Civil and Environmental Engineering
Oklahoma State University Geothermal Smart Bridge
This proposal describes a project aimed at research,
development, and technology transfer associated with a bridge deck heating
system to eliminate preferential icing. The proposed bridge deck-heating system
(1) is hydronic, i.e., a heated fluid is circulated through tubes embedded in
the bridge deck; (2) makes use of a ground source heat pump system, which
recovers energy stored in the earth, and uses it to heat the fluid circulated
through the bridge deck; (3) is automatic, integrates with the available
intelligent transportation systems and makes use of local and remote weather
stations to forecast potential icing conditions; and (4) is expected to enhance
both safety, by eliminating preferential icing conditions, and bridge deck
life, by eliminating the application of salt on the bridge and reducing
corrosion of the reinforcing steel.
Sponsor: Federal
Highway Administration
PIs: M. Samir Ahmed
Division of Engineering Technology: Marvin D. Smith
School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering: Jeffrey D.
Spitler, Daniel E. Fisher, Ronald D. Delahoussaye
School of Chemical Engineering: J. Rob Whiteley
Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering: Ronald L. Elliott
Environmental Institute: Edward T. Knobbe
Documenting Public Agency Responses to I-40 Bridge
Collapse
On May 26, 2002, the I-40 bridge over the Arkansas River in
eastern Oklahoma collapsed. This tragic event set off a chain of actions by a
variety of public agencies ranging from recovery to damage assessment to debris
clearing to reconstruction. Recognizing that there is much to learn from how
these public agencies responded to the collapse, Oklahoma Department of
Transportation (ODOT) asked the Oklahoma Transportation Center (OTC) to
interview all the agencies and to document how they responded to the collapse.
Thus, by providing an objective, comprehensive documentation of responses, the
ODOT and the other agencies will have a mechanism with which to learn what
worked well and what did not. The result will hopefully be an even more
effective set of responses should a similar event occur in the future.
Sponsor: Oklahoma
Department of Transportation
PIs: Charles M.
Bowen, Gorman Gilbert
Evaluation of Permanent Formed Metal Decking as
Lateral-Torsional Bracing in Bridges
This project will investigate and
synthesize the current information published addressing use of permanent
metal-formed decks as lateral-torsional bracing in bridges. On-site
observations of testing and results of current research will be included to
supplement previous work in the area.
Sponsor: Oklahoma
Transportation Center for Oklahoma State University
PI: Charles M. Bowen
Treating Swine Waste Using Laboratory Scale Anaerobic
Sequencing Batch Reactors (ASBR)
The immediate objectives of this research are: (1) Conduct
bench-scale studies to determine the ASBR operational parameters for maximizing
methane production and nutrient uptake into biosolids, and 2) Modify the
International Association of Water Quality (IAWQ) model to simulate performance
of the ASBR to meet treatment goals.
Sponsor:
Environmental Institute’s Water Research Center
PIs: William W.
Clarkson
Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering: Jerald A. Lalman
Guidelines for Using Prime and Tack Coats
The objective of the research project would be to develop a
guide publication for the Central Federal Lands Highway Division (CFLHD)
project development and field personnel that would provide decision-making
guidance on how to use, when to keep, and when to eliminate prime and tack
coats. Development of the guide publication would entail review of available
literature and a review of CFLHD current construction specifications and
construction procedures. Review of available literature would include searching
the TRIS database, AASHTO, TRB and National Cooperative Highway Research
Program publications, and manufacturer and supplier literature. A survey of
state Department of Transportations in the CFLHD region would be performed to
provide insight on current practice.
Sponsor: United
States Department of Transportation – Federal Highway Administration
Central Federal Lands Highway Division
PI: Stephen A. Cross
Durability of Cost Effective Timber Pile Repair
Techniques to Moisture Cycling
A series of experimental tests will be performed to develop
knowledge on how moisture cycling affects the structural performance of
repaired timber piles. Repaired timber pile specimens will be subjected to
accelerated moisture cycling tests in the laboratory. The pile repair technique
will consist of replacing the decayed core with aggregate injected with epoxy
and providing material confinement with fiberglass reinforcement. Control
specimens will be compression tested before moisture cycling. Then experimental
specimens will be compression tested after being subjected to an increasing
number of moisture cycles.
Sponsor: Oklahoma
Transportation Center for Oklahoma Department of Transportation
PI: Robert N.
