This study uses an existing database of dynamic loading tests of driven piles installed in the Puget Sound Lowlands to improve the reliability of axial performance. First, the unit shaft resistances developed from stress wave signal matching to dynamic records of pile installation are used to develop an effective stress-based...
This thesis provides a comparison of advanced econometric frameworks to account for unobserved factors in crash reported data (also referred to as unobserved heterogeneity) while identifying contributing factors by roadway classification for heavy vehicle injury severity and crash rates. The presented thesis provides two manuscripts that expand the literature regarding...
The implementation and construction of Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE) walls has undergone substantial expansions in recent years, owing to its relatively low cost, ease of construction, and high efficiency compared to conventional retaining methods. As a result, MSE walls are being constructed to greater heights with complex features (e.g. multiple...
This project determines the short term and long term effective stiffness values for Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) with a reinforced concrete topping. The reinforced concrete was attached to the CLT panels with interface connections, and different types of interface connections were tested. Throughout this project, there are 31 tests with...
Optimization of reservoir operation is involves various competing objectives for a scarce resource (water). To find the optimal operation of reservoirs, it is essential to consider multiple objectives simultaneously. There are various sources of uncertainty associated with the reservoir operation problem that should be considered as well.
The overarching goal...
A significant number of historically existing wetlands that naturally stored rainwater and attenuated flood peaks have now been drained and employed as new farming areas. Beyond the water quality and flow problem, this has resulted in loss of natural habitats of diverse ecological species. Restoring wetlands have hence been proposed...
Real time networks (RTNs) have become popular for Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) surveys because highly accurate positions can be derived in seconds to minutes compared to hours as required with static sessions. To evaluate the accuracy of these shorter-duration, RTN GNSS observations and their potential for use as a...
The Steel Plate Shear Wall (SPSW) system, is an innovative seismic lateral force resistant system, which has experienced increased use over the last three decades. The SPSW system is composed of boundary elements which anchor web plates that develop diagonal tension fields. A number of SPSW buildings have been built...
Student engagement in a course plays a vital role in a student’s ability to process and construct knowledge. Student engagement research has investigated how students engage in and out of the classroom on a macro scale, through observation and survey data collection of large student populations, which lack focus on...
Bridge inspections are vital for monitoring the health and serviceability of transportation infrastructure throughout the world. However, inspections can be logistically-challenging, expensive, and dangerous. For example, inspections may require climbing, as well as the use of scaffolding, ladders, rescue boats, bucket trucks, and/or under-bridge inspection vehicles. Small, multirotor unmanned aircraft...
Numerical models are effective tools for simulating complex physical processes such as hydrodynamic and water quality processes in aquatic systems. The accuracy of the model is dependent on multiple model parameters and variables that need to be calibrated and regularly updated to reproduce changing aquatic conditions accurately. Multi-sensor water temperature...
A wave-by-wave forecasting system is desired for optimization of wave energy conversion devices and for improving safety of vessel-based marine operations. This study outlines the first validation attempts of a recently developed forecasting system called Wavecast. The forecasting approach uses X-Band marine radar images for data assimilation, then reconstructs and...
Large numbers of reinforced concrete (RC) bridges were built in the past that are now considered seismically deficient. The structural members most likely to be considered deficient are the supporting columns. Typical deficient columns contain inadequate transverse reinforcement and poorly detailed lap splice lengths above the foundation. Insufficient lap splice...
Structurally efficient and cost-effective solutions are needed to extend the service-life of deficient and aging highway infrastructure around the world. One critical need is to increase the flexural strength of older reinforced concrete (RC) structures to carry heavier and more frequent loads. Titanium alloy bars (TiAB) offer a new opportunity...
In the residential sector, wood is the predominant construction material. In the commercial sector and in mid‐rise construction, the use of wood is limited because of a multitude of reasons, including building code restrictions, the perception of wood as a structural material, fire code requirements, and lack of knowledge and...
The Cascadia Subduction Zone has recently been identified as a source for an impending great earthquake. The potential of a large earthquake has created widespread interest into the resiliency of lifelines within the potentially affected areas. One critical lifeline is the electrical distribution and transmission systems which relies on legacy...
Improving safety education could contribute to the preparation of better professional engineers. Safety topics are not holistically embedded in transportation course curricula. This thesis explores the current state in which safety is being incorporated in transportation course curricula in terms of design and compares the uses of safety data in...
Over the past two decades, the Lean Construction academic and practicing engineering community has used lean practices and tools to help improve the performance of the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry. Lean practices have led to improved competitiveness of construction companies that have adopted them, by focusing on ways...
Evaluation of teaching is used to examine and improve teaching quality in higher education. The literature consists of best teaching evaluation practices that have been developed, yet there is little research that has been conducted which investigates teaching evaluation practices in engineering programs. This thesis represents two manuscripts that explore...
Flexible pavements consist of multilayers, which form the pavement structures. Since the strength of the bond at interface between layers plays a significant role in improving the structural integri-ty and the performance of pavement structures, tack coat materials and methods used for their application during construction are important in providing...
CSS-1H is the most commonly used slow-setting emulsion grade in Oregon. “New” engineered emulsions were recently developed in Oregon to reduce tracking, the pick-up of tack coats by construction vehicle tires during construction activities, and increase interlayer shear strength (ISS), the amount of adhesive bond present between layers of asphalt...
In this thesis, the effectiveness of the 100 percent + XX percent seismic response directional combination rule available in codes and standards is evaluated using simulated nonlinear seismic response of two existing multi-story reinforced concrete plan-irregular buildings. The 5-story and 8-story buildings were designed according to the 1975 seismic codes...
