Civil Engineering Research and Laboratories
Research
UTC's Civil Engineering program stands out as one of the most comprehensive and well-rounded offerings in the field. It focuses on bridging theoretical knowledge with practical applications to effectively prepare students for careers in civil engineering. The faculty at UTC are distinguished engineers, known for their expertise and dedication to mentoring students. Many have secured funding from national and government organizations, underscoring their prominence in the field. The program's MS in Civil Engineering is accredited by ABET, ensuring it adheres to the highest standards of quality and excellence. Graduates of UTC's Master's program are highly sought after by employers, making it a highly valuable degree to pursue.
Faculty Research Areas
Dr. Joseph Owino
Email: [email protected]
Research Areas:
- Structural Engineering Analysis and Design and Finite Element Methods
- Structural Health Monitoring and Non-Destructive Evaluation of Civil Infrastructure
- Transportation Infrastructure including Pavement Analysis
Dr. Jejal Reddy Bathi
Email: [email protected]
Research Areas:
- Tracking and treating emerging contamination in surface water systems
- Design and performance of urban green infrastructure for stormwater management
- Integration for watershed-wide operational and informational efficiency using computer-driven watershed modeling
Dr. Weidong Wu
Email: [email protected]
Research Areas:
- Data and intelligence – powered civil infrastructure
- Structural health monitoring and intelligent structures
- Computational mechanics
- Finite element modeling
Dr. Ignatius Fomunung
Email: [email protected]
Research Areas:
- Intelligent transportation systems
- Transportation-energy-air quality analysis and modeling
- Transportation planning
- Land use development
- Infrastructure systems design, analysis, monitoring, and rehabilitation
- Alternative fuels for transportation
- Promote student matriculation, persistence, and success in STEM fields
Mbakisya A. Onyango
Email: [email protected]
Research Areas:
- Analytical and Mechanistic Pavement Design and Analysis
- Civil Engineering Materials Testing and Evaluation
- Pavement Preservation Methods and Technologies
- Transportation Planning
- Pavement Management and Evaluation
Dr. Zakia Tasnim
Email: [email protected]
Research Areas:
- Computational Geomechanics
- Discrete Element Method (DEM)
- In-situ characterization and utilization of extraterrestrial material
- Biomass feedstock pre-processing and handling
Christopher Frishcosy
Email: Christopher [email protected]
Research Areas:
*italicized indicated future areas of research
Geo-Materials Testing
- Physical testing of geo-materials to guide compaction-based storage.
- Geo-chemical analysis of in-situ geo-materials for fill stratigraphy development.
- Laboratory-based classification of geo-materials
- Geo-environmental analysis to include fate and transport, and remediation of soil contamination
- Geo-structural remote sensing and monitoring
Modified Civil Materials Testing
- Physical testing of concrete and asphalt modified via commercial by-products and eco-materials.
Engineering Education Research
- Development of interactive learning activities for first year engineering students
- Implementation of multi-disciplinary projects
- Benefits of student engagement in undergraduate research
Laboratories
Soil Mechanics Laboratory (ECS 102)
This laboratory supports ENCE 3610L, Soil Mechanics Laboratory, and ENCE 2620L, Introduction to Geomatics Laboratory. This laboratory contains 3 Humboldt Lab Ovens, a Humboldt Flexpan and Loader, a Tinius Olsen Impact tester, an Instron 8502 tester, four sets of standard and modified Proctor hammers and molds, a falling head permeability apparatus, a dual-mast dynamic core penetrometer, soil and fine aggregate sieve shaker, coarse aggregate sieve shaker, consolidation test frames with weights, Cassagrande cups for Atterberg limits, a direct shear apparatus, and a soil sample extractor.
Asphalt Laboratory (ECS 103)
This laboratory supports ENCE 3500L, Civil Materials Laboratory. This laboratory contains a load frame for Marshall stability and flow, a hot water bath, a Marshall hammer cabinet, a SuperPave Gyratory compactor, an asphalt extraction vacuum apparatus, an ignition oven, an aggregate drying oven, an asphalt mixer, an asphalt sample extractor, capping equipment for sulfur capping concrete specimens, sand equivalency test equipment, pulse velocity equipment, and a surface resistivity meter.
Biomechanics Laboratory (ECS 109 & 110)
This laboratory supports ENGR 2460L, Mechanics of Materials Laboratory. This laboratory contains a Tinius Olsen Load Testing Machine, LECO Hardness Tester, an Olympus Stereo Microscope, a Fisher Hamilton fume hood, and multiple PCs.
Advanced Engineering Materials Laboratory (ECS 122)
This laboratory supports ENCE 3500L, Civil Materials Laboratory. This laboratory contains two compression machines, an LA Abrasion Machine, a curing tank, slump cones air meters, sample preparation equipment, steel beam molds, a small sample lapidary saw, and three mixers.
Mechanics of Materials Laboratory (ECS 106)
This laboratory supports ENGR 2460L, Mechanics of Materials Laboratory. This laboratory contains two Instron 5566 testers, an Ametek torsion tester, a TecQuipment torsion tester, and a Tinius Olsen beam strength and deflection tester, as well as multiple PCs.
Long Term Durability Research Laboratory (ECS 214A)
This laboratory contains a stereo zoom microscope, a polarizing light microscope, a Taber abrasion wheel, one set of rapid chloride permeability testing (RCPT) equipment, a half-cell corrosion potential test apparatus, a trip-stimulus colorimeter, a chloride titration kit, a pull-off tester (tensile bond strength), and an infiltration ring (ASTM C1702 pervious concrete infiltration rate).
Civil Engineering Project Building
This building is located at UTC’s SimCenter. This space is dedicated to the civil engineering students and their yearly projects as well as other civil engineering tools. This location contains a table saw, a band saw, a miter saw, a high shear floor mixer, a freeze/thaw durability testing cabinet, and a welder, as well as work benches and many handheld tools.