angled with the superstructure webbing, and halfway-angled. All of these were studied when the stringers were placed directly under the superstructure and when the superstructure was placed outside of the stringers. Analysis was performed in a program called SAP 2000 to find the deflections along the stringers under different loading conditions. The results showed that when the superstructure was oriented over the …

Bs News January/February

Building Services Engineering

No abstract provided.

Can The Integration Of Bim And Gis Enhance Information Management For Large Scale Linear Infrastructure Projects?, Bim Tudublin, Brendan Kennedy

Capstone Reports

The integration of BIM and GIS is the subject of considerable research, particularly as the two coalesce for the purpose of information management. Large scale infrastructure projects require best practice in terms of how information is managed given the volume of information generated throughout the project lifecycle and the numerous parties requiring access to project content. This paper investigates whether the integration of BIM and GIS can enhance information management on large scale linear infrastructure projects. The research comprised a literature review and interviews with a number of BIM/GIS professionals actively working on linear infrastructure projects across the world. Some …

Three-Dimensional Finite Element Analyses For Optimal Ground Improvement For Tunnel Cross Passage In Bangkok Subsoils, Mengly Seng

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Jet grouting is a common technic for improving the stability during the construction of tunnel cross-passages in soft grounds. In this study, the optimal soil-cement mass for a cross-passage from a tunnel to an intervention shaft in Bangkok subsoils was determined using three-dimensional finite element analyses. The soil-cement mass was assumed to be octagonal prism along the route of the cross-passage which has the radius of 2.25m. The result showed that the factor of safety increases linearly with the improvement radius. The improvement radius of 3.60m was selected since it is satisfied with the FS more than 1.4 and the …

Prediction Of The Compressive Strength And Dynamic Modulus Of Fiber Reinforced Concrete By Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity Measurement At Early Ages, Daniel A. Castillo Pereira

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This research investigates the relationship between early age ultrasonic pulse velocity and the compressive strength and dynamic modulus of steel, polypropylene, nylon, and glass fiber reinforced concrete. Previous studies prove that adding fibers to concrete alters the propagation of ultrasonic pulse velocity waves. Therefore, each type of fiber-reinforced concrete will have a unique relationship between ultrasonic pulse velocity and its compressive strength and dynamic modulus depending on fiber type, fiber volume fraction, water to cement ratio, and test age. To test this hypothesis, an experimental program comprising of one hundred eighty-nine 100 mm x 200 mm fiber reinforced concrete cylinders …

Numerical Analysis On The Geomechanical Mechanisms And Stability Of Sinkholes In Central Florida, Moataz Soliman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Sinkholes are a common geohazard in karst areas that can threaten human life and causes significant damage to infrastructure. Approximately 18% of the United States falls into karst area where overburden soils are underlain by soluble carbonate rocks. In Florida, sinkhole-related insurance claims between 2006 and the third quarter of 2010 amounted to $1.4 billion according to the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation. Effective methods and tools for the sinkhole detection and characterization are necessary. Numerical analysis can play an important role in determining the stability of sinkholes and understanding the failure mechanism under varied subsurface geological conditions. In this …

Bias And Sensitivity Of Nonlinear Models For Seismic Response Of Ordinary Standard Bridges, Andres Rodriguez Caballero

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

The implementation of nonlinear structural analysis under large deformation demands has enabled more realistic response prediction in comparison with the classical linear approaches. However, the sensitivity to modeling assumptions, element and material formulations, implementations, and parameter selection may lead to unreliable results. While previous works have led to a better understanding of how to best model nonlinear static responses of bridge components and systems, the introduction of dynamic loads and the corresponding material hysteresis presents an additional source of variability in the nonlinear responses. The current research involves the analysis of two ordinary standard bridges in California under seismic load …

Smartphone Sensor-Based Pedestrian Activity Recognition For P2v Communication And Warning System, Dhrubo Hasan Chowdhury

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

The ubiquity of smartphones has made a remarkable influence on everyone's day to day life. Variety of useful built-in sensors provide smartphones with a convenient floor for data collection and analysis. Application development based on the user's location and movement is not a difficult task nowadays. But injuries and deaths due to smartphone-distracted movement on roadways is on the increase. This study explores the capabilities of smartphone inertial sensors for pedestrian activity recognition. Smartphone distracted movements can be predicted from the associated pedestrian's posture, thus inertial sensors can provide effective solution for this specific task. Volunteers were asked to perform …

Micromechanical Prediction Model Of Viscoelastic Properties For Asphalt Mastic Based On Morphologically Representative Pattern Approach, Zhichen Wang, Naisheng Guo, Xu Yang, Shuang Wang

