Other Civil and Environmental Engineering Commons^™

Exploring Variably Saturated Flow Formulations For Modflow: Implementing A Fully 3d Richards' Equation In Modflow 6, Sebastian Vazquez-Gasty

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This thesis explores the implementation of a fully 3D Richards’ equation solution into MODFLOW 6 to solve for saturated/unsaturated flow. Currently, MODFLOW 6 has limited capability for solving unsaturated zone flow problems by using the Unsaturated Zone Flow (UZF) package, which neglects capillarity and assumes vertical 1-dimensional flow. Various formulations of the Richards’ equation were first evaluated for their strengths and weaknesses. Various numerical solution approaches to Richards’ equation were also studied to understand the robustness and efficiency of different approaches and to select one that would best fit into the MODFLOW 6 framework. The MODFLOW 6 framework was also …

Quality Assurance Of Cast-In-Place Foundation Elements, Tristen Mee

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Construction of cast-in-place concrete deep foundation elements is a common practice, yet performed almost entirely blind, leaving uncertainty in the quality of the as-built, below-ground element. This dissertation focuses on three quality assurance aspects of cast-in-place foundations: an automated concrete tracking system for drilled shafts, an alternate approach to identifying if mass concrete conditions exist in cast-in-place foundations, and as-built auger cast pile grout volume determination.

The volume of concrete in a drilled shaft is relatively easy to track on a truck-by-truck basis, as well as the height of the rising concrete per truck. However, a more detailed volume distribution …

Investigation Of Temperature, Solution Strength, And Applied Stress Effects On Cation Exchange Processes In Different Geosynthetic Clay Liner Products, Kendra Fuller

Master's Theses

An extensive laboratory test program was conducted to analyze and compare the cation exchange processes in three different varieties of sodium bentonite (Na-B) geosynthetic clay liners (GCLs) over increased conditioning durations up to 32 days and investigate the effects of temperature, solution strength, and applied stress. The goal of this test program was to establish whether the variables of temperature, solution strength, and applied stress improved or degraded the engineering properties of GCLs in laboratory testing and municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill applications. The GCLs were conditioned in liquids of increasing ionic strength, using deionized water and 2, 50, and …

Integrating Artificial Intelligence And Augmented Reality For Enhanced Task Performance In The Construction Industry, Aasish Chandrika Bhanu

All Dissertations

The Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) sector, characterized by its complex tasks, often faces challenges in adopting cutting-edge technologies, a trend that can significantly hinder productivity improvements compared to other industries. This dissertation explores the emerging integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Augmented Reality (AR) within the AEC domain, investigating how effectively this can be implemented to potentially revolutionize industry practices. AI could be used in the AEC domain for advanced analytical and decision-making processes, while AR could be used for training, visualization, and remote collaboration.

In scenarios where construction site workers require expert guidance, these technologies could be helpful. …

Development Of Satellite-Assisted Forecasting System For Vibrio Vulnificus Prevalence In Coastal Waters, Saber Aradpour

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Vibrio vulnificus is a halophilic gamma proteobacterium that is autochthonous to coastal waters and is responsible for 50% of seafood-related deaths in the United States. This study presents a series of nowcasting and forecasting models for predicting vibrio vulnificus abundance in oysters by identifying the long-range dependence of vibrio vulnificus abundance on antecedent environmental conditions and detecting the environmental conditions using satellite remote sensing technology. It was discovered that vibrio vulnificus abundance exhibits a long-range dependence on antecedent environmental conditions which can be characterized by seven independent environmental predictors (stressors) including sea surface temperature (SST), water level (WL), sea surface …

A Stable Isotope Study To Investigate Water Movement In The Los Lagos Region Of Southern Chile, Kritan Subedi

Civil Engineering ETDs

The Los Lagos region in southern Chile, located in northwest Patagonia, features rain-fed agricultural lands, glacial lakes, forests, farmlands, and volcanic soils. This study investigates water movement within a micro-basin using stable isotope analysis and hydrological modeling over eight weeks. It aims to develop a conceptual model of water movement by elucidating interactions between precipitation, soil water, and streamflow. Findings highlight the critical role of deeper soil layers in sustaining streamflow during dry spells and indicate that soil acts as a buffer, maintaining hydrological continuity despite variable precipitation. Improved understanding of these dynamics can inform watershed management and water resource …

Evaluation Of Coal Transport Route In Jambi City (Talang Duku Port-East Ring Road Ii), Dwi Angella, Sutanto Soehodho, Nahry Nahry

Smart City

In its implementation, the role of coal transportation infrastructure is important in supporting the mining industry in Jambi City. However, it also causes various complex problems; one of them is traffic congestion on arterial roads in Jambi City. In May 2023, the Jambi Regional Police of the Republic of Indonesia issued a notification letter to stop the mobilization of coal transportation in Jambi Province. The policy caused several coal companies to switch their transportation method to shipping in order to continue operating, while several other companies stopped operating until an indeterminate time. Therefore, this study aims to compare traffic performance …

Cost Modeling Of Provision C.3 Green Stormwater Infrastructure Requirements For Residential Development In Concord, California, James Henry Mizutani

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

To assist the city of Concord in achieving its housing goals as presented in its general plan, while still meeting the stormwater discharge requirements laid out in the city’s municipal discharge permit, I worked with local developers and consultants to create a spreadsheet modeling tool that allows housing developers to estimate the total cost of green stormwater infrastructure needed to comply with local regulations.

This report contains a summary of the conditions leading to the necessity of this tool, the steps the tool takes that go beyond existing models, a description of how the model operates, instructions on how to …

Investigating The Effects Of Suspended Algal Content, Dissolved Oxygen, And Temperature On A High-Frequency Acoustic Attenuation System In A Controlled Laboratory Environment, Noah Watson

Honors Theses

The Single Frequency Acoustic Attenuation System (SFAAS) has been developed at the National Center for Physical Acoustics (NCPA). This system uses acoustic methods to monitor fine suspended sediment concentration in streams. Site-specific calibrations are necessary for this system, and previous research has indicated that algal concentration or dissolved oxygen concentration of water may affect collected data. Temperature, dissolved oxygen concentration, and fluorescence, used as a proxy for algal concentration, were monitored during this system’s use, and calibrations were derived to account for the effect of each of these variables on acoustic measurements. It has been shown that temperature has a …

The Use Of Repurposed Whole Textiles To Modify The Mechanical And Hydrogeological Properties Of Green Roof Media And Granular Soils, Angelis Almanzar-Chevalie, Yehya Elfgeeh, Calvin O. Walters Jr.

Publications and Research

This study investigates using repurposed whole textiles to modify the mechanical and hydrogeological properties of lightweight Green Roof media and granular pavement soils.

Green Roof Media Green roofs aim to bring the advantages of suburban agriculture to urban environments while improving energy efficiency and enhancing stormwater management in public, commercial, and residential buildings. Previous studies by City Tech undergraduate research assistants demonstrated significant modification in hydrogeological properties when incorporating textile fabric up to 3% textile by weight (%Tex) at an aspect ratio of 1:1. The effects of mixing repurposed whole textile fiber with Green Roof media is evaluated with regards …

Effect Of Waste Covid-19 Masks On Compaction Characteristics Of Silty-Clay Soil, Sydney K. Lawson

Honors College Theses

The present study aims to explore the effect of adding shredded waste Covid-19 masks to silty-clay soil on the soil’s compaction characteristics for beneficial use in embankment, the subgrade of roadways, or backfill. This was accomplished by using two different types of masks: blue surgical masks and KN95 masks. Both mask types were hand shredded into half-inch sections using safety-scissors. The maximum dry density (MDD) and optimum moisture content (OMC) are the two most important compaction characteristics, and they were determined by the Standard Proctor Compaction Test (ASTM D698 / AASHTO T99). The change of both the MDD and OMC …

Detection Of Deficiencies And Data Analysis Of Bridge Members With Deep Convolutional Neural Networks, Bennett Jackson

