MS, Kent State University, 2023, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Earth Sciences

Piping or internal erosion has been responsible for almost half of all dam failures worldwide. In this research, we studied the influence of grain size heterogeneity, as characterized by sediment size (d50) and the uniformity coefficient (Cu), on piping potential. A novel experimental setup was designed in-house that included sediment mass, pressure, and turbidity sensors allowing the examination of transient changes during piping events. Porosity and conductivity were analyzed in order to compare trends across varying grain size distributions. Mass values of soil lost during piping failure via a continuous mass balance and a turbidity meter to capture fines that remain in suspension were both utilized to capture the magnitude of piping failure. Minute Piping and Clogging events that are only able to be captured via the pressure transducers were recorded during this experiment, adding complexity to the onset of piping phenomena. The smaller the Cu, the less clogging events occurred before piping failure. It was noted that these minute piping and clogging events would stabilize as the sediment column reached equilibrium. This research allows for further studies to expand on these piping and clogging events as well as depicted trends between soil heterogeneity and piping potential.

Committee: Kuldeep Singh (Advisor); David Hacker (Committee Member); Anne Jefferson (Committee Member) Subjects: Civil Engineering; Earth; Engineering; Environmental Engineering; Environmental Geology; Experiments; Geology; Hydrologic Sciences; Hydrology; Soil Sciences

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2018, Dance Studies

“Ethnic and Racial Formation on the Concert Stage: A Comparative Analysis of Tap Dance and Appalachian Step Dance” is a revisionist project that explores the shared aesthetics and historical trajectories of these two percussive dance practices, which have ultimately developed into two distinct forms of dance. This dissertation investigates the choreographic and representational strategies choreographers use to transfer the histories and legacies of tap dance and Appalachian step dance to the stage, namely through a process I call concertization. In each analysis, I pay particular attention to representations of the complex ethnic and racial identities affiliated with each form and ways concertization highlights or obscures such affiliations. Additionally, I aim to understand the relationship between the practices of tap dance and Appalachian step dance and what I see as a contested idea of “America” as it is represented through choreography. My analyses suggest the migration of rhythm tap dance and Appalachian step dance from vernacular and social contexts to the concert stage is in tension with the ways these dance forms, as vernacular practices, also engage in the consolidation of ethnic and racial identities. As a result, concertized versions of tap dance and Appalachian step dance may inadvertently whitewash the racial projects of dancing in-situ in favor of presenting a unified vision of America. One strategy dance artists engage to disrupt whitewashed representational hegemony in concert dance contexts is to reassert the ethnic and racial affiliations of these dance forms specifically by making what I call their “dancestry” visible through their choreography and improvisation. To undertake this investigation, I employ parallel analytical frameworks, which enable me to address the physical movement legacies of the practices within their social, cultural, and historical contexts. Examining what I call aesthetic philosophies, localized values, and dancestry, (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Harmony Bench (Committee Chair); Melanye White Dixon (Committee Member); Kwaku Larbi Korang (Committee Member); Hannah Kosstrin (Committee Member) Subjects: African American Studies; American Studies; Comparative; Dance; Ethnic Studies; Fine Arts; Folklore; History; Performing Arts

Master of Science, The Ohio State University, 2017, Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering

The ability to treat high salt content wastewater in a cost-effect and environmentally sustainable manner is important to the food processing industry. Processing foods such as meat and fish often produces wastewater with a high salt content, which can interfere with treatment systems. Demand for meat and fish products are increasing rapidly as both population and GDP rise globally. At the same time, many small-scale food producers are facing increased wastewater treatment costs and more stringent environmental regulation. The objective of the present study was to determine the feasibility of treating high salt, high organic matter content wastewater with sand bioreactors. Sand bioreactors are fixed film systems consisting of pea gravel, coarse sand and fine sand. Bioreactors were dosed with turkey processing wastewater as control. The three treatments consisted of adding 6 g/L table salt, 13 g/L table salt and 35 g/L sea salt to the wastewater. Organic matter removal (COD, TOC) and ammonia removal were measured. Organic matter removal by sand bioreactors at all treatment levels was >90% from week 4-49. Acclimation periods for ammonia removal in the filters increased with increased salt content in the wastewater, ranging from 4 to 7 weeks and steady state ammonia removal was >99%. Clogging was observed in all salt treatment levels and was treated with resting and intermittent loading. Best practices for mitigating and alleviating clogging should be further explored. This low cost, non-sludge-forming technology could offer a potential alternative to conventional systems for high salt, high fat content wastewater treatment.

