Project Abstracts: 2006 to 2007
Construction Engineering and Management
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 08/07
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. NC 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.
Pavement Marking Performance Analysis. J.E. Hummer and W. Rasdorf. NC Department of Transportation. 7/07 to 06/09
With an investment of $1 million after five years of data collection, the NCDOT requested that NCSU develop a pavement markings research plan in order to analyze relationships between pavement marking retroreflectivity values and variables such as marking color, marking age, pavement surface, and AADT. Understanding retroreflectivity performance over time is important to establishing a pavement marking strategy that maximizes the material's service life and minimizes the replacement of pavement markings that still have sufficient retroreflectivity. Furthermore, this understanding will enable the NCDOT to implement management strategies that achieve the Federal standards for minimum pavement marking retroreflectivity.
Sign Deterioration Analysis Layout Plan. J.E. Hummer and W. Rasdorf. NC Department of Transportation. 08/01/06 to 08/15/06
There is a need to better understand how the retroreflectivity of sign sheeting degrades over time in the field so that the NCDOT can better manage their sign assets. One way of obtaining this understanding is to establish a sign farm. While field measurement of in-place signs affords valuable data, there are uncontrollable factors that are faced when using only in-place signs (vandalism, natural damage, etc.). This project established a methodology and design for a sign farm in which a wide range of factors of interest can be fully controlled and measured. These include sign color, type, orientation, height, etc.
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.
Development of Traffic Data Input Resources for the Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Process. North Carolina Department of Transportation. Y.R. Kim, G. List, J. Stone, and W. Rasdorf. 07/07 to 06/09
The Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide for New and Rehabilitated Pavement Structures uses nationally based data traffic inputs and recommends that state DOTs develop their own site-specific and regional values. NCDOT recently completed an implementation plan for adopting the MEPDG, and two of the critical implementation recommendations addressed new data collection requirements for site-specific truck classification counts, truck axle load spectra, regional average seasonal adjustment factors, and forecasting methods for axle loads, as well as truck class volumes. This research project addresses these NCDOT traffic data and forecasting needs for implementing the MEPDG.
Sedimentation of Pervious Concrete. M. Leming. Portland Cement Association. 2006 to 2007
A one year to support Luis Mata in the study of potential problems with performance of pervious concrete pavement systems due to sedimentation, that is, blocking or filling voids, which can reduce storage capacity and permeability, associated with suspended solids and "bed load" of runoff from adjacent areas.
Testing of Glulam to Steel Connection for RDU Terminal C Renovation and Expansion. R. Nunez, D. Johnston, and E. Sumner. Western-Archer Construction. Fall 2006
Test and evaluate the performance of glue-laminated girder to steel girder connections for the new terminal building at the Raleigh-Durham International Airport.
Evaluation of Bond Characteristics of MMFX Steel. S. Rizkalla. MMFX Technologies Corporation. 07/05 to 06/07
The high-strength steel commercially known as Micro-composite Multi-structural formable (MMFX) steel could lead to potential savings through the use of lower reinforcement ratios due to its higher strength. However, a critical evaluation of the bond characteristics of MMFX steel with concrete is of paramount importance, especially if high strength is to be utilized. The proposed research will deeply investigate the bond behavior of MMFX steel to concrete. The first phase of the proposed research program will include the parameters believed to significantly affect the bond strength: concrete compressive strength, bar size, concrete clear cover, and confinement level.
Structural Behavior of Grancrete Material. S. Rizkalla. Grancrete. 01/07 to 06/08
The proposed research program is designed to examine a new type of concrete as material for construction of buildings, bridges and special infrastructural applications. The initial phase of the evaluation includes tests to determine the basic material characteristics of Grancrete including compressive strength, elastic modulus, tensile strength, creep, shrinkage, and toughness of materials. The second phase will include examining the behavior of Grancrete mixed with small aggregate to enhance the overall behavior as construction materials. Based on the findings, the research will be extended to include the behavior of Grancrete reinforced with steel reinforcements and fiber reinforced polymer materials.
Shear Behavior of MMFX Stirrups. S. Rizkalla. MMFX Technologies Corporation. 07/06 to 06/07
The objective of this test program is to determine the feasibility of using MMFX reinforcing bars as shear reinforcement for reinforced concrete structures. To achieve this objective, comparative tests will be conducted for shear critical reinforced concrete beams using both conventional steel and MMFX steel reinforcements. The experimental program consists of nine reinforced concrete beams of each series are further divided into 3 groups of 3 beams each. Within each group, the variable would be the amount of shear reinforcement - the minimum, the intermediate, and the maximum amounts.
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.
Construction Extension Development and Training. E.C. Weaver and R.A. Nuñez. Construction Extension Program and Institute of Construction. 07/05 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 2005-06, workshops and seminars were attended by 2,500 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.
©Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering
