Structural Materials Commons^™

A Deep Learning-Informed Design Scheme For Shear Friction At Concrete-To-Concrete Interface: Recommendations For Inclusion In Aashto Lrfd Guidelines, Tarutal Ghosh Mondal, Nikkolas Edgmond, Lesley Sneed, Genda Chen

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Recent advancements in construction technology have led to high-strength concrete and steel. However, these developments have depreciated the accuracy of the design equations in current provisions, which were based on normal-grade materials. To fill such a research gap, this study presents a novel deep learning-based computation scheme that can replace the current design provisions by virtue of its superior accuracy and reliability. The proposed approach exploits Neural Additive Models (NAMs) in which geometric and material properties associated with a normal weight concrete-to-concrete shear interface are inputted to individual neural network blocks. The outputs of the individual blocks are linearly combined …

Hdd Dataset: Optimising Retrofitted Insulation For Irish Residential Building Walls, Rakshit D. Muddu, Aimee Byrne, Anthony James Robinson

Datasets

In this study, a thermal-economic analysis was conducted to determine the optimum insulation thickness of retrofitted insulation walls in different regions in Ireland. This was based on the Heating Degree Day method (HDD). This dataset contains optimum insulation thickness, payback period, cost savings and carbon emission for all 25 counties in the Republic of Ireland

Deep Reinforcement Learning For Approximate Policy Iteration: Convergence Analysis And A Post-Earthquake Disaster Response Case Study, Abhijit Gosavi, L. (Lesley) H. Sneed, L. A. Spearing

Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Approximate Policy Iteration (API) is a Class of Reinforcement Learning (RL) Algorithms that Seek to Solve the Long-Run Discounted Reward Markov Decision Process (MDP), Via the Policy Iteration Paradigm, Without Learning the Transition Model in the Underlying Bellman Equation. Unfortunately, These Algorithms Suffer from a Defect Known as Chattering in Which the Solution (Policy) Delivered in Each Iteration of the Algorithm Oscillates between Improved and Worsened Policies, Leading to Sub-Optimal Behavior. Two Causes for This that Have Been Traced to the Crucial Policy Improvement Step Are: (I) the Inaccuracies in the Policy Improvement Function and (Ii) the Exploration/exploitation Tradeoff Integral …

Reduction Of Embodied Carbon In Buildings Through Use Of Low Carbon Strategies And Standardization And Enforcement Of Life Cycle Assessment, Bhargavi Sai Sudhakar

Master's Projects and Capstones

The building and construction industry is energy intensive and as of 2021, this industry is responsible for 37% of the total global greenhouse gas emissions. In previous studies of conventional buildings, the operational energy of a building contributed to 80% and the embodied energy contributed to 20% of the total life cycle energy. With increase in policies and standards that focus on reducing the operational energy, low energy and certified green buildings have emerged where the operational energy has considerably reduced. The relative and absolute share of embodied energy in these energy efficient buildings have increased due to excessive use …

Crack Control And Bond Performance Of Alternative Coated Reinforcements In Concrete, Sachin Sreedhara

All Dissertations

Concrete cracking in structures is a ubiquitous problem which can lead to the deterioration of the structure. Other than affecting the strength aspect of a structure, cracking impacts the serviceability criteria as well. Although cracking phenomenon in any structure is highly inevitable, it has to be minimized in order to maintain a structure’s life effectively. Cracking in reinforced concrete structures is related to the bond strength developed between the bar and the concrete. It also depends on an ability of the bar to resist the stresses due to shrinkage to minimize the crack. Another important aspect is the resistance offered …

Dynamic Response Of Elastic Two-Story Steel Moment Frame Scaled Structure Equipped With Viscous Dampers, Garrett L. Barker, Alexander L. Poirier

Architectural Engineering

The authors of this report are Architectural Engineering undergraduate students at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Damping is a complex, experimentally derived value that is affected by many structural properties and has a profound effect on the dynamic response of structures. Deducing the inherent damping of a steel moment frame and affecting the damping ratio with viscous dampers are two topics explored in this paper. Dampers are commonly implemented in resilient structures that perform better in a design basis earthquake, reducing the seismic cost and downtime. Undergraduate coursework does not delve into the factors that affect damping and …

A Review Of Current Construction Guidelines To Inform The Design Of Rammed Earth Houses In Seismically Active Zones, David Thompson, Charles Augarde, Juan Pablo Osorio

Articles

Sustainability in the materials we use for construction is a prime concern, focusing on reducing the embodied energy and carbon footprints of the materials used. The cement used in concrete products is responsible for a significant proportion of Man's CO2 emissions and its production requires substantial energy input, as do fired clay products. For this reason, products formed from unfired earthen materials are of increasing interest and the current challenges include devising means of robust design for strength and to address durability concerns. One form of earthen construction that employs an in-situ method is rammed earth, and it is a …

The Living Breakwaters Pdr Efforts: Conceptual Scheduling, Calvin O. Walters Jr.

Publications and Research

On October 29, 2012, Superstorm Sandy caused nearly $19 billion in damages in New York City including 69,000 residential units across the five boroughs. This disaster precipitated a post-disaster-rebuilding (PDR) project including roughly $4.2 billion in a Community Development Block Grant allocated towards PDR projects. A portion of the grant was used to construct a living breakwater in Tottenville, Staten Island, consisting of a resiliency approach to risk reduction through erosion prevention, wave energy attenuation, and enhancement of ecosystems and social resiliency to improve resistance to storms for the community of Tottenville. The ridges of each breakwater are designed with …

Evaluating The Effects Of Curing Methods On Bcsa Cement Concrete, Hannah Allen

Civil Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

BCSA cement is a type of cement that makes concrete set up much quicker than typical portland cement concrete. BCSA cement concrete also has a much higher compressive strength than that of portland cement concrete. This study was conducted to determine the effect of different curing conditions on the compressive strength of BCSA cement concrete.

Optimizing The Self-Healing Efficiency Of Hydrogel Encapsulated Bacteria In Concrete, Ricardo Hungria

LSU Master's Theses

Calcium carbonate precipitation through microbial means is a promising pathway for concrete self-healing technologies, mainly for its microcrack sealing attributes. The main goal of this project was to study and optimize the crack healing efficiency of hydrogel encapsulated bacteria in concrete. To achieve this purpose, Bacillus pseudiformus was implemented as the bacteria strain at a concentration of 10⁸ cells/ml. This bacterium strain along with yeast extract was combined along with three different mineral precursors corresponding to magnesium acetate, calcium lactate, and sodium lactate. All these three precursors were evaluated at two concentrations (67.76 mM/l and 75 mM/l). For each …

New Type Of Lightweight Aggregate For Use In Structural Concrete, Jamal Khatib, Ali Jahami, Oussama Baalbaki, Adel Elkordi

BAU Journal - Science and Technology

This research studied the utilization of municipal solid waste incineration bottom ash (MSWI-BA) in lightweight coarse aggregate (LWC) production. A special method was followed to prepare the new aggregate to fully replace the normal aggregates (NWA) in concrete. The mechanical properties such as compressive strength, tensile strength, and elasticity modulus were investigated for the LWC concrete. Then, two beams were prepared; one from LWC and the other from NWC. The structural performance of beams made up of lightweight aggregates compared to normal aggregates was investigated. The results showed that this type of aggregates led to a 20% reduction in concrete …

Effects Of Bonding Pressure And Lamina Thickness On Mechanical Properties Of Clt Composed Of Southern Yellow Pine, Cody S. Bates

Theses and Dissertations

This study produced cross-laminated timber panels at a range of four lamina thickness (5/8, 1, 1 1/8, and 1 1/4 inch) and three bonding pressures (50, 125, 200 psi), producing a total of 12 panels for mechanical testing. The goal of this study is to observe how the thickness and pressure trends affect the mechanical properties of CLT. Tests include flatwise bending, flatwise shear, internal-bond, and delamination. Results showed that bending MOE decreases as the panel thickness increases while bonding pressure had no significance. Bending MOR was less significant for the thickness and more significant for pressure compared to the …