Committee: Karen Mancl (Advisor); Tuovinen Olli (Committee Member); Yu Zhongtang (Committee Member) Subjects: Engineering

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2004, Food, Agricultural, and Biological Engineering

On-site drip irrigation of treated wastewater has been suggested as an alternative where traditional wastewater treatment methods are not available or not appropriate. Emitter clogging is a major concern when irrigating wastewater. Investigating emitter clogging is important to ensure the long-term success of drip irrigation systems distributing wastewater. Four types of drip irrigation emitters distributed influents of different qualities. The experimental emitters were specifically designed for use with treated wastewater. The control emitters were not. The emitters distributed tap water, primary septic tank effluent and secondary sand bioreactor effluent. Each effluent was distributed through each emitter type for ten minutes every six hours, seven days a week for twelve months. Emitter flow rates were measured each month to identify clogged emitters. The control emitters exhibited the greatest reduction in flow rates and were detectably different than the experimental emitters. The experimental emitters were not detectably different. Emitter clogging was gradual and incomplete. Flow rates fluctuated over time. Many of the clogged emitters recovered to near their original flow rates as time progressed. The emitters distributing the septic tank effluent exhibited the most significant reduction in flow. The sand bioreactor, which reduced the effluent 5-day biochemical oxygen demand from 147 mg/l to 0.5 mg/l and total suspended solids from 55 mg/l to 3 mg/l, also reduced the degree of clogging in all four types of emitters. Biofilms were analyzed to determine their influence on emitter performance. ATP measurements revealed that the emitters distributing septic tank effluent contained higher amounts of biomass than those distributing both tap water and sand bioreactor effluent. The ATP measurements did not show a strong correlation with flow rate reduction, therefore biofilms were not shown to be the cause of emitter clogging. The results of this study show that was (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Karen Mancl (Advisor) Subjects:

Master of Science (MS), Ohio University, 1995, Civil Engineering (Engineering)

This thesis is based upon an experimental study on the clogging effects of carbonate materials used in landfill drainage layer within leachate collection systems. Two long-term laboratory permeability tests which involved four permeameter systems in each test that included media of different sizes and carbonate concentrations were conducted to investigate the clogging formation from physical, chemical and biological working processes. Three types of drainage media, with carbonate concentration of 4%, 46% and 79% were employed in the experiments. Of the four permeameters used in each test, two were 5 inches in diameter and 12 inches in length used for the AASHTO No.8 media; the other two were 4 inches in diameter and 15 inches in length used for the AASHTO No.9 media. Each permeability test was executed under continuous flow constant head saturated condition. The period for each test was about 60 days after baseline permeability was reached. During the tests, 2% hydraulic gradient was maintained. Samples of influent and effluent leachate were collected for analyses of physical (pH, suspended solids), chemical (COD, TOC, VOC, metals), and biological characteristics. Iron filings material was added into the gravel media in one test and in another pH of the leachate was adjusted into the acidic range. Permeability and leachate characteristics were monitored to investigate how iron filings and acidic leachate influence clogging and leachate properties such as the concentration of the volatile organic compounds. The results of the study illustrated: 1) high carbonate gravel experienced more rapid reduction in permeability than that of low carbonate gravel; 2) the permeability of the media receiving acidic leachate dropped faster than media receiving leachate at near neutral pH; and 3) the system containing the smaller size gravel clogged more quickly than the system containing the larger material. The permeability of all the media was reduced from approximately 1 cm/secon (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Gayle Mitchell (Advisor) Subjects: Engineering, Civil

Master of Science (MS), Ohio University, 1994, Civil Engineering (Engineering)

Permeability variation due to clogging in a simulated landfill drainage layer

Committee: Gayle Mitchell (Advisor) Subjects: Engineering, Civil

Master of Science (MS), Ohio University, 1992, Civil Engineering (Engineering)

Clogging of leachate collection systems could be a real possibility if one assumes that mechanisms such as those responsible for clogging of agricultural drainage tiles would be applicable in the landfill environment. An extensive laboratory testing program was undertaken to investigate the clogging mechanism of three types of drainage media typically utilized in the leachate collection system in the U.S. Two permeameters, 5 inches in diameter by 12 inches long, were fabricated, and flow of actual landfill leachate was maintained gravitationally without recirculation at 1 and 2% hydraulic gradients in a constant head permeability test environment to simulate landfill bottom drainage conditions. Flow rates were monitored, and influent and effluent leachate samples were collected for various physical and chemical characterizations. The study results indicated that the permeability of gravel, poorly graded sand and well-graded sand was reduced from 100, 10-2, 10-2cm/sec, to approximately 10-2, 10-4, 10-4cm/sec, respectively.

Committee: Gayle Mitchell (Advisor) Subjects: Engineering, Civil

Master of Science (MS), Ohio University, 1992, Civil Engineering (Engineering)

Clogging of a laboratory simulated landfill drainage blanket

Committee: Gayle Mitchell (Advisor) Subjects: Engineering, Civil