Studies are currently underway to determine the suitability of Yucca Mountain
in Nevada as the nation's first high-level nuclear waste repository. Values of net
infiltration are required to determine pre-waste emplacement groundwater travel times
and the performance of the repository as a waste containment system. The objective of
this study...
A comprehensive system to locate and track objects in two or three
dimensional space, using non-contact video sensing techniques is described. The
need exists to be able to quantify range and proximity of objects that would be
difficult or impossible to measure using standard contact based sensor technology.
Available video...
The seismic performance of port structures has been well documented following
recent earthquakes, and indicates that port structures are highly susceptible to earthquake-induced
damages. These damages are primarily due to soil liquefaction and the associated
ground failures. Sheet pile bulkheads provide vital intermodal and lifeline transportation
links between water-side and...
In 1996, Beach et al. first proposed the idea of mounting an echo-sounder on a Waverunner to measure nearshore beach profiles. This thesis discusses the Coastal Profiling System, an extension of the original work, which has been utilized to measure nearshore bathymetry at selected sites along the coasts of North...
The Steamboat Creek basin drains 227 mi² (588 km²) of steep forested terrain into the North Umpqua River of Southwest Oregon, 39
mi (63 km) northeast of Roseburg. Summer base flows for Steamboat Creek average 83 cfs (2.35 m³/sec). Steamboat Creek and its
tributaries are considered important to the production...
This study involves the development of a biofilm
reactor that supports growth of a deep biofilm on a gas
permeable membrane. The reactor solution is not aerated,
and oxygen is supplied through the membrane. The reactor
is termed a substratum-aerated-biofilm reactor or SAB.
With adequate concentrations of electron-donors and
electron-acceptors,...
Response behavior of a nonlinear structural system subject to environmental loadings
is investigated in this study. The system contains a nonlinear restoring force due to large
geometric displacement. The external excitation is modeled as a narrowband stochastic
process possessing dynamic characteristics of typical environmental loadings.
A semi-analytical method is developed...
Stochastic analysis procedures have been recently applied to analyze nonlinear
dynamical systems. In this study, nonlinear responses, stochastic and/or chaotic, are
examined and interpreted from a probabilistic perspective. A multi-point-moored
ocean structural system under regular and irregular wave excitations is analytically
examined via a generalized stochastic Melnikov function and Markov...
River regulation imposes changes in the supply of sediment and the frequency of competent flows. As a result, impounded rivers often exhibit downstream changes in channel processes, particle size, and morphology. The magnitude of change in competent flow frequency and sediment load together can be used to predict the pattern...
This study was undertaken to evaluate the spatial and temporal characteristics
of riparian groundwater tables adjacent to beaver ponds. The research was
conducted in two parts; in the first portion a two-dimensional, finite-difference
computer model was developed and utilized to simulate groundwater elevations
through time in pond-adjacent aquifers. Two types...
Soil column studies were performed on a chromium contaminated soil from the United
Chrome Products Superfund Site currently undergoing a pump-and-treat cleanup process. The
goal of the research was to provide insight into the feasibility of chemically changing the injection
fluid of the pump-and-treat system to enhance hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI))...
The objective of this research was to develop a one-third scale model of full-size
(prototype) metal-plate-connected (MPC) wood truss joints using similitude theory. The
prototype metal connector plates in MPC joints were modeled using thin galvanized sheet
metal and short staples. Truss grade wood material was ripped to one-third scale...
The circular wave basin provides a means of physically modeling the nearshore
without the typical problems associated with end walls. Three different coastal
processes were examined to demonstrate the use of a spiral wavemaker in a circular
wave basin. These were longshore currents, shear waves, and groin circulation. A
beach...
The objective of this research was to evaluate the duration of load factor for
metal-plate-connected (MPC) truss joints subjected to various cyclic loading conditions.
Heel and tension-splice joints from a standard 30-foot span Fink truss constructed from
nominal 2x4 Douglas-fir lumber were tested. A testing frame similar to that developed...
The City of Salem, Oregon has an active sewer main chemical grouting
program for the control of groundwater infiltration into the sewer collection
system. The effectiveness of this chemical grouting program is evaluated
by a comparison to other effective chemical grouting programs for control
of inflow/infiltration (I/I). The importance of...
Thermal distress in asphalt concrete pavements is a widespread problem around
the world. Thermal cracking can be divided into two modes of distress: low
temperature cracking and thermal fatigue cracking. Low temperature cracking results
from extremely cold temperatures; thermal fatigue cracking results from daily
temperature cycles.
Low temperature cracking is...
