Project Abstracts: 2007 to 2008
Costruction Engineering and Management
Investigation of Highway Asset Inventory and Data Collection Methods
NC Department of Transportation;
R. Kim, J. Hummer, M. Gabr, D. Johnston (04/01 to 12/08)
The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) is co-hosting a National Workshop on Highway Asset Inventory and Data Collection in September 2008. Four infrastructure elements have been identified as the focal areas for the workshop: 1) pavements, 2) bridges, 3) geotechnical features and drainage, and 4) roadside appurtenances. To evaluate the accuracy of various asset data collection technologies, vendors for these technologies will be invited and will test selected test sections. Research is needed to develop an experimental design for the vendor testing, to perform ground truth testing of the test sections, and to analyze the data from vendors to compare against the ground truth measurements.
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 to Fall 2007)
Test and evaluate the performance of glue-laminated girder to steel girder connections for the new terminal building at the Raleigh-Durham International Airport.
Life Cycle Inventory and Impact Analysis Framework for Nonroad Construction Vehicles and Equipment Based
H.C. Frey and W.J. Rasdorf; National Science Foundation (08/03 to 08/07)
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 impact.
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.
I/UCRC Center, "Repair of Buildings and Bridges with Composites (RB2C). S. Rizkalla. National Science Foundation. 07/02 to 06/08
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.
NSF - I/UCRC - RB2C - Mistubishi Chemical FP America
S. Rizkalla; (07/02 to 06/08)
The project investigates the use of high modulus carbon fiber polymer (CFRP) material for strengthening steel structures and bridges. The material in use now is in the form of sheets and strips bonded to the tension surface of steel structures. The first phase includes selection of the appropriate resin and bond characteristics of the material. The second phase is to test large-scale steel monopoles strengthening with different materials, configurations and subjected to static and fatigue loading conditions. The study will be continued to include the environmental effect on the strengthening system.
An Innovative Bridge Deck System
NSF - I/UCRC - RB2C - Martin Marietta Composites; S. Rizkalla
(07/02 to 06/08)
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.
Bond Behavior of SAS High Performance Steel
S. Rizkalla;
SAS Stressteel, Inc.
(04/04 to 07/07)
This project will evaluate the bond characteristics of the SAS high tensile strength steel using end-block and splice beam test specimens according to the ICC specifications.
Debonding Failure in CFRP Strengthened Steel Structures
X. Zhao (Monash University), S. Rizkalla & R. Al-Mahaidi (Monash University); Australian Research Council (01/05 to 12/07)
The research will make a breakthrough in understanding the bond characteristics between CFRP and steel. It will enhance the capacity of Australian researchers to participate in a new cutting-edge research area, and help create a vibrant new industry for strengthening steel structures. The project will contribute to improved cost efficiency and safety of steel structures thereby contributing to the socio-economic well being of Australia and the USA including road, offshore, building and mining industries.
RC Beams Strengthened with Near Surface Mounted FRP
Jin-Guang Teng, S. Rizkalla and B. Taljsten (Sweden); Hong Kong National Research Council (01/05 to 12/07)
The project investigates the use of fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) material to strengthen reinforced concrete (RC) beams to increase their flexural and shear capacity. The project at Hong Kong will focus on installing these materials into the tension zones of the flexural members using the near surface mounted technique. The project complements the research in progress at North Carolina State University sponsored by the North Carolina Department of Transportation using 43-year old prestressed c-channels and AASHTO girders. The research findings will be greatly enhanced by the collaboration with the University of Technology, Sweden.
Evaluation of Bond Characteristics of MMFX Steel
S. Rizkalla.
NSF - I/UCRC - RB2C - MMFX Technologies Corporation (07/05 to 12/09)
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 it's higher strength. The proposed research will 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. Three universities are participating in this study, namely, University of Texas at Austin, The University of Kansas, and North Carolina State University. Each university will test twenty-two full-scale splice beams for the first phase of the program.
Behavior of Concrete Sandwich Panels Reinforced with CFRP Grid
S. Rizkalla; AltusGroup (08/06 to 07/07)
The objective of the study is to determine the behavior of prestressed concrete sandwich panels under the effect of gravity and simulated wind loading conditions. The panels are reinforced transversely by a new innovative carbon fiber reinforced polymer to achieve composite action under the combined gravity and wind load. The research consists of an experimental program which included testing of six full-scale sandwich panels varying from 20 to 40 feet. All panels will be tested under fatigue and monotonic loading conditions to failure.
Structural Behavior of Grancrete Material
S. Rizkalla; NSF - I/UCRC - RB2C - Grancrete Corporation (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. In the initial phse, the evaluation will include 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 examine 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.
Development of Rational Design Methodology for Precast, Prestressed Concrete Spandrel Beams
S. Rizkalla and P. Zia;
NSF - I/UCRC - RB2C - Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (07/06 to 06/09)
The goal of the proposed research is to develop appropriate design procedures and to simplify the detailing requirements for precast, L-shaped spandrel beams. The research includes an extensive experimental program designed to test prototype precast L shaped spandrel beams and an analytical phase based on non-linear finite element techniques.
Developing a Telematics Platform for Bridge Monitoring and Health Prognositcs
S. Rizkalla (National Science Foundation; Supplement to RB2C Center (07/07 to 06/09
The approach proposed in this TIE project integrates the extensive research on physics of bridge damages and instrumentation of bridge monitoring system, conducted at the RB2C Center, with the feature-based smart prognostic agent, namely the Watchdog Agent® developed by the IMS Center, to accurately quantify and predict bridge deterioration. The major merit of this work will be the initiation of a combined physics-statistics-based prognostics approach, which expands and integrates the theories and tools developed in RB2C and IMS. The developed methodology will bring about innovation to predict bridge deterioration and provide a general framework for prognostic bridge health management for next-generation intelligent transportation maintenance systems.
Basalt Fiber Reinforced Cementitious Matrix Composites for Infrastructure Repair
S. Rizkalla.
National Science Foundation (Supplement to RB2C Center) (07/07 to 06/09)
The project focuses on the strengthening and upgrade of existing reinforced concrete (RC) structures using a new class of composites made of basalt fibers embedded in a cement-based matrix (BFRC). Basalt fibers are manufactured in a single-stage process by melting naturally occurring basalt rock. The BFRC confining system represents a promising solution to overcome limitations of current fiber-reinforced-polymer (FRP) systems that make use of carbon or glass fibers impregnated with an epoxy resin. The research will first study the mechanical and durability performance of commercial grade basalt fibers and then of the system obtained by combining them with the cementitious matrix.
Development of Traffic Data Input Resources for the Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Process
Y.R. Kim, G. List, J. Stone, and W. Rasdorf; North Carolina Department of Transportation (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.
I/UCRC Center, "Repair of Buildings and Bridges with Composites (RB2C)" - Three Year Extension
S. Rizkalla; National Science Foundation (
08/07 to 08/10)
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 Miami, Florida. 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.
©Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering
