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Partitioning of finite strains in different domains within the limb and hinge regions of a fold can be used to understand the deformation processes operative during fold formation. Samples taken from the limb and hinge regions of a gently plunging, asymmetric, tight, mesoscale fold in the Erwin formation of the Blue Ridge in North Carolina were analyzed to determine the deformation mechanisms and strains associated with the folding event. Rf/phi grain shape fabric analysis was conducted for each sample and used to calculate the orientation and magnitude of the final grain shape fabric ellipsoids. Flexural folding and passive-shear folding models predict that the highest finite strains will be recorded in the hinge of a fold. The highest grain shape magnitudes recorded in the North Carolina fold, however, lie along the overturned fold limb. The final geometry of many folds indicates that hinge plane migration processes are active during compressive deformation events. Numeric, conceptual, and analogue based studies have demonstrated the migration of fold hinges during deformation. However, documentation of these processes in field based studies is rare and limited to techniques that are frequently site specific. Methods proven successful in natural studies include the analysis of superposed folding; the migration of earlier hinge-related features such as fractures, cleavage planes, and boudinaged bedding planes; and the kinematic analysis of syntectonic pressure shadows. The magnitude and orientation of the grain shape ellipsoids calculated for the North Carolina fold indicate that rocks in the overturned limb were once located in the hinge of the fold. Subsequent noncoaxial deformation processes operative during folding resulted in the migration of the hinge to its present orientation and position. This relationship indicates that it is possible to use strain/shape fabric analysis as a test for hinge migration in folds, and that this technique may be more generally applicable in natural settings than previously proposed tests. / Master of Science

In the early 20th century, downtown areas were the primary centers of commerce, industry, and cultural activity in many American cities. However, with the rise of suburbanization, many of these downtown areas began to experience economic decline and population loss. Factors that contributed to this decline included the decentralization of jobs and economic activity to suburban areas, as well as the increasing availability of affordable automobiles that allowed people to commute longer distances. As more people moved to the suburbs, downtown areas became associated with problems such as crime, poverty, and decay. This led to a further decline in urban areas as businesses and residents left for the suburbs. This is how the edge cities started to rise. Transit development is a significant impact on the shift of population to edge cities. The term "edge cities"was coined by Joel Garreau in his 1991 book "Edge Cities: Life on the New Frontier". which are suburban areas that have become significant employment centers and have developed downtown-like characteristics. These urban areas are driven by factors such as the desire for walkable neighborhoods, access to cultural amenities, and job opportunities that are like urban downtowns. The Thesis proposal explores combining both suburban and urban lifestyles resulting in a hybrid environment that offers the best of both worlds. It will provide the sense of community and neighborhood that is often found in suburban areas, along with the convenience and accessibility to urban amenities and services. The concept will be addressing how horizontal living (Suburban) and how vertical living (Downtown) would address a different lifestyle that will give access to a range of shops, restaurants, and entertainment options within a short walk or bike from home, as well as having park spaces and playgrounds connecting between the buildings will help to thrive for better and healthy communities. This project will also offer the benefits of urban living, such as the opportunity to work in a dynamic and diverse environment, access to cultural events and activities, and the convenience of public transportation. This idea of convergence is focusing on the newly proposed purple line transit corridor and Adelphi-West Metro Station, Maryland. It envisions a unique urban fabric that will set into action to reduce reliance on cars by promoting more sustainable way of life. / Master of Science / Rapid urbanization has impacted the natural landscape in the United States. The shift of population to suburbs in the United States was primarily driven by a combination of factors that arose in the mid-20th century, including the growth of automobile use, the development of the interstate highway system, and the expansion of affordable single-family homes in suburban areas. One of the main reasons people are moving to these areas is the job market, quality of life, and affordability. In recent years, there has been a growing trend of people moving from Washington, DC to the nearby communities of Bethesda and Silver Spring. Both places are easily accessible from downtown by means of transportation. These places are known for their vibrant downtown areas with a range of shops, restaurants, and cultural attractions. They also offer a few outdoor amenities, including park spaces, trails, and other recreational opportunities. This shift in population has been observed in many other areas on the Purple Line corridor. In these one of the major potential places would be Adelphi-West. This thesis is going to propose an adaptive master plan by critiquing the existing master plan for the Adelphi-West Metro Station in three strategic ways. Ecology Connectivity Efficient uses (spaces) Secondly, it is creating an urban fabric by providing a suburban and a downtown lifestyle that addresses achieving vibrant and diverse communities which offer a range of amenities, including shopping centers, restaurants, and entertainment venues, making them attractive destinations for both workers and residents.

Downtown Blacksburg, Virginia, is defined by the presence of the townâ s original sixteen blocks, situated in a four x four square gridded arrangement. The edges of the downtown area are loosely bounded by unique natural and architectural markers and by rules for urban development that contribute to the architectural vernacular of the town. Public spaces are activated by the company of these markers, and sometimes by the repudiation of the urban rules, and thus a secondary reading of public occupation within the downtown sphere manifests itself. This thesis project attempts to identify and analyze the rules and characteristics of Blacksburgâ s urbanity and to project those rules into a new feature of the downtown foursquare grid. A train station that occupies the vicinity of the historic â Huckleberryâ rail line characterizes, defines, and augments the public regions of downtown Blacksburg. / Master of Architecture