Emerson
Evaluation and Development of Cost Effective Timber Pile
Repair Techniques
A cost effective timber pile repair technique will be
evaluated and developed. The first of three steps is to remove severely decayed
wood material and treat the remaining wood to prevent future decay. Next, the
removed wood material was replaced with epoxy to provide compression strength.
Third, the timbers were wrapped in glass fiber to provide material confinement.
Sponsor: Oklahoma
Transportation Center for Oklahoma State University
PI: Robert N.
Emerson
Flexural Strength of Concrete Reinforced with Carbon
Fibers
This project will explore the feasibility of using carbon
fibers to enhance the flexural strength and toughness of Portland cement
concrete. Carbon fiber reinforced concrete specimens will be tested to
determine the mechanical properties of those specimens.
Sponsor: Conoco,
Inc.
PI: Robert N.
Emerson
Partnerships for Advancing Technologies in Housing:
Engineered Wood Frame Wall Panel System Integrating Prefabricated Truss
Technology
An engineered wood frame wall panel system will be
investigated that integrates prefabricated metal plate connected truss
technology with conventional wood frame wall construction. The wall panel
system will be readily adaptable to current construction techniques and
applications as well as future materials. The engineered wall panel system will
be superior to conventional wood frame construction in the following way:
affordability, durability, environmental impact, and safety.
Sponsor: National
Science Foundation
PI: Robert N.
Emerson
Oklahoma Transportation Center (OTC)
This project sets forth a working relationship between the
Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) and the Oklahoma Transportation
Center (OTC). The goal of this proposed relationship is to bring the resources
of the Oklahoma universities to bear on important transportation issues in the
state and to do so in a cooperative and effective manner.
Sponsor: Oklahoma
Department of Transportation
PI: Gorman Gilbert
Civil Engineering Student Design Squad FY03
Seven OSU undergraduate students
will be scheduled to perform tasks assigned by ODOT Roadway Design Supervisor.
Tasks will include, but not be limited to, designing and drafting highway
plans, calculating quantities, completing checklists and other items of work.
Sponsor: Oklahoma
Department of Transportation
PI: Gorman Gilbert
Analytical Quantification of the Basic Problems of
Pavement Behavior Under the Action of Sustained Loading
The goal of this project will be to simplify some extremely
abstract mathematical work and apply it to a slightly idealized
pavement/substrate problem. This will obtain an exact analytical solution to
such a problem using the most modern mathematical methods.
Sponsor: Oklahoma
Transportation Center for Oklahoma State University
PI: G. Steven Gipson
Static and Fatigue Behavior of Threaded Drillstring
Connectors
This project will evaluate the static behavior and fatigue
performance of tubular threaded
drillstring connections, which are being considered for use
in Unocal’s offshore deepwater projects. The experimental project scope
will consist of twenty-four tests on three specimen sizes.
Sponsor: Unocal
Corporation
PI: John P. Lloyd
Thor Connector Fatigue Testing
Oklahoma State University proposes a research program to
evaluate the fatigue performance of the Thor Intervention riser.
Sponsor:
Wyman-Gordon Limited
PI: John P. Lloyd
Using Artificial Neural Network Models to Determine
Contaminant Sources
The utility of employing
Artificial Neural Network architecture to the determination of sources of groundwater
contamination is to be evaluated at Tinker AFB. Groundwater contamination at
large industrial facilities such as Tinker AFB can occur frequently. In many
cases the source or sources of this contamination is unknown. Inverse modeling
has been applied to this problem at other locations with mixed results. The
current project combines inverse modeling and artificial neural networks in an
attempt to identify previously unknown source areas of groundwater
contamination at Tinker.
Sponsor: Automated
Sciences Group, Inc.
PI: William F.
McTernan
Evaluating the State of the State’s Bridges: A
Systematic Review of the Bridge Inspection System
The project as envisioned is a multi-phased approach that
will build upon information collected in each of three phases of research. The
three phases are envisioned as the following: (1) Quantify the data from the
available bridge inspections; (2) Inspect a statistically relevant sample of
bridges to determine the condition of the bridges relative to the current
inspection reports; (3) Help the State Bridge Engineer develop
retrofit/repair/replacement strategies.
Sponsor: Oklahoma
Transportation Center for Oklahoma Department of Transportation
PIs: Bruce W.
Russell, Charles M. Bowen
Investigation Admixture IPANEX for Use in Bridge Decks
This project outlines the work plan necessary to adequately
assess the effects of IPANEX on hardened concrete properties. The research will
also judge what important effects that the admixture may have on the fresh
concrete properties and on concrete curing; all of these factors affect the
long-term performance of the concrete materials. The work plan necessarily
includes sampling at the construction site, laboratory investigations, and
analysis of the results and a synthesis of the information into a final
research report.
