Testing

Factors such as water to cement ratio, moisture, mixture, presence and depth of rebar, and dimension of specimens, all of which affect apparent resistivity of concrete, were analyzed by experimental and modeling methods. Cylinder and rectangular prism concrete specimens were used in the experiments exposed in a high moisture room, laboratory room temperature, high humidity and outdoor weather environments. Single rebar and four rebar specimens were used to study the rebar effect on the apparent resistivity. Modeling analysis was employed to verify and explain the experimental results. Based on the results, concrete with fly ash showed higher resistivity than concrete with just ordinary Portland cement. Rebar presence had a significant effect on the measured apparent resistivity at some of the locations. The results could be used as a guide for field apparent resistivity measurements and provide a quick, more precise and easy way to estimate the concrete quality.

This study presents an experimental investigation into the effects of running biodiesel fuel blends on conventional diesel engines. Bio fuels provide a way to produce fuels without redesigning any of the engine technology present today, yet allowing for green house emissions to decrease. Bio-diesel is one of these types of emerging bio-fuels, which has an immediate alternative fuel aspect to it, while providing a decrease in green house emissions, as well as a solution to recycling used Waste Vegetable Oils which are other wise disposed. This study shows how by blending bio-diesel with petroleum diesel at intervals of B5, B10, B15, and B20 decrease green house emissions can significantly while maintaining similar performance output and efficiency with respect to 100% petroleum diesel.

Terror management theory focuses on defenses used to buffer the anxiety caused by the awareness of death. This study attempted to induce an effect opposite to anxiety interpersonal connectedness-using a video clip. This feeling of connectedness was anticipated to decrease the need for the defenses described by terror management theory, and more specifically to lower the need for cultural worldview defense. Participants were assigned to one of two video conditions: the control video condition (K-Web) or the experimental video condition (42-Up). After the video clip was shown, participants judged a list of social transgressions and rated the amount of punishment they felt the transgressor deserved. Individuals with high levels of self-esteem and positive affect were found to be more punitive than their counterparts, but the amount of punishment doled out to the transgressors was lower in the experimental video groups than in the control video groups.