INE Project Reports: Recent submissions
Now showing items 21-40 of 84
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Creep Behavior of Shallow Anchors in Ice-rich SiltGrouted anchors have become a common technique in the application of earth retention systems, slope stability problems and tie-down structures in unfrozen soils due to its cost and time efficiency. However, within much of Alaska area, permafrost is a common type of soil and might contain large amount of visible ice. The highly time and temperature dependent properties of ice-rich soil make it a challenge for the application of anchors in permafrost area. This project valuates the effect of water content and temperature on the creep behavior of shallow anchors in cold room lab. Also, field test was conducted to determine effectiveness of three types of grouting materials, including Bentonite clay, Microsil Anchor Grout and special cement formula. The temperature along the anchor was monitored to evaluate the degradation of the surrounding frozen soil. Research results may be applicable in the design of shallow anchors in ice-rich permafrost at various ice content and temperature range. Also, the load distribution and the pullout test results could give a general guidance for the shallow anchor design in permafrost area.
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A Design of an nterface Board between a MRC Thermistor Probe and a Personal ComputerThe main purpose of this project was to design and build a prototype of an interface board between an MRC temperature probe (thermistor array) and a personal laptop computer. This interface board replaces and significantly improve the capabilities of an existing MRC RD100 readout instrument. The new interface board provides the user to test a new installation as well as read instantaneous thermistor array. The report also documents the outputs of the the MRC temperature probe for future and the operational characteristics of both the MRC RD100 and the new interface board.
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Preliminary Study on Snowplow Survivability of Guardrail TerminalsFHWA has asked Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF) to fix damaged longitudinal and end sections of guardrail throughout Alaska's road system. The proposed research evaluates W-beam guardrail end terminals (GET) which are installed along roads in heavy-snow areas of Alaska. Primarily, it is important for DOT&PF to determine how well GET withstand loads generated during snow plowing and blowing operations. Based on this preliminary study, the following conclusions are made (1) Anecdotal evidence indicates that the newly installed SRT-350s are not very forgiving (because they are designed to be crash-friendly), and relatively minor contact between the snow removal equipment and the terminal may result in terminal failure and at least some damage. (2) There are two types of damage to the newly installed SRT-350s; (a) damage due to contact between the snow removal equipment and the terminal; and (b) damage resulting from the pressure of the snow (snow-only contact). The first type is the most likely damage observed in field visits. The damage due to snow-only contact can occur in heavy snow area. (3) Except in heavy snow area, the average replacement rate for newly installed SRT-350s can be reduced to about the same level as the traditional BCTs if the snowplow operator learn to respect the new terminals more and provide them with a wide berth. To achieve this, it is very important to mark the end of the terminal as well as the beginning of the flare of the terminal. With both locations marked, an operator can carefully avoid the entire length of the terminal. (4) Further research is needed to investigate guardrail end terminals which are more durable or are easily repaired.
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Juvenile Fish Passage Through Culverts in Alaska: A Field StudyIn the past, culvert design where fish passage was considered generally has been based on the weakest-swimming adult fish in a river system. It has also been recognized for some time that juvenile fish are very active throughout the year, moving upstream and downstream in response to a number of environmental factors. In Alaska, many natal and nonnatal streams in southcentral and southeastern Alaska support both Chinook (Oncorhynchus tschawytscha (Walbaum)) and Coho (Oncorhynchus kisutch (Walbaum)) for one to three years, respectively, before they emigrate to sea. Are we restricting desirable habitat for these juvenile salmonids with hydraulic structures such as culverts? Unfortunately we have little information on either the behavior of juveniles in the vicinity of hydraulic structures or their swimming abilities. The objective of this study was to examine the behavior of juveniles when attempting to ascend a culvert. It was hypothesized that vertical obstacles or high velocity of opposing flow may prevent juvenile fish from moving upstream. It was also hypothesized that they would determine and take the path of least resistance to optimize their chances of successfully ascending a culvert. Four culverts were selected for intensive study regarding juvenile fish passage: Beaver and Soldotna Creeks on Kenai Peninsula and No-name and Pass Creek Tributary on Prince of Wales Island. It was postulated that fish are motivated to move upstream to obtain food if they can establish its presence. We used salmon eggs as an attractive food source both to initially capture the juveniles and then to motivate them to ascend the culvert for possible recapture. Juvenile fish were captured