Advancements in fabrication of manufacturing and medical systems is focusing on using computer-aided fabrication methods, also called additive manufacturing or 3D printing. In civil engineering, we still rely on traditional methods of construction. Although there are researchers and companies investigating 3D printing of concrete, most focus on form, not on engineering properties. This research project has begun to remedy that by investigating mix design methodologies, new extrusion techniques and use of large-capacity testing equipment to advance engineering of 3D printed concrete structures. The first phase has investigated extrudable and stable (in its fresh state) mix design(s); a new protocol is being developed to test the engineering properties, including stiffness, strength of the extruded material, as well as multi-layer adhesion and deformation. The second phase will investigate the hardened properties. The research is funded by Pactrans, with the ultimate goal of printing components for multi-modal concrete structures, such as pedestrian and bicycle bridges.

Altrenogest (ALT) is a potent synthetic steroidal progestin commonly used as a veterinary pharmaceutical to maintain pregnancy in females, match estrus periods for breeding, or postpone the estrus period. ALT usage was estimated as several thousand kg across ~3,600,000 horses and ~66,000,000 swine; it subsequently enters the aquatic environment through agricultural runoff. ALT can act as an environmental endocrine disruptor because it has progestogenic and androgenic activity, however, little is currently known on its environmental fate, persistence, and ecological risks. Our study focuses on characterizing the biodegradation kinetics and product identification for ALT and its primary photoproducts.To evaluate altrenogest fate, we build microcosms by mixing altrenogest, water and growth media for mixed microbial communities collected from representative agro-ecosystems and municipal waste waters. We then concentrate water samples through solid- phase extraction and then use liquid chromatography and triple quadrupole mass spectrometry to analyze remaining ALT concentrations over time, to understand transformation kinetics. To identify transformation products, sample extracts are analyzed using high resolution mass spectrometry. Study results will aid in the risk assessment of ALT by improving our understanding of its environmental fate and management.

Freshwater is one of the most valuable resources in Washington State. In recent decades, water supply has been affected due to climate change and population growth. Understanding changes in water supply and demand is crucial for ensuring an abundance of water for residential, economic, and industrial needs. The proposed research analyzes changes in the streamflow regime of the Cedar and Tolt Rivers which provide drinking water for the greater Seattle area. The main goal is to calculate the water budgets for the Cedar and Tolt watersheds and estimate how the inputs and outputs to these budgets change over the 21st century. An existing ensemble of streamflow projections for the Cedar and Tolt Rivers are used to analyze changes in water supply. The mean streamflow for each month is compared between a 30-year control period (water years 1971-2000) and a 30-year future period (water years 2031-2060). For each of these periods, I determine “optimistic” and “pessimistic” scenarios for the streamflow. For the “drought” month the highest streamflow value is considered as “optimistic”, and the lowest as “pessimistic” since the goal is to assess potential shortages. I use existing monthly demand values provided by Seattle Public Utilities and create different future scenarios, based on the predictions of population and employment growth. Supply and demand values are compared to evaluate (1) the potential for water shortage and (2) water management and conservation methods to satisfy the unmet demand. One potential water management method is the construction of a new reservoir. The results of the research are aimed at helping to inform society and water managers about the potential changes in the water system. Based on this information, they might be able to introduce changes in their future plans to accommodate the predicted needs.

The physics behind wave-driven mixing of river and ocean waters and current-driven wave breaking are not well understood. The current body of work surrounding river-ocean interactions focuses on large rivers. However, small rivers, which are much more strongly influenced by waves, make up the majority of such systems, and contribute significantly to global riverine discharge. Examining the momentum balance of river flow in opposition to wave-driven forcing from the ocean is necessary to understand how waves influence the travel and mixing of river water. One way to measure this interaction is using instrumental drifting buoys that follow the path of the river water and take temporal measurements of water properties. These leave gaps in our knowledge, as such buoys do not provide a description of the entire system, only specific points. To fill in these gaps, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) footage was used to understand broader wave-current interactions at the Quinault River mouth, a small river that feeds directly into the Pacific Ocean. The town of Taholah, WA, is on its banks, and faces challenges due to wave-driven flooding. The size of the surf zone, the nearshore region where waves break at high frequency, was mapped with UAV footage, and related back to local environmental conditions, such as tidal phase. At low water, the momentum from the river is maximized, and so is the cross-shore extent of the surf zone. This decreases salinity around the river mouth, as freshwater is trapped by the surf zone. At high tide, these conditions are reversed, and fresh water streams can be detected past the surf zone, suggesting the river water has escaped from this region of high turbulence. The conditions under which these escapes occur are to be understood by combining analyses of UAV footage with drifter and tidal data.

