Civil Engineering Commons^™

Developing Asphalt Mix Design Specifications Based On Apa And Ideal-Ct Testing, Jonathan Stonestreet

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Some asphalt mixes, following the Superpave mix design procedure, have been reported to be too stiff, making cracking a prevalent form of pavement distress. Additionally, cracking has been reported to be the main form of distress of asphalt pavements in the State of Arkansas. These facts have heightened state agencies’ interest in better performing asphalt pavements, with Arkansas resolving to explore performance-based balanced mix designs (BMD), not yet explored in the state. The primary objective of this document is to present the completed study of balanced mix designs, based on the rutting and cracking potential of asphalt pavement mixtures through …

Characterizing Technology Impacts On Driving Behaviors, Crash Risks, And Infrastructure Performances, Jobaidul Boni

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

In recent years, an increase in driver distraction appears due to the rise in smartphone usage and the introduction of social media. Researchers put significant efforts in examining the impacts of distracted driving, mostly focused on distraction like texting or phone call. However, scant research exists to identify the underlying factors causing the distracted driving particularly caused by social media or showing their safety implications at complex geometries such as intersections and highways. This dissertation offers three independent studies reviewing the impact of technology on drivers' actions using field tests and simulation experiments. The first field tests conducted at three …

Evaluation Of Vertical And Lateral Load Capacity Of Recycled Plastic Pin, Sehneela Sara Aurpa

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

RPPs have been in use as a sustainable and effective technique to stabilize and reinforce weak ground for geotechnical purposes. Application of RPP in stabilization of slopes and improvement of load carrying capacity of foundation soil has yielded tremendous results. However, to facilitate the seamless integration of RPPs in design of foundation requires the load carrying capacity of RPP to be known. As RPP has been in use for both its vertical and lateral load carrying capacity, exploration of the load capacity of this material is essential. The objective of the study is to determine the load carrying capacity of …

Transportation Network Criticality Estimation For Hurricane Preparedness And Response Using Vulnerability Assessments, Mehrdad Arabi

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

The resilience of urban transportation networks is crucial for effective evacuation, and search and rescue operations as hurricane events become more severe and frequent. This dissertation presents a comprehensive approach to identifying and evaluating critical transportation links which are crucial for emergency preparedness and response. Integrating socio-economic and environmental vulnerabilities with traditional traffic management approaches, the research underscores the importance of equitable evacuation strategies that cater to the most vulnerable populations. Employing advanced spatial analysis and data analytics with real-time GPS data, the three individual papers in this dissertation offer a dynamic assessment of evacuation behaviors, capturing the complexities of …

Utilization Of Biomimetic Molecules To Control The Carbonation Of Cementitious Phases, Muhammad Intesarul Haque

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

This study introduces an innovative approach to mitigate carbonation-induced degradation of C-S-H and to enhance the carbonation properties of low calcium based cementitious materials by utilizing specific biomimetic molecules. In this study, four different biomimetic molecules were utilized. Details about their chemical formula and chemical structure can be found in Chapter 1. The dissertation is broadly focused on two aspects, Part 1 (Chapter 2 and 3) evaluated the role of biomimetic molecules in reducing the carbonation degradation of C-S-H. Part 2 (Chapter 4 and 5) assessed the effectiveness of the biomimetic molecules as performance enhancing admixture of carbonation cured dicalcium …

Experimental And Numerical Analyses Of Coupled Thermo-Hydro-Mechanical Behavior In Unsaturated Soil Under One-Dimensional Heat Transfer, Nice Kaneza

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

Comprehension of the behavior of unsaturated soil in response to thermal gradients, moisture gradients, and deformation is important in geotechnics. Thermal gradients control fluid density and viscosity and moisture gradients alter thermal properties of unsaturated soil. Similarly, thermal gradients affect the thermal strain of unsaturated soil and changes in porosity influence hydraulic properties of the soil. Thus, thermal, hydraulic, and mechanical properties of unsaturated soil interact with and influence each other; the combination of these interactions form a mechanism called coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) processes. Although the study of the behavior of coupled THM processes is essential in predicting the performance …

“Increasing Renewable Energy Potential Of Landfill Gas By Electrocatalytic Conversion Of Carbon Dioxide To Methane At Low Temperature.”, Asma Akter Rony

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

The conversion of carbon dioxide into methane at a low temperature has great potential to reduce current international environmental issues like global warming and will create new sources of renewable energy. The overall goal of this research is to increase renewable energy production from landfill gas using an unconventional process – electrocatalytic methanation of carbon dioxide – which has not been implemented for landfill gas yet. The electrocatalytic methanation follows the Waseda process, which applies an electric field in the presence of a Ruthenium-supported cerium oxide (CeO2) catalyst. The specific objectives of this research were: 1. To explore the impact …

Tri-Dimensional Segment-Based Urban Traffic Crash Models, Farzin Maniei

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

The continuous expansion of highway and freeway networks further exacerbates the risk of traffic crashes and highlights the critical importance of freeway safety management. To improve overall road safety, many organizations acknowledge the necessity of pinpointing locations experiencing higher-than-expected crashes (known as hotspot identification, HSID), identifying the factors contributing to traffic crashes, and determining the most effective preventive measures. Previous studies highlighted two major drawbacks associated with this approach: (1) HSID based on the total number of crashes can lead to incorrectly identifying hazardous areas; (2) the arbitrary selection of a fragment size (due to the lack of explicit recommendations) …

Compound Flood Modeling Of Tropical Cyclone Events In Coastal Bays And Estuaries, Nahal Maymandi

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

Flooding due to tropical cyclones can cause severe impacts on coastal communities, particularly when multiple types of flooding (e.g., coastal and riverine) interact to create a compound flood event. In typical flood hazard assessments, these drivers of flooding are considered separately, even though they may interact and produce more severe flooding. Understanding the interactions between flood drivers is necessary to accurately plan for and respond to future flood events. This dissertation aims to improve the assessment of coupled coastal, fluvial, and pluvial flooding in coastal bays and estuaries impacted by tropical cyclones. To do this, a hydrodynamic model is developed …

Evaluation Of The Long-Term Performance Of Ogfc In South Carolina, Rishiraj Brahmbhatt

All Theses

Since the 1970s, South Carolina has employed open graded friction courses (OGFC) on high-speed asphalt roadways to enhance wet weather safety. While these mixes have indeed enhanced safety, they still grapple with durability issues, particularly concerning raveling. This research aimed to assess the prolonged performance of OGFC pavements in South Carolina, with a specific emphasis on isolated raveling occurrences. In 2012, the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT), constructed the first Warm Mix OGFC test section in South Carolina on I-20 Eastbound in Kershaw County, spanning 3.9 miles, using the Evotherm additive and excluding fibers. Following the success of this …

Drinking-Water Fluoridation As An Example Of The Nurse + Engineer Fostering Informed Decisions And Actions, Daniel B. Oerther, Sarah Oerther

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

No abstract provided.

Statistical And Deep Learning Models For Reference Evapotranspiration Time Series Forecasting: A Comparison Of Accuracy, Complexity, And Data Efficiency, Arman Ahmadi, Andre Daccache, Mojtaba Sadegh, Richard L. Snyder

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Reference evapotranspiration (ETo) is an essential variable in agricultural water resources management and irrigation scheduling. An accurate and reliable forecast of ETo facilitates effective decision-making in agriculture. Although numerous studies assessed various methodologies for ETo forecasting, an in-depth multi-dimensional analysis evaluating different aspects of these methodologies is missing. This study systematically evaluates the complexity, computational cost, data efficiency, and accuracy of ten models that have been used or could potentially be used for ETo forecasting. These models range from well-known statistical forecasting models like seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average (SARIMA) to state-of-the-art deep learning (DL) algorithms like temporal fusion transformer …

Infrastructure Damage Detection Leveraging Advanced Ai Techniques, Yin Chao Wu

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

The dissertation explores into structural damage identification and prediction through the application of machine learning. Firstly, it enhances impact echo delamination mapping by incorporating two signal image parameters—signal duration and starting time after zero-crossing. The research also explores the efficiency of machine learning concerning image resolution and the number of images. This approach refines the evaluation of bridge damage in field tests. Two crucial signal parameters are investigated: signal duration and signal starting time after the zero-crossing point. These parameters exert a direct impact on the frequency domain, a crucial metric in impact echo analysis. This metric discerns signals reflected …

Proactive Seismic Rehabilitation Decision-Making Model For Water Pipe Networks Under Network Uncertainties And Degradation, Abhijit Roy

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

Past earthquakes have revealed that earthquakes disrupt the operations of underground water infrastructure systems. Assessment of the seismic vulnerability of underground water pipe networks plays a critical role in formulating preventive rehabilitation decision-making to ensure maximum serviceability after an earthquake event and avoid high repair costs. Although existing seismic vulnerability assessment methods and seismic rehabilitation decision-making models are sensitive to water pipe network uncertainties (e.g., uncertainties in nodal demand, reservoir head, and pipe roughness coefficient) and pipes’ degradation, the extent of the effects of the network uncertainties and pipes’ degradation on the postearthquake serviceability of the network and seismic rehabilitation …

An Experimental And Numerical Study Of Utilizing Steel Fiber And Gfrp In Bridge Decks Under Bending, Sam Kafaji

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

The process of laying and tying conventional reinforcement is a time-consuming task when building a bridge deck, especially while ensuring the proper cover. To speed up the construction process, the bridge construction industry should look into replacing conventional reinforcing bars with steel fibers. This could be a significant breakthrough in bridge construction. Despite numerous experiments and research conducted on the bending strength of reinforced concrete decks, there are still several factors that require further exploration. This experiment focuses on utilizing steel fiber reinforced concrete (SFRC) in a multiple-span concrete bridge deck to investigate the opportunities of using SFRC as the …

Condition Assessment Of Reinforced Concrete Sanitary Sewer Pipelines Using Probabilistic Methods And Advanced Inspection Tools, Moein Ebrahimi

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

Large sanitary sewer pipelines (SSPs) are the backbone of modern infrastructure. They carry wastewater from smaller lines to treatment plans; therefore, they are critical for public health and safety. According to the ASCE report card published in 2021, the condition rate of sanitary sewage networks in the United States is D+ (i.e., poor) (ASCE 2021). Therefore, frequent inspections of SSPs are crucial for performing a proper life cycle management strategy. New inspection technologies such as LiDAR have recently been employed for rapid condition assessment of SSPs. Because of the precision of LiDAR inspection data, it can not only measure hydraulic …

Effect Of Latex Modified Concrete Overlays With Reduced Surface Preparation On The Load Distribution And Flexural Strength Of Channel Girders, Samuel Dodd

All Theses

This thesis investigates the use of a Latex Modified Concrete (LMC) overlay to increase the strength of prestressed channel girders and enhance their ability to distribute load. The research conducted in this thesis involved material testing of several different LMC mixes and flexural testing of an LMC overlay and girder system. The material testing was used to determine a reasonable LMC mix design and surface preparation method to be used for the overlay. Based on material testing it was concluded that a rapid-set mix and pressure washing of the girder surfaces were a reasonable mix design and surface preparation for …

Development Of Scope Of Services For Procurement Of Professional Consultant Services On Transportation Projects – A Study Of South Carolina Department Of Transportation, Ajay Jadhav

All Dissertations

Project Scoping Process (PSP) is one of the significant steps that starts at the very beginning of the project life cycle. During project initiation phase, project scoping is kicked off which includes documenting a list of project-specific goals, deliverables, tasks, costs, and deadlines. The scoping phase duration depends on the project complexity and involves various stakeholders, establishing team, confirming the project purpose and need, initiating the environmental revie process, determining the level of environmental documentation and permit requirements, conducting survey, identifying project risks and tools to mitigate them, and evaluating public involvement strategies. A well-defined PSP is therefore essential for …

Risk Assessment Of Reinforced Concrete Sewer Pipes Under External Loading And Adverse Environmental Conditions Using An Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy System, Khaled Saleh Khaled Abuhishmeh