Shear Strength Of Concrete Beams Made With Belitic Calcium Sulfoaluminate Cement, Caleb W. Chesnut

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The need for a cleaner alternative to portland cement (PC) concrete has led to increasing interest in alternatives to PC. Structural properties of most of these alternative cements are still an open research topic. One promising alternative cement is belitic calcium sulfoaluminate (BCSA) cement. The study presented in this paper investigated the shear strength, long term compressive strength, and carbonation in BCSA cement and PC concrete beams. A total of twelve eight-foot long beams were made; eight BCSA cement concrete beams and four PC concrete beams to be tested at various ages depending on cement type. Two beams of each …

Development Of Lambda Factors For Masonry Design With Lightweight Grout, Rumi Shrestha

All Theses

Reduction in structural mass, improvement in thermal performance, and reduction in shrinkage cracking through internal curing are some of the reasons that lightweight (LW) aggregates have been used in structures and pavements for decades. However, lightweight grout is still not permitted for use in reinforced masonry construction by the TMS 402/602-16 code. In order to realize the benefits of lightweight grout in U.S. reinforced masonry construction, a codified procedure for its use is required which must be informed by experimental testing.

This research is a pilot project directed to characterize the performance of LW grout in comparison to normal weight …

Semi Real-Time Detection Of Subsurface Consolidation Defects During Concrete Curing Stage, Chongsheng Cheng, Zhigang Shen

Department of Construction Engineering and Management: Faculty Publications

Subsurface consolidation defect is a common issue in concrete pavement construction, and the hidden defects often require costly repairs after project delivery. Therefore, being able to identify this type of defect during construction will enable contractor to conduct quick repairs to avoid costly post-construction rework. In this paper a semi real-time detection approach using infrared thermography is introduced. The developed approach utilizes the hydration heat during curing time to identify the subsurface voids based on the regional temperature contrast. Experimental studies were conducted using artificial void-defect in different sizes and depths. The thermographic analysis is employed to locate the void-defects …

Frequency Effect On Peak Pressure Coefficients Using The Narrowband Synthesis Random Flow Generator (Nsrfg) Method, Zayuris Del Carmen Atencio Mojica

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The collapse of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge in Washington state in 1940 due to high wind forces gave structural engineers notice of the importance of understanding the behavior of wind forces on infrastructure. Wind forces play an important role in the design of buildings and other structures. ASCE 7-16 is the manual used for the design of these buildings and other structures throughout the country. These design criteria have been approved based on research projects involving experimental procedures. For the design of wind loads, ASCE 7-16 uses criteria based on wind tunnel (WT) tests. However, since the development of computing …

Use Of Biomimicry Design Approach In Constructing Sustainable Resilient Structures (Case Study: Port Of Beirut), Farouk Bader, Marwan Halabi, Hiba Mohsen, Maged Youssef

BAU Journal - Creative Sustainable Development

Resiliency is not the same as sustainability, nor its substitute, but definitely the two concepts complement each other’s. Sustainability is the avoidance of depletion of natural resources to maintain ecological balance whereas resiliency is to recover, adapt and keep going in the face of setbacks. While designing with green approach is important but what will happen to leed points if the building becomes uninhabitable due to disasters, that’s where resiliency comes into play. The 2019 statistics showed that natural disasters accounted for 133 billion dollars losses and manmade ones accounted for other 7 billion in addition to 11,755 people worldwide …

Computational Design Of Nonlinear Stress-Strain Of Isotropic Materials, Askhad M.Polatov, Akhmat M. Ikramov, Daniyarbek Razmukhamedov

