Neelesh Sule, Env. Engr. Ph.D. Student, Receives $1000 Scholarship
(Monday, Sept. 17, 2007)
 Environmental
Engineering Ph.D. student Neelesh Sule received a $1000 scholarship
from the North Texas Chapter of the Air & Waste Management
Association, to be presented at their September 2007 meeting. His
research involves assessing control strategies for ground-level ozone.
CEE Undergraduate Program Receives ABET Reaccreditation
(Monday, Sept. 10, 2007)
 The
undergraduate program in the department recently received full
reaccreditation by ABET. A site review visit was undertaken by ABET in
December 2006. The department received excellent review results from
the accreditation board due to the solid preparation that was
undertaken by the faculty and staff members. The department is
currently in the process of revising its undergraduate curriculum and
assessment process in order to address any changes in ABET criteria.
Center for Structural Engineering Research Gets $25 Million From UT System
(Friday, August 24, 2007)
 The
University of Texas System Board of Regents approved $25 million in
funding on August 23 to construct the Center for Structural Engineering
Research (CSER) for the University of Texas at Arlington. The center
will be one of the largest, if not the largest, structural testing
facilities in the U.S.
The 80,000 square-foot facility will be located at the northeast corner
of I-30 and MacArthur, about eleven miles east of the UT Arlington
campus. It will contain the largest reaction floor in the nation and
feature state-of-the art equipment and instrumentation. Because of its
large research area, the center will be capable of studying full-scale
bridge and building components. The Dallas/Fort Worth area should see
an economic benefit with additional jobs created by the center and an
increased opportunity for UT Arlington to compete for state and federal
research funding. The CSER will bring world-wide recognition
while also supporting local civil engineering research needs. The
center will also benefit the concrete products industry by helping to
grow their market and in testing the effects of wind, flood,
earthquakes, wildfire, blast and other extreme events.
Last fall, approximately 3.5 acres of land for the CSER was donated by
Hanson Pipe & Precast, Inc., a Dallas-based manufacturer of
concrete products. Hanson Pipe and Precast is a division of Hanson PLC,
one of the world's largest suppliers of heavy building materials to the
construction industry. The CSER will be operated by the UT Arlington
College of Engineering's Department of Civil & Environmental
Engineering. Associate Professor Ali Abolmaali will be the center's
director. The Regents approved the allocation for the new facility as
part of a $177.2 million initiative for 13 capital projects at several
UT System institutions, largely funded by bond proceeds from the
Permanent University Fund. The new capital projects will further
the UT System's global competitiveness
efforts by positioning the institutions as some of the country's leading research centers.
Dr. Ernest Crosby Retires After 28 Years of UTA Service
(Wednesday, August 22, 2007)
 Dr.
Ernest Crosby is retiring at the end of this month after 28 years of
dedicated service to UTA and the department. Dr. Crosby received his
Ph.D. in 1979. Since 1986, he has served as an Associate Professor in
the CEE department. Dr. Crosby has played a significant role in the
expansion of the graduate program in the department as the Graduate
Advisor. Under his effective advisorship, the graduate program in the
department has flourished. The current masters and doctoral enrollments
in CEE are almost double their corresponding numbers back in 2001. Dr.
Crosby has also effectively served as the chair of the departmental
Graduate Studies Committee for the last few years. After
retirement, he will be associated with the department as an adjunct
faculty.
Roxanne Pillar, CEE Advisory Committee Member, Becomes ASCE Fellow
(Tuesday, June 19, 2007)
 Roxanne
Pillar, P.E., recently became a Fellow of the American Society of Civil
Engineers (ASCE). She has more than 28 years of experience
managing projects for municipal, federal, private, and industrial
clients. She is currently vice president of Huitt-Zollars, Inc.,
in Fort Worth, Texas. Pillar graduated from South Dakota State
University in 1977 and entered the engineering profession at a time
when few female colleagues or role models were to be found. She
has achieved a number of "firsts" in her career, among them being the
first woman chapter president and later state president of the Texas
Society of Professional Engineers, the first woman ever appointed to
the Texas Board of Professional Engineers, and the first woman ever to
chair that board. Within ASCE she served as president of the
Texas Section's Fort Worth Branch and was a member of a Texas
Section committee dealing with state conferences. She believes
her greatest professional achievement has been helping women to see
engineering as a viable profession.
