Master of Science / Department of Architectural Engineering and Construction Science / Kimberly W. Kramer / This report is designed to be a valuable tool for any engineer who has had proper instruction in load paths and knowledge of structural steel design but is not familiar with truss systems and has never designed a long-span steel truss. In other words, for someone who knows the math and concepts but not the means, methods, and practical limitations of truss design. By applying their knowledge of engineering concepts and some good judgment with the information in this report they will be able to design an efficient truss. The type of truss considered has a span of 100’ to 200’, is parallel chord, one-way, simply spanned, and constructed of steel. The trusses are evaluated for typically gravity loading and analyzed in two dimensions. Aspects from analysis, layout, fabrication, erection, and transportation are investigated to find ideal methods of design and practical limitations for this type of truss. Once this information is learned it can be to be applied to an individual truss on an individual basis. Engineers need to realize that even though a truss could be designed with the most efficient use of steel it may not be the most economic solution. One must also realize too many variables are present to form rules or equations to always yield the perfect truss. Only by coupling proper design and analysis with knowledge of fabrication and erection will one be able to design an efficient truss.

Master of Science / Department of Civil Engineering / Robert J. Peterman / This thesis details findings from testing done to determine bond and time-dependent characteristics of two lightweight concrete mixes. The lightweight mixes were tested to possibly provide a more cost-effective solution to replacing some of Kansas’ older bridges. Testing included use of a conventional lightweight mix and a self-consolidating lightweight mix. Sixteen Inverted T-beams were cast at a prestress plant to determine prestress losses that had occurred in the two lightweight mixes. These losses were compared to ACI, PCI, and AASHTO code equations. Creep and shrinkage prisms were also cast and measured to accurately determine creep and shrinkage variables for the two lightweight mixes. Twelve flexural beams were also cast at the prestress plant and tested at Kansas State University’s Civil Engineering Structures Laboratory to experimentally test development lengths of the lightweight mixes and to compare results with ACI code equations. This study found compressive strengths of the lightweight concrete mixes varied greatly from laboratory testing. Low concrete strengths caused the prestress losses to be greater than the predicted code values. Flexure beam testing showed several of the beams were subject to strand slip, causing a sudden violent failure.

Pore pressure exists ubiquitously in the Earth’s subsurface and very often exhibits a cyclic loading on pre-existing faults due to seasonal and tidal changes, as well as the impoundment and discharge of surface reservoirs. The effect of oscillating pore pressure on induced seismicity is not fully understood. This effect exhibits a dynamic variation in effective stresses in space and time. The redistribution of pore pressure as a result of fluid flow and pressure oscillations can cause spatial and temporal changes in the shear strength of fault zones, which may result in delayed and protracted slips on pre-existing fractures. This research uses an experimental approach to investigate the effects of oscillating pore pressure on induced seismicity. With the aid of geophysical techniques, the spatial and temporal distribution of seismic events was reconstructed and analysed. Triaxial experiments were conducted on two types of sandstone, one with low permeability (Fontainebleau sandstone) and the other with high permeability (Darley Dale sandstone). Cyclic pore pressures were applied to the naturally-fractured samples to activate and reactivate the existing faults. The results indicate that the mechanical properties of the sample and the heterogeneity of the fault zone can influence the seismic response. Initial seismicity was induced by applying pore pressures that exceeded the previous maximum attained during the experiment. The reactivation of faults and foreshock sequences was found in the Fontainebleau sandstone experiment, a finding which indicates that oscillating pore pressure can induce seismicity for a longer period of time than a single-step increase in pore pressure. The corresponding strain change due to cyclic pore pressure changes suggests that progressive shearing occurred during the pore pressure cycles. This shearing progressively damaged the existing fault through the wearing of asperities, which in turn reduced the friction coefficient and, hence, reduced the shear strength of the fault. This ‘slow’ seismic mechanism contributed to the prolonged period of seismicity. This study also applied a material forecast model for the estimation of time-to-failure or peak seismicity in reservoir-induced seismicity, which may provide some general guidelines for short-term field case estimations.