Michigan Tech Publications, Part 1

This paper is devoted to the introduction of physicochemical, filler size, and distribution effect in micromechanical predictions of the overall viscoelastic properties of asphalt mastic. In order to account for the three effects, the morphologically representative pattern (MRP) approach was employed. The MRP model was improved due to the arduous practical use of equivalent modulus formula solution. Then, a homogeneous morphologically representative model (H-MRP) with the explicit solution was established based on the homogenization theory. Asphalt mastic is regarded as a composite material consisting of filler particles coated structural asphalt and free asphalt considering the physicochemical effect. An additional interphase …

Evaluation Of Test Specimen Geometry Of Asphalt Mixes Tested With The Asphalt Mixture Performance Tester, Abha Dwivedy

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Asphalt concrete, AC, is a heterogeneous material that is modeled as a homogeneous material. The disparity between material structure and theory presents issue with performance testing with test sample geometries, resulting in variability. The purpose of this research is to develop appropriate sample geometry for AMPT test for accurate characterization of asphalt mix and ease of testing.

Four sample geometries were fabricated for three mix types. All specimens are fabricated at 7%0.5% air voids and tested for AMPT tests. The effect of sample geometry was statistically analyzed using laboratory test results and performance predictions using FlexPAVE. For ranking analysis all …

Potential Benefits From Practices In Construction Waste Material Controls, Abdulaziz Alwadhenani

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Construction waste is generated from the various construction activities of building, maintaining, renovating, and demolishing infrastructure facilities. These materials include, but are not limited to, concrete, rubble, fiberglass, asphalt, bricks, wood, and scrap metals. In the last few decades, there has been a significant increase in the volume of construction and demolition (C&D) waste materials in the United States (U.S.). Between 1990 and 2017, the total increase in debris generation has surpassed 320%. According to U.S. solid waste management statistics, more than 50% of C&D waste has been and continues to be transported to landfills. The disposal of C&D waste …

Multi-Objective Optimization Of A Ridesharing System Performance, Mohammad Nasr Azadani

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Ridesharing is a shared vehicle service with the potential to meet the growing travel demand due to population increase, economic growth, and shortage in transportation infrastructure capacity. Compared to the current system of predominantly using personal vehicles, ridesharing services reduce the number of vehicles while providing mobility services to the same number of people with no additional investment in the transportation infrastructure. One of the big challenges in implementing ridesharing services is matching drivers and riders. Conflicts between matching-objectives to comply with the interests of diverse stakeholders influence the efficiency of ridesharing in a transportation system. This study investigates the …

Effect Of Binder Modification And Aggregate Size On Modulus And Fatigue Of Asphalt Concrete, Elizabeth Bashiti

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Asphalt concrete is one of the main ingredients used in the paving of roadways across the globe. These roadways have been deteriorating from overuse, under design, and a lack of understanding of the engineering properties. In the asphalt community, it is agreed upon that polymer modifiers and aggregate size have comparable impacts on the performance of a pavement, such as, low creep at high temperatures, high ductility at low temperatures, high toughness, resistance to moisture and temperature, high cohesive and adhesive strength. With all of these advantages, it has been often assumed that polymer modifiers extend/improve the expected life of …

Evaluating The Polishing Of Skid Aggregates In Asphalt Using The British Pendulum Tester, Allison Nicole Givens

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

To ensure the pavements in West Virginia have adequate skid resistance the Division of Highways evaluates and approves skid resistant aggregate sources for all wearing courses on roads with an ADT of 3,000 or greater. Unfortunately, the supply of skid aggregates in West Virginia is depleting quickly. To find a potential alternative to using skid resistant aggregates, laboratory polishing of asphalt samples was performed using a Circular Track Polishing Machine, and friction was tested using a British Pendulum Tester. The experiment was designed to investigate how a specific aggregate type provides skid resistance to a hot asphalt mixture.

The objective …

Field Evaluation Of A Modular Press-Brake-Formed Steel Tub Girder In An Application That Includes Skew And Superelevation, Adam D. Roh

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The Short Span Steel Bridge Alliance (SSSBA) is a group of bridge and culvert industry leaders (including steel manufacturers, fabricators, service centers, coaters, researchers, and representatives of related associations and government organizations) who have joined together to provide educational information on the design and construction of short span steel bridges in installations up to 140’-0” in length. A technical working group from within the SSSBA developed the notion for the modular shallow press-brake-formed steel tub girder as a solution for the short span steel bridge market.

After extensive testing at West Virginia University and multiple successful field demonstrations, members of …

On-Site Measurement Of The Water-Cementitious Ratio And Heat Of Hydration Of Delivered Concrete, Seyednavid Mardmomen

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In this study, AASHTO T318-15 was adopted to estimate the water content of fresh concrete mixes and then revised to have better precision. The additional step required sieving out the coarse aggregate after drying the sample in a microwave oven, and it was then used in the calculation of the absorbed water and cementitious material content. Several laboratory batches, as well as on-site water-cementitious (w/cm) ratio tests, were performed on concrete mixes containing ordinary Portland cement, ground granulated blast furnace slag, and Class F fly ash. The results of the experiments indicated that the accuracy of the revised method was …