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

Failure of sewer mains poses a significant threat to the society, necessitating a robust risk assessment tool that integrates failure likelihood and associated consequences for effective prioritization of mitigation efforts. This dissertation addresses this need through three key objectives: 1. Failure Likelihood Assessment: The study utilizes Monte-Carlo simulation to evaluate the probability of sewer main failures in common agressive environments, considering factors like sulfide and chloride exposures. It highlights that chloride-induced cracks and bond strength loss are more critical than sulfide-induced wall thickness loss. The degradation of concrete and reinforcement properties under chloride attack significantly reduces ductility, emphasizing the importance …

Experimental Investigation Of Anchor Edge Distance Effects On Concrete Breakout Strength Within Frc, Ahmed Shlash

Civil Engineering Theses - Archive

This research investigates the effect of edge on concrete breakout strength within steel fiber reinforced concrete (SFRC) under pure tension load. Single and group sets of anchors with high-strength steel-headed studs type (F1554 Grade 105) were cast in place within concrete specimens of different amounts of steel fibers and varied edge distances. Steel fibers were used in three percentages (0%, 0.5%, and 1%) by a weight-volume fraction of the mixture to produce three types of concrete mix designs in the lab. The physical and mechanical properties of steel fibers concrete were calculated and measured by testing specimens at the Civil …

Developing A Geospatial Web Application For Transportation Geotechnical Asset Management, Ayoub Mohammadi

Civil Engineering Theses - Archive

Spatial data has become an increasingly important tool in geotechnical engineering, allowing for managing and analyzing large amounts of spatial data. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in developing applications that can be accessed by geotechnical engineers from anywhere with an internet connection. This thesis provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of the art in transportation earth structure management. It also highlights the potential benefits of these applications for geotechnical engineers, including open-source applications, database management, and user interface design. It identifies areas for future research and development. The research also discusses the various types …

Assessment Of The Mechanical And Durability Characteristics Of Bio-Mineralized Bacillus Subtilis Self-Healing Concrete Blended With Hydrated Lime And Brick Powder, Mohd Abu Bakr, Birendra Kumar Singh, Ahmed Farouk Deifalla, Shatrudhan Pandey, Ahmed Hussain, Sahir Sultan Alvi, S.M. Mozammil Hasnain

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications

Highlights

• The present paper studied the effect of biomineralization on the properties of HBr concrete.

• Strength and durability properties are improved by calcite precipitation produced by bacteria.

• CaCO3 Precipitation was confirmed in the microstructure analysis through FESEM and EDS.

Abstract

Cement is the main constituent of the concrete structure. Using rejected brick as pozzolana in replacement of cement reduced the utilization of natural resources, conserved the environment, and controlled waste disposal. Hydrated lime has been utilized as a chemical additive to improve the pozzolanic reaction of finely ground waste brick particles. This research investigates the process of biomineralization to enhance …

Vehicle-Bridge Interaction Simulation And Damage Identification Of A Bridge Using Responses Measured In A Passing Vehicle By Empirical Mode Decomposition Method, Shohel Rana, Md. Rifat Zaman, Md. Ibrahim Islam Ifty, Seyedali Mirmotalebi, Tahsin Tareque

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications

To prevent early bridge failures, effective Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) is vital. Vibration-based damage assessment is a powerful tool in this regard, as it relies on changes in a structure’s dynamic characteristics as it degrades. By measuring the vibration response of a bridge due to passing vehicles, this approach can identify potential structural damage. This dissertation introduces a novel technique grounded in Vehicle-Bridge Interaction (VBI) to evaluate bridge health. It aims to detect damage by analyzing the response of passing vehicles, taking into account VBI. The theoretical foundation of this method begins with representing the bridge’s superstructure using a Finite …

Structural Performance And Resiliency Of Reinforced Concrete Bridge Pier Columns, Multi-Column Piers, And Bridge Systems Subjected To Multiple Hazards – Fire, Collision, And Air Blast, Qusai Abdulkarim Alomari

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Given their close proximity to traffic and improper employment of protective systems, bridges and bridge piers are vulnerable to multi-hazard events triggered by vehicle collisions coupled with correlated and cascading events, such as explosions and fires. Despite recent catastrophic incidents that have highlighted the profound consequences of these extreme demands, including substantial damage, adverse economic impact, and loss of life, there has been a notable lack of research investigating the performance of bridges and bridge structural components under the aforementioned multi-hazards. Furthermore, current bridge design codes do not address these events assuming that, after these destructive events, replacement of the …