The focus of this project is highway construction zones and the impact of lane closures on traffic. By measuring throughput (the number of vehicles that can flow through a work zone in a given amount of time), analysis was performed to determine the factors that affect this value. Successful data collection uncovered a paradox. Often work zones would see no queuing, indicating the lane could have been closed for longer hours. Alternatively sites with forced flow allowed fewer vehicles through the site than expected, indicating that the design value is too high, requiring shorter lane closure hours. A generic model for throughput was developed as well as a better functioning highway specific model. In addition to these models, this project developed a spreadsheet-based form of analysis named SZUDA (Simplified work Zone User Delay Analysis) that determines queue length and approximate costs associated with road user delay.

The methodology of discrete-event simulation provides a promising alternative to solving complicated construction systems. Given the level of uncertainty that exists in the early estimation phase of mega-projects regarding cost and risk, project simulations have become a central part of decision-making and planning. In this paper, an attempt is made to compare the output generated by a model constructed under the Monte Carlo framework with that of Discrete-Event Simulation to determine the similarities and difference between the two methods. To achieve this, the Simphony modeling (DES) environment is used. The result is then compared to a Monte Carlo simulation conducted by Golder Associates.

A large proportion of water and wastewater systems have traditionally been analyzed and designed without the consideration of the nature, risk, and potential consequence of hydraulic transients. Recent advancements in numerical hydraulic modeling have spawned a specialty hydraulic field based on numerical transient analysis. The current practice within this field often lacks physical understanding and can be misguided by both the current knowledge, technology based limitations, and by the sole reliance on numerical models. This thesis aims to provide insights into some of the shortcomings of current practice and to develop the importance and application of field data based confirmations. The thesis examines the advances in the current field oriented technology for recording transient pressures, and provides examples and insights on how this data can be used both in conjunction with numerical modeling and on its own as a first step to a proposed frequency based transient risk assessment methodology. The thesis establishes definitions and a preliminary methodology for a Transient Risk Index.

Vehicular emissions contribute significantly to poor air quality in urban areas. An integrated modelling approach is adopted to estimate microscale urban traffic emissions. The modelling framework consists of a traffic microsimulation model, a microscopic emissions model, and two dispersion models. This framework is applied to a traffic network in downtown Toronto to evaluate summer time morning peak traffic emissions during weekdays for carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide. The model predicted results are validated against sensor observations with a reasonably good fit. Availability of local estimates of ambient concentration is useful for accurate comparisons of total predicted concentrations with observed concentrations. Both predicted and observed concentrations are significantly smaller than the National Ambient Air Quality Objectives established by Environment Canada. Sensitivity analysis is performed on a set of input parameters and horizontal wind speed is found to be the most influential factor in pollutant dispersion.

Infrastructure deterioration models are an integral part of asset management. Deterioration models are used to predict future asset condition and to estimate funding requirements. The purpose of this research is to develop a framework to create infrastructure deterioration models. An overview of the various types of deterioration models is included, presenting the advantages and disadvantages of each type. Existing deterioration model frameworks are also considered. A deterioration modelling framework is then proposed. The selection of the model type, calibration and validation is presented. The framework is then applied to two case studies. The first case study involves a comparison of three pavement deterioration models, created for the City of Oshawa for use in their asset management system. The second case study involves modelling sewer deterioration. This model has been developed to explore the relationship between age, material and deterioration in trunk sewers.

The methodology of discrete-event simulation provides a promising alternative to solving complicated construction systems. Given the level of uncertainty that exists in the early estimation phase of mega-projects regarding cost and risk, project simulations have become a central part of decision-making and planning. In this paper, an attempt is made to compare the output generated by a model constructed under the Monte Carlo framework with that of Discrete-Event Simulation to determine the similarities and difference between the two methods. To achieve this, the Simphony modeling (DES) environment is used. The result is then compared to a Monte Carlo simulation conducted by Golder Associates.

A large proportion of water and wastewater systems have traditionally been analyzed and designed without the consideration of the nature, risk, and potential consequence of hydraulic transients. Recent advancements in numerical hydraulic modeling have spawned a specialty hydraulic field based on numerical transient analysis. The current practice within this field often lacks physical understanding and can be misguided by both the current knowledge, technology based limitations, and by the sole reliance on numerical models. This thesis aims to provide insights into some of the shortcomings of current practice and to develop the importance and application of field data based confirmations. The thesis examines the advances in the current field oriented technology for recording transient pressures, and provides examples and insights on how this data can be used both in conjunction with numerical modeling and on its own as a first step to a proposed frequency based transient risk assessment methodology. The thesis establishes definitions and a preliminary methodology for a Transient Risk Index.