Richard Bennett

University of Tennessee at Knoxville | UTK · Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

The Masonry Society committee in charge of the publication Building Code Requirements for Masonry Structures, TMS 402, rewrote the chapter containing provisions for masonry veneer in the 2022 edition. One change incorporated in this new chapter was an engineered method for anchored veneer design. A key design criterion of the engineered design meth...

Homework is an important out-of-class activity, crucial to student success in engineering courses. However, in a first-semester freshman engineering course, approximately one-fourth of students were completing less than 80% of the homework. The purpose of this study was to examine students’ attribution of their low completion of homework and sugges...

Dual-treatment technology combining diffusible preservatives with oil-borne preservatives, widely used for crossties in the USA, has now also been commercialized with bridge ties/timbers. In order to understand the implications of these changes, the historic service life of creosote-treated bridge timbers in northern and southeastern USA were consi...

Scale models of wooden bridge timbers were broken in bending to assess the impact of holes drilled along their length to permit the addition of wood preservatives. The results indicate that the holes have minimal impact. However, the common practice of cutting ''daps'' on the underside of the beams to accommodate the supporting beams appears to hav...

Flipped classroom models are becoming increasing popular in engineering education as these models move away from the traditional lecture format and to a more student-centered model where students can work and receive feedback during class time. A flipped classroom model has been applied to a first year engineering programming course at the Universi...

Major changes to building code requirements and specification for masonry structures (TMS 402/TMS 602, 2011, "Building Code Requirements and Specification for Masonry Structures," TMS 402/ACI 530/ASCE 5 and TMS 602/ACI 530.1/ASCE 6, The Masonry Society, Longmont, CO) are being made to the 2013 edition of these standards by the Masonry Standards Joi...

The piling framed retaining wall (PFRW) is an innovative earth-retention system applicable for soils underlain by rock, which is ideal for applications where only limited right-of-way is available or adjacent structures limit the use of tieback anchors. Two PFRWs were successfully built along the I-40/I-75 corridor in Knoxville, Tennessee, with sig...

Grade separations have been used along High-Speed Rail (HSR) to decrease traffic congestion and the danger that occurs at grade crossings. However, the concern with grade separations is the potential damage due to lateral impact of bridge superstructures by over-height vehicles. This is a concern with existing bridges, and lateral impact is not inc...

All freshman engineering students at University X take a common course which is a combination of physics and an introduction to engineering. The pass rate for this course in Fall 2011 was82.8%. The pass rate for students who completed at least 80% of the homework was 96.9%. The pass rate for the 22.5% of the class who did less than 80% of the homew...

Taimi Olsen is the Associate Director of the Tennessee Teaching and Learning Center at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where she creates and conducts workshops, oversees creative teaching grants, and consults with individual faculty members. She has delivered workshops on visual learning, assessment , classroom management, service learning...

A limitation in many on-line interaction systems (discussion boards, wikis, chat rooms, etc.) is the lack of graphical tools. When using these types of systems to provide asynchronous help for engineering classes, the lack of integrated graphical tools ignores the need to communicate with sketches and equations. Due to the nature of the material an...

Extensive bond wrench testing of clay brick with different void areas has recently been performed. The data set is very comprehensive, testing different types of brick, brick with low and high initial rate of absorption, different mortar types, and voids ranging from 22 to 36 +ACU-. All pairwise combinations within each data set were compared with...

Currently the TMS 602-08, “Specification for Masonry Structures,” allows the specified compressive strength of masonry, fm′, to be determined using either the unit strength method or the prism test method. With regard to prism testing, the specification gives no requirements in terms of the number of prisms to be tested or how to use the results of...

An experimental study was carried out to investigate the shear behavior of corrugated metal ties anchoring brick veneer walls to light wood frame backing. Connection subassemblies were tested under monotonic and cyclic shear, simulating in-plane loading of veneer wall systems, and statistical analyses were conducted to identify and quantify the par...

The purpose of creating this Multi-Hazard Mitigation Disaster Resistant University Plan was to meet the requirements of the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000. This hazard mitigation plan documents the process of creating a plan for the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, including identifying hazards and risks associated with UTK and identifying a ha...

A recently developed finite element (FE) model was used to examine the thickness-swell, density changes, and internal stresses in oriented strandboard (OSB) panels under moisture loading. The model accounts for the nonlinear mechanical behavior of OSB and for the moisture transport through the specimen. The FE model is based on the 3-D density vari...

This paper summarizes the results of a practical application of a 2D non-linear finite element (FE) analysis for a novel retaining wall developed by the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT). The wall design eliminates the need for a construction right of way behind the wall, thus it is ideal for urban areas. The design concept consists of...

A finite element model was developed for predicting thickness-swell of oriented strandboard. The model accounts for both vertical and horizontal density variations of the board, or the three-dimensional density distribution. Density variation, resulting from manufacturing processes such as strand orientation and pressing cycles, affects the uniform...

This article examines the unique aspects of hollow brick, along with their physical properties and performance, environmental benefits, and specifications to enhance a project's sustainable design.

Near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy was used to predict the longitudinal tensile modulus, the longitudinal tensile strength, and the creosote content of wood from an out-of-service southern pine utility pole. Tensile samples were cut from the pole in the radial direction and near-infrared spectra were obtained before testing. Coefficients of determina...

This paper examines issues related to deflection criteria for masonry beams. Masonry walls supported by beams and lintels act compositely with the beam. As the height of the masonry wall increases, the behavior becomes more like that of a tied arch, with the masonry in compression and the beam acting as the tension tie. Deflection limits are only n...

A consistent basis for statistically reducing fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composite material property test data for load and resistance factor design (LRFD) of composite structures is developed in this paper. A two-parameter Weibull probability distribution is recommended for modeling both strength and stiffness properties. Consistent with pract...

Working homework problems has always been an integral part of an introductory engineering physics class. Traditionally, the homework process has been an inefficient one which involved students writing solutions on paper, turning the papers in, instructors grading the papers, and returning the papers back to the students to provide for feedback and...

The behavior of oriented Strandboards manufactured with flakes dried to various moisture contents using microwave energy was examined. Boards manufactured with surface layers of microwave-dried flakes had slightly greater mean thickness swell than boards with untreated flakes, but this difference was proven to be statistically insignificant. Densit...

Vertical loads on concrete box culverts under high embankments are examined, where a high embankment is defined herein as one where the height of the fill above the culvert is greater than the width of the culvert. Results from an instrumented culvert are described, with results from pressure cells, strain gages in the wall, and strain gages in the...

This paper presents an analytical probabilistic based design procedure for concentrically loaded compression members of fiber-reinforced polymeric composite materials. Resistance factors for use in a load and resistance factor design format are developed for flexural buckling of doubly symmetric sections, both flexural buckling and flexural-torsion...

The effects of varying soil stiffness on pile capacity when subjected to horizontal deflection controlled loading were discussed. In the absence of expansion joints, piles supporting integral abutements were subjected to lateral displacement and bending moments. The finite element model of field tests conducted in Tennessee were also presented to p...

Large highly cored extruded clay units with multiple cores and numerous thin webs offer the advantage of quick construction and excellent thermal properties. The units have been used in European construction, but are new to the United States. Testing included unit compressive tests, bond wrench flexural testing, and prism compressive tests. A modif...

This study investigates the use of Near Infrared (NIR) spectroscopy as a nondestructive means of determining wood properties. The parallel to the grain modulus of elasticity was predicted from the near infrared spectra and compared to the modulus of elasticity obtained from tensile tests. Analysis was also performed to determine if NIR spectroscopy...

Consensus masonry specifications require that the grout be consolidated by mechanical vibration, and then reconsolidated by mechanical vibration after initial water loss and settlement has occurred. The splashes created by the withdrawal of the vibrator result in a messy workplace and a possible safety hazard. An alternative method which eliminates...

A five-year, large- and small-scale, static and dynamic experimental research program, in which more than 700 tests were conducted, has demonstrated that unreinforced masonry infills are more ductile and resist lateral loads more effectively than anticipated by conventional code procedures. The tests were conducted both in the laboratory and on exi...

It is well known that the density varies through the thickness of oriented Strandboard, with the faces being much denser than the core. Density varies through the thickness because of consolidation characteristics of the wood elements during pressing in a hot-press. Hence, the mechanical properties should vary through the thickness of the panel. To...

The three-parameter and two-parameter Weibull distributions are compared using 26 mechanical property data sets of fiber-reinforced polymeric (FRP) composite materials manufactured by the pultrusion process. Both strength and stiffness properties were examined. The probability distributions were compared on the basis of goodness of fit, nominal des...

The Engage initiative at the University of Tennessee addresses the needs of entering engineering students through a new first year curriculum. The program integrates the engineering subject matter of the freshman year, teaches problem solving and design by application, and seeks to address the increased retention and graduation of engineering stude...

The first prestressed segmental concrete bridge in the United States opened to traffic was a small bridge in Madison County, Tennessee. The bridge was constructed using prestressed concrete segments and was opened to traffic in October 1950. Prestressed concrete beams were placed side by side to form the superstructure of the bridge. The constructi...

Simple methods for determining the corner crushing strength and the in-plane stiffness of masonry infills are developed. The methods are applicable to structural clay tile, clay brick, and concrete masonry infills and to both steel and concrete bounding frames. The corner crushing strength is determined as a function of the infill thickness and the...

The effects of temperature on contact earth pressure cells were investigated. The temperature coefficient for temperature effects on the transducer in pressure cells was calculated. The relation between Young's modulus of the soil and strain was described. An empirical approach was also discussed for temperature correction. The theoretical temperat...

The vertical density profile of wood composite panels is defined as the change in density through the panel thickness. The density profile results from the influence of processing parameters used in panel manufacture. A study was completed to examine the relationship of the formation of the vertical density profile in oriented strandboard as influe...

An innovative new freshman engineering initiative called engage has been fully implemented at the University of Tennessee. This is a comprehensive approach to meeting the educational and developmental needs of our freshmen. Extensive data on student performance was collected during the two-year phase in of this new program.

An innovative new freshman engineering initiative called engage has been fully implemented at the University of Tennessee. This is a comprehensive approach to meeting the educational and developmental needs of our freshmen. Extensive data on student performance was collected during the two-year phase in of this new program. Results presented includ...

The failure of several 15-m wood trusses at the lower chord splice joint is described. These trusses were built in the early 1940s with 100-mm split-ring connectors at the splice. The general failure pattern was initially horizontal splitting at the end of the chord member in two places through the depth of the member. As the split progressed, the...

Two important parameters in fatigue life evaluations of existing steel highway bridges are the number of stress cycles experienced and the effective stress range. The inaccuracies in predicting remaining fatigue life can be attributed to either one of these two parameters. However, the AASHTO guide specification has no provisions for the cycle-coun...

Three methods that have been developed to compute the capacity of masonry infill panels subjected to uniform out-of-plane loads are examined with respect to their performance in predicting experimental results. One method is an empirical method, whereas the other two methods are based on theoretical developments. Based on 36 experimental results re...

Large-scale structural clay tile infilled steel frames were tested under in-plane loading. All infills failed through corner crushing, and the failure load was relatively insensitive to framing characteristics. An analytical procedure was proposed in which the peak strength of the infill for the corner crushing limit state is a function only of f(m...

Several bidirectional tests were performed on structural clay tile infilled steel frames to assess the interaction of in-plane and out-of-plane forces and to understand the behavior of damaged infills. Tests consisted of in-plane and out-of-plane uniform lateral load tests, out-of-plane drift tests, sequential tests tin-plane damage followed by out...

To obtain a better understanding of the stresses acting on cast-in-place concrete box culverts, and to investigate the conditions which resulted in a culvert failure under about 12 meters of backfill, two sections of a new culvert were instrumented. The measured earth pressure distribution was found to depend upon the height of the embankment over...

Description Nearly 30 papers feature the latest information on field instrumentation for soil and rock Three major areas addressed include: • Geotechnical Instrumentation of Landfills; • Instrumentation for Project Cost Management, • and Field Data Acquisitions and Data Management. Two papers address the geotechnical instrumentation aspects of the...

Dynamic spectator livre loads on a steel bent were measured during several football games. Two types of dynamic forces were observed, one from crowd reactions after exciting plays and the other from rhythmic cheering. Dynamic load factors for rhythmic activities were less than 0.15 for the first harmonic and less than 0.05 for the second harmonic....

Many buildings have been constructed with structural clay tile masonry as either infills, bearing walls, or partitions. Little data are available on the strength and constitutive properties of structural clay tile. The limited historical data and the results of some recent testing of structural clay tile prisms are presented. The current program te...

A one-story ranch house was monitored as it underwent static ground subsidence from longwall coal mining. The unreinforced crawl space foundation failed early in the subsidence event. The foundation was not flexible enough to conform to the ground movements, and not stiff and strong enough to ride out the movements. Minimal superstructure damage oc...

Two steel frames with structural clay tile infills were tested under simulated seismic loads in both the out-of-plane and in-plane direction. Out-of-plane testing showed that infill panels separate from their bounding frame, and respond at their own natural frequency during a seismic excitation. Due to arching, the panels remain stable. In-plane se...

The response of masonry infills during the 1994 Northridge, California earthquake is described in terms of three categories: (1) lowrise and midrise structures experiencing large near field seismic excitations, (2) lowrise and midrise structures experiencing moderate far field excitation, and (3) highrise structures experiencing moderate far field...

Observations were made of the behavior of masonry infills in structural frames during the Northridge earthquake, and an analytical technique was developed for analyzing infilled frame structures. Infills near the epicenter suffered significant damage, but in several cases contributed to the seismic resistance and life safety performance. Older infi...

The structural response and subsequent damage to a residential house were monitored during an active longwall mining monitoring program consisted of survey monuments on the ground surface around the house and at various locations on the structure. Structural tilt, soil strain and soil pressures were also recorded. The structure was subjected to a c...

The behavior of residential structures subjected to large ground movements was evaluated by observing the response of six test foundations constructed over an advancing longwall mine panel. The foundations were subjected to both horizontal and vertical movements, with the induced curvature from the vertical movements being the primary damage mechan...

Three tests were conducted on 2.4 meter by 2.4 meter steel frames infilled with structural clay tile to determine the behavior and capacity when subjected to uniform lateral loads. An air bag was used to apply the out-of-plane loads. The walls were subjected to increasing load-unload cycles until virtual destruction of the infill. Cracking in the m...

Six large-scale static in-plane tests were performed on 8-inch unreinforced structural clay tile infill walls in structural steel frames. These tests are part of a comprehensive investigation evaluating the behavior of clay tile wall construction, typical of industrial facilities at Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant. Objective was to determine initial in-plane...

Structural clay tile has been produced in the United States and used in load-bearing walls for over a century. While the fundamentals of the manufacturing process have not changed significantly, specific fabrication details and material additives have led to increased strength and economy of current products. Red burned clay masonry units were samp...

Description 28 papers ranging from masonry design and construction to the evaluation of masonry problems and repair techniques. Of these papers: 6 examine the relationship of design to various performance aspects of masonry; 7 focus on properties of masonry materials and assemblies; 9 examine test procedures used to evaluate materials and assemblie...

Several large-scale static tests of clay tile infilled frames were recently conducted. For in-plane racking tests, the effects of cyclic loading, varying frame stiffness, varying infill size, infill offset from frame centerline, and single and double wythe infill construction were investigated. Out-of-plane tests examined infilled frame response to...

Martin Marietta Energy Systems, inc. is conducting a comprehensive program to assess the safety of critical Department of Energy facilities to natural phenomena hazards. Many of these facilities at the Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant were constructed in the mid to late 1940s and are comprised of unreinforced hollow clay tile infilled steel frames.The assessme...

A common building construction of the Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant is structural steel framing with infilled unreinforced hollow clay tile walls. A comprehensive program is underway to evaluate the resistance of this construction to natural phenomena loadings, particularly earthquake. This paper presents the results of the first series of large-scale infil...

A comprehensive program is underway at the Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant to evaluate the seismic capacity of unreinforced hollow clay tile infilled steel frames. This program has three major parts. First, preliminary numerical analyses are conducted to predict behavior, initial cracking loads, ultimate capacity loads, and to identify important parameters. S...

Nine sites across the United States are examined to obtain pertinent macro time variability statistics of wind loads. The parameters developed are those used in many of the existing probabilistic-based load combination methods. It is found that a clustering model is appropriate for the macro variations in wind. The parameters are verified by compar...

The load and resistance factor design (LRFD) specification developed by the American Institute of Steel Construction allows the designer to consider the partial restraint in a steel connection. A generated nonlinear equation is fitted to available experimental data on partially restrained steel connections for six different types of connections. Th...