Dr. Hossain Receives Two EPA Research Grants on Brownfield Redevelopment
(Wednesday, May 23, 2007)
Dr.
Sahadat Hossain is the recipient of two Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) research grant administered through the City of Arlington. Dr.
Hossain has been working with the City of Arlington and helping them
developing their Brownfields redevelopment program since 2005. The
primary goal of the City’s Brownfield Program is to facilitate
revitalization of adjacent neighborhoods through identification,
remediation, and redevelopment of Brownfields sites. The City of
Arlington (and UTA as co-operative partner) submitted two brownfields
proposals to EPA in December 2006. Both proposals were approved
for funding by EPA ($200, 000 each) on May 14, 2007. UTA subcontract
portions of the projects are $177,000 each (Total amount = $354,000).
The two year study, starting October 2007, will be conducted by Dr.
Sahadat Hossain (Principal Investigator) and other investigators as
appropriate. UTA will provide technical assistance to the City of
Arlington for identification, assessment, and remediation planning of
existing Brownfield site.
(From Left to Right -
EPA Region 6 Administrator Richard Greene, City of Arlington’s Community
Development and Planning Director Jim Parajon, Senior Planner Bridgett Hewitt,
Mayor Dr. Robert Cluck, and Dr. Sahadat Hossain, UTA)
Dr. Puppala Mentors 7th Grade Student to Numerous Science Project Awards
(Friday, May 18, 2007)
 Dr.
Anand Puppala mentored Ms. Kavitha Rajagopal, a 7th Grade student
at Schimelpfenig Middle School, Plano, TX, on her school science
projects. Kavitha is the daughter of Raja Chockalingam, an UTA
alumni. (MSIE, 1997). She did an experiment on the effects of soil
moisture on foundations in the North Texas region, titled
“Foundations: It’s the Soil that Spoils”.
Kavitha won the following awards for the endeavor:
1. Schimelpfenig Middle School Science Fair, January 2007 – 2nd place
2. Plano ISD District Science Fair, Plano/TX, March 2007 – 1st Place
3. Dallas Regional Science and Engineering Fair, Dallas/TX, April 2007 – 3rd Place
4. ExxonMobil Texas State Science and Engineering
Fair – Special Award from the American Concrete Institute
Drs.
Qasim and Spindler Retire
(Tuesday, May 8, 2007)
A
reception honoring Drs. Syed Qasim (left) and Max Spindler on their retirement
was held Saturday, May 5, 2007 at Shady Valley
Golf Club. Attended by a crowd of well-wishers numbering
around 200, the gala featured tributes by faculty, staff, and
alumni. A slide show of rare photographs of the two
professors revealed their lighter sides. Dr. Qasim, who was
also honored with the creation of the Syed R. Qasim Endowed Chairship
in Civil Engineering, has been with UTA since 1973, and Dr. Spindler
since 1970. Both faculty are completing long and illustrious careers in
the department, and both played unique and vital roles during the
department's development in the early years and its subsequent
expansion. Drs. Qasim and Spindler are expected to be involved in
various departmental cooperative efforts in the future as needed.
New Course In Pipeline Design and Construction Offered
(Monday, Apr. 23, 2007)
The Center for Underground
Infrastructure Research and Education (CUIRE)
will be offering a new course in Pipeline Construction and Management
during the Summer I Semester, 5/29/2007 – 6/28/2007.
For
more information, see the proposed course outline here
or contact Dr. Mohammad Najafi at najafi@uta.edu
or 817-272-0507.
Dr. Sahadat Hossain Receives
Outstanding CE Instructor Award
(Monday, Apr. 2, 2007)
 Dr.
Sahadat Hossain recently received the Outstanding CE Instructor Award
for 2006 - 2007. The award was based on student voting during the Fall
2006 semester. The award was presented during the "Engineering Week"
Banquet held recently.
Dr. Williams Cited as Outstanding Academic Advisor
(Monday, Apr. 2, 2007)
 Dr.
Jim Williams received an honorable mention as an outstanding academic
advisor for 2007. He will be recognized during the Leadership
Recognition Ceremony on Wednesday, 25 April 2007, at 7 pm in the
Bluebonnet Ballroom.