in a baited minnow trap and stained with a dye. They were released downstream of the culvert while the food source was placed upstream in a minnow trap. We supplemented our visual observations with underwater video cameras. We made numerous hydrologic and hydraulic measurements at each site. Although we attempted to select culverts that would prove to be quite challenging to juvenile fish passage, in three of the culverts selected, juvenile fish, of the full range of the fork length initially captured, succeeded in ascending through the culvert. For the fourth culvert, some larger juvenile fish succeeded in ascending the culvert, but not the smaller of each fish type. It was clearly established that juvenile fish were motivated to move upstream to obtain food. In the Beaver Creek culvert, fish used the large corrugations to their advantage when ascending the culverts. The Pass Creek Tributary culvert had corrugations too small for fish to utilize. No-name Creek appeared to present not problems for juvenile fish for the water levels at the time of the visit as they small along the bottom on the centerline of the culvert. In general, observations of fish attempting to move upstream through the culvert revealed that they swam very close to the culvert wall, and in the case of high velocities (Beaver Creek and Pass Creed Tributary) they swam near the surface along the sidewall where velocities are reduced. It is obvious that the juvenile fish are attempting to minimize power output and energy expenditure by taking the path of least resistance. Although not quantitavely proven, it appears that as long as fish make some headway in their upstream movement they are content. The rationale for this conclusion is that fish do not know what they may encounter upstream so they attempt to conserve as much power and energy as possible while still moving forward. They generally do so by seeking out the lowest velocities in the cross-section. In areas of steep velocity gradients along the wall (where the areal extent of low velocities is limited), it is clear in our videotapes that fish have problems maintaining their position and preferred orientation. It is apparent from our observations that because of their small size, juvenile fish are hindered by turbulence and that this area needs more study.
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Parks Highway Load Restriction Study Field Data AnalysisThe loss of pavement strength during spring thaw could result in excessive road damage under applied traffic loads. Damage assessment associated with the critical thaw period is essential to evaluate current load restriction policies. The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (AKDOT&PF) proposed a plan which will provide an engineering analysis fo field conditions with 100% loads on the Parks Highway for 1996. The study was jointly conducted by AKDOT&PF, the Alaskan Trucking Association (ATA), and the University of Alaska Fairbanks Institute of Northern Engineering Transportation Research Center (TRC). Extensive field data were collected and analyzed in an effort to monitor pavement damage during the spring of 1996 and determine the loss of pavement strength. The field data included: 1. Truck traffic data using the Chulitna weigh in motion (WIM) station and the scalehouses at Eagle River and Ester. WIM data were obtained for both northbound and southbound traffic from 199301996. Scalehouse data were obtained for Spring 1996 for comparison with WIM spring data. 2. Pavement temperature data (Spring 1996) for seven ground temperature sites representing typical conditions along the Parks Highway. 3. Profilometer data for pavement roughness and rutting obtained yearly (1993, 1995, and 1996) and also monitored over shorter intervals during Spring 1996. In addition, rut-bar measurements at selected points were also monitored during Spring 1996. 4. Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD) data for both the northbound and southbound lanes for selected sections in lengths of eight 8 km (5 mile) along the Parks Highway. These data were used in backcalculation of pavement layer moduli, fatigue strength of the asphalt concrete surface, and corresponding damage factors resulting from spring-thaw weakening. Field data were used to analyze the damage effects on the Parks Highways. These included: analysis and comparison of WIM and scalehouse traffic data; determination of overweight axle loads and vehicles; comparison of north- and southbound traffic and its effect on pavement damage; analysis of ground temperature for thaw initiation and propagation; and simulation of the pavement's remaining life, with and without load restrictions, using mechanistic methods. This report presents results of these analyses.
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Air Convection Embankment Experimental Feature DesignPrior research work (Goering and Kumar, 1996; and Goering, 1996) has indicated that Air Convection Embankments are a promising technique for limiting the thaw settlement damage that often occurs when roadway embankments are constructed in regions of warm permafrost. These studies lead to the proposal of a full-scale experimental Air Convection Embankment (ACE) to be constructed through the Federal Experimental Features in Construction Program. A work plan for including an ACE in the Parks/Chena Ridge Interchange project (Federal Project No. I-0A4-5(7), State of Alaska Project No. 63538) was forwarded and approved in 1994. This project report discusses the design and construction of the Parks/Chena Ridge ACE expermimental feature which occurred during 1996 and 1997.
