Civil and Environmental Engineering
Research
Geotechnical and Transportation Engineering
Geotechnical and transportation engineering research at Washington State University merges geotechnics and pavement mechanics to provide solutions to infrastructure problems.
The geotechnical engineering research program encompasses both traditional and emerging topics in the fields of geomechanics and geology and focuses on the behavior of natural materials in engineered systems. This active program involves fundamental and applied research using analytical, numerical, and experimental methods.
The pavement engineering research program focuses on developing innovative, economical, and reliable technologies for highway and airport pavements. It involves characterizing and modeling the entire pavement structure from surface to base course and incorporating various paving materials including asphalt material, concrete material, aggregates, recycled materials, and subgrade soils. Emphasis is given to both fundamental theories and practical applications in design, construction, and rehabilitation of the transportation infrastructure.
Geotechnical and transportation engineering research programs have been supported by funds from the National Science Foundation, US Geological Survey, US Department of Transportation (DOT), Washington State DOT, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP), US Department of Energy, and private industries.
Research areas include:
- Microstructure characterization and modeling of geomaterials
- X-ray computed tomography (WACXIT)
- Constitutive and micromechanical modeling
- Natural and man-made hazard mitigation
- Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering
- Sustainable materials and construction
- Characterization and modeling of paving materials
- Pavement design and structural analysis
- Pavement evaluation and rehabilitation
- Engineering Education
Facilities
The Geotechnical and Transportation Engineering laboratories include state-of-the-art testing equipment for soils and concretes. The Geotechnical Lab includes consolidometers, triaxial, direct shear and resonant column apparatuses. The Washington Center for Asphalt Technology (WCAT) includes facilities for the characterization of asphalt cements and concretes. In addition, a mobile drill rig is available for obtaining in-situ samples. Geotechnical and pavement researchers have access to the Washington Center for X-ray and Imaging Technology (WACXIT) that provides a unique facility for the non-destructive three-dimensional visualization of microstructural features within the interior of opaque solids.
Affiliated Centers, Institutes, and Labs
Geotechnical Engineering Laboratory
Educates engineering professionals and students and enables novel solutions for sustainable infrastructure in collaboration with academic and industry partners.
Washington Center for Asphalt Technology (WCAT)
Developing innovative, economical, and reliable technologies for highway and airport pavements
Washington Center for X-ray and Imaging Technology (WACXIT)
Promotes the advanced microstructure characterization, simulation, and design of solids, including metals, ceramics, geological, and biomaterials
Faculty
| Name | Phone | |
|---|---|---|
 Carraro, Antonio Interim Chair | antonio.carraro@wsu.edu | (509) 335-8624 |
 Shi, Xianming | xianming.shi@wsu.edu | (509) 335-7088 |
 Wen, Haifang Director of WCAT | haifang_wen@wsu.edu | (509) 335-4602 |
Theses & Dissertations
2015
- Numerical and Experimental Study of the Performance of Deep Cement Stabilized Soils
Elly Mukungu bulega, MS, Chair: Balasingam Muhunthan - Optimizing Asphalt Pavement Performance for Climate Zones Within Washington State
Skyler Lee Chaney, MS, Chair: Haifang Wen
2014
- Shrinkage Cracking of Soils and Cementitiously-stabilized Soils: Mechanisms and Modeling
Xiaojun Li, PhD, Chair: Haifang Wen - Liquefaction-induced Downdrag on Piles and Drilled Shafts
Vijayathansan Noel Vijayaruban, PhD, Chair: Balasingam Muhunthan
2013
- Finite Element Modeling of Geosynthetic Reinforced Pavement Subgrades
Abdelaziz Ahmed Bohagr, MS, Chair: Balasingam Muhunthan - Design and Evaluation of 4.75mm Mixture for Thin Asphalt Overlay in Washington State
Logan Cantrell, MS, Chair: Shihui Shen - Comparison of Students’ and Practicing Engineers’ Knowledge in Traffic Signal Engineering
Kelvin B. Daratha, MS, Chair: Shane Brown - Analysis of Geothermal Pile Foundations under Combined Axial and Moment Loading
Michael Gray, MS, Chair: Balasingam Muhunthan - Investigation of the Fracture Helaing and Mechanism of Asphalt Binders
Xin Lu, PhD, Chair: Shihui Shen - Microstructural Analysis of Unsaturated Granular Soils Using X-ray Computed Tomography
Kalehiwot Nega Manahiloh, PhD, Chair: Balasingam Muhunthan - Evaluation of Non-nuclear Density Guages for Determining In-place Density of Unbound Materials
Mark William Rose, MS, Chair: Haifang Wen - Modeling the Deformation of Unsaturated Granular Pavement Subgrade Materials