Sponsor: Oklahoma
Transportation Center for Oklahoma Department of Transportation
PI: Bruce W. Russell
Investigation of Stainless Steel Clad Reinforcement for
Bridge Decks
This project outlines the work plan necessary to adequately
assess the efficacy of the stainless steel clad reinforcement, with the overall
goal of examining the design issues, constructability and the serviceability of
the stainless steel clad reinforcement. The work plan necessarily includes work
at the construction site, laboratory investigations, and analyses of the
results and a synthesis of the information into a final research report.
Sponsor: Oklahoma
Transportation Center for Oklahoma Department of Transportation
PI: Bruce W. Russell
Transfer, Development, and Splice Length for
Strand/Reinforcement in High-Strength Concrete
The main objective of this study is to develop recommended
revisions as appropriate to the AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications for
normal weight concrete having compressive strengths up to 18 ksi, relating to:
(1) Transfer and development length of pre-stressing strand with diameters up
to 0.62 inches, and (2) Development and splice length in tension and
compression of individual bars, bundled bars, and welded wire reinforcement and
development length of standard hooks.
Sponsor: Purdue
University for the National Academy of Sciences/National Cooperative Highway
Research Program
PI: Bruce W. Russell
Development of a 511 Traveler Information Program
Deployment Plan for Oklahoma
The Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) wishes to
develop a deployment plan for the “511 Travelers’ Assistance
Program” outlined in 66 FR 141 (1999). The 511 Plan will include projects
currently under development through the Intelligent Transportation System (ITS)
program. The 511 Plan can also employ information infrastructure (fiber optic
lines) currently owned by ODOT and the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (OTA). The
511 deployment plan will be developed through a cooperative agreement between
Oklahoma State University and the University of Oklahoma. Input will be sought
from stakeholders, requirements of the 511 program will be determined, and a
deployment plan produced that stresses affordability, ease of administration,
and the needs of stakeholders.
Sponsor: Oklahoma
Department of Transportation
PI: Dee Ann Sanders
Environmental Impact Assessment on Fuel Jettisoning
The scope of this project was to review an environmental
impact assessment on aircraft fuel jettisoning activities specific to OC-ALC
weapon systems and operations, local weather patterns, and surrounding
environmental compliance restraints. The main objective was to apply a complete
model simulation of the Center that identifies and quantifies the environmental
impacts on the local ecosystems.
Sponsor: Automated
Sciences Group, Inc.
PI: Dee A. Sanders
Technology Transfer for the Domestic Petroleum Industry
This project will develop and conduct workshops for
petroleum environmental regulators in Oklahoma and Arkansas and for Exploration
& Production (E&P) inspectors with the Osage Agency of the Bureau of
Indian Affairs. Prior to the workshops, extensive interviews with regulatory
personnel and independent producers will be done to identify the most relevant
environmental problems for which the E&P sector is seeking solutions.
Sponsor: University
of Tulsa Integrated Petroleum Environmental Consortium
PIs: Dee A. Sanders
Engineering Extension: George F. Collington
Linear Scheduling Program Development
Linear Schedules are used for construction activities that
span over long distances such as fiber optic cables, pipelines, highways, and
utility projects. This research involves computerizing the linear scheduling
model; adding algorithms for critical path calculations, earned value analysis,
and analysis of delay effects.
Sponsor: Willbros
USA, Inc.
PI: G. Rock Spencer
A Prioritizing Methodology for Scour-Critical Culverts in
Oklahoma
This research investigation has the following tasks: (1)
obtain the detailed inventory listing of scour-critical culverts from the
Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) Bridge Division; (2) select the
culvert span for each scour-critical culvert from the ODOT files; (3) determine
the average daily traffic (ADT) from the ODOT data; (4) evaluate the soil type
at each of the culvert locations; (5) prepare an Excel spreadsheet ranking of
scour-critical culverts; and (6) compile a report including data and analysis
from the first five tasks.
Sponsor: Oklahoma
Transportation Center for Oklahoma State University
PI: Avdhesh K. Tyagi
Validation and Modeling of Water Distribution Network
This research investigation has the following tasks: (1) to
research and collect the information on waterline sizes, loops, tanks, valves,
and a base map showing the location of distribution systems; (2) to set up the
water distribution model using WaterCad and enter information collected in Task
1 into the computer model; (3) to collect pressure information at selected
locations in the distribution systems and calibrate the model using pressure
data; (4) to determine the pressure distribution from the model for the City
scenario of replacement schedule of pipes in the distribution systems; (5) to
compute the pressure distribution from the model for the OSU scenario of the replacement
schedule of pipes; and (6) to submit a report containing the details of the
developed model, calibration data, and pressure distributions for the City
scenario and the OSU scenario.