The Pacific Northwest is at risk for significant seismic and tsunami events, which are capable of severely damaging lifeline transportation infrastructure, particularly bridges. As the bridges in the United States age and begin to show signs of fatigue, the risk for severe damage increases. Proper monitoring and inspection of bridges...
Aging and deficient infrastructure has become a major problem throughout the world. This is particularly evident in the case of reinforced concrete (RC) bridges. The cost of replacing these bridges is often prohibitive, thus engineers must find ways to strengthen them. Many older RC bridges predate the modern understanding of...
High water temperatures in rivers have detrimental effects on riverine water quality and ecology. In this study, two river temperature models, within the agricultural watershed model Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), were investigated for their ability to simulate water temperatures accurately throughout the year. The original temperature model within...
A Geyser in a stormwater (SW) and combined sewer system (CSS) is an oscillatory and violent release of a mixture of air and water through vertical shafts. Violent geysers are highly destructive. In the case of combined sewer systems, many municipalities operate their systems at a fraction of their maximum...
The aim of this research is to understand and quantify the modeling differences between CSiBridge and OpenSees, and to determine sensitive model parameters. When designing bridges for the high seismic region of California, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) performs nonlinear time history analysis of their bridge models. For three-dimensional...
A construction project is considered to be unique due to the process of delivering a customer-designed product, diverse stakeholders involved, the unique location and timeframe of construction, and specific social, economic, and environmental constraints attached to it. The uniqueness of construction projects brought great challenges to the construction industry professionals...
This study presents the theoretical background necessary to model the bearing capacity of shallow and deep foundations in partially saturated soils. The conventional bearing capacity equations for shallow and deep foundations and the 𝛽-method for deep foundation side resistance have been modified to include the effects of matric suction and...
Shallow landslides are a prevalent concern in mountainous regions that can result in severe societal, economic, and environmental impacts. The challenge is further compounded as the size and location of a potential slide is often unknown. This study presents a generalized approach for the evaluation of shallow landslide susceptibility using...
The Bureau of Labor Statistics cites construction as the most hazardous industry within the United States. The construction industry was responsible for 20% of all fatal occupational injuries in 2014. Approximately 20% of the construction injuries occur within Heavy Civil Engineering, in which there are 950,000 workers employed annually. This...
The objectives of this study are to use SAP2000 to investigate lateral load paths and system behavior in a modular, light-frame wood structure by investigating different foundation configurations and to further develop and validate existing modeling techniques of shear wall elements based on the Perforated Shear Wall Method. The modeling...
Concrete is the most widely used construction material in the world. When constructing large concrete structures, concrete may have to be placed in multiple lifts. In these cases, fresh concrete is placed on hardened concrete. The interface that is formed between these two lifts of concrete is known as a...
Natural disasters could result in unnecessary loss of life and disproportionate suffering to families and communities if evacuation plans are not in place or understood by the public. In the Pacific Northwest, a magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami from the Cascadia Subduction Zone (CSZ) represents one of the most pressing...
Previous research has shown that using fine lightweight aggregate (FLWA) can be a promising strategy to mitigate alkali-silica reaction (ASR) in mortar and concrete. While several possible theories were proposed by researchers, discrepancies in testing methods, materials, and supporting evidence still exist. Therefore, this study was initiated. There are two...
A Finite Element Model of a deployed Fiber-Optic Micro Cable (FOMC) was performed using the marine cable modeling software, OrcaFlex. The focus of this study was a parametric analysis of a two-part, towed cable array with the FOMC dragged behind a depressor and connected to a drogue chute. Length-to-diameter ratios...
The objective of this study was to provide first order observations of bed level changes occurring in streambed simulated culverts throughout an annual period. To accomplish this, 30 culvert sites were selected in Oregon and Washington, and monitored over, at least, a 2 year period. Streambed scour and redeposition data...
Compacted aggregate trenches are a method of soil improvement that could be substituted for commonly used aggregate piers in certain geometrical arrangements of shallow foundations. However, this type of ground improvement has little research to support the understanding of their contribution to improved strength of an unimproved clay soil. This...
The fluid impact forces on a bridge superstructure in horizontal and vertical directions due to tsunamis represented by solitary waves are investigated through a large-scale laboratory experiment and numerical simulations. The experiment is conducted in a two-dimensional wave basin using a 1:5 scaled reinforced concrete bridge deck model tested under...
Red Signal Countdown Timers (RSCTs) are devices placed at intersections to inform drivers of the time remaining on a red indication before it turns green, typically to improve intersection efficiency. This study examines the visual attention of Oregon drivers to circular red (CR) indications with RSCTs as compared to standard...
Damage estimates to the built environment from tsunamis are important for disaster mitigation, including planning emergency response and recovery. This dissertation evaluates the damage states of buildings in a small urban coastal city, Seaside, Oregon, from tsunami hazards generated by a Cascadia Subduction Zone (CSZ) event. This study is separated...
Wheeled mobility devices (WhMD) pose unique safety risks to users while riding public transportation. Unsecured or improperly secured WhMDs create safety concerns for other transit riders and operators. Tests using accelerometers and visual observations were conducted to understand how WhMD orientation and securement in articulated buses, streetcars, and light rail...
Lateral spread is a pervasive type of liquefaction-induced ground failure that occurs on gentle slopes or near free-faces, such as river channels. Resulting horizontal displacements can reach up to several meters, and can be considerably damaging to foundations, bridges, roadways, pipelines, etc. In the 1990s, Bartlett and Youd (1992a, 1995)...