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Concrete cracks and structural steel corrosion are two of the most common defects in bridges. Quantifying and classifying these defects provide bridge inspectors and engineers with valuable data for assessing deterioration levels. However, the bridge inspection process is typically a subjective, time intensive, and tedious task, as defects can be overlooked or in locations not easily accessible. Previous studies have investigated deep learning-based inspection methods, implementing popular models such as Mask R-CNN and U-Net. The architectures of these models offer certain advantages depending on the required task. This thesis aims to evaluate and compare Mask R-CNN and U-Net regarding their …

Breakaway Luminaire Pole Research, Jacob Conway

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This document reports the efforts conducted to determine critical parameters and configurations for Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware 2016 (MASH) Test Level 3 (TL-3) compliant breakaway luminaire poles supported by slip bases, including identifying pole configurations with the potential to meet MASH TL-3 as well as recommending critical configurations for full-scale crash testing. A thorough literature review was conducted which included survey results collected from Midwest Pooled Fund state departments of transportation (DOTs), standard plans from state DOT’s, and past luminaire pole testing.

Numerical LS-DYNA models were developed for luminaire poles with 4-bolt slip base utilized by the Utah Department …

Reliability Of Using Secondary And Tertiary Treated Wastewater In Concrete Mixing And Curing, Amany G. Micheal Prof., Haidy Abd El Salam

Architectural Engineering

Water scarcity is a problem that faces many regions. In a developing and arid countries, the need for fresh water is exponentially increasing. One of the most water consuming industries is the construction industry, especially in concrete manufacturing. This research is an evaluation of the Reliability of recycled wastewater to be used in concrete manufacturing. Two different wastewater treatment regimens are implemented: secondary and tertiary treated wastewater. The treated wastewater, either secondary or tertiary, replaces potable water with percentages of 25%, 50%, and 100%. The mixture of the two types of water is used in concrete mixing and curing. Control …

Transport Of Multi-Phase Multi-Component Fluids In The Shallow Subsurface Influenced By Soil And Surface Boundary Conditions: Experimental And Numerical Study With Application To Natural Gas Leakage, Navodi Jayarathne

Civil and Environmental Engineering Theses and Dissertations

With the increased use of Natural Gas (NG) as a source of fuel, underground leak-related events are increasingly reported, and some are fatal. Subsurface migration and development up to flammable limits are highly dependent on leak characteristics, soil, atmospheric variables, and other surface and subsurface structural complexities. Although few studies have characterized the transient behavior of leaked NG in the shallow subsurface, the underlying mechanisms and their interactions are not well understood, which prevents prediction of the impact of environmental and operating conditions on gas migration. The study conducted a series of field scale-controlled release experiments and numerical simulations to …

Demystifying Utility Coordination: Understanding The Basics, Josshe I. Palm

Purdue Road School

This session will explain utility coordination to non-utility coordinators. It will help educate others about the role and responsibilities of a utility coordinator, an OSA, easy UC and design mistakes to avoid, scope and design considerations, items commonly overlooked, when to coordinate SUE, and how to work with your UC to request a letting adjustment. We will also highlight UC submittals and allow time for questions about the UC’s role in a project’s success.

Research On Orthogonal Test Of Mgo-Fiber Cement Soil′S Deformation Modulus, Hu Qizhi, Yu Yang, Ma Qiang, Zhuang Xinshan

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

Appropriate amounts of MgO and fiber can improve the compressive strength of cement soil. In order to further study the mechanical properties of MGO-fiber cement soil, Minitab software was used to design an orthogonal test method, and sensitivity analysis and influence analysis were carried out. The change rules of deformation modulus of MgO content, fiber content, and fiber length were studied at three different levels. The regression equations of MgO content, fiber content, and fiber length with cement soil deformation modulus were obtained by using Matlab software to process the test data. The sample was tested by scanning electron microscope …

Experimental Study On Performance Of Cast Asphalt Mixture Basedon Dry Modification, Wang Ming, Li Bo, Bao Guangzhi, Hu Deyong

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

Cast asphalt mixture is the most widely used material for the pavement of long-span steel bridge decks, and the special asphalt binder cannot be produced and used in small batches. The wet modification process is obviously not suitable for the production of the cast asphalt mixture during the operation and maintenance period. In this paper, according to the requirements of cast asphalt mixture and its binder, combined with the requirements of the dry modification process, the developed direct injection modifier was employed to conduct the mix design of cast asphalt mixture and tests of the fluidity, penetration and increment, low-temperature …

