xianming Shi | Washington State University (original) (raw)

Papers by xianming Shi

ACM Transactions on Embedded Computing Systems

Water quality data is incredibly important and valuable, but its acquisition is not always trivia... more Water quality data is incredibly important and valuable, but its acquisition is not always trivial. A promising solution is to distribute a wireless sensor network in water to measure and collect the data; however, a drawback exists in that the batteries of the system must be replaced or recharged after being exhausted. To mitigate this issue, we designed a self-sustained water quality sensing system that is powered by renewable bioenergy generated from microbial fuel cells (MFCs). MFCs collect the energy released from native magnesium oxidizing microorganisms (MOMs) that are abundant in natural waters. The proposed energy-harvesting technology is environmentally friendly and can provide maintenance-free power to sensors for several years. Despite these benefits, an MFC can only provide microwatt-level power that is not sufficient to continuously power a sensor. To address this issue, we designed a power management module to accumulate energy when the input voltage is as low as 0.33...

Journal of Cold Regions Engineering, Sep 1, 2011

ABSTRACT This work evaluated the performance attributes and impacts of several alternative deicer... more ABSTRACT This work evaluated the performance attributes and impacts of several alternative deicers along with traditional chloride-based deicers. Four Strategic Highway Research Program tests were conducted to evaluate the ice melting, ice penetration, and ice undercutting capabilities of the deicers of interest, and also their impact to the freeze-thaw resistance of portland cement concrete. Three additional novel methods were utilized to assess the friction coefficient of deiced concrete surfaces, thermal properties of the deicers, and corrosion effects of deicers to metals. The laboratory data shed light on the complexity and challenges in evaluating various deicers. To facilitate scientifically sound decision-making, the writers propose a systematic approach to integrate the information available regarding various aspects of deicers, and to incorporate agency priorities, which is expected to aid agencies in selecting or formulating their snow and ice control chemicals. ***Best Paper Award 2011-2012 by ASCE Journal of Cold Regions Engineering***

Sustainability

Accurate and real-time traffic and road weather information acquired using connected vehicle (CV)... more Accurate and real-time traffic and road weather information acquired using connected vehicle (CV) technologies can help commuters perform safe and reliable trips. A nationwide survey of transit operation managers/supervisors was conducted to assess the suitability for CV transit applications in improving the safety and mobility during winter weather. Almost all respondents expressed positive attitudes towards the potential of CV applications in improving winter transit travel and voiced their concerns over the safety consequences of CV equipment failure, potential of increased driver distraction, and reliability of system performance in poor weather. A concept of operations of CV applications for multimodal winter travel was developed. In the conceptual framework, route-specific road weather and traffic flow data will be used by the transit managers/supervisors to obtain real-time operational status, forecast operational routes and schedules, and assess operational performance. Subs...

Journal of Infrastructure Preservation and Resilience, 2020

Welcome to the inaugural issue of the Journal of Infrastructure Preservation & Resilience (JIPR):... more Welcome to the inaugural issue of the Journal of
Infrastructure Preservation & Resilience (JIPR): a
peer-reviewed, multidisciplinary journal in the field
of infrastructure engineering and management.
Launched by Springer Nature, JIPR aims to provide
a cross-disciplinary and international forum for researchers
to disseminate innovative research and engineering
practices that preserve the integrity, lifecycle
performance, and resilience of new or existing
infrastructure systems amid diverse climatic conditions,
manmade and natural hazards, and other risks.
The many challenges towards achieving improved
durability, reliability, and resilience of civil infrastructures
must be addressed with proactive, holistic, and
multidisciplinary approaches. This journal seeks to
facilitate an in-depth dialogue and synergistic collaboration
between both the infrastructure engineering
community and the resilience and risk management
community. We aspire to establish JIPR as the flagship
journal in this emerging field with a focus on
innovations in risk management and engineering applications
as well as new materials, new technologies,
and new perspectives.

