Construction
Engineering and Management
Research Project Abstracts: 2005 - 2006
Life Cycle Inventory and Impact Analysis Framework for Nonroad Construction
Vehicles and Equipment Based Upon In-Use Measurements
H.C. Frey and W.J. Rasdorf
National Science Foundation
08/03 to 08/06
This project represents the initial step toward development of a probabilistic
life cycle inventory and impact analysis framework for nonroad construction
vehicles and equipment. The objectives are to:
1. Characterize second-by-second in-use emissions and energy use of nonroad
construction vehicles and equipment, including emissions of NOx, CO, hydrocarbons
(HC), CO2, and particulate matter (PM), 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.
Real World Duty Cycles and Utilization for Construction Equipment in NC
H.C. Frey and W.J. Rasdorf
North Carolina Department of Transportation
07/05 to 06/07
Construction vehicles contribute substantially to statewide emissions. Thirty-two
NC counties are partially or fully designated as non attainment under new
air quality standards for ozone. Therefore there is a need to more accurately
quantify the emissions from construction vehicles and seek opportunities to
manage or reduce emissions. The goal of this study is to assess construction
equipment types and uses, plan a field study, measure emissions and collect
data, analyze the data and develop typical cycles, and demonstrate methods
for estimating emissions for construction equipment.
Instrumentation for Measuring Concrete Lateral Pressures in Formwork
D.W. Johnston
Institute of Construction
07/05 to 06/06
Develop dual instrumentation systems for measurement of fresh concrete lateral
pressures in formwork. Evaluate performance of the systems by collection of
data of interest on construction sites.
Value Engineering and Cost Effectiveness of Various FRP Repair Systems
S. Rizkalla
North Carolina Department of Transportation
07/05 to 06/06
This research program is designed to investigate the feasibility of using
the most efficient externally bonded 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
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 along with examining the flexural behavior under the effect
of static and fatigue loadings.
I/UCRC Center, "Repair of Buildings and Bridges with Composites (RB2C)
S. Rizkalla
National Science Foundation
07/02 to 06/07
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 working in collaboration with the Center located at the University of Missouri-Rolla
(UMR). The Center at NCSU 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.
Evaluation of New Generation of Adhesives for Marine Structures
S. Rizkalla
IPS Corporation
07/02 to 06/07
The project investigates the behavior and material characteristics of two
proposed adhesives designed for marine structures. The project is mainly an
experimental study at this stage. The experimental program initially consists
of lap shear test to determine the bond characteristics of two adhesives between
two surfaces; each consists of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) and
steel surface. A specially designed insulated room has been constructed at
the Constructed Facilities Laboratory to house the instrumentations, which
were built to subject the specimens to the specified environment.
An Innovative Bridge Deck System
S. Rizkalla
Martin Marietta Composites
07/02 to 06/07
The research includes development of an innovative system for highway bridge
decks. The system is also suitable for manufacturing trailer walls using small
thicknesses. The innovative concept consists of two layers of 2-D fiber pultruded
sheets and styrofoam layers in between to provide the required thickness.
At a later stage, bundled fibers are inserted in the third direction to increase
the strength through-thickness properties of the panels. The system is a modified
process for the Z-technology used for the aerospace industry. The test program
consists of different tests to examine the material characteristics as well
as the behavior of the panel.
Developing a Simplified Method for Predicting Deflection in Steel Plate
Girders Under Non-Composite Dead Load for Stage-Constructed Bridges
E.A. Sumner and S. Rizkalla
NCDOT
07/03 to 12/05
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.
Construction Extension Development and Training
E.C. Weaver and R.A. Nunez
Construction Extension Program and Institute of Construction
7/05 to 6/06
Develop and implement construction extension activities related to training
and applied research on a wide variety of topics of interest to the construction
industry. During 2005-2006, workshops and seminars were attended by 2500 participants.
Programs developed and delivered included: Concrete Testing Technician Certification,
Fall Protection Safety, Confined Spaces Safety, Home Inspection, Stormwater
Design, Wood Design, Wind Design, Construction Management, Financial Management,
Construction Contracts, Estimating and Bidding, and Planning, Scheduling and
Control, among others.
Implementation of Self-Consolidating Concrete (SCC) for Prestressed Concrete
Girders
P. Zia and R. Nunez
North Carolina Department of Transportation
11/03 to 03/05
The objectives of this research are three-fold: (1) Determine and document
the various properties of SCC used in the production of two prestressed SCC
girders. (2) Monitor and document the actual production of two prestressed
concrete girders using SCC. The girders will be selected from a NCDOT bridge
project under contract. (3) Conduct static load tests of two SCC girders and
one non-SCC girder at the production site. The girders will be tested to full
service load condition in order to validate their design and performance.
Subject to satisfactory performance, the girders may be delivered and installed
in the bridge for service as other non-SCC girders.
Pavement Marking Analysis Plan
W. Rasdorf
North Carolina Department of Transportation Technical Assistance Award
5/15/06 to 5/30/06
North Carolina Department of Transportation Technical Assistance Award
The Work Zone Traffic Control Unit has almost 4 years of pavement marking
retroreflectivity data. This data has been collected on all types of materials,
surfaces, and regions in the State. NCDOT seeks to learn about the life cycle
of pavement markings from this data. However, to be able to analyze all the
data, the NCDOT needs to determine what information can be learned from the
data and identify the components of a large-scale research project to do so.
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