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Rural Facility Electric Power Quality EnhancementElectric power disturbances are known to be more prevalent in small, isolated power systems than in larger interconnected grids which service most of the United States. This fact has given rise to a growing concern about the relative merits of different types of power conditioning equipment and their effectiveness in protecting sensitive electronics and essential loads in rural Alaska. A study has been conducted which compares isolation transformers, voltage regulators, power conditioners, uninterruptible power supplies and indoor computer surge suppressors in their ability to suppress the various disturbances which have been measured in several Alaskan communities. These include voltage sags and surges, impulses, blackouts, frequency variations and long-term voltage abnormalities. In addition, the devices were also subjected to fast, high-magnitude impulses such as might be expected in the event of a lightning strike to or near utility distribution equipment. The solutions for power line problems will vary for different load applications and for different rural electrical environments. The information presented in this report should prove to be valuable in making the analysis.
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Use of Geogrids for Limiting Longitudinal Cracking in Roads on PermafrostLongitudinal cracking of road embankments results from lateral movement of the subbase which creates a subsurface void space. The void spaces propogate to the surface causing cracks and voids. This is hazardous to motorists and expensive to repair. This thesis examines the use of geogrids to limit lateral spreading thereby preserving safe and useable road surfaces. A field experiment, a full-scale laboratory experiment, a soil arching experiment, and behavioral and theoretical analyses are presented. Soil arching forces are quantified and developed using an experiment based on work done by Terzaghi and Kienzl. A theoretical analysis for quantifying the shear force redistribution to be used for geosynthetic embankment systems, was derived from the Soil Arching Experiment. Relationships of load, embankment resistance, deflection and geometric factors are presented. A comparison of geogrid performance to a geotextile performance for the given relationship is presented as well.
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Rural Facility Electric Power Quality AnalysisThis report gives results of a recently completed data collection and analysis project investigating electric power quality of two isolated utility systems in Alaska. This is the second phase of a similar effort reported in 1984 which provided the first comprehensive power quality data from four small Alaskan communities. In this report, second generation instrumentation is described and comprehensive data and data analyses are presented. These data are important because of the increased use throughout Alaska of electrical and electronic equipment that may be damage by power system disturbances.
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Moisture-Temperature Realtionships in a Sand Due to Outward, Radial FreezingA "clean" sand is commonly specified as backfill around the evaporator section of thermosyphons designed to maintain the thermal regime of pernnially, frozen, thaw-unstable soils. A series of laboratory tests were performed to determine the magnitude of moisture migration. The test results indicate the moisture migration can result due to outward radial freezing in a nonfrost susceptible sand possessing a low to moderate degree of saturation. Moisture did not migrate when the sand was saturated prior to freezing. The redistribution of moisture changes the thermal properties of the soil system which effects the maximum radius of freezing by desiccating soil at the outermost radius of influence and increasing the degree of saturation around the evaporator. The desiccated soil region will experience an accelerated rate of thaw due to a lower volumetric latent heat of fusion. In addition, the radius of freezing is reduced as moisture migrates towards the evaporator section. These effects warrant additional considerations that must be addressed when designing refrigerated foundations with thermosyphons.
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Cogeneration and Diesel Electric Power ProductionWe have developed a data acquisition system to both monitor the efficiency of a diesel-electric generator set in producing electricity and to evaluate its performance as part of a cogeneration system for producting both heat and electricity. We have used this system to evaluate the performances of a 45 kW system consisting of a Mitsubishi engine coupled to a Stamford generator and an 80 kW Caterpillar system. We find that, even though the efficiency of a generator set in producing electricity decreases appreciably as the electric load decreases, the cogeneration efficiency is relatively insensitive to load. The latter includes both the electric power produced and the rate of heat recovery from the jacket water as benefits. We also found that the engine temperature as measured by jacket water temperature can be maintained at high levels even at low loads if the cooling mechanism is restricted. We accomplished this in a laboratory situation by decreasing the water flow through an externally-mounted heat exchanger used to provide a source of cooling for the engine. We also found that the 80 kW cogeneration system at Coldfoot provided about one-third of the space heat needed by the maintenance shop. The payback period was less than 2 years for this system with about 2200 gallons of fuel oil being saved annually because of heat recovery from the jacket water. Volume I contains the main body of the report; appendices are contained in Volume II.