CUIRE
Awards Two Scholarships in Honor of Ben Cocogliato
(Monday, Feb. 27, 2007)
 In
honor of Ben Cocogliato, the Center for Underground Infrastructure
Research and Education (CUIRE) at The University of Texas at Arlington
(UTA) awarded two
student scholarships. Ben was TT Technologies’ National
Marketing Manager, who passed
away last November. The recipients of these scholarships are Seyed
Behnam Hashemi and Payam
Sohaili, two graduate students at the new Construction Management area
at the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Each student
received $1,000 in cash, and the University waived the out-state
tuition, which amounted to several thousand dollars. CUIRE (www.cuire.org) is an
industry/university/government consortium with the goal of promoting
research, development and training in underground infrastructure
construction and renewal technologies.
Ben was an active board member of CUIRE, Midwest Society for Trenchless
Technology (MSTT), Illinois Pipe Association, and many other
professional and
trade organizations. After earning a Bachelor of Arts degree from
Northwestern University, Ben received his MBA from Lewis University in
Romeoville, Illinois. Before joining TT Technologies, he spent 18 years
working in the underground construction and pre-stress/pre-cast
concrete fields. Throughout his career, Ben was involved in many large
construction projects. His notable projects included the TARP project
for the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Chicago and the
Dresden Nuclear Power Plant facility in Morris, Illinois.
Ben supported and presented at trenchless seminars and NASTT student
chapters in many universities, and made several visits just to speak to
students. He was instrumental in preparation of Pipe Bursting Manual of
Practice No. 112 which recently was published by ASCE. His support for
CUIRE and his enthusiasm and hard work for growth of trenchless
industry always will be remembered.
CUIRE would like to continue awarding the Ben Cocogliato scholarships
each year. To contribute, contact Barbara Wallace at Phone:
817/272-5055, Fax: 817/272-2630 and Email: wallace@uta.edu.
Dr. Sia Ardekani Receives Two New Transportation Research Grants
(Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2007)
 Dr.
Ardekani is the recipient of a TxDOT research grant administered
through the Texas Transportation Institute to develop a decision
support tool for analysis of impact of various toll policies on roadway
performance characteristics. The impact of toll amounts on
the
performance of toll lanes and toll roads is to be measured through
performance variables such as operating speeds, delay, and emissions
levels. The decision tool will also allow examination of toll
policies for various vehicle classes including passenger cars, HOV
vehicles, trucks, and buses. This is an 8-monthone $39,000
study
to be completed in August 2007.
On February 13, 2007 the Dallas Area Rapid Transit Board of Directors
approved an Interlocal Agreement with UTA for transportation studies
related to DART’s HOV facilities. The four-year
agreement
for a total amount not to exceed $240,000 retains services of
UTA’s Civil Engineering transportation faculty members, Drs.
Sia
Ardekani and Stephen P. Mattingly to provide technical assistance to
DART in planning, design, and operational issues in general and in
implementation of Intelligent Transportation Systems technologies in
particular related to DART’s HOV lanes.
Dr. Max Spindler Selected as TSPE Engineer of the Year
(Friday,
Feb. 16, 2007)
Dr.
Max Spindler has been selected as this year's Engineer of the Year by
the Mid Cities DFW Chapter of the Texas Society of Professional
Engineers. Dr. Spindler has been teaching at the University of Texas at
Arlington for over 36 years in the Civil and Environmental Engineering
Department. He has been instrumental in bringing a student chapter of
TSPE at UTA. His area of interest is Water Resources. He has on
occasion consulted with area firms relating to water flows. Dr.
Spindler recently completed a study of flow over roadways to determine
hydraulic resistance of flow for the Texas Department of
Transportation, jointly with Dr. Ernest Crosby.
CUIRE Signs Research Agreement with Chinese Institutions
(Tuesday,
Feb. 13, 2007)
The Center
for Underground Infrastructure
Research and Education (CUIRE) at the Department of Civil &
Environmental
Engineering at The University of Texas at Arlington
signed a general agreement with the Beijing
Institute of Exploration Engineering (BIEE) and the
China University of
Geosciences to foster international cooperation in research.
Specifically, the
parties have agreed to encourage the following activities:
1.
The three parties
will endeavor to apply for financial funds to support a long-term and
sustainable cooperation in research on underground lifeline assessment
and
trenchless technology. In
order to
accomplish this task, they will collaborate to provide all the required
resources
and equipment.
2.
The parties will be
involved in exchange of visiting scholars for purpose of lecturing and
training
and providing technical assistance on underground lifeline assessment
and
trenchless technology and conduct related research.
3.
The parties agree
that they would publish results of research projects in both U.S.
and Chinese technical journals
and trade and professional conferences.