Base isolation is an alternative seismic design strategy in which the primary structures
and their internal components are uncoupled from the potentially damaging horizontal
components of an earthquake by base isolators which attenuate the transmission of
horizontal acceleration into the system. Rotating machines are among the key internal
components of...
The undermining of bridge foundations can lead to either costly repairs or a bridge
collapse. These foundations must be designed to counter the effects of scour. Current
practice does not allow for accurate estimates of scour in erodible rock. Scour in rock can be related to geotechnical and hydraulic properties....
This study presents a rational process with supporting data to establish
appropriate road design controls, criteria, and standards for low volume
recreation and resource development. Much of the information presented can
be used to supplement design data presented in a National road design policy
published by the American Association of...
The response of lightweight equipment in structures supported on
resilient-friction-base isolators (R-FBI) subjected to harmonic ground motion and various
earthquake ground motions is examined. The equipment-structure base system is modeled
as a three degree-of-freedom discrete system (SDOF subsystems). An efficient
semi-analytical numerical solution procedure for the determination of equipment response...
Implementation of a small-scale irrigation project in southern Mauritania is analyzed in
this report. The main objective is to demonstrate that small-scale irrigation farming is
the best suited solution for Mauritania's agriculture. To reach this objective different
steps are taken in this study. The first step highlights the different aspects...
The reductive dechlorination of chlorobiphenyls in sediment by titanium(III) citrate-reduced vitamin Bus was studied in batch reactors. Long term ampoule studies demonstrated reductive dechlorination of sediment-sorbed 2,3,4,5,6-pentachlorobiphenyl (2,3,4,5,6-PeCB) to tetra-, tri-, di-, and monochlorobiphenyl products. Over 50% chlorine removal was observed over 160 days. The results of the ampoule experiment...
Radon-222 gas has unique properties allowing it to be used as an indicator for the
presence of organic phase liquids in the saturated zone. It naturally occurs in soils. It is
radioactive, making quantitative detection straight forward. A noble gas, it is chemically
inert and does not react with aquifer...
Persistence of Non aqueous phase liquids (NAPLs) in the subsurface at residual
saturations eventually contributes to undesirable groundwater contamination. Proper
characterization of subsurface NAPL, its location, composition and distribution, is
essential for the chosen remediation technology to be effective. It is also desirable to
assess the performance of remedial actions...
Several potential sorbent materials containing iron oxides were prepared and evaluated for potential to remove divalent metals from waste waters. These included a ferrihydrite-coated sand, maghemite incorporated in Dowex[Trademark] ion exchange resin, gothite and two thermally activated ferrihydrites. Attempts to prepare sorbents from steel shot by coating with ferrihydrite or...
Low temperature cracking is attributed to tensile stresses induced in an
asphalt concrete pavement that develop when the pavement is subjected to a cold
temperature. Cracking results in poor ride quality and a reduction in service life of
the pavement. Low temperature cracking has been predicted by regression
equations, mechanistic...
Land application of industrial wastewater with high levels of nitrogen requires
adequate management practices to prevent groundwater pollution by nitrates. In this study
a predictive computerized model was developed for nitrate leachate concentrations
resulting from land application of wastewater onto crop systems including poplars. The
study included a literature review,...
Large quantities of unused heavy oil and residual waste products from the petroleum refining industry were deposited in on-site landfills, pits, and lagoons, prior to the promulgation of regulations governing their disposal and technology development that would further utilize and/or recycle these materials.
Contacting petroleum products with sulfuric acid for...
A study of phosphorus loading and water quality implications was conducted for
the Oregon coastal lakes. The study was based on existing data for lake total phosphorus
concentrations and for watershed land uses. A phosphorus mass-balance model was
developed to predict lake total phosphorus concentrations from estimated phosphorus
loading from...
An optimization methodology, algorithms, and computer program for
cable/lumped-body deployment system are developed for the design and installation of
sonar packages in deep ocean ranges. In addition, a methodology and algorithms for the
control of the system are proposed.
A penalty function is developed in terms of the system parameters...
A numerical model is developed to estimate wave forces on A-Jacks armor units. The forces include drag, inertia, buoyancy, and slamming as the unit penetrates the free surface. The wave force model is used to determine the rigid body motions of the units. Bulk forces on a matrix of units...
Complex nonlinear and chaotic responses have been recently observed in various
compliant ocean systems. These systems are characterized by a nonlinear mooring
restoring force and a coupled fluid-structure interaction exciting force. A general class
of ocean mooring system models is formulated by incorporating a variable mooring
configuration and the exact...
Nailed connections have nonlinear load-displacement
relations. Modeling these connections in an assembled
structure would require a great amount of computational time
because of the large number of degrees of freedom.
Replacing these connections with energetically-equivalent
nonlinear springs reduces the number of degrees of freedom,
and leads to computational efficiency in...
Groundwater contamination on irrigated land is of concern in this nation
and around the world. In order to reduce the potential of groundwater
contamination by agricultural practices such as irrigation, fertilizer and pesticide
application, vadose-zone monitoring and sampling are needed. The main
objective of this study was to evaluate impacts...
Recent developments in estimation of the survivability of a U.S. Navy transport barge in random seas are extended to improve accuracy. The single Degree-of-Freedom (DOF) model of a extreme roll response of a barge used in previous research is replaced by a 3-DOF roll-heave-sway model to include linear and nonlinear...
A technique is developed and tested to analyze the interaction of flowing water,
bed topography, and bedload sediment transport in meandering channels where gravel
bars are removed. The method relates the local velocity distribution, bed shear stress and
sediment transport conditions to the local bed configuration in river bends before...
The use of municipal refuse (RDF) as fuels has
received widespread attention for reason of its energy
equivalence and the increasing lack of available landfill
sites. The principal obstacle to the construction of combustion
facilities is that RDF produces toxic compounds,
including heavy metals and such organic compounds as PCDD...
Knowledge of a compound's degradation pathway is crucial to the assessment of risk at contaminated sites. Pentachlorophenol and its metabolic products can serve as model compounds to study the fate and transport of halogenated aromatic compounds in the environment. Acclimation of anaerobic sewage sludge to pentachlorophenol produced a microbial consortium...
This study defines the information gathering and communication and response
needed for safety at highway-rail crossings. It examines technologies for low-cost,
high-safety treatments for low volume highway crossings of higher speed (130-200 kph) rail. Crossing closure and consolidation is a necessary first step. Existing
train control and crossing safety systems...
Maximum equilibrium scour depths, equilibrium scour volumes,
and induced equilibrium movements at isolated obstacles on river
beds were investigated in clear-water scour. The research was
achieved by a systematic flume study based on the results of
dimensional analysis of local scour.
The main tested obstacles for local scour were cubes....
This research was conducted as part of the Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP)
A-003A contract at Oregon State University to validate the findings of SHRP contracts
A-002A and A-003B with regard to aging of asphalt-aggregate mixtures. One short-term
and four long-term aging methods were used to simulate aging of asphalt-aggregate...
A time-domain model was developed to predict the fluid/structure
interaction of a three-dimensional deformable body in a fluid domain subject to
long-crested finite amplitude waves. These nonlinear waves induce transient
motion in the body. In turn, the interaction of the body with the waves modifies
the wave field, causing additional...
The decision to bury high level nuclear wastes in deep geological formations
led to the study of the Hanford Nuclear Reservation as one of three possible sites for
the first nuclear waste repository in the United States. To adequately evaluate the
environmental impact of siting nuclear waste repositories in basalt...
The incipient motion of sediment particles in gravel-bed
rivers is a very important process. It represents the
difference between bed stability and bed mobility. A field
study was conducted in Oak Creek, Oregon to investigate
incipient motion of individual particles in gravel-bed
streams. Investigation was also made of the incipient...
Stability analysis of truss chords loaded by a
combination of axial and lateral forces is studied. A
simple model based on beam-column theory is proposed and
analyzed. The continuous truss chord is replaced by a beam column
loaded by end moments replacing the effect of
adjacent members. The solution yields...
Statistically-based estimation techniques are presented
in this study. These techniques incorporate structural test
data to improve finite element models used for dynamic
analysis.
Methods are developed to identify optimum values of the
parameters of finite element models describing structures.
The parameters which may be identified are : element area,
mass...
Two hilislope sites in the central Oregon Coast Range were instrumented and monitored for winter precipitation and saturated and unsaturated subsurface conditions. The study sites were near-ridge depressions typically known as headwalls. Based on results of the monitoring, two existing mathematical models
were adapted to predict piezometric levels in headwalls...
This report details the derivation of an analytical model for a flexible membrane
wave barrier. The wave barrier consists of a thin flexible membrane suspended in the
water column by a moored cylindrical buoy on the free surface and fixed to a hinge at
the seafloor.
The analytical model combines...
Chromium and its compounds are widely used by modern industries, resulting in large quantities of this element being discharged into the environment. To remove chromium from contaminated soils and ground water, it is necessary to predict chemical and physical processes that control the rate of reactions and transport of chromium...
Groundwater resources have become seriously threatened
due to improper use by industrial, municipal, and even public
sectors. Widespread contamination of aquifer systems has
jeopardized human health and the environment and methods for
restoring these systems are needed. Biological and chemical
in situ remediation, where contaminants are degraded within
the natural...
Asphalt concrete pavement is subjected to several damaging actions from traffic
loads, water (from precipitation and/or groundwater sources), and temperature. The
durability of the asphalt-aggregate mixture, its ability to withstand these damaging
actions for long periods, is a very important engineering property. While the durability
of the asphalt-aggregates mixture depends...
The torsion test was evaluated as a method for determining the shear
strength of full-size structural lumber. The evaluation involved an experimental
length study, an experimental depth study, and a finite element study.
The length study consisted of fifty nominal 2x4 specimens, ten specimens
for each length, and ten American...
The Environmental Conditioning System (ECS) was designed to evaluate the
water sensitivity of asphalt concrete mixtures. The ECS subjects asphalt concrete specimens to a series of conditioning cycles including water flow, elevated and/or lowered temperature, and repeated axial loading. The purpose of this research was to: (1) evaluate the ECS...
This study investigated the laboratory performance of crumb rubber modified
mixtures compared to a standard bituminous mixture using performance based test
procedures. This study was part of an asphalt resurfacing program for the Seattle
Washington area. Laboratory analyses were used to estimate the long term pavement
performance of these mixtures...
The success of civil engineering construction in cold regions often depends on the
assessment of the potential for frost heave. Over the past two decades two models have
been presented to the engineering community to identify the frost heave potential,
namely: (1) the segregation potential (SP), and (2) the discrete...
Attention has been drawn to the observation that environmental benefits under the current regulatory approaches are diminishing with respect to increased pollution control costs. Regulators have begun to appreciate that while environmental gains can still be achieved under the current command and control system, the most significant environmental gains have...
Cometabolic biodegradation processes, important for bioremediation of hazardous waste sites, are not well understood and have not been modeled thoroughly. Toxic effects and bacterial responses to toxicity may change intracellular enzyme levels, rendering traditional enzyme kinetics models inappropriate. This document presents a novel cometabolic enzyme kinetics model that incorporates enzyme...
This research focuses on the anaerobic transformation of trichloroethylene (TCE) that is occurring in the subsurface of the Evanite site in Corvallis, OR. Two anaerobic studies were conducted to investigate the effects of microbial communities in the presence of different electron donors during the anaerobic degradation of trichlorofluoroethylene (TCFE), and...
Environmental factors and physical properties of latex modified concrete (LMC)
are hypothesized to contribute to early age cracking in bridge deck overlays. Cracking
permits the ingress of moisture and aggressive solutions into the substrate and may
contribute to other subsequent distresses. Understanding the material properties and
mechanisms involved is necessary...
This thesis presents an examination of the nearshore wave bottom boundary layer
under conditions of significant sediment response. Using both field observations and
simple models, the response of the bottom boundary layer to random waves is shown to
have a complex behavior. First, the linearized wave bottom boundary layer governing...
Rotating machine play an important role in modern technology. Compressors in
ventilating and cooling systems, pumps in power generation facilities, as well as high
speed computer are all examples of flexible rotating machinery that must remain functional
during and after a sever earthquake. Recent earthquakes have demonstrated that an
aseismically...
The objectives of this research were to evaluate the
behavior of actual metal-plate-connected (MPC) tension-splice
and heel wood truss joints under seismic loads from the
Northridge earthquake (tension-splice joints only) and under
loads from a large artificial earthquake (1.0 g's and 0.67
g's maximum horizontal and vertical accelerations,
respectively). A...
In situ bioremediation of pentachlorophenol-contaminated ground water in a sequential anaerobic-aerobic down borehole permeable barrier reactor requires a non-toxic primary substrate for dichlorophenol cometabolism. Serum bottle tests comparing the effectiveness of eight primary substrates for aerobic dichlorophenol degradation showed phenol to be the most effective followed by imitation vanilla flavoring,...
As part of a roof framing system, light-frame wood trusses often require lateral bracing to reduce the effective length for flexural buckling of compression web members. This observational research investigates the design requirements for discrete compression web bracing intended to provide such lateral support. Four simple brace analysis methods based...
Testing of asphalt binders and asphalt-aggregate mixtures using dynamic
mechanical analysis is becoming popular with improvements in high-speed
computers, precision equipment, and computer software. Researchers are trying
to describe the behavior of asphalt binders and asphalt-aggregate mixtures in
terms of their time- and temperature-dependent linear viscoelastic behavior.
The objectives of...
In 1987, Congress authorized a 5 year $150 million dollar research program called
the Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP). SHRP was divided into four major
areas, including the asphalt research program. The asphalt research program was divided
into six major research contracts, one such contract, SHRP-003A was called Performance
Related...
Environmental factors such as temperature, air, and water can have a profound
effect on the durability of asphalt concrete mixtures. In mild climates where good
quality aggregates and asphalt cement are available, the major contribution to
deterioration may be due to traffic loading and the resultant distress is manifested
in...
The recent increase in awareness of the seismic hazards in Oregon has led to a concern regarding the safety of Oregon State University buildings. While the decision has been made to initiate the seismic rehabilitation of campus facilities, the question of which buildings pose the greatest hazards, and are therefore...
This dissertation describes the development of a mechanistic
overlay design procedure. The mechanistic analysis represents a new
trend in both new pavement and overlay design. The greatest advantage
of the mechanistic pavement analysis is that it considers the
fundamental characteristics of materials to be used, is capable of
considering changes...
The evaluation of pavement condition is an important part of pavement
management. To evaluate a pavement, a distress survey has been performed mainly by
manual field inspections. Several automatic pavement evaluation systems have been
developed to overcome the drawbacks of field inspections. Automated evaluation
systems, however, imply their own limitations...
The (nonlinear) response behavior of a piecewise-linear system is investigated under
both deterministic and stochastic excitations in this study. A semi-analytical procedure is
developed to predict the system behavior by evaluating the joint probability density functions
of the Fokker-Planck equations of the stochastic piecewise-linear system under random
excitations via a...
Recent experience demonstrates that waterfront structures are vulnerable to
earthquake damage. The poor seismic performance of these facilities has been
primarily due to liquefaction of backfill and/or foundation soils and the lack of
seismic design standards for waterfront structures. The seismic performance of
waterfront structures is a key issue in...
Time-domain models were developed to predict the response of a tethered buoy
subject to hydrodynamic loadings. A coupled analysis of the interaction of a buoy and
its mooring is included and three-dimensional response is assumed. External loadings
include hydrodynamic forces, tethers tensions, wind loadings and the weight of both
cable...
Continuous-flow and batch experiments were conducted with a column reactor
system containing Hanford aquifer material in order to evaluate the potential of in-situ
bioremediation of carbon tetrachloride (CT) at Hanford. The effectiveness of benzoate
and acetate as primary substrates was considered. Nitrate and sulfate were potential
electron acceptors. Transport experiments...
Cometabolic biodegradation processes are potentially useful for the
bioremediation of hazardous waste sites. In this study the potential application of phenol-oxidizing
and nitrifying bacteria as "priming biocatalysts" was examined in the
degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), aryl ethers, and aromatic
ethers. We observed that a phenol-oxidizing Pseudomonas strain cometabolically...
Daily evaporative flux and meteorological data from three sites were
collected and analyzed. Analysis included evaluation of several
reference evapotranspiration estimating methods which were theoretically
based on distinct physical laws. The estimating methods included pan
evaporation, energy-based Priestly-Taylor, and combination methods with
and without biological adjustments. The data set represented...
More than 65,000 organic chemicals are currently in commercial production with
approximately 1000 added each year. Many chemicals are released into the environment as organic mixtures derived from complex hazardous or solid wastes. Of these, more than 1000 chemicals are of environmental concern because of their production quantities, toxicity, persistence,...
This investigation deals with the chaotic rocking response and overturning
stability of offshore equipment subjected to base excitations due to wave-induced
motions of the supporting compliant offshore structural system. The equipment
compliant structural system is modelled as a free-standing rigid object subjected
to horizontal and vertical base accelerations. Three of...
The Melnikov method is applied to a model of parametrically generated cross-waves in a long rectangular channel in order to determine if these cross-waves are chaotic. A great deal of preparation is involved in order to obtain a suitable form for the application of the Melnikov method. The Lagrangian for...
With the passage of the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) it has become a civil
rights violation to deny access to persons with disabilities to public transportation. The
ADA requires transit agencies to provide accessible buses or equivalent services to
persons with mobility, sensory or cognitive impairments. This study examines...
The composite FRP rebars research at Oregon State University was initiated in
1993 principally to develop a non-metallic hollow reinforcement. It was recognized that
the tensile properties of such reinforcement are unquestionably superior to steel, but its
performance in concrete could be problematic. The bond between FRP rebars and
concrete...
Ex-situ bioremediation of saturated soil contaminated with pentachlorophenol and
2,3,5,6-TeCP is commonly accomplished by landfarming or by treatment in a bioreactor.
Treating saturated, low-permeability soils in bioreactors, without pre-treatment requires a
reactor capable of promoting anaerobic and/or aerobic removal of chlorophenols without
transferring these contaminants to the aqueous phase. A...