Construction
Engineering and Management
Research Project Abstracts: 2003 - 2004
Interrelationships Between Success and Learning Strategies Applied
by Engineering Students
L.E. Bernold
National Science Foundation
07/02 to 06/04
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
D. 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.
Application of the LRFD Bridge Design Specifications to High-Strength
Structural Concrete Flexure and Compression Provisions
A. Mirmiran, S. Rizkalla and P. Zia
Cooperative Research Programs, Transportation Research Board (NCHRP)
05/03 to 03/06
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 limits 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.
Corrosion Inhibitors for Concrete Bridges
A. Mirmiran and S. Rizkalla
NC Department of Transportation
07/02 to 06/04
This project evaluates the effectiveness of commercially available corrosion
inhibitors for remediation purposes in delaying, slowing, stopping or reversing
the corrosion process in existing concrete under laboratory conditions of
wet-dry cycles and salt water spray, simulating severe field conditions. The
results will be used to compare the effectiveness of corrosion inhibitors
at different levels of chloride contamination and establish the threshold
beyond which surface application does not provide any significant improvement.
Tools and Techniques for the Technological Integration of Multi-Hazard
Post-Incident Assessment
D. Laefer and W. Rasdorf
National Science Foundation
12/15/03 to 09/30/04
The purpose of this project is to organize and present a workshop to assist
in obtaining solutions for the problems addressed in the following abstract
submitted to NSF for possible funding. Infrastructure management information
systems (IMISs) are being created with ever greater rapidity, at all levels
of government and private industry. These IMISs are, however, dispersed, stand-alone,
in widely disparate formats, not reflective of historical developments, and
not easily identified or readily accessed. Thus, they do not promote information
exchange between agencies and organizations that would profoundly benefit
from shared resources, especially in this time of acute budgetary constraints.
Designing and Efficient Nighttime Sign Inspection Program that Ensures
Motorist Safety
W. Rasdorf and J. Hummer
NC Department of Transportation
07/01/04 to 06/30/06
The major objective of the research is to revise and expand out simulation
of the effectiveness of sign inspection programs so that NCDOT can optimize
its program. The main revisions to allow NCDOT to use the simulation are to:
Model the performance of NCDOT sign inspectors.
Expand the simulation to include other sign colors besides
yellow and red.
Include the best sign deterioration functions.
Life Cycle Inventory and Impact Analysis Framework for Nonroad Construction
Vehicles and Equipment
H. Christopher Frey and W. Rasdorf
National Science Foundation
09/03 to 09/04
The objectives of this work are to: (1) Characterize the second-by-second
in-use emissions and energy use of nonroad construction vehicles and equipment,
including emissions of nitric oxide, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, carbon
dioxide, and particulate matter, including real time sensing and monitoring
where needed to fill data gaps; (2) Develop a life cycle inventory of conventional
nonroad construction vehicles and equipment; and (3) Identify and recommend
methods for reducing energy use, emissions, and impacts.
I/UCRC Center, "Repair of Buildings and Bridges with Composites (RB2C)"
S. Rizkalla
National Science Foundation
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. The Center focuses on the needs 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 Deck System for highway bridge decks and trailer walls using
the Z-technology.
Supplement Funding to Support Undergraduate Student
S. Rizkalla
National Science Foundation
07/03 to 06/04
Efforts at repair of steel bridges with FRP have not been very successful
because of low modulus of most FRP materials as compared to steel. The new
carbon fibers have high modulus of elasticity that is about 3 times that of
steel in fiber form and twice that of steel in laminate form. The student
will be involved in an experimental plan consisting of testing the fibers
with a variety of resins to identify the most effective and compatible resin
for the repair of steel. Tests will include laminates as well as bond with
steel plates.
Wireless Sensor Networks for Structural Health Monitoring of Bridges
S. Rizkalla
National Science Foundation
06/03 to 06/05
The research project deals with structural health monitoring of bridges and
civil engineering buildings. The first part addresses sensing/data interpretation,
the second part addresses the transfer of data from sensors to the location
interpretation occurs. The proposal ties together the expertise of the two
NSF-I/UCRC Centers at NC State, RB2C in the Department of Civil Engineering
and CACC in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department. The specific
issue is the wireless communication of data for structural health monitoring
of civil engineering structures.
