Project Abstracts: 2004 to 2005
Construction Engineering and Management
Interrelationships Between Success and Learning Strategies Applied by Engineering Students. L.E. Bernold. National Science Foundation. 07/02 to 06/05
This project investigates the study skill and habits of Engineering Freshmen in order to identify deficiencies that can be remedied. One of the key goals is to help more of the failing students, 43% in the first year in college, to succeed by empowering them to learn efficiently. The first papers that have been published have received two best paper awards at international conferences.
Field Studies with Innovative Safe Excavation Technologies. L.E. Bernold. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. 09/01 to 05/05
Trenching and pipe-laying are some of the most dangerous operations in construction. This project is designed to address this issue by eliminating the need for laborers to enter the trench at all. In the three year study, we will design and build the necessary hardware and test its effectiveness in the field. Also included in the work is the further development of an innovative buried utility detection system that will provide the operator the means to scan the ground before any digging motion.
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. 0704 to 06/05
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. 07/03 to 6/05
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 06/05
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. 7/04 to 6/05
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 2004-2005, 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.
©Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering
