Civil Engineering Commons^™

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 …

The Tidal Prism, Viable Eelgrass Habitat, And The Effects Of Sea Level Rise In Morro Bay, Kaden A. Caliendo

Master's Theses

The tidal prism, or the volume of water exchanged from the sea to an estuary from mean low to mean high tide, influences system hydrodynamics and ecological functioning. Since 1884, the tidal prism in Morro Bay, California has been estimated to be decreasing over time due to sedimentation from upstream practices. What is the current tidal prism in Morro Bay and how will that change with sea level rise? How will eelgrass respond to rising sea levels?

For this study, inexpensive tidal gauges were deployed at four locations in Morro Bay from March to August 2023 to measure spatially varying …

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, …

Performance Comparison Of Design-Bid-Build (Dbb), Design-Build (Db) And Construction Management-At-Risk (Cmar) Methods, And Identification Of Critical Success Factors For Db And Cmar In Water And Wastewater Projects, Shrijan Shrestha

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The United States encounters numerous challenges within the water and wastewater sectors. The American Water Works Association mandates a capital investment of $1.3 trillion over the next 25 years for the restoration and renewal of water infrastructures throughout the United States. (AWWA). To design and construct cost-effective and time-efficient water and wastewater facilities without compromising the infrastructure quality, owners are adopting alternative approaches to project delivery like Construction Management-at-Risk (CMAR) and Design-Build (DB). These approaches introduce innovation and integration into project delivery, addressing specific limitations inherent in the traditional Design-Bid-Build (DBB) method. The rise in utilization of alternative delivery methodologies …

Unraveling Water Quality Issues In The Colorado River Basin: Utilizing Remote Sensing Satellite Images, Statistical, And Machine Learning For Improved Monitoring, Godson Ebenezer Adjovu

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This research was aimed at exploring innovative and cost-effective tools in understanding the spatiotemporal variability of water quality parameters in the Colorado River Basin (CRB), which includes the Colorado River and major reservoirs and lakes in the USA including Lake Mead. The river which arises in the state of Colorado and empties into the Republic of Mexico at the Gulf of California, is a source of water to seven US states and the Republic of Mexico and provides water to about 40 million people and million acres of farmlands in seven states in the western US and the Republic of …

Investigating A Passive Treatment System For The Removal Of Nutrients From Urban Runoff, Jasminn Gray

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The Environmental Protection Agency recognizes urban runoff as a major contributor of surface water pollution with nutrients as the second largest cause of surface water impairment in the United States. While a water quality standard of 100 lbs/day total phosphorus load allocation for all nonpoint sources is permitted for the Las Vegas Valley (LVV) under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, currently there is not a counterpart standard for nitrogen. With the continued development of the LVV and the depletion of the quantity of water in Lake Mead due to the ongoing drought, the concentrations of phosphorus and nitrogen species …

An Exploratory Pilot Study On Generating An Emergency Evacuation Vr Experience For A Real-Life Building Without Existing Bim Or Floor Plans, Naveed Ahmed

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

With the rising frequency of active shooter incidents and fire hazards in both private and public facilities, it is crucial to establish a strategy for an effective emergency evacuation response for minimizing its consequences. Modern technological advancements such as virtual reality (VR) and game engines offer the potential to serve as valuable evacuation training tools within a virtual environment, aiding real-time decision making. Previous studies highlight the benefits of using VR simulations for emergency evacuation training, enhancing safety; however, two challenging factors exist that hinder their application. First, many existing structures (especially for older buildings) lack an available computer model/approach. …

Effects Of Loading Age And Transverse Reinforcement Ratio On Collapse Resistance Of Rc Frame Beams Under High Sustained Loads, Taiga Cibulka

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Catastrophic progressive collapses of reinforced concrete (RC) frame buildings can be triggered by column failure. In such a scenario, the beams supported by the failed column shall be able to form an alternative load path guarding the building against collapse. The compressive arch action passively generated after losing a column has been identified as an effective load-resisting mechanism for axially restrained RC frame beams. However, the beams need to continuously carry the redistributed gravity loads sustaining in the structural system. Past research predominantly focused on the short-time collapse resistance of RC beams and little is known about their time-dependent response …

Application Of Biochar For Antibiotic-Free Nutrient Recovery From Source-Separated Human Urine, Sayeda Ummeh Masrura

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

In recent years, the application of biochar as a soil amendment has gained attention as a potential solution for nutrient management and environmental remediation. Biochar, a carbon-rich material produced through the pyrolysis of biomass under oxygen-limited conditions, exhibits unique physicochemical properties making it an effective sorbent for nutrients and contaminants. Its high surface area, porosity, and stability provide an ideal matrix for nutrient retention and release, as well as the immobilization of pollutants. One area of particular interest is the application of biochar for nutrient recovery from source-separated human urine. Source separation of urine has gained momentum as a sustainable …

Evaluating The Impact Of Oyster Reef Breakwaters On Hydrodynamics, Morphodynamics, And Sediment Transport Using Xbeach, Tabassum Islam

Graduate Theses and Dissertations (2019 - present)

Alabama Port is a unique marsh and sandy beach shoreline. Since the 1950s, substantial erosion has occurred along this shoreline due to storms, wind-generated waves, and ship wakes. This research focuses on evaluating the effect of oyster reef breakwaters on wave height attenuation and sediment stabilization through numerical modeling (XBeach) under three different synthetic storm scenarios coupled with three unique sea level rise projections near Alabama Port. This has been accomplished by comparing a with and without project condition using XBeach in a two-dimensional (2D) mode by analyzing wave height, velocity, and cumulative bed-level changes at the study site. The …

Gravel Conveyance System: An Evaluation On E. Coli Removal Capabilities, Madison Grace

Graduate Theses and Dissertations (2019 - present)

In many rural, low-income communities such as the Black Belt of Alabama, there is a lack of wastewater infrastructure and solutions leaving homeowners non-compliant to state and federal law and with potential health risks on their property. New regulations have allowed for onsite, surface discharge for single family homes that are not connected to a centralized sewer or large flow development. These new regulations also contain strict disinfection criteria for the treated wastewater that will be discharged. A low-cost and low-maintenance treatment system that provides adequate disinfection is necessary to allow homeowners to take advantage of the new opportunity for …

Component Approach For A Combined Hurricane Wind And Rainwater Damage And Time Related Expenses Model In Mid/High-Rise Buildings, Zhuoxuan Wei

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation focuses on mid/high-rise commercial residential buildings (MHRB) vulnerable to wind-driven rainwater ingress during hurricanes. The author developed the WHIP-MHRB model, a new probabilistic vulnerability model funded by the Wind Hazard Infrastructure Performance Center (WHIP-C). This model combines the estimates of rainwater ingress, distribution and propagation, and damage assessments, and time-related expenses (TRE) predictions for MHRB during hurricanes. Embedded within WHIP-MHRB is the WHIP-TRE model, which forecasts repair times, delay times, downtime, and recovery times post-hurricane explicitly.

Furthermore, taking advantage of the new model, this study presents two approaches to address the combined wind and rain vulnerabilities of MHRB …