Construction Engineering and Management
Research Project Abstracts: 2002 - 2003
Interrelationships Between Success and Learning Strategies Applied by
Engineering Students
L. E. Bernold
National Science Foundation
07/02 to 06/03
This project investigates the study skill and habits of Engineering Freshmen in
order to identify deficiencies that can be remedied. One of the key goal is to help more of the failing students, 43% in the
first year in college, to succeed by empowering them to learn efficiently. The
first papers that have been published have received two best paper awards at
international conferences.
Field Studies with Innovative Safe Excavation Technologies
L. E. Bernold
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
09/01 to 10/04
Trenching and pipe-laying are some of the most dangerous operations in
construction. This project is designed to address this issue by eliminating the
need for laborers to enter the trench at all. In the three year study, we will
design and build the necessary hardware and test its effectiveness in the
field. Also included in the work is the further development of an innovative
buried utility detection system that will provide the operator the means to
scan the ground before any digging motion.
Analysis of Inovative Shoring Method
for Concrete Building Construction
David W. Johnston
MEVA Formwork Systems, Inc.
05/03 to 09/03
Knowledge among US structural designers and construction engineers of the
shoring and reshoring process for construction of multi-story buildings is
often limited to traditional methods which involve complete removal of the
shores and forming systems at certain stages of the process. New, more
efficient and safe systems and methods allowing removal of the forming elements
while the shores remain in place have been introduced. US
structural and construction engineers need information and analysis results
which will help them understand how such systems perform in relation to US
building code standards for design of concrete structures. Creep and Shrinkage Charateristics of Concrete
M. L. Leming and R. A. Nunez
Funded commercially
2002 to 2003
This one year study examined creep and shrinkage characteristics of concrete
after various curing and conditioning periods, using concrete being placed at a
current NCDOT construction site.
Introduction of Fiber Composite Technology into Design and Construction
Curriculum of Developing Countries as a Technical Tool for Disaster Mitigation
and Recovery
A. Mirmiran and R. Nunez
NC State University Office of International Programs in Provost
07/01/02 to 06/30/03
The proposed research is a collaboration between NC State researchers and those
in Ecuador on emerging technology in the area of FRP.
Models and Algorithms for Quality and Accuracy of Spatial Data in
Infrastructure Engineering
W. Rasdorf and H. Karimi (University of Pittsburgh)
National Science Foundation
10/1/99 to 9/30/03
Increasingly, we are relying on computer tools and databases for information
about our civil infrastructure to enable us to better develop, use, and
maintain it. On an ongoing basis we are creating infrastructure information
management systems (IIMS). To gain new IIMS functionality and to support more
useful analysis, we propose to develop tools to establish linkages between
spatial and attribute information. The key problem is that there are no
fundamental models and algorithms to give users, analysts, and decision makers information about the quality and accuracy of the
data being provided, analyzed, and used. This critical shortcoming is the topic
of this proposal.
Under Construction Bridge Deflection Measurements of Eno River
S. Rizkalla and E. Sumner
North Carolina Department of Transportation
02/03 to 04/03
NCDOT Structure Design Unit is currently investigating alternate means to
accurately predict girder deflection due to the casting of the concrete decks.
The accurate prediction of this deflection becomes increasingly important as
the high performance steel and the associated long span structures increases.
In addition, the prediction of deflection for adjacent girders of two different
stages of construction is important to ensure that the adjacent cast results in
an even deck and that the ultimate deck thickness matches that used in the
design of the girders. The primary objective of the project is to provide NCDOT
a field measurement of the steel girders of the Eno
River Bridge
in Durham, NC.
The measurement will be compared to the predicted deflections.