The general
agreement is not
considered to be a contract creating legal and financial relationships
between
the parties. Rather, it is designed to
facilitate and develop a genuine and mutually beneficial exchange
process/research relationship, and so forth.
CEE
Alumnus In Charge of Virginia Roads
(Monday, Feb. 5, 2007)
 Mohammad
Mirshahi has been recently named by the Virginia Department of
Transportation to oversee the design of all road projects in the state.
Mirshahi earned a bachelor’s and a master’s degree
from UTA
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering in 1979 and 1981,
respectively. He will head a staff of 600 in managing 2,700 road
projects currently underway in Virginia. Previously, Mirshahi worked
for the city of Ft. Worth and as a consultant. He now holds a very
public position as highway projects are one of most politically
sensitive issues in many states.
Civil Engineering Graduate Student Francheska Seijo Wins First Place at
Conference
(Wednesday,
Dec. 13, 2006)
 Franchesko Seijo, a CEE
graduate student, made a presentation on the research project Experimental Analysis of
Fiber-Reinforced Foam-Based Lightweight Concrete Precast Panels
on November 15, 2006, at the Hispanic Engineers National Conference in
San Juan, Puerto Rico. This conference hosted a Technical
Poster
Competition where 33 undergraduate and 11 graduate research projects
were presented. Four finalists were chosen from the 11
graduate
competitors to defend and make a brief presentation of their research
projects. Francheska’s presentation from UTA won
first
place in the graduate research projects category.
PASSING OF EMERITUS PROFESSOR DR. TSENG HUANG
(Wednesday,
Dec. 6, 2006)
 Emeritus
Professor Dr. Tseng Huang passed away Tuesday, December 5,
2006 at a local hospital
after a brave battle with a rare form of cancer. Dr. Huang retired from
the department in January, 2001, after 40 years of service. During his
tenure at UTA, he served as a beloved teacher, mentor, advisor,
researcher, and friend to countless numbers of students, professionals,
and faculty. Dr. Huang had a long and illustrious record of quality
research in the analysis and design of engineering
structures. In
1980, he received UTA’s Distinguished Research
Award. He
published in prestigious journals such as the ASCE Journal of
Structural Engineering and the ASCE Journal of Engineering Mechanics.
In 1993, he was awarded the International Society of Offshore and Polar
Engineers ISOPE Award. The Tseng Huang Endowed Professorship was
recently established in the department, with contributions from his
legions of admiring former students from across the globe, his family,
colleagues and friends. The Professorship is the first of its kind in
the department, and is a very fitting tribute to Dr. Huang’s
many
years of dedicated service to UTA and to the civil engineering
profession.
Dr. Huang’s family will receive friends at Moore Funeral
Home,
1219 N. Davis Street on Saturday, December 9, 2006, from 1:00 PM until
5:00 PM. A memorial service will be held at the same location on
Saturday, January 6, 2007, at 3:30 PM. In lieu of flowers, the family
requests that donations be made to the Tseng Huang Professorship
endowment.
Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering Hosts the New
Center for Underground Infrastructure Research & Education
(CUIRE)
(Tuesday,
Dec. 5, 2006)
Dr. Mohammad Najafi, CUIRE
Director
|
CUIRE,
established in 2002 at Michigan State University with the goal of
promoting research, development and training in underground
infrastructure construction and renewal technologies, has been moved
and re-established at UTA. CUIRE is a unique research and education
center to address the general underground infrastructure crisis. The
Center is a multi-disciplinary organization of design and consulting
engineers, manufacturers, contractors, analysts, municipalities and
government agencies, utility owners, managers, pipeline professionals,
and researchers whose focus will be on better ways to manage
underground infrastructure systems. CUIRE will fulfill the important
role of encouraging dialogue and collaboration among the many
stakeholders. It will, for example, sponsor workshops and training
schools regarding important aspects of the underground infrastructure,
sustainability and asset management. This role of communication,
dialogue, and collaboration will be an important element of the
Center’s activities. CUIRE is expected to play an important
role
in the extensive construction industry in the DFW area, the state and
the nation. |
Diane
Copeman wins the University Outstanding Service Award
(Monday,
Nov. 20, 2006)
 Diane
Copeman, Graduate Studies Staff Assistant in the department, recently
won the UTA Oustanding Service Award in the Staff Member category.
