Geotechnical/Geoenvironmental Engineering

Research Project Abstracts: 2005 - 2006

Development of Permeable Reactive Barriers (PRBs) using Edible Oils
R.C. Borden
Dept. of Defense, SERDP
01/01 to 01/07
The overall objective of this proposal is to develop the information needed to reliably design, construct and evaluate edible oil barriers, including:
1. Identify factors controlling the loss of permeability during oil injection.
2. Identify factors controlling oil biodegradation rate in aquifer sediments.
3. Use these results to develop improved procedures for distributing and immobilizing oils that: (a) do not cause an excessive decline in permeability; and (b) result in a slow, steady rate of in-situ oil decay.
4. Use emulsion transport model to identify alternative barrier configurations and injection procedures to improve barrier performance and reduce costs.

Anaerobic Biotreatment of Acid Mine Drainage at Ore Knob Mine
R.C. Borden
NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources
08/05 to 07/08
Ore Knob Branch and Peak Creek are impaired due to discharge of acid mine drainage (AMD) from an abandoned copper/zinc mine. AMD production from the large tailings impoundment will be controlled by injecting emulsified soybean oil into the sediments to stimulate growth of naturally occurring bacteria. These bacteria will then use the soybean oil as a food source, consuming any dissolved oxygen and stopping further AMD production. Once oxygen is depleted, the sulfate reducing bacteria will reduce sulfuric acid to sulfide and precipitating heavy metals.

Development of a Design Tool for Planning Aqueous Amendment Injection Systems
R.C. Borden (NCSU), G. Mahinthakumar (NCSU) T. J. Simpkin (CH2M HILL) and C. Zawtocki (Solutions-IES)
DOE, Environmental Security Technology Certification Program
03/06 to 12/08
The overall objective of this project is to develop a set of tools to assist design engineers in developing effective, reasonably efficient systems for distributing aqueous amendments for in situ treatment of groundwater contaminants. At this time, the primary applications for the tools will be for design of in situ chemical oxidation systems using permanganate and in situ anaerobic bioremediation systems using soluble substrates and emulsified oil. However, as technology evolves, this general approach should be applicable to distribution of other aqueous amendments.

Treatment of Acid Mine Drainage Using Emulsified Soybean Oil
R.C. Borden
United Soybean Board (through Smith, Bucklin & Associates, LLC)
08/05 to 07/07
The United Soybean Board will provide matching support for a NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources (NC DENR) project to evaluate the use of emulsified soybean oil for treatment of acid mine drainage at the Ore Knob Mine in Ashe County, NC.

NCSU/NC A & T Program for STEM Enrollment Enhancement
J.J. Ducoste (Co-PI) (Other PIs: John Fountain, MEAS; Carrie Thomas, MEAS, Robert Borden, CCE; David Haase, Physics; Christine Grant, CHE; Christopher Gould, Physics; Jesus Rodriguez, Math; and William Switzer, Chem)
National Science Foundation
01/03 to 12/05
North Carolina State University and North Carolina Agricultural and Technological State University are collaborating in developing a program designed to increase the number of graduates in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Specific program elements include a summer camp at NCSU for graduating high school students who have not selected their majors, summer bridge programs at both NCSU and NCA&T designed to prepare new STEM students for introductory college science and math courses, undergraduate research programs at both schools, tutoring and mentoring of STEM majors, and a faculty exchange program between the two campuses.

Numerical Study of Loading Conditions with Applications Using a Particulate Approach
T.M. Evans
01/206 to present
Unsponsored (new faculty start-up funds)
Axisymmetric laboratory tests are typically used for the characterization of the mechanical response of granular soils when determining design parameters. However, many of the structures of interest to geotechnical engineers result in plane strain loading conditions in the field (e.g., retaining walls, highway embankments). It is well understood that laboratory tests having plane strain boundary conditions will produce different results than those performed under axisymmetric boundary conditions. However, what is not understood is how these differences manifest themselves in soil microstructure and in field performance. The current study seeks to provide insight into these topics.

Remote Observation and Control of a Shake Table Experiment
Abhinav Gupta, V.C. Matzen, and M.A. Gabr
NC State University, DELTA/ IDEAS Grant
Fiscal Year 2003-04 to 2004-05
This project supports tasks that are needed in addition to those being conducted in the development of a prototype for remote observation and control of a shake table experiment under an NSF sponsored project. These tasks are needed to integrate the prototype with the University computing network for incorporation in distance education courses. The tasks need to be implemented in a manner that would maintain real-time safety as well as security features built into the prototype. While the tasks being undertaken are specific to the shake table experiment, the outcome of this work can be extended to other experiments either directly or with only minor modifications.

