Dr. Abhik Roy is an Assistant Professor of Educational Psychology in the Learning Sciences and Human Development Department within the College of Education and Human Services at West Virginia University. He earned his Ph.D. in Program... more
Dr. Abhik Roy is an Assistant Professor of Educational Psychology in the Learning Sciences and Human Development Department within the College of Education and Human Services at West Virginia University. He earned his Ph.D. in Program Evaluation from Western Michigan University and currently conducts research on how evaluators create and utilize theory and the pedagogy of teaching developmental evaluation. His current teaching focus is in program evaluation, various research methods, and social network analysis.
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The large stock of aging bridges in the US transportation system combined with tight repair and maintenance budgets make efficient bridge asset management imperative for improving upon (or even maintaining) current levels of safety and... more
The large stock of aging bridges in the US transportation system combined with tight repair and maintenance budgets make efficient bridge asset management imperative for improving upon (or even maintaining) current levels of safety and service. There are three key components to the management of bridges and other types of infrastructure 1) inspection of assets, 2) decision making about maintenance and repair programs, and 3) the conduct of maintenance and repair activities. This research project specifically considers the inspection phase of the process. Currently visual inspection is the most common inspection method (Phares et. al., 2004), and most visual inspections are conducted on a deterministic two year cycle as required by the National Bridge Inspection Standards, NBIS, (Hearn, 2007). In the aftermath of the I-35W bridge collapse in Minneapolis, US bridge inspection practice received close scrutiny. A recent White Paper on Bridge Inspection and Rating produced by an Ad-Hoc G...
This research paper seeks to optimize the benefits of using High Lime fly ash in concrete as a replacement for large proportions of cement. High Lime fly ash is a type of sub-bituminous fly ash that is self-cementing as well as pozzolanic... more
This research paper seeks to optimize the benefits of using High Lime fly ash in concrete as a replacement for large proportions of cement. High Lime fly ash is a type of sub-bituminous fly ash that is self-cementing as well as pozzolanic in nature. High Lime fly ash would be categorized as a Class C fly ash by ASTM because of its high calcium content, however its sulfur content exceeds the limit set in ASTM C618 The physical and chemical properties of this type of fly ash, particularly its fineness and carbon content properties (coarser particles and low carbon content), provide potential benefits. These two properties are of great concern since they will affect the air content and water demand of the concrete; parameters that greatly affect the durability and strength of concrete. This paper describes early stages of a project to study the use of large volumes of High Lime fly ash in concrete. During the project High Lime fly ash obtained from a local power plant will be used in t...
Sustainable building practices are a growing and important trend in the building industry. To help advance such practices it is important not only to study success stories, but also to identify and leverage lessons learned from past and... more
Sustainable building practices are a growing and important trend in the building industry. To help advance such practices it is important not only to study success stories, but also to identify and leverage lessons learned from past and on-going efforts. This paper presents a survey of literature focused on challenges or shortcomings as related to the implementation of sustainable building practices, and establishes a framework to characterize existing research. Five main focus areas are identified with overlapping components. The framework suggests that challenges to sustainability exist across all phases of building lifecycle. However, research bias may exist that cause challenges to sustainability in building practice to be underreported in literature.
This paper presents the results of an experimental study on the fatigue performance of reinforced concrete (RC) beams strengthened with different externally bonded carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) systems. Seven specimens were... more
This paper presents the results of an experimental study on the fatigue performance of reinforced concrete (RC) beams strengthened with different externally bonded carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) systems. Seven specimens were fabricated; three had no CFRP; the remaining four had one of two CFRP systems. The objective of this study was to determine the effect the CFRP repair had on the growth rate of a fatigue crack initiating from a notch in the tensile rebars. The results of the experimental study showed an extended fatigue life and a slowed crack growth rate in specimens repaired with both CFRP systems. The crack growth rates were used to determine material constants for the Paris Law, which describes growth of a stable fatigue crack. These results were then used to propose recommendations for design of FRP repair systems for a specific fatigue life.
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Bridge inspection standards in the United States require routine visual inspections to be conducted on most bridges at a maximum interval of two years regardless of the bridge condition. Limitations of this uniform calendar-based approach... more
Bridge inspection standards in the United States require routine visual inspections to be conducted on most bridges at a maximum interval of two years regardless of the bridge condition. Limitations of this uniform calendar-based approach have been reported in the literature. Accordingly, the objective of this study is to provide a new systematic approach for inspection planning that integrates information from bridge condition prediction models, inspection data, and expert opinion using Bayesian analysis to enhance inspection efficiency and maintenance activities. The uncertainty-based inspection framework proposed in this study can help bridge owners avoid unnecessary or delayed inspections and repair actions, determine the inspection method, and consider more than one deterioration process or bridge component during the inspection planning process. The inspection time and method are determined based on the uncertainty and risks associated with the bridge condition. As uncertainty...