Chemical Technology, Control and Management

The article deals with the problems of numerical modeling of nonlinear physical processes of the stress-strain state of structural elements. An elastoplastic medium of a homogeneous solid material is investigated. The results of computational experiments on the study of the process of physically nonlinear deformation of isotropic elements of three-dimensional structures with a system of one- and double-periodic spherical cavities under uniaxial compression are presented. The influence and mutual influence of stress concentrators in the form of spherical cavities, vertically located two cavities and a horizontally located system of two cavities on the deformation of the structure are investigated. Numerical …

Balsa Wood Bridge, Andrew Harris

All Undergraduate Projects

Faculty at Central Washington University proposed a challenge to mechanical engineering students that could be accomplished in an in-home setting. The goal was to create a balsa wood bridge, weighing no more than 85 grams, that can support a load over an open span and raise above its resting position by means of a mechanical system. To produce a successful solution to the problem, a vertical lift bridge was created consisting of two lifting towers and a load bearing bridge. Using equations of static equilibrium and strength of materials, the required width for each member was determined. Project requirements were …

Hydraulic Balsa Wood Rising Bridge, Kaitlyn Greenfield

All Undergraduate Projects

What is the solution to allowing tall vessels to navigate past a vehicle bridge that is less than 10 [ft] above the water? To answer this question, a balsa wood bridge was designed, constructed, and tested. The bridge needed to articulate by mechanical means, allow for travel through the bridge, and be able to withstand ample force while the main structure only being constructed of balsa wood and glue. The project was analyzed in sections. These sections include: the bridge structure and its members, the hydraulic lift, and the pins needed for the bridge and hydraulic lift to operate. The …

Potential Advantages Of Basalt Frp Bars Compared To Carbon Frp Bars & Conventional Steel, Yosra El Maghraby, Mohamed Nagib Abou-Zeid Prof., Ezzeldeen Yazeed El Sayed Ahmed Prof

Civil Engineering

No abstract provided.

Optimisation Of Retrofit Wall Insulation: An Irish Case Study, Rakshit D. Muddu, D M. Gowda, Anthony James Robinson, Aimee Byrne

Articles

Ireland has one of the highest rates of emissions per capita in the world and its residential sector is responsible for approximately 10% of total national CO2 emissions. Therefore, reducing the CO2 emissions in this sector will play a decisive role in achieving EU targets of reducing emissions by 40% by 2030. To better inform decisions regarding retrofit of the existing building stock, this study proposes Optimum Insulation Thicknesses (OIT) for typical walls in 25 regions in Ireland. The calculation of OIT includes annual heat energy expenditure, CO2 emissions, and material payback period. The approach taken is based on Heating …

Timber Bridge Pile Splicing With Fiber Reinforced Polymer Wraps, Drew L. Damich

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Timber pile repair using splicing is widely used but little research has been done to determine their strength capacity after repair using this method. Current timber pile splicing mechanisms utilize various steel or wooden components. Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) wraps can be utilized as replacement to conventional materials in splicing of timber piles. This study evaluated the strength capacities of traditional splicing mechanisms in relation to FRP wrap splice mechanisms. Traditional splicing mechanisms consisted of flat steel plate, C-channel steel plate, and wooden plate splices. The FRP wrap splice consisted of unidirectional glass/epoxy composite with three layers of fabric as …

Laboratory Testing And Mechanistic Analysis Of Treated Subgrade Soils, Hari Kumar Reddy Yarrapureddi

Civil Engineering Theses

Calcium-based stabilizing agents such as cement and lime have been extensively used to improve the engineering properties of base and subgrade layers of pavement systems. Recently, polymers and chemical stabilizers have become popular due to cost efficiency, ease of application, and fast curing times. In this study, California Bearing Ratio (CBR) values of polymer and chemical treated soils were compared with the CBR values of soils treated with conventional stabilizers. Parametric sensitivity analyses was carried out on key parameters including the type of subgrade soil, stabilizing agent, stabilizing agent treatment levels, and moisture conditioning. Additionally, numerical analyses was performed to …