Diane joined the department in 2001, and has been instrumental in the
expansion and enhancement of the department graduate program. The award
is a befitting tribute to Diane's dedication, perseverance and hard
work, which has been very beneficial to the students, faculty, the
department and UTA. Way to go, Diane!!
Construction Engineering and Management Tracks Now
Offered Under
the Masters Programs In Civil & Environmental
Engineering
(Tuesday,
Nov.14, 2006)
Working
engineers and engineering students now have a way to increase their
skills and advancement opportunities because of knowledge they gain in
new graduate tracks in Construction Engineering or Construction
Management under the existing master's degree programs provided by the
Civil & Environmental Engineering Department (CEE) at the
University of Texas at Arlington.
The Master of Science (M.S.) degree in Civil Engineering now offers
emphasis areas in Construction Engineering or Construction Management,
and will focus on engineering aspects such as construction research;
completion of a thesis is required. The Master of Engineering (M.E.)
degree in Civil Engineering with emphasis in Construction Management is
targeted towards practicing engineers who will use this new graduate
area to improve
their knowledge in application aspects of construction; no thesis is
required.
The new tracks were developed by Dr. Mohammad Najafi, P.E., in
cooperation with several other faculty in the CEE department.
Dr. Najafi is a noted authority in trenchless technologies, utilized in
pipeline construction and renewal of underground pipelines and public
utilities. “There is a tremendous need for construction
engineers
and managers,” said Dr. Najafi. “These new graduate
areas
will help knowledgeable graduates gain quick employment and also bring
current engineers up-to-date on new methods and materials.”
Thirteen students are currently enrolled in a new construction course
taught this semester by Dr. Najafi. Professor Nur Yazdani,
chair
of the department, reports that local engineering firms and members of
the CEE
Industrial Advisory Committee were driving forces behind the
development of the programs.
Construction is the largest industry in the nation, employing 10
million workers and supplying some $800 billion to the
economy, roughly
10% of the GNP.
CEE
Alumni Receives Masonry Society Award
(Monday,
Oct. 16, 2006)
 Saman
Aryana, one of our alumni, was recently selected to receive The Masonry
Society 's Thesis Award for 2006. He will receive the award at the
society’s annual meeting next week in Atlanta Georgia. Saman
is a
B.S. graduate of the CEE department. He completed his M. S. degree
under the supervision Dr. Johnnie Matthys this year with a GPA of 4.0.
The title of Saman’s M. S. thesis was “Statistical
Analysis
of Compressive Strength of Clay Masonry Prisms”. This work
will
directly affect issues in the Masonry Standards Joint
Committee’s
National Structural Masonry Code.
NSF
Grant Supports Development of New Soil Testing Measures
The
National Science Foundation has awarded a three-year, $208,974 grant to
researchers in the Civil & Environmental Engineering Department
at
the University of Texas at Arlington to develop mechanisms and
processes to predict when soils reach a point of developing landslides
and mudslides. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
estimates that between 15 and 25 people die annually in the U.S. due to
these incidents, and hundreds more die worldwide.
The project will explore the mechanical behavior of various soil
materials and large deformations due to torsion loading. Drs. Laureano
Hoyos, the principal investigator, and Anand Puppala, the co-principal
investigator, will create a novel ring-shear testing apparatus that
will be the first of its kind to ever be implemented at any
geotechnical research institution in the U.S. and will constitute a
major advancement in soil testing.
“We will be reproducing and using actual field specimens and
subjecting them to shear stress,” said Dr. Hoyos.
“We’ll be able to record a wide spectrum of
deformations.
Our results should aid civil engineers as they plan the construction of
such man-made slopes as embankments, levees and dams.”
UT Arlington in known for its research strengths in soil mechanics. In
this project, Drs. Hoyos and Puppala will be assisted by a Ph.D.
student; they hope to include two or three undergraduate students as
the project progresses. The results of their research will provide a
better understanding of the mechanisms governing long-runout landslides
triggered by rainfalls, such as the slope failures in La Conchita,
California, where 10 died and the entire town had to be evacuated.
Dr.
Ali Abolmaali to Assist In Investigating Structural Failures in Boston
Tunnel
Associate
Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering Ali Abolmaali
has been asked by the National Transportation Safety Board to assist in
the
investigation of structural failures in the I-90 connector tunnel in
Boston. The tunnel is part of the "Big Dig," the most expensive highway
project
in the nation: Estimated in 1985 to cost $2.5 billion, the project
reached $14.6 billion in 2006. In June, a ceiling panel collapsed,
killing a woman and leading to the closing of one section of the
tunnel.
Tseng
Huang Endowed Professorship Announced
 The
Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at the University of
Texas at Arlington has announced the creation of an endowed
professorship honoring Professor Emeritus Tseng Huang, who retired in
January 2001 after 40 years of service to the university. During his
tenure at UT Arlington, he served as a teacher, mentor, advisor,
researcher and friend to countless numbers of students, professionals
and faculty.
Dr. Huang,
better known as Leo by his peers, received his B.S. in Civil
Engineering from the Chiao Tung University in 1947, and then worked as
a civil engineer in Taiwan from 1947 to 1954, when he came to the
United States for graduate study. He earned his Master of Civil
Engineering degree from the University of Oklahoma in 1955 and his
Ph.D. in Structures from the University of Illinois in 1960. He joined
the faculty of UT Arlington in 1961 as an assistant professor of
Engineering Mechanics. From 1964 until his retirement, he served as a
professor of Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics. He is a
licensed professional engineer in Texas and Taiwan.
A career in
academe is measured in part by research accomplishments.
Dr. Huang has a long and illustrious record of quality research in the
analysis and design of engineering structures. In 1980, he received UT
Arlington’s Distinguished Research Award. His works have
appeared in prestigious publications such as the American Society of
Civil Engineers’ Journal of Structural Engineering and
Journal of Engineering Mechanics, and he currently serves as associate
editor of the International Journal of Offshore and Polar Engineering.
He is a
member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, American
Society of Mechanical Engineers, the Structural Stability Research
Council, Offshore Mechanics and Polar Engineering Council (Board of
Directors) and International Society of Offshore and Polar Engineers
(Board of Directors). In 1993, the International Society of Offshore
and Polar Engineers presented him with the ISOPE Award.
When Dr.
Huang
retired, his family, colleagues and many admiring former students from
all over the world honored him by contributing to a fund, which was
later endowed as a fellowship. The endowment has grown to the
professorship level; it is currently valued at more than $100,000 and
is the first one in the department. The professorship is a fitting
tribute to Dr. Huang’s many years of dedicated service to the
university and to the civil engineering profession.
Environmental
Engineering Student Wins Prestigious Scholarship
|
| Ph.D.
student Neelesh Sule has received a scholarship from the Air &
Waste Management Association (AWMA). Sule’s research involves
photochemical modeling of ground-level ozone emissions, identifying
pollution controls that are potentially more politically and
economically feasible. The AWMA Scholarship Fund supports graduate
students pursuing careers in air quality, waste management, and
environmental management, policy or law. |
Civil
& Environmental Engineering Professor Begins Year with Several
Grants
University
of Texas at Arlington Civil &
Environmental Engineering Professor Anand Puppala experienced a
rewarding first quarter; he is the principal investigator or
co-principal investigator on four grants totaling almost $800,000. Two
of the grants are from the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT)
and other two are from the City of Arlington.
Dr. Puppala
is joined by Professor Syed Qasim,
Associate Professor Laureano Hoyos and Assistant Professor Sahadat
Hossain on “Instrumentation Projects for Four Major
Geotechnical Tasks” for TxDOT. This project, valued at
$428,060, started in Jan 2006 and will run until August 2007. The four
objectives are:
- A
continuation and expansion of studies on the use
of compost amendments to reduce shrinkage cracks on shoulders and
pavement. Roadways near Stephenville, Corpus Christi, Lubbock and
College Station were implemented earlier and have exhibited good
results. New sites near Beaumont, Tyler and a city to be named will
begin soon. These studies also involve working with the soil amendment
process using locally available and TxDOT approved compost products.
- A study of
the life expectancy of the compost
amendments, which are biodegradable
- The
installation of field instrumentation to
evaluate the performance of recycled asphalt pavements and quarry fines
(particles sized between pebbles and sand) as base materials. This
project will take place on TX 360, south of I-20 in Arlington.
- An
instrumentation study to evaluate recycled
shales (materials such as roofing shingles) as an embankment amendment.
TxDOT Fort Worth District Office Engineer Richard Williammee will
monitor the project’s progress.
