GEOTECHNICAL AND GEOENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING GROUP

The Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering Group investigates the use and performance of natural and enhanced geomaterials, geosynthetics, and waste products.

Our research focuses on challenges related to natural hazards and protection of water and environment, with the goal of increasing sustainability and resiliency of infrastructure.

RESEARCH AREAS

Geotechnical earthquake engineering and soil dynamics
Resiliency of engineering infrastructure to natural hazards
Engineered barriers for containing waste and subsurface contamination
Flow and transport through saturated and unsaturated porous media
Geotechnical aspects of stormwater control measures
Recycled materials and beneficial reuse in geotechnical applications

See currently funded research grants.

LAB FACILITIES

Measuring properties of soil-bentonite backfill

Experimental research primarily occurs in the Soils Laboratory as well as at a wide range of field sites. The Soils Laboratory is equipped with advanced testing equipment, such as:

Cyclic triaxial and direct simple shear devices with bender elements for evaluating static and dynamic soil properties
Multiple state-of-the-art testing apparatuses for measuring flow and contaminant transport properties of porous media under variable conditions
PANDA dynamic cone penetrometer for site investigation
HYPROP and KSAT benchtop equipment for automated measurement of soil water characteristic curves
Multiple SATURO infiltrometers for automated measurement of field infiltration rates