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BERG2 Micro-Computer Estimation of Freeze and Thaw Depths and Thaw ConsolidationThe BERG2 microcomputer program uses a methodology similar to the Modified Berggren method (Aldrich and Paynter, 1953) to estimate the freeze and thaw depths in layered soil systems. The program also provides an estimate of the thaw consolidation in ice rich soils. BERG2 differs from the original Modified Berggren method since it uses the actual frozen and unfrozen material thermal properties instead of average alues. This approach improves the accuracy of the prediction. BERG2 provides an improved user interface over the original BERG program (Braley, 1984). It also requires less input as a result of the ability to compute many of climatic parameters from the more common data. As a result the user required input is significantly reduced. This manual provides the user information concerning the use of BERG2, its strengths and its limitations. It also provides a discussion of the equations used in development of the program for those who wish a better understanding of the analysis process.
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Implementation of CALINE4To help gauge the environmental impacts of proposed highway projects, computer models are commonly used to predict both CO emissions and the resultant concentrations of CO in the atmosphere. This study has focused on an assessment of MOBILE3 as a mobile source emissions model and CALINE4 as a line source dispersion model in Alaska. We have used limited data obtained in Fairbanks o evaluate CALINE4 here. We have modified MOBILE3 to allow it to predict emissions at ambient temperatures below 0(degrees)F and have incorporated available meteorological data for Fairbanks to evaluate CALINE4. We find the use of these models does allow one to approximate trends over time in CO levels in Fairbanks, but a lack of more detailed data precludes our being able to make global statements about the abilities of the models to predict peaks and detailed spatial trends. However, the results to data indicate that these models have the potential to accurately predict CO levels in Alaska. In particular, results from a 37-hour calibration run made near an intersection indicates that CALINE4, using emissions generated by MOBILE3, can predict peak one-hour and eight-hour values within a factor of two of measured values. Conservative peak value predictions occur when the intersection option is used with the wind blowing from the intersection toward the receptor. However, the nonmodeled CO contributions may be significant if only major roads near a receptor are modeled. For worst case predictions, the limited data analyzed corroborates prior work linking worst case scenarios with cold stable meteorological conditions. In particular, a G stability case and wind speed around 0.5 m/s are appropriate. We also suggest the receptor be located downwind from an intersection. For the input emissions, we suggest the use of MOBILE3 using an average vehicle speed of 20 mph and a temperature around -20(degrees)F for Fairbanks and 10(degrees)F for Anchorage. For ambient CO levels, we suggest the user consult with local environmental agency personnel.
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Effect of Radiant Barriers in Wall ConstructionThe performance of radiant cardboard barriers were tested and evaluated using the DOT&PF guarder hot box. Two types of insulation were used in the testing fiberglass bat and blown cellulose. The test procedure consisted of obtaining temperature measurements at designated positions throughout seven types of wall configurations. These tests showed, that the configuration with 5.5 inches of fiberglass bat insulation compressed to 4 inches with a radiant cardboard barrier allowed the least total heat flux through the wall section. An economic analysis indicated that the use of radiant barriers may be feasible in situations where insulation support is needed or an uninsulated gab is required for wiring or utilities.
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Retrofit Design of Drainage Structures for Improved Fish Passage: Literature ReviewThis report reviews existing literature on issues relevant to retrofitting culverts to mitigate fish passage barriers. The analysis of this information will set the stage for future laboratory experimentation on various retrofitting techniques. The topics in this report include a review of fish swimming capabilities, hydrologic factors involved in choosing a design flow, fish passage problems resulting from conventional culvert design, and potential retrofit solutions to these problems.
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Rural Electric Power Quality Analysis Data Base DevelopmentThe actual cost of poor quality electric power is difficult to accurately determine. Such cost information is important in determining the extent to which power quality enhancement techniques should be applied. This report presents data compiled to help determine the quantity and type of electrical and electronic equipment at risk in rural Alaska and the repair frequency of this equipment. Cost attributable to poor electric power quality are identified. Methods of electric power quality improvement and their relative costs are presented.