I/UCRC Center, Repair of Buildings and Bridges with Composites (RB2C)
S. Rizkalla
National Science Foundation & Industrial Partners
07/01/02 to 06/30/07
The NSF Industry/University Cooperative Research Center entitled "Repair
of Buildings and Bridges with Composites" (RB2C), is located at the
Constructed Facilities Laboratory, North Carolina State University (NCSU). The
Center is an extension to the Center located at the University of Missouri-Rolla
(UMR). The Center at NCSU focuses on the needs of the of the construction
industry in development of new and innovative structural components as well as
strengthening/repair methods for existing structures using advanced composite
materials. The current projects in progress are: 1) Development of Repair
Systems for Steel Structures and Bridges; 2) Evaluation of New Generation of
Adhesives for Marine Structures; 3) An Innovative Bridge Deck System
Application of the LRFD Bridge Design Specifications to High-Strength
Structural Concrete Flexure and Compression Provisions
A. Mirmiran and S. Rizkalla
Cooperative Research Programs, Transportation Research Board (NCHRP)
05/03 to 03/06
The FHWA has sponsored many showcase projects to encourage the application of
high performance concrete due to its great economical advantages. The objective
of this research is to develop recommended revisions to the AASHTO LRFD Bridge
Design Specifications to extend the applicability of the flexural and
compression design provisions to concrete up to 18 ksi. The research results
will allow full utilization of the material characteristics and greater use of
high-strength concrete, since the current LRFD limit the design strength of the
ultimate compressive strength of concrete to 69 MPa (10 ksi). The results will
have great economical advantages by allowing bridge design engineers to design
AASHTO girders more effectively in terms of the thickness of the web and larger
beam spacing.
Nacromolecular Science and Infrastructure Engineering
S. Rizkalla (Joint with Virginia Tech)
National Science Foundation
07/01 to 06/06
The Integrated Graduate Education Research and Training (IGERT) Program
provides opportunity for our graduate students to conduct an interdisciplinary
research in Macromolecular Science and Infrastructure Engineering, focused on
polymeric adhesives and composites in civil engineering structures. The program
allows collaboration between seven departments: Chemistry, Engineering Science,
Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Wood Science
and Marketing from four colleges, including NC State University. It will
include exchange of students and faculty members, as well as development of new
courses in the field of infrastructures. The first student this year was Mr.
Taylor Norton, who spent one semester at Virginia Tech and will start, in the
summer of 2003, to work on his M.Sc. research in the new development of bridge
decks with the industrial partners.
Corrosion Inhibitors for Concrete Bridges
A. Mirmiran and S. Rizkalla
NC Department of Transportation
07/01/02 to 06/30/04
The proposed study will provide accelerated test data to compare the
effectiveness of six surface-applied corrosion inhibitors on concrete specimens
with different levels of chloride contamination, and subjected to different
environmental conditions. The study will establish threshold chloride content,
beyond which surface treatments are not useful. The products will be evaluated
for potential application problems or detrimental effect on concrete. The study
will recommend guidelines and specifications for incorporating corrosion
inhibitor surface treatments within the state bridge inspection and maintenance
program.
Performance of Sandwich Panels Under Axial, Flexural and Shear Loads
Bally Refrigerated Box Inc.
S. Rizkalla and R. Nunez
Bally Refrigerated Box Inc.
2002
The objective of this investigation is to evaluate the structural performance
of Bally's sandwich panels in accordance with ICBO AC04 "Acceptance
Criteria for Sandwich Panels." The panels are examined under the effect of
axial compression load, transverse load and racking shear loads. End condition
and panel sizes are randomly selected for typical products line.
Mechanical Properties of MMFX Steel Rebars
S. Rizkalla
MMFX Steel Corporation of America
2002
The project provides the fundamental mechanical
material properties ofthe new high performance steel reinforcing bars
commercially known as MMFX. The investigation included the tensile strength,
shear strength, bend effect, bond strength and behavior of the bars in concrete
compression members. Currently, the work extended to examine the flexural
behavior including deflection, cracking and mode failure. Large scale specimens
are currently used to examine the development length for different sizes of
MMFX bars.
Shear Strength of FRP Anchors
S. Rizkalla
Fyfe Co., LLC
2002
The project evaluates the strength and mode of failure of typical joints for
aluminum trusses used for highway sign structures and strengthened by carbon fiber-reinforced
polymer materials (CFRP). Typical joints have been subjected to membrane
tension forces to examine the behavior. The CFRP is wrapped to correct the
diagonal member with the bottom chrod members. This phase includes static
loading conditions only.
Concept Paper for Establishment of Industry/University Cooperative
Research Center, Repair of Buildings and Bridges with Composites (RB2C)
S. Rizkalla
National Science Foundation
04/01 to 07/02
The "Repair of Bridges and Buildings Center" (RB2C) is an
industry/university/ government cooperative research center sponsored jointly
by North Carolina State University, the University of Missouri - Rolla, the
National Science Foundation, and participating industrial corporations and
government agencies. Faculty members from the Department of Civil Engineering
are involved in unique research programs with industrial relevance. Center
programs provide research assistants (MS and PhD candidates) with pertinent
research topics, the means for carrying out their research, and valuable
career-oriented experiences.
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