Worcester Area Writers

The goal of the Worcester Area Writers project was to learn more about local writers who have a connection to Worcester, MA and make available to the World Wide Web selected interviews and critical biographical information. I approached this project by analyzing several pieces from various authors/writers from the Worcester area and found the works of Mary Bonina and Eve Rifkah compelling and fascinating. I conducted a videotaped interview of both authors detailing their life and their literary works. By thoroughly reading many works of these writers, organizing information from the interview, and by carrying out additional research, I was able to write a critical biography of both authors. The biography and video interview were then uploaded on the Worcester Area Writers webpage

Incorporating cinnamaldehyde into concrete for corrosion mitigation

Concrete structures can prematurely deteriorate due to the corrosion of reinforcing steel. Corrosion can occur through chloride ingress due to exposure to aggressive media such as seawater and deicing salts. Corrosion causes over $100 billion in damage annually. There are many corrosion mitigation techniques on the market today; these techniques have limited effectiveness as demonstrated by the fact that billions of dollars are still being expended each year due to corrosion-related damage. Therefore, there is a need for innovative approaches to corrosion prevention. This research program used cinnamaldehyde (CA), a bioactive agent derived from cinnamon bark, as a method for corrosion mitigation. Although CA can prevent the corrosion of metals, its hydrophobicity has a negative effect on hydration when incorporated in cementitious systems. In order to avoid these negative consequences while harnessing the anti-corrosive properties, CA was incorporated in a cementitious mixture through the use of lightweight aggregate (LWA). Several tests were carried out to investigate the potential chemical and mechanical effects due to the addition of LWA pre-wet with CA. Promising results were observed, in which the time to corrosion was prolonged by 91 %

Straw Bale Construction: The Application in Massachusetts

Through research and testing procedures, the correlation between various plaster components and straw bale was evaluated in terms of vapor permeability, thermal resistivity, and compression strength in order to assess how applicable a plastered-straw bale system can be relative to cold climate regions. In addition, a one-family, two-story straw bale structure was designed and structurally analyzed for Worcester, MA by following the 780 CMR. A cost benefit analysis was also conducted to see how the costs between straw bale construction and standard construction methods in Massachusetts differ. Through the findings of this project, it was determined that straw bale construction is a viable alternative to standard construction methods in Massachusetts