Civil Engineering Graduate Seminar: Thursday, April 18, 2013, bRoom 642 Dow Bldg., 4:00 – 5:00 pm
Mr. Aboelkasim Diab Ahmed Ali, a civil engineer from Egypt who is studying toward a PhD at Michigan Tech, will discuss the results of two projects that he has recently completed. They are as follows:
1) A Mathematical Approach Bridging Resilient Moduli to Dynamic Moduli for the Mechanistic Empirical Design of Asphalt Pavements, and
2) Rheology Evaluation of Unaged Foam-based Warm Mix Asphalt Modified with Nano Hydrated Lime.
Civil Engineering Graduate Seminar: Thursday, April 11, 4 PM, Room 642 Dow
Speaker: Professor Stan Vitton will present the results of his recent study.
“Assessment and Location of the Abandoned Underground Coal Mines
Near Jackson, Michigan and Their Impact on Interstate I-94”
Civil Engineering Graduate Seminar, Thursday, April 4, 4:00 – 5:00 pm, Room 642 Dow
Speaker: Aaron Mazeika, PE, SE, AIA, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP
Topic: Design / Construction of a 413 meter highrise building at Kuwait City Sculpted High-Rise – The Al Hamra Tower
Abstract: With a roof height of 413m, the Al Hamra Tower in Kuwait City is amongst the tallest buildings in the world. Setting it apart from other super high-rise buildings is its unique sculpted form. An example of architectural expression through structural form on a grand scale, the structural system and exterior form were developed in a symbiotic digital design process. The building geometry is generated by a spiraling slice subtracted from a simple prismatic volume. The resultant spiraling building form generates a dramatic cantilevered office wing that wraps around an exterior coutyard. The two resultant cut surfaces are hyperbolic paraboloid reinforced-concrete walls, which extend the full height of the tower and participate in the lateral and gravity force resisting systems. Other noteable features include a Nervi inspired lamella structure bracing the tower columns which curve 24m throught the lobby space, and a spiralling roof geometry that extends 90m from low point to high point and encloses a 40m tall skygarden space.
The design of the Al Hamra Tower required consideration of challenging engineering issues complicated by both the height and form of the structure. Long-term creep and shrinkage of concrete was carefully studied to account for force redistributions and to develop an extensive program of displacement pre-corrections to be made during construction. The spiraling hyperbolic paraboloid ‘flared walls’ required for gravity load support of the cantilevered wing apply a torsional gravity load to the building core that necessitates consideration of both the long-term vertical and torsional deformations of the building structure.
Opened in late 2011, the Al Hamra Tower is a dramatic addition to the skyline of Kuwait City and is set to become a major destination for the city. This presentation will focus on both the technical design and construction challenges in the accomplishment of this complex project.
Civil Engineering Seminar: Thursday, March 28, 2013 4:00 pm, Room 642 Dow Bldg.
Speaker: Michael Billmire, Research Scientist, Michigan Tech Research Institute, MTRI
Title: The Mineral Occurrence Revenue Estimation and Visualization Tool, MOREV
Abstract: Under a cooperative project between MTRI and the University of Alaska-Fairbanks, the MOREV tool was developed in order to effectively assess and communicate the value of mineral occurrences within regions of interest in Alaska, Yukon, and British Columbia. Intermodal optimal routing and carbon accounting modules help assess anticipated mineral development logistics and costs.
Civil Engineering Seminar: Thursday, March 7, 2013, 4:00 – 5:00 pm, Dow 642
Professor William Sproule: “COPPER COUNTRY STREETCARS”
With the aid of photos, fables, 1/4 truths, 1/2 truths, and a few facts, Bill will take is back to the copper boom days and PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.
Civil Engineering Graduate Seminar, Thursday, February 28, 2013, 4:00 to 5:00 pm, Room 642 Dow
Speaker: Hamed Pouryousef, Ph.D. candidate
Title: Railway Capacity and Evaluating the Results and Features of Two Capacity Simulation Tools on the Shared-use Corridors
ABSTRACT
The majority of passenger rail services in the United States (U.S.) operate on the shared-use corridors with freight rail. These types of operations tend to be challenging due to high heterogeneity, particularly in terms of reliability of service and capacity availability. The projected growth in demand for rail transportation is likely to exacerbate the situation. Similar to the U.S., the European passenger rail services are generally operated on shared-use corridors, but the infrastructure conditions and the operational priorities and patterns typically allow more reliable and higher speed passenger operations in comparison to the U.S. trains.
Both continents use capacity and simulation software to analyze capacity allocations and operational limitations. However, the effects of the software selection haven’t been investigated. This research reviews two common simulation tools developed in the U.S. and Europe, Rail Traffic Controller (RTC) and Railsys, respectively. The paper reviews the structure and the main components of these two simulation tools. It will also present the outcomes of running RTC and Railsys through a given segment of shared-use track based on the same rolling stock, operation and signaling characteristics and analyze the similarities and differences between the outcomes of RTC and Railsys.
Civil Engineering Graduate Seminar: Thursday, 21, 2013; Room 642 Dow, 4:00 pm
Mary Christianson, PhD candidate will present a second seminar concerning an alternative bonding agent to the use of Portland cement. Topic: Geopoly-what? Part II: Developing glass-based geopolymer mortars
In part I of the Geopoly-what? series, CEE grads and faculty were introduced to the basics of geopolymers, a low-CO2 binder capable of performing equally to or better than ordinary portland cement in terms of mechanical and durability performance. Part II of this series offers a recap of the mechanisms behind geopolymer technology followed by a look into the development of glass-based geopolymer mortars activated with NaOH. A review of those materials currently used in geopolymer reseach as well as a discussion of the viability of glass for use in geopolymers will also be presented.
Civil Engineering Graduate Seminar; Thursday, February 14, 2013; Room 642 Dow; 4:00 pm; Bill Bulleit, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering; “Thinking About Engineering: Is Philosophy Useful?” What makes engineering different from other disciplines? How do engineers do what they do? Is there such a thing as engineering knowledge? How do engineers make decisions under uncertainty? Does philosophy have anything to say about engineering? The seminar will address and begin to answer these and other questions.
Civil Engineering Graduate Seminar: Thursday, Jan. 31, 4 p.m., Dow 642.
Kiko de Melo e Silva will present a “Summary of the Experimental Equipment Available for Civil Engineering Research and the Rules Associated with Their Use,”
The seminar will include equipment available in Dillman Hall, Benedict Lab and the M&M Building, as well as the rules and costs pertaining to the use of these facilities. All experimental researchers who work with material properties, the makeup of materials and the preparation of the typical materials used in civil engineering are encouraged to attend.
Environmental Engineering Seminar:1/28/2013; Monday, 3-4 pm, Great Lakes Research Center 201;
Seminar: Radical Reductions in the Environmental Impacts of Manufacturing: A Distributed Approach;
Dr. Joshua Pearce, Materials Science and Engineering, Michigan Tech
Topic: Radical Reductions in the Environmental Impacts of Manufacturing: A Distributed Approach