Design Criteria for Post and Beam Bents with Drilled Shafts and Other Structures
M.J. Kowalsky and M. Gabr
NC Department of Transportation
07/05 to 06/07
The research described in this proposal aims to expand upon work currently underway for Pile-Bent bridge structures to all sub structure systems employed by NCDOT including spread footings and columns supported on drilled shaft foundations. The research task encompass identifying issues specific to drilled shaft bent design and selection of a series of sample structures for analysis and design, as well as structural testing of bridge sub-structure to superstructure connections.

Pile Bent Design Criteria
M.J. Kowalsky and M.A. Gabr
NC Department of Transportation
07/04 to 07/05
The objective of this study is to develop improved design criteria for pile bents. Specifically, the work will be focused on i) evaluating the impact of the pile cap rigidity to loads transferred to the piles within the bent, ii) Specifying appropriate k-factors for pile analysis under varying boundary condition appropriate the problem geometry and connection scenarios, and iii) Proposing appropriate point of fixity taking into account the presence of the soil around the pile above the specified point of fixity, iv) Proposing appropriate values for maximum lateral deflection for various boundary conditions and soil properties.

Pile Bent Design Criteria
M.J. Kowalsky and M.A. Gabr
NC Department of Transportation
07/05 to 07/07
A detailed 3D analysis models will be used to provide a better understanding of the actual performance of NCDOT sub-structure systems (depth to fixity; connection performance, effective length factors). In addition, the proposed work aim at providing a rational basis for identification of key performance limit states (drift and strength limits) as well as design examples comparing LFD and LRFD criteria for bridge sub-structures

Geosynthetics Workplan
M.A. Gabr
FHWA
09/05 to 08/06
No definitive guidance on the value of systematically including geosynthetics in highway construction projects is currently available for the Federal Land Program of FHWA. It has been identified by engineers that geosynthetics are "under-used in Federal Lands Highway practice" Accordingly, this study aims at developing a geosynthetics work plan to identify, promote, and advance the use of geosynhetics materials across FLH Divisions in the Pavement and Geotechnical areas. The target areas include pavement and geotechnical applications. Geotechnical applications will be focused on slopes, walls, base reinforcement, column supported embankments, capillary barriers to mitigate frost heaving, deep patches for soft shoulders, and geocomposite clay liners to control seepage from ditches.

Geologic and Environmental Modeling for Implementation of WIDE at Former Lockbourne Air Force Base
M.A. Gabr
Department of Defense, through W. Virginia University Water Resources Institute
07/05 to 12/06
This project implements Well Injection Depth Extraction (WIDE) technology for removal of JP-4 aviation fuel from the subsurface. Performance evaluation for deployment of WIDE will be performed with continuous monitoring for optimization of contaminant extraction. Base line comparison of expanded deployment pads to existing field installation will be conducted and results compiled to discern predominant mass transfer mechanisms (vapor, product, or aqueous phases).

Internet-Enable Laboratory Experiences for Undergraduate Civil Engineering Students
V.C. Matzen, M.A. Gabr, and Abhinav Gupta
National Science Foundation
07/03 to 06/06
This study is aimed at adaptation of recent developments in information technology for incorporation of internet-enabled civil engineering laboratory experiments in undergraduate structures and geotechnical courses. Faculty and students will be able to remotely access, run, and control these experiments either independently or in a classroom setting. Such a capability would facilitate the offering of these courses via distance learning program to provide opportunities for "non-traditional" students (e.g., part-time student, working parent, and career-changing adult) seeking careers in Civil Engineering. Implementation of this work will lead to enhancing the quality of undergraduate Civil Engineering courses and making laboratory curriculum widely accessible.

Traffic Control Design for Portable Concrete Barriers
A. Mirmiran and S. Rahman
North Carolina Department of Transportation
07/04 to 06/05
This project will focus on developing design aids and charts for portable concrete barriers in the state of North Carolina. Safe back distance behind these free standing barriers will be evaluated using finite element and impact analysis software for different boundary conditions and traffic configurations. The findings will be incorporated into the state's traffic control manual.

Fuzzy Neural Network Models for Geotechnical Problems Encountered by NCDOT
S. Rahman
NC Department of Transportation
07/04 to 12/05
The main objective of the proposed research is to: (i) develop a general framework and a computational toolbox for development of fuzzy neural network models to geotechnical problems, and (ii) to develop fuzzy neural network model for a variety of geotechnical problems of interest to NCDOT: (a) hammer approval, and (b) settlement prediction.

Analysis of the Characteristics of Seismic Ground Motion and Site Response Using Wavelets
S. Rahman
Unsponsored
01/03 to 07/05
In this study, wavelet analysis will be applied to some important aspects of geotechnical earthquake engineering. The main objective of the proposed study to develop an effective method of wavelet representation of earthquake motions, and to study the general characteristics of earthquake motions with a focus on their energy contents in time and frequency domains, and to develop stochastic analysis for nonlinear and nonstationary site response.