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Building maintenance is a fundamental practice in facility management, which supports the longevity of a building. Increasing costs of maintenance practices is a challenge for facility management professionals. Given that, building... more
Building maintenance is a fundamental practice in facility management, which supports the longevity of a building. Increasing costs of maintenance practices is a challenge for facility management professionals. Given that, building maintenance decisions often comprise complex and conflicting criteria. The primary purpose of this study is to develop and rank a set of criteria needed for constructing a multi-criteria decision-making model for use in building maintenance processes. This study also has an exploratory aspect and tries to establish the decision-making and condition assessment practices currently used in facility management. To do so, a literature review was conducted to reveal the significant criteria for building maintenance decision-making processes. Moreover, the results of a nationwide survey conducted with the members of two globally recognized facility management organizations were utilized. Identified criteria address a gap in facilities management research, i.e., ...
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Low-volume roads (LVRs) are restricted with limited maintenance funding due to the recent national economic downturn. Only few selected LVRs with deteriorated pavements are typically rehabilitated in which poor LVRs are expected to... more
Low-volume roads (LVRs) are restricted with limited maintenance funding due to the recent national economic downturn. Only few selected LVRs with deteriorated pavements are typically rehabilitated in which poor LVRs are expected to continue deteriorating to extreme levels of distress. Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) is evaluating pavement treatments on LVRs to find the most cost-effective maintenance strategies. As part of these efforts, a comprehensive optimization analysis is adopted in this paper to investigate alternative maintenance strategies and define the capital improvement plans for deteriorated LVRs with marginal pavement conditions. A proposed strategy was found to enhance the effectiveness of current policies followed by CDOT. However, the results emphasize the need for additional resources at network level for dealing with deteriorated LVRs. The optimization procedure described in this paper can be followed by other agencies nationwide to identify strategi...
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In the state of Colorado, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) utilizes their pavement management system (PMS) to manage approximately 9,100 miles of interstate, highways, and low-volume roads. Three types of deterioration... more
In the state of Colorado, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) utilizes their pavement management system (PMS) to manage approximately 9,100 miles of interstate, highways, and low-volume roads. Three types of deterioration models are currently being used in the existing PMS: site-specific, family, and expert opinion curves. These curves are developed using deterministic techniques. In the deterministic technique, the uncertainties of pavement deterioration related to traffic and weather are not considered. Probabilistic models that take into account the uncertainties result in more accurate curves. In this study, probabilistic models using the discrete-time Markov process were developed for five distress indices: transverse, longitudinal, fatigue, rut, and ride indices, as a case study on low-volume roads. Regression techniques were used to develop the deterioration paths using the predicted distribution of indices estimated from the Markov process. Results indicated tha...
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Condition information is essential to develop effective facility management (FM) strategies. Visual inspections and walk-through surveys are common practices of condition assessment (CA), generally resulting in qualitative and subjective... more
Condition information is essential to develop effective facility management (FM) strategies. Visual inspections and walk-through surveys are common practices of condition assessment (CA), generally resulting in qualitative and subjective outcomes such as “poor”, “good”, etc. Furthermore, limited resources of the FM process demand that CA practices be efficient. Given these, the purpose of this study is to develop a resource efficient quantitative CA framework that can be less subjective in establishing a condition rating. The condition variables of the study—mean time between failures, age-based obsolescence, facility condition index, occupant feedback, and preventive maintenance cycle—are identified through different sources, such as a computerized maintenance management system, expert opinions, occupants, and industry standards. These variables provide proxy measures for determining the condition of equipment with the implementation example for heating, ventilating, and air condit...
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AbstractClimate change is expected to impact both the operational and structural performance of infrastructure such as buildings, roads, and bridges. However, infrastructure design guides widely re...
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Condition information is essential to develop effective facility management (FM) strategies. Visual inspections and walk-through surveys are common practices of condition assessment (CA), generally resulting in qualitative and subjective... more
Condition information is essential to develop effective facility management (FM) strategies. Visual inspections and walk-through surveys are common practices of condition assessment (CA), generally resulting in qualitative and subjective outcomes such as “poor”, “good”, etc. Furthermore, limited resources of the FM process demand that CA practices be efficient. Given these, the purpose of this study is to develop a resource efficient quantitative CA framework that can be less subjective in establishing a condition rating. The condition variables of the study—mean time between failures, age-based obsolescence, facility condition index, occupant feedback, and preventive maintenance cycle—are identified through different sources, such as a computerized maintenance management system, expert opinions, occupants, and industry standards. These variables provide proxy measures for determining the condition of equipment with the implementation example for heating, ventilating, and air condit...
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AbstractIncreasingly, sustainability is a key indicator for planning transportation projects. As a result, evaluating the applicability of various transportation sustainability rating systems (TSRS) for adoption is important for the... more
AbstractIncreasingly, sustainability is a key indicator for planning transportation projects. As a result, evaluating the applicability of various transportation sustainability rating systems (TSRS) for adoption is important for the transportation industry in general, and for specific transportation organizations in particular. Several contending TSRSs are emerging, and provide various methods of guidance with regard to sustainability for infrastructure projects throughout project delivery. Different TSRSs, for example, employ different methods to determine or quantify sustainability and emphasize different sustainability factors. As a result, comparing the various systems and their suitability for implementation by a specific transportation organization can be a challenge. In this research, the authors apply the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) as the method to assist in such an evaluation according to the Colorado Department of Transportation’s (CDOT’s) preferences. Application of AHP in previous rese...