The appropriateness of the use of traditional methods of structural analysis in reliability analyses is examined using two examples: partially restrained steel beams and the stability of earth slopes. It is found that new and innovative methods of structural analysis may cause simplifications in the system reliability analysis.

This paper discusses various aspects of an unreinforced hollow clay tile wall (HCTW) research program being conducted by Martin Marietta Energy Systems, Inc., for the US Department of Energy. The purpose of the program is to assist in determining the response of infilled HCTW buildings to earthquake forces.

Instrumentation can make buildings safer and more functional, as well as provide information that will change the approach to engineering and design. Instrumentation is used to measure seismic loads, wind forces, traffic loads, and building loads. Important foundation response measurements include soil pressures, water table levels, and settlements...

Methode de calcul de la limite inferieure optimale des combinaisons, en fonction des probabilites d'intersection deux a deux des modes individuels de rupture: procedure plus simple que celle par programmation dynamique

Snow load factors are critically examined for use in load and resistance factor design (LRFD). Specifically examined are the effects on structural reliability of the change in the basic ground load to roof load conversion factor from 0.8 to 0.7 and recent statistical data concerning the conversion factor. Using the recent data on the groundload to...

Practical and tractable formulations for determining the probability of progressive collapse in structures are developed. Both the case where abnormal loads are specified and the case where initiating damage levels are specified are considered. Methods for including event control measures in the formulations are also obtained. The formulations are...

The reliability of bolted steel tension members designed according to the American Institute of Steel Construction Load and Resistance Factor Design Code is evaluated. The failure modes considered are yielding of the gross section and fracture of the net section. Statistics on the correlation coefficient between the yield strength and ultimate stre...

TWO formulations are developed for the determination of the reliability of general redundant structural systems. One is the failure mode approach, which is based on ways in which a structure may fail. The other is the stable configuration approach, which is based on the possible configurations in which a structure may carry an applied load. Concept...

A probabilistic assessment of the effect of the importance factor in ANSI A58.1-1982 on the reliability of structures is performed. It is found that the change in reliability for structures within the same ANSI category may vary widely depending on which load combination controls the design. An alternate format for the importance factor, whereby th...

A method based on the combination of the imposed deformation approach and the stable configuration approach of structural system reliability analysis is developed for evaluating the reliability of structures with elements that behave in a nonlinear fashion, as well as fracture, or fail in a brittle manner, at some deformation. The basis of the stab...

A review is provided of the recent developments in the reliability analysis of ductile (elastic-plastic) systems and of the stable configuration approach of structural system reliability analysis. These are combined to obtain a methodology for evaluating the reliability of frames that have primarily ductile components but also a few brittle compone...

The failure mode approach, based on ways in which a structure can fail, and the stable configuration approach, based on ways in which a structure can carry an applied load, were examined and developed for the determination of the reliability of general redundant structural systems including systems with brittle components. For a class of structures...

A summary of large-scale cyclic static tests of structural clay tile infilled frames is given. In-plane racking tests examined the effects of varying frame stiffness, varying infill size, infill offset from frame centerline, and single and double wythe infill construction. Out-of-plane tests examined infilled frame response to inertial loadings and...

A review of current analytical methods for infilled frame behavior is conducted. A subset of these methods are applied to experimental results. Parametric studies are used to find the sensitivity of the behavior to various parameters. In-plane loading, out-of-plane inertial loading, out-of-plane interstory drift loading, and combined loadings are e...

The effect of out-of-plane inter-story drift on the in-plane capacity of unreinforced hollow clay tile infilled frames was evaluated by testing three large-scale specimens. Two of the specimens were first subjected to cyclic out-of-plane displacements Imposed either at the top or at midheight of the infill. Little relative movement was observed bet...

This report presents the results of laboratory testing of hollow clay tile masonry units. The testing is part of an ongoing natural phenomena evaluation program of Hollow Clay Tile Wall (HCTW) facilities at the Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant. The primary purpose of these tests is to determine structural properties of unit tiles of the same lot to be used in...

Recent Department of Energy requirements have led to a comprehensive evaluation of the industrial facilities at the Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant. The structures consist of simply connected steel frames infilled with structural clay tile walls. The objective of the evaluation was to determine the stability of the unreinforced infills, and whether they provi...