This spraying method for thermoplastic resins is a new manufacturing process for applying thermoplastics to a mold or surface in an efficient way that has the potential of reducing cycle time. Spraying thermoplastic resins is similar to spraying other polymers, such as paint, with the differences being higher pressure and temperature. This method uses an injection molding machine with a modified nozzle to spray the plastic material. In this study, temperature, pressure, and nozzle size were factors that influenced the success of this spraying method. The method of spraying in this study proved spraying without a gas is possible, a statistical analysis of a series of sprayed samples was performed, and a summary of the results is presented. This study is the only known method to use these procedures. The purpose of this thesis is two fold. First, its purpose is to achieve a method of spraying thermoplastic resins without the use of a combustible material. Second, if the spraying method is found to be possible, the thesis investigates what factors, of those selected; have a significant influence on the result? There are other types of spraying plastic methods used currently in industry. One such method, described in the project, is called Flame Spraying. This method, as well as others, has proven to be useful in protecting metals, wood, and other materials from harsh environmental and chemical elements. The results of this study proved that gasless spraying of thermoplastic resin is indeed possible and with further research this method can lead to a new manufacturing process for producing plastic parts or coatings. Future studies can include modifying factors such as temperature, plastic, pressure, tooling, and methods.

Obtaining a building permit is an important step for any construction project. Whether it is for a new construction or a remodel job, the process involves a plan review performed by building officials. The purpose of this research was to explore ways in which Building Information Modeling (BIM) could be used to aid code officials during the plan review process. The objectives of the study were to determine if the level of detail in BIM was complete enough to allow a plan review to be perform accurately, to identify the extent to which architects are comfortable with using their models for the plan review, and to identify barriers to implementation. A case study was conducted where BIM was used to supplement the traditional 2D plans plan review process. Additionally, a survey was given to local architects to obtain their thoughts on using BIM in the plan review process. The research found that BIM has the potential of helping code officials visualize the project, extract information from objects, and allow them to have a better understanding of unique building features relationship to other building elements. Challenges of using BIM in the plan review process identified by architects included: the accuracy of the model, the level of detail modeled, legal implications, and ability of reviewers to use BIM.

Project managers have a major role in the construction and completion of projects. Much of their work consists of reviewing, clarifying, and coordinating information required by the field management and subcontractors performing the work on the job site. The assistance they give with the transfer of information helps with successfully completing projects. For many people, the largest indicator that a project was successful is that construction activities were completed on schedule. While finishing on schedule may be the primary focus of those involved with construction activities, projects still struggle to finish on time. The purpose of this study is to find out what construction industry professionals consider important skills, tools, and knowledge for helping project managers finish the projects they manage on schedule. Research results found the general topics of management and scheduling are the most important for project managers to understand. Within the topic of scheduling, the importance of material procurement ranked highest of the specified subcategories. Construction professionals also ranked working with subcontractors, understanding project documents, weekly project meetings, working with owners, and having interpersonal and communication skills as important topics that will help project managers keep their projects on schedule.

No description available.

Civil infrastructure construction sites including incomplete structures and unsecured resources are among the most vulnerable environments to hurricane conditions. Hurricane driven damages cause disruption of construction sites and considerable schedule delays, and thus negatively impact the efficiency of the construction projects. This research aims to study current best practices on securing construction sites from hurricane conditions and evaluate the performance of the preparedness plan. To do that, first, an interview-survey is conducted with key project personnel from multiple construction companies. Then, the insight from the interviews serves to do a Micro and Macro Environmental Analysis. For further analysis, a Balanced Scorecard is used to suggest metrics to measure and improve the performance of the Hurricane Preparedness Plan. The findings from this research improves the organizational processes and enhances the assessment of disaster preparedness, which ultimately generates new and highly specific knowledge on disaster mitigation and preparedness guidelines for construction sites.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the main causes of fall accidents and, to pinpoint the factors that influence the risk of falls in the U.S. construction industry. This study employed the Integrated Management Information System (IMIS) data from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to examine 9,141 fall accidents, recorded for the period of last 20 years. The results show that specialty trade contractors working on low-budget, residential housing and commercial building projects are more susceptible to fall accidents. In terms of fall height, 85% of the fall accidents occurred on heights less than 30 ft., and most of them are not equipped with a fall protection tool. The main contribution of this study is that it has specifically analyzed fall heights and the current state of usage of fall protection using actual accident data. Since there has been hardly any research done in the last decade to study falls in the U.S. construction industry, by examining the IMIS database; this study also presents updated analysis on fall accidents.

No description available.

Dr. Joseph Shrestha, Assistant Professor, ETSU Department of Engineering Technology shares that U.S. roads received a D-grade in the latest report card from American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). His presentation will discuss various aspects of U.S. roads; including funding sources, cost estimation, cost overruns, speed limits, and crash statistics.

The purpose of this research is to analyze the evolution of outdoor renovations on East Tennessee State University’s campus by examining the effects these renovations have had on students and faculty, and then using this data to propose possible successful renovations to the remainder of the University Commons project. To complete this project, data was obtained through East Tennessee State University administrative faculty interviews, surveys of students residing in campus resident halls, and observations. By examining the impact on behavior, designers and developers are then able to successfully determine the factors that aid in positively influencing human behaviors. Design suggestions were then proposed for the future development of Ross Drive, Pride Walk, and the second phase of the University Commons.

The principal objective of this study is to determine the accuracy of calculating stresses in concrete pavements and unbonded overlays under different loading conditions. The computed stresses for the single layer pavements are obtained based on Westergaard theory, the finite-element model (ILLI-SLAB), and the elastic layered model (ELSYM5). For the two-layer unbonded systems, stresses are estimated based on the finite-element theory and the Portland Cement Association design method. The experimental results for the comparison were available from a series of tests done on model scale concrete pavements and unbonded overlays. The results of present investigation show that the computed stresses for the single layer pavement slab are in good agreement with the observed stresses selected for this study, when the slab is loaded at the interior. When the pavement slab is loaded at the edge, the analytical methods give lower stresses and further investigation is recommended. On the other hand, the unbonded overlay of concrete pavement is thoroughly explored. The stresses as given by the analytical methods are, in general, of smaller magnitude than the observed ones in the unbonded overlay. The difference in the magnitude of stresses is considered attributable to the manner in which the stresses are distributed in the slab through the contact area with the load. A revised equation for the determination of the equivalent contact area is suggested to bring the analytical stresses in line with the experimental values. This revised formula is further verified in its application to some of the experimental stresses obtained from other tests and is found to give satisfactory results.