Modeling Of Equilibrium Shoreline Of Headland Bay Beaches, Mohamed Ahmed Elmarakby, Ahmed Elshinnawy, Bakenaz A. Zeidan

Journal of Engineering Research

Engineering tools for predicting a long-term reaction of beaches include equilibrium beach formulations. They are used to assess how human interference (protection works, breakwaters, ports etc.) has affected the shoreline reaction since they Specify the final orientation of a beach on a time scale of years. One of the equations for determining the Static Equilibrium Planform (SEP) of Headland Bay Beaches (HBBs) that can be found in the literature is the Parabolic Bay Shape Equation (PBSE). The placement of the down-coast control point (P_o), which is the down drift limit from which the PBSE is applied, has a …

Simulation Of Wave Propagation In Granular Particles Using A Discrete Element Model, Syed Tahmid Hussan

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The understanding of Bender Element mechanism and utilization of Particle Flow Code (PFC) to simulate the seismic wave behavior is important to test the dynamic behavior of soil particles. Both discrete and finite element methods can be used to simulate wave behavior. However, Discrete Element Method (DEM) is mostly suitable, as the micro scaled soil particle cannot be fully considered as continuous specimen like a piece of rod or aluminum. Recently DEM has been widely used to study mechanical properties of soils at particle level considering the particles as balls. This study represents a comparative analysis of Voigt and Best …

Assessment Of Drainage Characteristics Of Recycled Crushed Concrete Aggregate (Rcca) And Plastic Mix Pavement Base, Amena Begum

Civil Engineering Theses - Archive

Recycled Crushed Concrete Aggregate (RCCA) offers a sustainable alternative to natural aggregate in construction, reducing reliance on natural resources and diverting construction and demolition debris from landfills. Similarly, the escalating global plastic waste crisis highlights the need for innovative solutions to address non-biodegradable waste disposal challenges and create opportunities for recycling plastics into value-added applications. This study explores the potential of RCCA mixed with plastic waste, such as HDPE and PP, as a viable substitute for natural aggregates in flexible pavement base layers, with a focus on hydraulic properties and drainage performance to enhance pavement durability.

A comprehensive experimental program …

Investigating Urban Impacts On Temperature And Rainfall Using Drone, Radar And Machine Learning Techniques, Junaid Ahmad

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

The global urban population is increasing, and it is anticipated that approximately 70% of people will reside in urban areas by 2050. Urbanization changes land use and land cover, altering local climatology. For example, various urban centers across the globe are experiencing extreme rainfall events, resulting in widespread damage to life and property with possible linkages to urbanization. The use of artificial materials in urban areas brings significant changes to the surface temperatures. Due to the high heat capacity of most of the construction materials, the temperature of the urban area can increase substantially compared to the rural areas. This …

Flood Frequency Analyses Using Depth-Area Reduction Factors (Darfs) In Texas, Mohamad Ahmadzadeh

Civil Engineering Dissertations - Archive

The increasing frequency and severity of flood events globally necessitate more accurate and reliable hydrologic models to inform flood risk management and mitigation strategies. Traditional hydrologic models have often relied on the simplification of uniformly distributed rainfall across watersheds, a method that fails to account for the spatial variability inherent in real-world storm events. This dissertation addresses this critical gap by applying Depth-Area Reduction Factors (DARFs) in hydrologic modeling, specifically focusing on the Trinity and Neches River Basins in Texas. DARFs are used to adjust point rainfall data to reflect the reduction in rainfall intensity as storm areas increase, thereby …

Wet-Carbonation Of Rcas For Improved Carbonation Efficiency And Mechanical Properties Of Rca And Recycled Concrete, Zhao. Xiang

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

RCA typically exhibits weak interfacial transition zones (ITZ), high porosity, and micro-cracks due to residual mortar layers, resulting in suboptimal performance when reused in structural applications. To address these challenges, this study developed a wet carbonation process using glycine acid as an inducer. Glycine acid, containing carboxyl and amino functional groups, forms stable complexes with Ca²⁺ ions in RCA, increasing calcium ion solubility and thereby accelerating carbonation. RCA samples underwent carbonation in a glycine acid solution, followed by characterization using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy to evaluate mineralogical transformations and microstructural enhancements. The carbonation process promoted the formation of …