Bio-Binder—Innovative Asphalt Technology, Amir Tabakovic

Articles

The global road network spans 16.3 million km [1], of which 5 million km is in the EU. These road networks fulfil major economic and social goals by facilitating the movement of goods and people throughout the EU, and are therefore of the utmost importance to the economic and social life of the EU [2]. National governments invest heavily in their road networks, e.g., in 2014, EUR 53.33 billion was invested in the development and maintenance of the EU road network [3]. Each year, the world produces 1.6 trillion tonnes of asphalt [4], of which 218 million tonnes is produced …

Development Of Bragg Fiber Sensor For Corrosion Detection, Cai Hui Tan

Student Works (2020-2029)

Steel corrosion has posed one of the major structural defects in the civil society today. Conventional methods for corrosion monitoring involve high maintenance cost and destructive methods with low accuracy. Recently, Fiber Bragg gratings (FBG) sensor with its high sensitivity in measuring strain and temperature have been widely studied and used in structural health monitoring (SHM). A non-destructive corrosion detection approach based on FBG sensors was developed and tested to monitor corrosion in this research work. The principle of FBG sensing is based on Bragg wavelength shifts that from the corrosion process that induced strain on the FBG due to …

Engineering Properties And Microstructural Characteristics Of Cement And Geopolymer Based Mortars Using Nontraditional Supplementary Cementitious Materials, Mathialagan Sumesh

Student Works (2020-2029)

The concrete repair and rehabilitation industry grows rapidly due to deterioration, damage and defects in concrete structures. For various reasons, the concrete construction industry is not sustainable; because it consumes huge quantities of virgin materials, the usage of Portland cement as prime binder. The production of cement is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, the high cost of commercial repair material. Therefore, it is necessary to develop cost-effective alternative repair materials for concrete repairs. There have been many standard repair materials available in the market, which are costly and not affordable to common people. However, research works …

Automatic Delamination Segmentation For Bridge Deck Based On Encoder-Decoder Deep Learning Through Uav-Based Thermography, Chongsheng Cheng, Zhexiong Shang, Zhigang Shen

Department of Construction Engineering and Management: Faculty Publications

Concrete deck delamination often demonstrates strong variations in size, shape, and temperature distribution under the influences of outdoor weather conditions. The strong variations create challenges for pure analytical solutions in infrared image segmentation of delaminated areas. The recently developed supervised deep learning approach demonstrated the potentials in achieving automatic segmentation of RGB images. However, its effectiveness in segmenting thermal images remains under-explored. The main challenge lies in the development of specific models and the generation of a large range of labeled infrared images for training. To address this challenge, a customized deep learning model based on encoder-decoder architecture is proposed …

Analysis Of Burning Wood In The Transient State And The Application To Structural Design, Roberta Veliz, Kimberly Guzman

Architectural Engineering

Determining the extent of the contribution of exposed timber on compartment fire dynamics in open floor plans is a complex process. Designers traditionally used compartmentalization design methods which create spaces where flashover is likely, given the fuel load and ventilation conditions. However, due to the large geometric dimensions and spread of fuel, fires in open floor plans are more likely to remain as localized or traveling fires. As such, an understanding of not only ignition potential but also flame spread is critical to characterizing the contribution of exposed timber. An integral step in characterizing the potential contribution is through an …

Performance Evaluation Of Lightweight Normal And Geopolymer Foamed Concrete Using Palm Oil Fuel Ash As Partial Replacement Of Binder, M .E. Alnahhal Ahmed

Student Works (2020-2029)

Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) have a detrimental effect on the environment and this had led many researchers to search for other alternatives in the form of sustainable cementitious materials. The depletion of natural resources and dumping the industrial by-products and waste materials are serious concern to our environment. This research focusses on the performance of using a palm oil industrial by-product, namely, palm oil fuel ash (POFA), as a partial replacement for OPC and fly ash (FA) in lightweight normal foamed concrete and lightweight geopolymer foamed concrete, respectively. Thus, using 10, 20, and 30% POFA …