Applying prewet deicers to roads during adverse winter weather is a cost-effective strategy to im... more Applying prewet deicers to roads during adverse winter weather is a cost-effective strategy to improve transportation safety and mobility. Prewet deicers have a small amount of liquid product applied to solid salt or salt/sand that speeds up ice melting and reduces deicer bounce-and-scatter loss. This study first presents the results of an in-depth survey of the Pacific Northwest on prewetting practices and then presents laboratory tests that quantified the ice melting, frictional behavior, and variation in snow-pavement bond strength of salt prewetted with various liquid deicers and at various rates. An ice melting test is a broadly accepted method to gauge the basic performance of deicers in a laboratory. More sophisticated laboratory tests on asphalt pavement samples with realistic snow and representative trafficking motion and forces were conducted. The laboratory tests confirmed that the prewetting liquid-to-solid application rate in the range of 33-67 L/t (8-16 gal./t) is reasonable for increasing the speed and total ice melting capacity (IMC) of solid salt. Furthermore, prewetting significantly reduced snow-pavement bond strength but did not increase friction more than dry salt.

Journal of Infrastructure Preservation & Resilience, 2020

Preservation of metals in infrastructures and other assets requires cost-effective and sustainabl... more Preservation of metals in infrastructures and other assets requires cost-effective and sustainable solutions such as green corrosion inhibitors. This study assesses an apple pomace-derived green inhibitor synthesized by an innovative zero-waste method. Electrochemical measurements revealed the high performance of this liquid extract in reducing the corrosion of carbon steel in NaCl brine. The chemical composition of this inhibitor was characterized by liquid chromatography mass spectroscopy (LC-MS) to shed light on the corrosion inhibition mechanism. Based on LC-MS analysis, the results of surface analysis were interpreted. Specifically, the major corrosion inhibitor agent in the apple pomace extract was determined as C 26 H 50 NO 7 P (1-Linoleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine), which can adsorb onto the steel surface to form a barrier layer and serve as a blocker of active anodic sites. Further study showed that the apple extract adsorption follows the Langmuir isotherm, and physical adsorption is dominant (vs. chemical adsorption). Theoretical calculations using quantum chemistry proposed a physisorption mechanism for the protection of steel by C 26 H 50 NO 7 P molecules.

ACS Nano, 2018

The rigorous organic and inorganic laminated structure of nacre has been developed by millions of... more The rigorous organic and inorganic laminated structure of nacre has been developed by millions of years of biological evolution against various external impacts, including mechanical loadings and chemical attacks. Nacre-biomimetic materials have been recognized as an effective strategy to achieve high strength and toughness simultaneously. However, the understanding of nacre-like structure from the perspective of corrosion protection is still very limited. This work investigates the anticorrosion performance of nacre-biomimetic GO/epoxy (NBGE) coatings with alternating layers. Potentiodynamic polarization measurements indicated that the corrosion rate of steel protected by the NBGE coating with 5 layers of GO and 6 layers of epoxy (5NBGE) and a total thickness of 17 μm was 20 times slower than that of steel under the pure epoxy coating twice as thick in 3.5 wt % NaCl solution. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements revealed the importance and functions of the GO layers in NBGE coatings. The 5NBGE coating exhibited better performance than carbon-based nanoparticle/epoxy mixed coatings. The superior anticorrosion performance of the NB5G6E coating was supported by photographic observations, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and chloride diffusion measurements. The strong cross-linking layer-by-layer structure of NBGE coatings was proved by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction analyses. The anticorrosion mechanism of the NBGE coatings was interpreted by the mitigation of chemical reactions occurring at the steel−coating interface due to the restricted intrusion of O 2 , H 2 O, and Cl − through the reduced pores and defects by the intercalated GO layers in the coatings. N acre in mollusk shells, featuring a hierarchical structure characteristic of 95 vol % of oriented aragonite (mainly CaCO 3) platelets embedded in 5 vol % of an organic matrix, 1−3 exhibits outstanding mechanical properties. 3−5 Nacre with a brick-and-mortar layered structure can develop high fracture toughness 3 orders of magnitude higher than that of CaCO 3. With the aragonite providing strength and the organic matrix dissipating strain, nacre has inherently high-level resistance to initiation and growth of cracks. 2,4 Clearly, such high mechanical performance must intimately relate to the exceptional structure of nacre. Indeed, nacre-biomimetic materials (NBMMs) have attracted great attention in recent decades. A variety of approaches have been adopted to synthesize the nacre-like structure, including layer-by-layer (LBL) deposition, electrophoretic deposition, mechanical approach, freeze-casting, vacuum-assisted filtration assembly, and evaporation-induced self-assembly. 1,4 For instance, Kotov's group systematically investigated the effectiveness of the LBL method for the synthesis of NBMMs with montmorillonite clay, polyvinyl acetate, or functionalized carbon nanotubes, all of which exhibited high strength and toughness. 6 Ritchie developed a free-drying method to yield NBMMs with outstanding mechanical properties in large scale and with high efficiency. 2 Studart et al. recently took the advantage of magnetic particles and controlled the local particle alignment and thus regulated the mechanical properties of NBMMs via external magnetic field. 7

Journal of Cleaner Production, 2018

The objective of this work is to examine the state of knowledge relevant to permeable concrete pa... more The objective of this work is to examine the state of knowledge relevant to permeable concrete pavements (PCPs) and facilitate efforts in enhancing their overall performance and maximizing their environmental benefits. Based on a review of recent literature, this work provides a summary of the key environmental benefits of PCPs, in terms of stormwater runoff reduction, underground water quality improvement, heat-island effect mitigation, traffic noise reduction, and skid resistance improvement. The hydraulic performance of PCPs is determined by its mix design, pavement design, construction practice, and service environment. In general, it is difficult to simultaneously optimize the mechanical and durability properties and infiltration performance of PCPs. New technologies need to be developed to help improve the durability of PCPs without significantly increasing its maintenance requirements or sacrificing its infiltration properties. Freeze/thaw damage, deicer impacts, and clogging phenomenon still create bottleneck problems for the implementation of PCPs. The durability of PCPs in cold climates is governed by many factors, and advances could be made at many stages of its life cycle. Challenges remain in quantitative characterization of permeable concrete materials and in establishing quantitative relationships between physicochemical characteristics and performance of permeable concrete. Modeling and advanced characterization are expected to greatly advance the PCP technology. This review also provides a look to the future, for instance, there are some emerging areas of research (e.g., nano-science and nano-engineering) that may help address the durability challenges or further enhance the environmental benefits of PCPs.

Due to the intrinsic nature of a heterogeneous and anisotropic microstructure of cement based mat... more Due to the intrinsic nature of a heterogeneous and anisotropic microstructure of cement based materials and the small indentation size, the measured microhardness values are subject to considerable variability. This work presents an in-depth assessment of microhardness of hardened cement pastes (HCPs) from a statistical perspective. Hundreds of microhardness measurements were conducted on an HCP sample using a Vickers Microhardness Tester. The results showed that the microhardness measured from the HCP sample significantly scattered with a large standard deviation, varying from tens to hundreds. The data-set of microhardness values was not normally distributed but fit best with a three-parameter lognormal model. By using a statistical software, the probability density function of the microhardness distribution can be readily obtained. The arithmetic mean and its 95% confidence intervals of the measured microhardness values can be used to best represent the microhardness characteristics of HCPs.

Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 2018

Due to their good performance and environmental friendliness, fly ash-based construction materia... more Due to their good performance and environmental friendliness, fly ash-based construction materials have great potential as alternatives to ordinary Portland cement. To realize sustainable development and beneficial use of fly ash in the construction industry, this paper presents a comprehensive review of relevant literature to evaluate the properties and performance of fly ash, with a particular focus on recent advances in characterization, compositional understanding, hydration mechanism, activation approaches, durability and sustainability of fly ash as a construction material. Several key aspects governing the performance of fly ash, including chemical composition, activator type and hydrates evolution in concrete, are highlighted. Finally, the important needs, pertinent to the optimal and broad utilization of fly ash as an integral part of sustainable construction materials, are identified for further research and development, where large-scale application studies, further classification of fly ash, advanced characterization tools and technology transfer to biomass fly ash are recommended.

Fuel, 2018

To divert fly ash from hazardous waste stream to beneficial uses, this work aims to improve the s... more To divert fly ash from hazardous waste stream to beneficial uses, this work aims to improve the solidification of fly ash as a geopolymer material by using graphene oxide (GO). The hydration precursors, morphology, elemental composition, mineralogy, chemical structure and ordering of GO-modified fly ash geopolymer were investigated by means of Raman spectroscopy, SEM/BSE, EMPA, XRD/TGA and 29 Si/ 27 Al MAS-NMR, respectively , to unravel the role of GO. The experimental results suggest that GO regulated the Ca/Si, Si/Al and Ca/ (Si + Al) mole ratios to facilitate the formation of fly ash hydrates with improved mechanical strength, as GO showed the ability to selectively affect the distribution of different hydration precursors. GO also promoted the formation of low quartz and jennite-like hydrates. Overall, the 28-day compressive strength of fly ash geopo-lymer (w/b = 0.35) in this study was improved by 23% (from 33.6 MPa to 41.4 MPa) with GO admixed at 0.02% by mass of fly ash. The NMR study showed that GO improved the polymerization degree of fly ash geopolymer by increasing the total Q 3 and Q 4 Si-tetrahedrons, which suggests potential for improving the immobilization of heavy metals in fly ash.

This work investigated the influence of graphene oxide (GO) suspension as a surface sealer on the... more This work investigated the influence of graphene oxide (GO) suspension as a surface sealer on the properties of two types of cementitious mortars (Portland cement mortar and high-volume fly ash (HVFA) mortar) under two curing conditions (wet curing and dry curing). Experimental results showed that GO surface treatment slightly improved compressive strength of wet cured HVFA mortar and dry cured cement mortar while it significantly reduced the water absorption of wet cured HVFA mortar and the gas permeability of both wet cured and dry cured cement mortars. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis suggested that the GO surface treatment facilitated the hydration process and densified the microstructure of both types of mortars. X-ray diffraction and Thermogravimetry results revealed the formation of hydroxyl grafted AFm phase at the interface of GO/HVFA mortar. Moreover, the GO surface treatment was found to decrease the carbonation of HVFA mortar but increase that of cement mortar.

A liquid mixture was developed from waste peony leaves through a zero-waste chemical/biological p... more A liquid mixture was developed from waste peony leaves through a zero-waste chemical/biological process. The inhibition effect of different concentrations of peony leaves derived solution (0–3 vol.%, PLS0-3) on C1010 carbon steel in 3.5 wt.% NaCl was investigated over time using electrochemical measurements. Chemical analyses were performed to reveal the main compounds of this inhibitor. Surface analyses together with water contact angle measurements were employed to study the characteristics of the steel surface affected. Semi-empirical calculations with PM3 method were used to find the relationship between molecular structure and inhibiting effect of PLS. The inhibitor was stable over time and its main active ingredients were C19H27N4O10P and C17H16N3O9P that adsorb onto the steel surface, block cathodic active sites, make the surface hydrophobic, decrease the surface free energy, and facilitate the formation of a passive layer. A good correlation was found between experimentally determined inhibition efficiency and theoretically calculated properties of PLS.

Stormwater runoff at airports is a significant and costly issue, especially for the stormwater la... more Stormwater runoff at airports is a significant and costly issue, especially for the stormwater laden with deicing contaminants of high Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) and aquatic toxicity. To reduce the loading of deicing constituents in stormwater and to manage the increasing pressure of tightening regulations, identifying fate and transport and evaluating environmental risks of deicing stormwater are of critical importance. In this review, the regulatory development of airport deicing stormwater management was first discussed, along with the milestone Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP) Report 14 publication. The deicer usage and fugitive losses can be reduced and the amount of deicer collected can be increased by having a better understanding of the fate and transport of deicing constituents in stormwater. As such, an overview and evaluation of the constituents of concern in deicers were provided to support the assessment of environmental impacts and mitigation recommendations. The state of knowledge of airport deicing stormwater management was then reviewed, which needs to be synthesized into a national guidance document. A guidebook and a decision tool for airports were proposed to adopt specific practical stormwater management strategies while balancing their priorities in environmental, economic, and social values against operational constraints. These challenges pose great opportunities to improve the current practices of airport deicing stormwater management.

This laboratory study explores the development of plastering mortar modified by feather fibers, s... more This laboratory study explores the development of plastering mortar modified by feather fibers, so as to lay the groundwork for utilizing poultry feathers in thermal insulation materials and removing them from waste streams. The laboratory testing measured the consistency value, porosity, compressive strength and thermal conductivity of various cement mortar mixes as a function of feather fiber dosage. The experimental data were used to determine the appropriate weight fraction of feather fibers in the mortars for thermal insulation. The results indicate that the incorporation of feather fibers decreased the consistency value of fresh mortar and increased the surface roughness and porosity of hardened mortar. Under the investigated conditions, as the content of admixed fiber increased, both the compressive strength and thermal conductivity of hardened mortar decreased remarkably before leveling off. The desirable dosage of feather fibers falls in the range of 0.2–0.7% by mass of dry mixture.

Cutting-edge technologies can make maintaining winter roadways more efficient, safer and less cos... more Cutting-edge technologies can make maintaining winter roadways more efficient, safer and less costly. Numerous vehicle-based technologies, including automatic vehicle location, surface temperature measuring devices, on-board freezing point and ice-presence detection systems, salinity measuring devices, visual and multi-spectral sensors and millimetre wavelength radar sensors, have been developed in recent years to achieve improvements in winter maintenance efficiency and safety. This study synthesised information obtained from a comprehensive literature review and agency surveys on the state of development and implementation of these advanced technologies. This study also identified the overall trends and barriers regarding the future use of these technologies. The information offered by this study is expected to encourage maintenance agencies to implement better winter maintenance practices with respect to providing safe, reliable winter highways in a cost-effective and environmentally responsible manner.

In northern climates, snow fences are usually established in or beyond the right-of-way to elimin... more In northern climates, snow fences are usually established in or beyond the right-of-way to eliminate blowing and drifting snow on roadways and thus improve road safety. To make snow fences more effective on highways and provide guidelines for the departments of transportation siting the fences, this work reviews the literature as well as survey responses from practitioners in northern states. This review combines information obtained from the resources to detail several aspects of snow fence use, including history, design protocols, siting policies, benefits , challenges, and numerical modeling. Particular attention is paid to living snow fences as an alternative to traditional structural snow fences. The survey results show that almost all the responding agencies have launched snow fence programs, which have various design and siting protocols that depend on the specific conditions.

A novel kind of hybrid nanocomposites containing Pt nanoparticles (PtNPs) and Chitosan (CS) have ... more A novel kind of hybrid nanocomposites containing Pt nanoparticles (PtNPs) and Chitosan (CS) have been fabricated based on the PtNPs inserting into the porous structure of CS on the surface of glassy carbon electrode (GCE). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra and several electrochemical techniques, such as cyclic voltammetry (CV), chronoamperometry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), have been used to characterize PtNPs/CS modified electrode. Electrocatalytic experiments show that these uniform nanocomposites can greatly decrease the over-potential and increase the peak current in the methanol oxidation and oxygen reduction. In comparison with the results reported previously, the PtNPs-CS nanocom-posites have excellent electrocatalytic activity towards the oxidation of methanol and reduction of oxygen, which can be utilized to develop new fuel cell with high performance.

Snow and ice maintenance operations are among the most critical functions of state transportation... more Snow and ice maintenance operations are among the most critical functions of state transportation agencies and municipalities in cold regions. The use of snow removal performance metrics is of increasing interest to transportation practitioners and academics. For this paper, a comprehensive literature review and a survey were conducted to gather information on the performance metrics used in winter highway maintenance activities by different transportation agencies. Performance goals for snow and ice control were identified in the survey, with average rankings as follows (in descending order): safety, mobility, economy, essential functions, environment, infrastructure, and livability. The survey results were also tabulated and analyzed to identify best practices and future trends in the agencies. Restoring safety and mobility consistently remains a priority of nearly all agencies. At present, the time taken to reach an established level of service is the most commonly used metric of different agencies. Because of the relatively high effectiveness, reliability, and timeliness of outcome-based and severity index–based performance metrics, more agencies are moving toward these types of metrics. Performance measurement by geographic area was also investigated but no clear trend was found. Effective and efficient snow and ice removal is a challenge to many transportation agencies in charge of winter highway operations. Assessing the current snow and ice removal performance metrics and data will help to measure service levels, compare service across regions, and justify budget allocations. In this context, it is important to establish service standards and performance metrics for winter highway operations. Transportation agencies continue looking for new approaches to evaluate winter maintenance operations, and performance measurement is an important focus of the new approaches (1, p. 12). To evaluate how well they are doing in snow and ice removal operations, departments of transportation (DOTs) and others need standardized measurements and methods that take into consideration diverse road weather conditions and other factors (2). As such, performance measurements are of increasing interest to transportation practitioners and academics. Many agencies measure the performance of their snow removal operations and use a variety of performance metrics (3–5; 6, p. 92). States such as Idaho and Minnesota have researched the success of their own winter maintenance practices through the use of performance metrics (7–9). In addition, some groups, such as Clear Roads, the I-80 Winter Operations Coalition, and the I-95 Corridor Coalition, are looking at innovations and establishing a structure for sharing information and coordinating winter maintenance operations across jurisdictional boundaries (10–12). Nearly all agencies have established level of service (LOS) guidelines for the various classifications of highways and major roads (13). LOS is a qualitative measure used to assess traffic flow by ranking traffic service according to speed, density, and other measures. In recent years, agencies have realized that LOSs need to be better defined to produce common, easily understood criteria for evaluating performance (14). NCHRP Project 6-17 identified both methods and measures for the assessment of agency and contractor performance in snow and ice control operations (15). This research provided a snapshot of how agencies were measuring snow and ice performance and a framework for future practices. However, some of the information in that report needs to be updated with current practices. Moreover, technological advances in maintenance operations have allowed for the enhanced collection and processing of data from the field and have drastically altered the ability to assess metrics (16, 17). The objective of this paper is to identify effective performance metrics for snow and ice maintenance operations. To achieve this goal, existing information in both the published domain and the winter road maintenance community was gathered, and then the information was analyzed in depth, with a focus on the performance measures of snow and ice maintenance operations, the measures' temporal evolution and effectiveness, the costs of gathering and analyzing the performance data, and the methods of communicating inside the organization and beyond. The paper is organized as follows. The section after this introduction explains the approach. The third section provides the literature review from both national and international sources. The fourth section presents the results and the discussion of the survey to capture the experience and insights of the winter maintenance community and practitioners. The fifth section comprises analysis and matrix development based on the survey and the literature. Finally, summary and conclusions are provided.

High-volume fly ash (HVFA) concrete has been widely investigated because of its lower carbon foot... more High-volume fly ash (HVFA) concrete has been widely investigated because of its lower carbon footprint and higher performance than the conventional portland cement concrete. In this work, a total of 21 HVFA mortar mixtures were fabricated using Class C fly ash, limestone powder, asphalt emulsion, and portland cement following a Box-Wilson central composite design scheme. The compressive strength and spitting tensile strength of these mortar specimens were tested at various ages. Based on the results of mechanical test, three representative mixtures were selected for water sorptivity test, surface resistivity test, and electron probe microanalyzer (EPMA) study. HVFA mortars with higher fly ash replacement and higher water to binder (w/b) ratio exhibited higher water absorptivity and lower surface re-sistivity. With secondary electron imaging (SEI) and back-scattered electron imaging (BSE), the micrographs of three selected HVFA mortars were examined, while the hydration behavior of fly ash particles in them was elucidated through the element mapping and element ratio mapping enabled by EPMA.