Optimizing Anaerobic Digestion Of Food Waste And Industrial Sludge For Biogas Production, Emma R. Murray

Honors College Theses

Food waste is a major contributor to municipal solid waste, and its disposal at landfills has significant environmental and economic impacts. Opportunities need to be identified for the sustainable management of food waste at large scales. Pulp and paper mills throughout the country commonly use anaerobic digestion to treat their waste sludge; however, this sludge can consist of over 50% lignin, which is slowly or negligibly digested. This research aims to explore the sustainability of co-digestion of food waste and paper mill sludge. Lab-scale studies were used to assess the feasibility of anaerobic digestion by measuring treatment efficiencies and biogas …

Preliminary Water Quality Assessment Using Canadian Water Quality Index Of Ras El-Ain Ponds, South Lebanon, Hussien Ali Fayad, Safaa Baydoun, Mohamad Reda Soliman

BAU Journal - Science and Technology

Water quality deterioration in Lebanon is a pressing national issue and there is a high need for continuous water quality assessment and monitoring of water bodies in the country. This study aims at assessing water quality of Ras El-Ain Ponds, a major natural water resource for domestic use in Tyre district, South Lebanon by using the widely applied Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment Water Quality Index (CCME WQI). Sampling was conducted during February-March, 2023 and physiochemical and microbiological water quality parameters were determined using standardized methods. Assessed parameters in our study are temperature, turbidity, electrical conductivity (EC), total …

Study On Performance And Dynamic Response Of Composite Stress Absorber Layer, Yang Sanqiang, Li Pengfei, Liu Lu, Cao Zilong

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

In order to compare the performance difference among the composite stress absorption layer, SBS stress absorption layer, and glass grille stress absorption layer, the dynamic response law of the composite stress absorption layer was explored. In this paper, based on the composite stress absorption layer composed of glass grille + rubber-modified asphalt gravel sealing layer, the UTM-25 test system was employed to carry out inter-layer shear, inter-layer tension, low temperature bending, and four-point fatigue test. By laying test sections and sensors, strain information of the stress absorption layer under different conditions was collected. It was found that the bonding force …

Investigation And Modification Of Single-Post Aluminum Sign Supports For Mash Crashworthiness, Rodrigo Quintero

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Traffic signs are used to display information to drivers and are one of the most commonly encountered roadside structures. Although they are a vital traffic control device, signs can pose a significant safety risk to errant drivers due to their extensive placement and proximity to the roadway. Therefore, traffic signs and their supports must be designed with crashworthiness in mind to reduce the likelihood of injury in the event of a vehicle impact. Prior to 2009, these systems were evaluated using the crash testing criteria found in the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Report No. 350 [1]. Currently, they …

Energy Dissipation Optimization For Circular Culverts, Chi Zhang

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The principal goal of the current research is to develop and improve weir-based energy dissipator designs at the outlets of circular culverts. In the present case, we are interested in full-length weirs and staggered weirs. A review of related literature was completed and reported; a test facility was carefully designed and constructed to collect flow information in a basin downstream of a model broken-back circular culvert; instrumentation was installed to measure discharges, streamwise depths, and velocities. Both full-length and staggered weirs were tested over a range of discharges and tailwaters. The two types of weirs were subjected to two types …

Methods And Surface Materials Repair For Concrete Structures – A Review, Lelian W. Elkhatib, Adel Elkordi, Jamal Khatib

BAU Journal - Science and Technology

Concrete is a very critical material that may require maintenance and possible repair periodically, especially in important structure such as bridges. In general, concrete in structures (e.g. reinforced concrete) may be subjected to cracks due to a variety of reasons. These include, design and external environments such as the ingress of harmful ions into the concrete, unexpected extra loads including earthquakes. These cracks can affect not only the appearance of the structure but more importantly the structural performance of concrete and the integrity of the concrete structure. Therefore, when cracks occur a proper repair method should be selected, based on …