On the other
project for TxDOT, Dr. Puppala will be
assisted by co-PI Dr. Hoyos. This project, “Realistic
Guidelines for Low Classification Roads on High PI Clays,” is
valued at $145,174 and will run to December 2007. It concerns methods
to increase the life of low-traffic farm-to-market roads in areas where
clay soils with high plasticity indexes cause roadways to deteriorate
at faster-than-normal rates. An extensive field instrumentation will be
undertaken at four test sites in Texas to provide the field data base,
which in turn will be used to develop the modifications to design
practice.
Soil
stabilization also plays a part in the two
studies for the City of Arlington’s Public Works department.
Dr. Puppala is the sole investigator on “Comprehensive
Studies to Address Combined Lime-Cement Stabilization for Better
Support of Arlington Roads.” Valued at $114,830, the project
runs to December 2007 and is a follow-up to earlier laboratory
evaluations of four types of soil stabilizers for high sulfate,
expansive soils. This new project focuses on field evaluations of the
best four soil stabilization methods and the development of
construction specifications that improve riding comfort and reduce
maintenance costs. Sections of Harwood Road are used as test sites.
Lastly, Dr.
Puppala is joined with co-PI Assistant
Professor Ali Abolmaali on “Evaluation of Treatment Methods
to Stabilize Soft Subgrade Soils of Southeast Arlington: Field
Investigations.” This $104,000 project runs to September 2007
and is similar to the other City of Arlington project. In this one,
tests will be conducted on 12 or more road construction projects where
various mixtures of lime-cement are used to stabilize low-to-moderate
sulfate soils. Monitoring using digital imaging and non-destructive
tests will allow the researchers to determine the effectiveness of the
combined chemical treatments to reduce or eliminate pavement distress.
City of Arlington Public Works and Transportation Department Engineer
Stu Bauman will supervise the progress of both research projects.
UTA
& Hanson Collaborate for Structural Research Center
|
The
University of Texas at Arlington’s
College of Engineering and Hanson, PLC will jointly develop a new
research center for full-scale structural testing of heavy building
materials. The center, expected to be the largest in the nation, will
be located adjacent to Hanson’s concrete pipe plant, about 10
miles east of the UTA campus, in Grand Prairie.
UTA and
Hanson officials are finalizing financial
arrangements for the facility, to be called the UT-Arlington Center for
Structural Engineering Research (UTA-CSER), which will be built with
substantial contributions from UTA and Hanson. The center, with
approximately 10,000 sq. ft. of conference/classroom/office space and
approximately 20,000 sq. ft. of research space, will be operated by the
College of Engineering’s Civil & Environmental
Engineering Department.
“This
facility will have a huge impact on
UTA and Dallas/Fort Worth. Hanson initiated the idea and UTA strongly
supported it,” said Civil & Environmental Engineering
Professor Ali Abolmaali, who will be the director of the center.
“Richard Manning, president and CEO of Hanson Building
Materials, N.A., their Regional President Clifford Hahne and Chief
Structural Engineer Joe Lundy and UTA’s Dean of Engineering
Bill Carroll and Civil & Environmental Engineering Chair Dr.
Sia Ardekani are all committed to make this center a
reality.”
The research
area of the facility will contain
state-of-the-art equipment and instrumentation, such as several 200-ton
dynamic actuators, nano and laser sensors, and image processing
devices. A reaction floor, the largest in the nation, will have the
capability to test several full-size building and bridge components
simultaneously with monotonic, cyclic, dynamic, fire and blast loads.
Reaction floors have specially-reinforced foundations that are able to
withstand severe loading. Two 50-ton cranes will move test specimens
and materials to specialized equipment in the research area.
Dr.
Abolmaali believes the center will enable UTA
to compete with top national and international universities and
research institutes for state and federal research grants.
“This partnership will make our Civil and Environmental
Engineering program rank among the top 20 in the nation,” he
said. “We will be among a few research institutions to employ
nano, laser and image processing technology for micro measurements and
health monitoring of structural systems.” Plans call for the
hiring of additional faculty and researchers to work in the center. Dr.
Abolmaali is negotiating with the Kyungpook National University of
South Korea to receive funding to support six post-doctoral fellows
during the 2006-2009 academic years.
Hanson, PLC
is one of the world's leading heavy
building material companies. It is the world's largest producer of
aggregates (crushed rock, sand and gravel) and one of the largest
producers of concrete products. Hanson‘s operations are in
the United Kingdom , North America, Australia, Continental Europe and
Asia Pacific, with more than 27,000 employees in 14 countries. Its
Grand Prairie concrete pipe plant is the largest in the world.
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