Methylmercury (MeHg) is a bioaccumulative neurotoxin, dangerous to human health even at trace levels. In inundated soils, MeHg is formed from inorganic mercury by mercury-methylating microorganisms; a process termed methylation. Demethylation, by contrast, converts MeHg into less-dangerous inorganic mercury, and also occurs via microbial activity throughout the aquatic soil profile. Rice grains can be contaminated with MeHg when grown in soils where methylation rates are high; human exposure to MeHg is thus a serious public health concern in places where rice cultivation, high rates of consumption, and soil mercury (Hg) contamination overlap. Our research aims to better understand the soil conditions that favor demethylation over methylation – this information can then be used to reduce rice grain contamination through agricultural practices or rice breeding programs. Specifically, our research focuses on the role of oxygenation and carbon root exudates on the net MeHg accumulation throughout the soil profile. Rice plants grow in flooded, oxygen-free (anoxic) soils, but their roots can leak oxygen (making the rice rhizosphere oxygenated in varying degrees), as well as carbon root exudates. Our project simulated both fully oxic and transiently-oxic (transition) zones, with two different levels of root exudates; we use isotopic tracers to assess respective methylation and demethylation rates in all four treatments in both the vegetated (rhizosphere) and non-vegetated (bulk) soil. Carbon root exudates have been collected from hydroponically-grown rice variety M-206, and can be applied to different soil zones via tubules. Oxygenation of the soil can be measured with mm-scale optode imagery, which allows delicate testing of various oxygen-introduction designs. My role in this interdisciplinary project has been to develop, scale-up, automate, and verify the accuracy and dependability of root-oxygenation and root-exudate introduction systems to be used in upcoming experiments.

Traditional geotechnical ground improvement processes oftentimes rely on hazardous chemicals and high energy. Microbially Induced Calcite Precipitation (MICP) offers an eco-friendly alternative and is a bio-mediated cementation method that can improve the shear stiffness and strength of soils by cementing particle contacts. In this process, calcite precipitation is initiated by indigenous bacteria through the hydrolysis of urea, which produces solution alkalinity and ammonium. Following treatment, bio-cemented soils contain high concentrations of ammonium by-products that have the potential to harm environmental and human health. Previous research work has been performed to evaluate the ability of rinse injections to remove nitrogen by-products. In this study a meter-scale bio-cementation experiment was performed and developed rinse techniques were examined. Five 3.7-meter, horizontally oriented, rectangular soil columns were cemented and subsequently rinsed with 13 pore volumes of a high pH, calcium chloride solution. Columns varied in applied treatment techniques and soil types. The first received a standard enrichment stimulation solution to achieve a higher bulk ureolytic activity. The second was treated with a reduced enrichment stimulation solution to reduce ureolytic activity and aim for improved uniformity of cementation over the column length. The third column was augmented with Sporosarcina pasteurii to match the ureolytic rate in the standard enrichment column. Fourth and fifth columns both received the reduced enrichment treatment on different soil types, a marine fine sand and a different alluvial sand, respectively. Shear wave velocities, aqueous samples, pore pressure measurements, and soil samples were collected over the course of the experiment. After injecting 13 pore volumes of rinse solution, aqueous samples suggest that ammonium concentrations were reduced from ~500 mM to less than 2 mM in all columns. After a 24 hour retention period, however, increases in concentrations were observed suggesting the potential for ammonium by-product leaching in time. This work moves MICP closer to field implimentation and wider-use.

In this research project, a method was developed to quantify Gordonia and Microthrix parvicella filamentous bacteria in primary, secondary and digester sludge from three different wastewater treatment facilities in King County. The goal of developing this method was to determine the concentrations of filamentous bacteria for the purpose of relating those values to the foaming process in anaerobic digesters. The method utilized gram staining to identify Gordonia and M. parvicella by microscopy. After visual identification, the method required counting of the filamentous bacteria. These counts were then related to the measurements of biomass to calculate the overall concentrations of Gordonia and Microthrix parvicella in sludge samples. The method was validated by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), which used DNA to quantify the filamentous bacteria. This method was successful in determining the concentration of these filamentous bacteria in sludge samples manipulated in the lab. However, it did not succeed with sludge samples directly from wastewater treatment plants. To ensure this method determines the concentration of Gordonia and Microthrix parvicella in samples directly from treatment plants, suggestions for future improvement of the method was made. Suggested improvements include different drying methods, different dilutions or additional preparation to homogenize sludge samples.
 

With an increasing demand for more complex and efficient structures, the world is in need of more structural engineers. I have been developing educational tools to make structural engineering more intuitive, tactile, and approachable. Using K’Nex, a readily available construction toy system, I build structures accompanied by computer models to illustrate key structural engineering principles. These products will aid in the education and promotion of structural engineering and are targeted towards children and undergraduates students. This research involves the investigating of physical properties of K’Nex members in order to create accurate numerical (computer) models. Experiments include load tests to determine material properties, buckling stresses, and failure modes. Many of these tests are designed to be approachable and can be performed using everyday household objects. Numerical models are created in MATLAB and are used to predict behaviors under certain load combinations, as well as highlight shortcomings of simplified elastic theory. The results and methodology of this research are designed to focus on building an intuition and interest for structural engineering.