Project Abstracts: 2007 to 2008
Geotechnical/Geoenvironmental Engineering
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 Crude Glycerol, United Soybean Board. R.C. Borden. United Soybean Board (through Smith, Bucklin & Associates, LLC). 07/07 to 06/08
Acid mine drainage (AMD) results when sulfide minerals are exposed to oxygen and water, resulting in sulfuric acid formation and dissolution of toxic heavy metals. Vadose zone contamination at mine sites can be treated by spraying crude caustic glycerol on the surface of the tailings pile. As the glycerol infiltrates down through the pile, the AMD is treated by residual NaOH present in the glycerol and anaerobic biodegradation of the sulfate producing sulfide. Field column experiments will be conducted to better understand this process and develop a simple design procedure for this process.
Comprehensive Performance Evaluation of Polymer Modified Hot Mix Asphalt Mixtures. Y.R. Kim and R.H. Borden. Korea Kumho Petrochemical Co., Ltd. 10/06 to 10/08
With the goal of accurate pavement performance evaluation, the PI and his co-workers at NCSU have been developing advanced models for hot-mix asphalt (HMA) mixtures under complex loading conditons. Over the past decade, they have been successful in developing material models that can accurately capture various critical phenomena such as: microcrack induced damage this is critical for fatigue modeling; strain rate-temperature interdependence; and viscoplastic flow that is critical for rutting evaluation The resulting model is termed the viscoelastoplastic continuum damage (VEPCD) model.
Impacts of Sampling and Handling Procedures on DNA- and RNA-based Microbial Characterization and Quantification of Groundwater and Saturated Soil. F.L. de los Reyes III and R.C. Borden. Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program. $487,955. 03/07 to 06/09
The overall objective of this project is to determine the relationships of sample processing procedures to the effectiveness and efficiency of three molecular techniques used in qualitative and quantitative analysis of microbial populations in groundwater and associated saturated soil samples.
Effect of Gradation on Predicted Performance of Aggregate Base Course. T.M. Evans and A.A. Tayebali. North Carolina Department of Transportation. 01/08 to 12/08
The primary objectives of this research are to evaluate the effect of aggregate gradation on the mechanical properties of the ABC materials; and to develop numerical model(s) based on the discrete element method (DEM) to predict mechanical properties with changes in gradation. The DEM models will also provide insight into the underlying micromechanics that may contribute to variations in material performance as a function of ABC gradation. It is anticipated that this research study will result in performance-related criteria that can be incorporated into the NCDOT Standard Specifications that are used for acceptance of ABC material for pavement structure.
Nanoscale Modeling of the Behavior of Natural and Augmented Clays. O. Rojas, T.M. Evans, J. Baugh, and M. Guddati. NCSU College of Natural Resources Extramural Proposal Development Fund. 02/01/08
A new numerical approach for the simulation of clay is proposed. Rather than traditional continuum numerical methods or bench-scale physical approaches, the work focuses on simulating clays in a fundamental particulate manner. Since each particle is simulated individually based on its physiochemical interactions with its surroundings, it will be possible to simulate the response of systems as varied as disperse solutions of clay with other chemicals (e.g., consumer applications), bioaugmentation of clay (e.g., geotechnical applications), and time-release compounds (e.g., pharmaceutical pills). It is envisioned that the proposed effort will lead to a robust methodology for predicting clay behavior at all natural and engineering scales.
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.
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 08/07
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 the NC Department of Transportation, including spread footings and columns supported on drilled shaft foundations. The research tasks 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.
Development of Undercut Criteria and Alternatives for Subgrade Stabilization. M. Gabr and R.H. Borden. NC Department of Transportation. 08/07 to 08/09
The main objective of the proposed project is to develop undercut criteria for different site conditions and provide tools for identifying depth of undercut, as well as alternative or supplemental approaches to improving soil bearing properties and workability. The approach to be developed will be supplemented with the use of expedient in situ probing technique, such as shear vane or Dynamic Cone Penetromenter (DCP), which are currently used by NCDOT but not necessarily to define undercut criteria. The research work will encompass laboratory and field work as well as modeling and analysis of data.
©Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering