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This paper presents a qualitative evaluation of uni-axial shake table test results for a half- scale reinforced concrete house designed by the Indonesia Aid Foundation (IAF). The building is intended to provide a quality-controlled design... more
This paper presents a qualitative evaluation of uni-axial shake table test results for a half- scale reinforced concrete house designed by the Indonesia Aid Foundation (IAF). The building is intended to provide a quality-controlled design by being precast at a factory and delivered to the site for assembly, thus providing a living area for a family of approximately six people. In addition, the house is to be base isolated on used car tires filled with sand to approximate more technical rubber bearing base isolators available for use in construction and seismic retrofit today. The base isolation system was extremely effective and did not allow shear force to be transferred into the reinforced concrete walls, resulting in virtually no damage.
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ABSTRACT Externally bonded fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) has been successfully implemented to repair existing RC structures. Previous studies on the development of a reliability-based design method for externally bonded FRP have... more
ABSTRACT Externally bonded fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) has been successfully implemented to repair existing RC structures. Previous studies on the development of a reliability-based design method for externally bonded FRP have considered the additional uncertainties introduced by the FRP, but have relied on descriptions of the existing concrete and reinforcing steel representative of new construction. These descriptions are unlikely to be appropriate for an in-service structure in need of repair. This paper investigates the effects of different levels of uncertainty in existing RC structures and FRP materials on the reliability of repairs designed with ACI 440.2R-08 recommendations. Repairs to restore flexural strength for each beam in an inventory of rectangular and t-shaped beams were designed. The reliability index of these repair designs was evaluated to identify the most influential variables on the reliability of the FRP repairs. When the effects of the existing structure were compared with those of the FRP material, uncertainties related to the existing structure had a much greater impact on the reliability of repair designs. The most significant uncertainties were related to the area of the remaining reinforcing steel and the existing concrete strength.
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This paper describes a methodology for the calibration of preliminary resistance factors for the design of externally-bonded fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composite renewal strategies for reinforced concrete structures using the load and... more
This paper describes a methodology for the calibration of preliminary resistance factors for the design of externally-bonded fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composite renewal strategies for reinforced concrete structures using the load and resistance factor design (LRFD) approach. Reinforced concrete T-beam bridge girders rehabilitated flexurally with field-manufactured, carbon fiber reinforced epoxy composites are the specific example case studied. The calibration process is briefly described and then followed in a step-by-step ...
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Fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composites are increasingly being used in the rehabilitation of deteriorating and under-strength concrete bridge decks and girders in the form of externally bonded reinforcement. The wet layup process is... more
Fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composites are increasingly being used in the rehabilitation of deteriorating and under-strength concrete bridge decks and girders in the form of externally bonded reinforcement. The wet layup process is often used due to its inherent flexibility and ease of use in the field. However, this process, especially in uncontrolled field conditions, can result in significant variability in resulting FRP properties which can consequently cause a reduction in reliability of the rehabilitated structure. This paper ...
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... of concrete (Kosmatka et al. 2002). 2.2.3.2 Corrosion The corrosion of steel rebar is the primary and most costly form of deterioration experienced by reinforcedconcrete bridge structures. In the United States, maintenance ...
ABSTRACT Spray dryer absorber (SDA) material, also known as spray dryer ash, is a byproduct of coal combustion and flue gas scrubbing processes that has self-cementing properties similar to those of class C fly ash. SDA material does not... more
ABSTRACT Spray dryer absorber (SDA) material, also known as spray dryer ash, is a byproduct of coal combustion and flue gas scrubbing processes that has self-cementing properties similar to those of class C fly ash. SDA material does not usually meet the existing standards for use as a pozzolan in Portland cement concrete due to its characteristically high sulfur content, and thus unlike fly ash, it is rarely put to beneficial use. This paper presents the results of a study with the objective of developing beneficial uses for SDA material in building materials when combined with tire fiber reinforcement originating from a recycling process. Specifically, spray dryer ash was investigated for use as the primary or even the sole binding component in a mortar or concrete. This study differs from previous research in that it focuses on very high contents of spray dryer ash (80 to 100 percent) in a hardened product. The overarching objective is to divert products that are normally sent to landfills and provide benefit to society in beneficial applications.
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Abstract: This report describes the development of a Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD)-based design procedure for strengthening fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composites. The report examines the application of LRFD to FRP... more
Abstract: This report describes the development of a Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD)-based design procedure for strengthening fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composites. The report examines the application of LRFD to FRP strengthening schemes, focusing on wet layup, carbon-fiber composites applied to reinforced concrete T-beam bridge girders. Models are used to describe variation in the existing structural materials and the structural loading. The report describes a full sample calibration that is conducted and ...