Innovative Textile Technology for Modular Bridge Decks
S. Rizkalla and A. Mirmiran (Co-PI)
National Science Foundation
07/03 to 06/05
The main objective of the proposed research is to adapt the 3-D weaving process
to develop innovative FRP bridge decks. This requires a thorough understanding
of the weaving process on the structural behavior of bridge decks. The experimental
work consists of testing scale models of FRP decks as well as coupon testing
under static and fatigue loading. The analytical work includes finite element
modeling of the FRP decks using micro- and macro-models. Once the models are
calibrated using the experimental results of Part I, a parametric study will
be carried out to optimize the shape and configuration of the deck.
Value Engineering and Cost Effectiveness of Various FRP Repair Systems
S. Rizkalla and A. Mirmiran (Co-PI)
North Carolina Department of Transportation
07/03 to 06/05
This research program investigate the feasibility of using the most efficient
externally bonded Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) repair/strengthening system
to rehabilitate prestressed concrete bridge girders damaged due to accident
or collision impact causing loss of prestressing and/or spalling of concrete.
The research will investigate the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of externally
bonded FRP sheet and strip repair/strengthening systems using prestressed
channel beams to be supplied by NCDOT from existing bridges. It will also
investigate the use of Near-Surface-Mounted FRP bars and strips to strengthen
the same prestressed channel beams. The experimental program will examine
the flexural behavior under the effect of static and fatigue loadings.
Evaluation of MMFX Steel for NCDOT Concrete Bridges
S. Rizkalla and P. Zia (Co-PI)
NC Department of Transportation
07/04 to 06/05
This research project investigates the effectiveness of highly corrosive,
resistant, high strength steel reinforcements, recently patented as MMFX Steel,
for use in highway concrete bridge applications. The experimental program
consists of multi-phases to examine the mechanical properties, effect of bend
and corrosion resistance claimed by the manufacturer. The structural performance
includes full-scale concrete bridge decks. The analysis will be based on non-linear-finite
elements to determine the influence of other parameters, which could affect
the design. The research will provide design guidelines for the use of this
new tool.
Nacromolecular Science and Infrastructure Engineering
S. Rizkalla (Co-PI with Virginia Tech)
National Science Foundation
07/01 to 06/06
The Integrated Graduate Education Research and Traineeship (IGERT) Program
provides the opportunity for our graduate students to conduct an interdisciplinary
research focused on polymeric adhesives and composites in civil engineering
structures. The program allows collaboration between the following 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 is currently working on his M.S. research.
Developing a Simplified Method for Predicting Deflection in Steel Plate
Girder Under Non-Composite Dead Load for State-Constructed Bridges
E. Sumner and S. Rizkalla (Co-PI)
North Carolina Department of Transportation
07/03 to 06/05
Matching the final bridge deck elevations in stage constructed steel girder
bridges has created numerous problems during construction. Misaligned deck
elevations between two stages may require grinding of the deck surface or
result in reduced concrete cover leading to early deterioration of the bridge
deck. The objective of this research is to develop an empirically based method
to predict the non-composite deflection of steel plate girders in staged-constructed
bridges. The formulation of the simplified method will require a combination
of field measured data and extensive three-dimensional analytical simulation.
ICC Evaluation of Metal-To-Metal Connection Clips
E. Sumner and S. Rizkalla
The Steel Network, Inc.
11/02 to 02/04
This purpose of this project is to evaluate the performance of several types
of steel metal-to-metal connection clips manufactured by The Steel Network,
Inc. The clips are used in light gauge (cold-formed) steel construction to
connect framing members to one another or to a supporting structure. The testing
was conduced to determine the design load rating for lateral, horizontal,
vertical, and rotational load components as applicable. A methodology to determine
the service and ultimate load ratings was also developed. The results of this
testing will be submitted as evidence for ICC accreditation of these components.
| 