The electro-kinetic characteristics of different material bioreactor columns for treating water and waste water are experimentally studied. Separate columns of unsaturated gravels (~6mm) and ball clay were assessed for electro-kinetic characteristics by dosing water at a hydraulic loading rate of 50ml/min and 10ml/min. Similarly locally available organic materials such as sawdust, Moringa oleifera sheets and textile clothe pieces were also empirically analyzed. Size effects of the bio-reactor columns were also studied. The effluent from textile clothe and gravel reactor respectively showed an increase in pH while a depreciation in pH in the effluent was observed in the Moringa Oleifera reactor and sawdust reactor. This may be due to leaching of acidic organic components for sawdust and Moringa Oleifera . In gravels effluent pH depreciated with increase in flow rate but the general trend of the effluent pH curve showed an initial improvement before it slowed down to an asymptote for a specific constant dosage and height. A multi-parameter stochastic linear model for change in pH as a function of column height, dosage rate, time for specific volume discharge and change in electrical conductivity between influent and effluent was derived. A general stochastic model was also developed to characterize pH change in any bioreactor irrespective of the material media. Thirty centimeters of gravel exhibited an increase in conductivity with increase in flow rate while conductivity dipped with increasing flow rate when the gravel column height was halved. The measure of organic compounds in water decreased with increasing percolation rate through gravel. The chemical oxygen demand ratio within the gravel improved to unity showing increased containment of organic compounds with time. Organic textile clothes reactor also illustrated increased conductivity with increasing flow but conductivity dipped with increase in column height. For Moringa Oleifera reactors, a dosage of water at 10ml/min showed a significant improvement in conductivity with increase in column height. An initial depreciation in temperature curve was observed within clay and gravel reactor. With increase in depth there was an increase in temperature within the gravel as the saturation by water improved. In sawdust reactors this was not the trend. A birth process model is proposed to simulated temperature within a bioreactor as a function of time irrespective of any specific material used as bioreactor media.

Today, throughout the world, we are in the midst of a man-made environmental crisis. We must change how we consume and affect natural resources on the planet if we are to retain its richness of landscapes and biodiversity. It is our job as landscape architects to lead the way in changing the human relationship to natural resource consumption and building. My thesis asks the question, how can an understanding of landscape as a system give form to architecture? In natural systems nothing is wasted, everything is interconnected and self-sufficient at the same time. How can we model our buildings -- our built landscapes -- after nature? Three natural systems are key components to modeling nature: water, vegetation and energy. The landscapes that we have constructed for cars exemplify the problems we have ecologically. Cars produce greenhouse gases creating global warming. Highways and parking lots denude the vegetative habitat and lead to excessive water runoff polluting the watersheds. Solving the car problem goes a long way to setting an example for ultimately resolving ecological development issues. Cars are both the epitome of freedom and environmental degradation. Joni Mitchell put it eloquently with "they paved paradise put up a parking lot." My studio project is a mixed use parking facility fabricating the natural systems of water, energy and vegetation in order to mitigate environmental problems as well as resolve the practical necessity of where to put cars in crowded urban centers. Park Park puts the paradise back into the pavement. / Master of Landscape Architecture

The purpose of this research is to evaluate and compare the structural performance of composite floor slabs reinforced with 6 x 6 W1.4/W1.4 welded wire fabric (WWF) and STRUX 90/40 synthetic macro fibers. Slabs were subjected to flexural strength tests and concentrated load tests while monitoring load, steel deck strains, and deflections. Test results obtained from this test program were also compared to results from a similar test program conducted in 2001. Tests were also performed to obtain the average residual-strength of the fiber-reinforced concrete using the ASTM C 1399 (2003) standard test. All slabs were loaded until a complete failure was observed. The observed failure loads were compared to failure loads calculated by design guides published by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and the Steel Deck Institute (SDI). The flexural strength tests showed that composite slabs reinforced with synthetic macro fibers and WWF exhibited strength and behavior that was almost identical. The observed values of strength were also within the range that was predicted by ASCE prediction models. At a typical office design load of 70 psf, all slabs exhibited midspan deflections that were much smaller than those necessary for serviceability requirements. The concentrated load tests also showed that the observed strength of all composite slabs tested was above those values predicted by ASCE and SDI models. However, an effective comparison between the WWF-reinforced and synthetic macro fiber-reinforced slab was difficult due to a poor shear bond in the latter slab prior to testing. The results of the ASTM C 1399 test verified the ability of concrete reinforced with synthetic macro fibers to meet average residual-strength values recommended by the SDI. / Master of Science

Yes / Insurance claims processing involves multiple entities and data sources, necessitating communication between human agents. Consequently, vehicle insurance claims have traditionally required significant human effort and time. Daily vehicle-related transactions, including those managed by transportation authorities, pose challenges for tracking. Centralised systems have been utilised for national solutions, but trust management, transparency, and access control issues arise. There is potential for further integration of vehicle-related transactions. This article proposes a blockchain framework for vehicle insurance to streamline the reporting of accidents and filing of insurance claims. Blockchain-based automation platforms can enhance the scale and response time of claims processing, providing users with control over additional transactions, inspection, and insurance. For experimental purposes, a blockchain was created using Hyperledger Fabric to store information about vehicles, owners, and insurance. Efficient querying of this blockchain requires specific participants, assets, and transactions. The consensus algorithm can identify invalid claims if a transaction request contains an error. By deploying blockchain technology and smart contracts, this architecture has the potential to address trust and security concerns associated with traditional insurance policies and claims.

A study of moisture management in helmet padding compositions. Paddings popularly consist of a polyurethane foam in combination with an inner fabric worn next to skin. The materials consisted of one polyurethane foam and four different fabrics. Tests of moisture management and related properties were performed. The polyurethane foam showed no signs of moisture transport abilities. Among the fabrics, the more porous, mesh-like ones performed the best. The polyurethane foam did not show to have any significant influence on the moisture management of the fabrics.