Analysis Of Travel Behavior At International Border Crossings: Application Of Travel Surveys, Jennifer Areli Moreno Escamilla

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Transportation planning provides an insight into the demand and traffic distribution of existingconditions of a region and helps identify future transportation needs. The results generated from forecasting models influence many decisions on the selection of transportation projects and funding allocations. Thus, forecasting models require up-to-date trip information to represent trip patterns and generate representative traffic demand analysis in a such complex areas as binational regions. The purpose of this study is to provide an analysis on travel survey methodology applied to collect trip information at international border crossings. Based on the results of the survey, an analysis on trip pattern …

Sustainable Cities: Life-Cycle Cost Analysis Of Integrating Piezoelectric Harvesters Into Roadways, Heba Mohamed Gaber

Theses and Dissertations

Energy is essential in our modern era. Because of the increasing electricity consumption, sustainable and Renewable energy became a necessary global approach to fill the gap of the ongoing energy shortage in addition to the climate change crisis due to using conventional ways for energy production. Renewable energy is a global approach that has achieved great accomplishments during the last decades and is gradually increasing. Energy harvesting is considered one of the main resources for renewable energy. Energy harvesting from the roadways is an ingenious horizon for sustainable, clean, and renewable energy generation. Harvesting energy from the roadways by using …

Improving Multi-Crane Planning On Construction Sites, Ali Khodabandelu

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Designing the configuration of tower cranes, managing their operations, and coordinating material logistics are intricate processes that wield significant influence over the time, cost, productivity, and safety of construction projects. This complexity stems from the multitude of layout configurations, diverse crane types, varied tasks, and material supply points, all interacting within a dynamic environment. Collisions pose a heightened risk due to overlapping crane areas, further adding complexity to the planning of crane layouts and operations. Optimizing crane layout and operational planning while ensuring safety requires establishing effective connections between tasks, cranes, and material supply locations. Traditionally, research and industry practices …

The Effects Of Restaurant Drive-Through Vehicle Mobile Emissions On Air Quality, Tryston Nychol Sellers Calder

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Studies and regulations on vehicles have become more prominent as concerns continue to rise over mobile emissions. Most recognizable is the U.S. EPA Near-Road monitoring network that began in 2010. The focus of most air quality studies has been vehicular traffic on freeways. However, drive-through sales skyrocketed in 2020 because they were the only way for restaurants to stay in busy during the pandemic. Drive throughs have continued to remain pivotal in fast food restaurant sales accounting for majority of sales. This demand has brought upon the question of how much drive-throughs contribute to mobile emissions, specifically in the form …

Understanding Social Vulnerability To Natural Hazards Through Machine Learning And Dynamic Spatiotemporal Analysis, Donglei Wang

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Natural hazards pose significant threats to communities, impacting livelihoods and property. Socially vulnerable communities are disproportionately affected by these hazards, highlighting the importance of considering social vulnerability in hazard risk assessment. Research on multi-hazards risk assessment, and social vulnerability can provide a comprehensive understanding of hazards and local vulnerability to support the reduction of disaster suffering overall. This thesis presents a comprehensive study conducted in Idaho, US, to examine the regional multi-hazards risk and assess the progression of social vulnerability metrics in wildfire-affected areas in a case study.

The first part of the research proposes a multi-hazards risk assessment methodology …

Optimized Indoor Temperature In Office Buildings Through Personalized Thermal Comfort Modeling, Raviteja Patchava

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Building occupants experience varying thermal comforts at static indoor set-point temperatures due to variances in preferences, needs, and activities, both within and among individuals. Despite advancement in smart building control systems, many building occupants remain dissatisfied with indoor temperatures. This study developed and created an optimization model to predict the optimized indoor temperature preferences in multiple-occupancy settings. To achieve this, personalized thermal comfort models for each occupant in a multiple occupancy space were developed. The personal comfort models serve as the foundation for predicting their individual thermal preference and developing indoor temperature optimization model. When predicting the individual thermal preference, …