Considering the complexity of the construction industry, it is vital to predict costs accurately throughout the entire planning, design, and construction process of a project. Various factors such as overhead, delays, cost variation, and program and scope play significant roles in determining the viability and profitability of a project. Thus, it is important to learn about what makes construction estimates so variable even among expert estimators within the same company. This study will look at the estimation methods used by BurWil Construction Company and Denark Construction, Inc. for the ETSU Football Stadium and the ETSU Fine Arts Center, respectively, as case studies for both post- and in-development construction projects. The estimates used in different phases of the projects will be compared against the most current cost of the project; the final cost for the Football Stadium and the most up-to-date costs for the Fine Arts Center. Also, the different phases of design and construction and their corresponding estimates will be inspected thoroughly. As an ending discussion of the study, optimization efforts will be considered to assess how current planning and estimation methods can be improved to reduce cost and time for all parties involved in the project.

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Ground source heat pump (GSHP) systems are gaining recognition as a cost effective and green heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) alternative in the United States. Still, this technology is not highly utilized due to factors such as high initial investment, lack of confidence and uncertainties in cost items. This study focuses on the reflection of the variations in cost items on the feasibility and life-cycle cost of a typical GSHP system. For this purpose, life-cycle costs were calculated for a typical GSHP system and cost data was gathered for several projects. Possible variations on cost variables are defined. Then, the effect of these variations on life cycle cost is analyzed on a comparative basis with a conventional system. It was concluded that the GSHP systems may not be economically favorable over a conventional HVAC systems without current incentives in hot and humid climate regions.

The purpose of this research is to identify, analyze and evaluate the current Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) reports in DRB database and develop a utilized, user friendly lessons learned document for FDOT and contractor. The analysis of the reports in the DRB database illustrated that, most common disputes in governmental transportation projects in Florida are due to unforeseen conditions. Over the course of this research, lessons were developed according to the recommendations made by DRB agents at the end of each case in 262 reports. Parties involved in a FDOT project can check this document to avoid recurrence of the negative outcomes and promote recurrence of the positive outcomes.

Currently, regardless of the height of a reinforced masonry wall, engineers are required to consider moment magnification when using strength design provisions. An attempt at finding reasonable h/r limits for consideration of moment magnification is explored. Moment-curvature diagrams were developed using a spreadsheet to define the behavior of 8 inch and 12 inch concrete masonry walls. A series of models were created with axial load, out-of-plane load, height, reinforcing, and wall width as variables. The models were loaded out-of-plane in a finite element program until failure. The results were organized to produce the moment magnification of each wall. Results were summarized to determine height to radius of gyration (h/r) ratio limits for consideration of moment magnification. For walls with axial loads over 5% of the compressive strength times the cross sectional area, practical limits were not found. The limits corresponded to short walls that would not aid engineers in design. For those walls with axial load of 5% and less, walls with h/r ratios of 24 or less would not have to consider the effects of moment magnification, walls with h/r ratios between 24 and 40 would use a simplified method of increasing the static moment by 10%, and walls with h/r ratios over 40 would have to consider current moment magnification procedures.

This thesis describes the design and evaluates the adequacy of the moment connection of an experimental two-span highway bridge designed by the Tennessee Department of Transportation. The Massman Drive bridge is an experimental design that unifies the construction economy of simple span bridges and the structural economy of continuous span bridges. The experimental connection, consisting of cover plates and kicker wedge plates, is used to connect the two adjoining girders over the center pier. As a result, the bridge is designed to function as a continuous bridge during the deck pour and behave compositely with the reinforced concrete deck under the live load. After completing a moment comparison analysis, it is concluded that the Massman Drive bridge indeed acts as continuous over the pier as it was designed. This thesis also compares the measured lateral wheel load distribution factors for two experimental two-span highway bridges designed by the Tennessee Department of Transportation. The measured load distribution factors were then compared to distribution factors from several methods commonly in use such as AASHTO 1996, AASHTO 2001 LRFD, and Henry’s Method. Results from American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) 1996 produced load distribution factors that were deemed to be conservative. Interior girder load distribution factors from both the DuPont Access and Massman Drive bridges compared well to the AASHTO 2001 Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) specifications. Exterior girder distribution factors compared well with Henry’s Method, while the values from AASHTO were consistently high. Also, the factors were consistent between the Massman Drive and DuPont Access bridges.

This thesis describes the design and evaluates the adequacy of the moment connection of an experimental two-span highway bridge designed by the Tennessee Department of Transportation. The Massman Drive bridge is an experimental design that unifies the construction economy of simple span bridges and the structural economy of continuous span bridges. The experimental connection, consisting of cover plates and kicker wedge plates, is used to connect the two adjoining girders over the center pier. As a result, the bridge is designed to function as a continuous bridge during the deck pour and behave compositely with the reinforced concrete deck under the live load. After completing a moment comparison analysis, it is concluded that the Massman Drive bridge indeed acts as continuous over the pier as it was designed.This thesis also compares the measured lateral wheel load distribution factors for two experimental two-span highway bridges designed by the Tennessee Department of Transportation. The measured load distribution factors were then compared to distribution factors from several methods commonly in use such as AASHTO 1996, AASHTO 2001 LRFD, and Henry’s Method. Results from American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) 1996 produced load distribution factors that were deemed to be conservative. Interior girder load distribution factors from both the DuPont Access and Massman Drive bridges compared well to the AASHTO 2001 Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) specifications. Exterior girder distribution factors compared well with Henry’s Method, while the values from AASHTO were consistently high. Also, the factors were consistent between the Massman Drive and DuPont Access bridges.

In green building there is a requirement for the collaboration of students from different disciplines in order to solve challenging problems. Successful collaboration depends on the establishment of a common understanding of the subject matter among those involved. To gain common understanding concept learning is critical. A concept learning process may be improved when factors affecting it are addressed. Prior knowledge and learning styles of the students may influence the way they learn concepts. This thesis is focused on studying the relationship between a concept learning process and prior knowledge and learning styles of students. An experiment was conducted by giving students concepts customized to their prior knowledge and learning styles. Tests were conducted at various stages and they were statistically analyzed with t-tests to determine if a difference existed between the two groups. The results indicated that the group which was given the customized material showed improvement in their concept learning over the group who were taught conventionally.

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