Sponsor: City of
Minco
PI: Avdhesh K. Tyagi
Gas Phase Corona Technology for Treatment of VOC Paint
Booth Emissions
This research project has four phases. The first phase will
utilize OSU’s most recent plasma design which is scalable by constructing
many small reactors and packing them like straws in a can. This phase will
focus on assessing the destruction efficiency of the VOCs contained in typical
exhaust from a paint booth by the plasma reactor. The second phase of the
project will size and construct/purchase the requested adsorption technology to
concentrate the VOCs, and investigate the most effective manner (likely steam)
to release these VOCs back into the air phase so they can be directed to the
plasma reactor for destruction. Phase three of the project will involve the
scale-up calculations and actual construction of a plasma reactor to handle the
specified airflow rates. The fourth and final phase will involve testing the
large-scale plasma reactor both with and without the pre-concentrator adsorber
system to assess system performance, and develop detailed operational costs and
maintenance costs.
Sponsor: Altech
Services, Inc.
PIs: John N.
Veenstra,
School of Chemical Engineering: Gary L. Foutch, Arland H.
Johannes
Industrial Wastewater Treatment Plant (IWTP) Toxic
Release Inventory Emissions
This project will investigate options for the IWTP at the
Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center at Tinker Air Force Base to identify and
quantify all air emissions, as required by federal, state, and local regulating
agencies. The objective will improve/validate the accuracy, reliability, and
repeatability of target pollutant emissions estimates through monitoring,
process unit sampling, and computer modeling.
Sponsor: CH2M Hill,
Inc.
PI: John N.
Veenstra, Gregory G. Wilber, William F. McTernan, Dee A. Sanders
State of the Art Review of Lamella Separators to Treat
Water Associated with Dredging Operations
The goals and objectives of this study are to produce a
literature review on the potential use of lamella separators (both tube and
plate type) for reducing the solids in the water that runs off/out of confined
disposal facilities (CDF).
Included will be information on: 1) The current state of the
art in this technology; 2) Where it may be possible to go with this technology
if it were applied to CDFs; 3) Design values, unit configurations and what
equipment is commercially available; 4) The study will be particularly
concerned with determining the range of flow rates and solid loadings this type
of unit could take and still function properly. It will investigate how the systems
perform under extreme loadings, which will involve obtaining information
manufacturers of the units; 5) Possible abrasion of equipment by solid
particles, and field experience with such problems (if available); 6)
Maintenance history of equipment in similar services (if available); 7) Special
considerations for relocating lamella systems in different areas of a CDF
system; 8) The study may also lead to suggestions for modifications to the
existing systems to allow them to work under the conditions present in CDFs.
Sponsor: United
States Army Corps of Engineers
PI: John N. Veenstra
Tinker AFB Industrial Wastewater Treatment Plant (IWTP)
Performance Evaluation
The objective of this project was to identify process unit
weaknesses and bottleneck that currently place restrictions on Tinker’s
IWTP performance. This was accomplished through a review of historic operating
data and hydraulic/performance modeling studies.
Sponsor: Automated
Sciences Group, Inc.
PI: John N. Veenstra
Analysis of Temperature Effects on Sludge Treatment at
the Tinker AFB Industrial Water Treatment Plant
The specific objectives of this project included the
following: (1) investigating the effect of temperature on the current solids
removal/coagulation process; (2) investigating alternate coagulant addition
schemes to better respond to temperature effects; (3) determining the effect of
these schemes on metals removal; and (4) developing recommendations to allow
plant operators to better respond to changes in wastewater temperature.
Sponsor: Automated
Sciences Group, Inc.
PI: Gregory G.
Wilber
Improved Sludge Dewatering at the Tinker Air Force Base
Industrial Wastewater Treatment Plant (IWTP)
Recent advances in sludge
dewatering processes will be investigated for applicability at the Tinker AFB
IWTP. This research project has four primary phases: (1) analysis of existing
units; (2) review of process control options; (3) recommendations for facility
upgrades; and (4) cost analysis. A variety of process control options will be
investigated to determine which can be used most effectively for management of
sludge dewatering units.
Sponsor: CH2M Hill,
Inc.
PIs: Gregory G. Wilber, John N. Veenstra