Thiyagarajah Sutharsan, PhD, Chair: Balasingam Muhunthan - Characterization and Modeling of Shrinkage Cracking of Cementitiously Stabilized Layers in Pavement
Jingan Wang, PhD, Chair: Haifang Wen
2012
- Yield Functions for Cemented Soils Using Thermomechanics
Zeyad Katab, MS, Chair: Balasingam Muhunthan - Comparison of Nuclear and Non-nuclear Density Gauges for Determining In-Place Density of Hot Mix Asphalt
Anthony Timm, MS, Chair: Haifang Wen - Design and Characterization of Asphalt Mixtures Based on Particle Packing and Mechanical Modeling
Huanan Yu, PhD, Chair: Shihui Shen
2011
- Laboratory Evaluation of Performance of Warm Mix Asphalt in Washington State
Nathan Bower, MS, Chair: Haifang Wen - Pervious Concrete with Titanium Dioxide as a Photocatalyst Compound for a Greener Urban Road Environment
Maria Christina Burton, MS, Chair: Shihui Shen - Embedded Transportation Engineering Knowledge: Comparing Practicing Engineers’ and University Instructors’ Context for Understanding Sight Distance and Stopping Sight Distance
Shannon Dow Davis, MS, Chair: Shane A. Brown - Combined Hydrology and Slope Stability Assessment of the Olympic Region of Washington State
Craig Abram Jordan, MS, Chair: Balasingam Muhunthan - Innovative Concept for Creating an Air Purification Pavement Surface Coating by Atmospheric Pressure Cold Plasma
Joseph Westergreen, MS, Chair: Shihui Shen - Evaluation of High Percentage Recycled Asphalt Pavement as Base Course Materials
Mengqi Wu, MS, Chair: Haifang Wen
2010
- Site-specific Seismic Hazard Analyses
Gonzalo Andres Montalva, PhD, Chair: Adrian Rodriguez-Marek - Numerical Solution of Cylindrical Cavity Expansion in Sands [electronic resource] : Effects of Failure Criteria and Flow Rules
Brenton Ryan Cook, MS, Chair: Balasingam Muhunthan - Evaluation of Performance of Whitetopping Pavement as a Rehabilitation Strategy
Xiaojun Li, MS, Chair: Haifang Wen - Quanification of Cohesive Healing of Asphalt Binder Based on Dissipated Energy Analysis
Thiyagarajah Sutharsan, MS, Chair: Shihui Shen
2009
- Numerical Simulation of the Performance of Horizontal Drains for Subsurface Slope Stabilization
Marie Leony Pathmanathan, MS, Chair: Balasingam Muhunthan - Improvements to Strain Computation and Reliability Analysis of Flexible Pavements in the Mechanistic-empirical Pavement Design Guide
Senthilmurugan Thyagarajan, PhD, Chair: Balasingam Muhunthan - Critical State Framework and Liquefaction of Fine-grained Soils
Diana Worthen, MS, Chair: Balasingam Muhunthan
2008
- Dynamic Modulus Test – Laboratory Investigation and Future Implementation in the State of Washington
Muthukumaran A. Elangovan, MS, Chair: Laith Tashman - Adequacy of Surface Diffusion Models to Simulate Nonequilibrium Mass Transfer in Soils
Nazmul Hasan, MS, Chair: Akram Hossain - Crank-Nicholson Galerkin Model for Nonlinearly Coupled Macrophase and Microphase Transport in the Subsurface
Amena Moth Mayenna, MS, Chair: Akram Hossain - Characterization of Stone Matrix Asphalt Mixtures and Comparisons to Hot Mix Asphalt Mixtures
Brian James Pearson, MS, Chair: Laith Tashman - Critical State framework for Interpretation of Geotechnical Properties of cement Treated Soils
Farid Sariosseiri, PhD, Chair: Balasingam Muhunthan - Simulation of the Permanent Deformation of Asphalt Concrete Mixtures Using Discrete Element Method (DEM)
Habtamu Melese Zelelew, PhD, Chair: Tom Papagiannakis
2007
- Energy Dissipation and Critical State Strength of Silty Sands
Nicholas Craig Szot, MS, Chair: Balasingam Muhunthan
2006
- Probablistic Methodology for the Analysis of Paleoliquefaction Features
Daniel Ciani, MS, Chair: Adrian Rodriguez-Marek - Characterization of Microstructure and Internal Displacement Field of Sand Using X-ray Computed Tomography
Mohammad Reza Razavi, PhD, Chair: B. Muhunthan - Mechanics of Dilatancy and its Application to Liquefaction Problems
Navarantnarajah Sasiharan, PhD, Chair: Balasingam Muhunthan
2005
- Numerical Modeling of Dynamic Soil-Pile-Structure Interaction
Surendran Balendra, MS, Chair: Adrian Rodriguez-Marek - Nonlinear Response Spectra of Forward-Directivity Ground Motions
Joanna Lyn Gillie, MS, Chair: Adrian Rodriguez-Marek - A Methodology for Obtaining Traffic Data Input to the NCHRP 1-37A PDG
Jingjuan Li, MS, Chair: Athanassios T. Papagiannakis - Microstructure Characterization of Compacted Soils Using X-Ray Computed Tomography
Nicholas North Paveglio, MS, Chair: Balasingam Muhunthan - Sand State and Performance Analysis of Micropiles
Shanzhi Shu, PhD, Chair: Balasingam Muhunthan
2004
- Sensitivity Of The 2002 Pavement Design Guide To Traffic Data Input
Michael Todd Bracher, MS, - Measurement and Characterization of Clay Microstructure Under One-Dimensional Compression
April Hammar, MS, Chair: B. Muhunthan - Numerical Simulation Of The Performance Of Sand Columns
Sathishbalamurugan Murugaiah, MS, Chair: B. Muhunthan - Seismic Behavior of Micropiles
Joo Chai Wong, MS, Chair: Adrian Rodriguez-Marek
2003
- Investigation of the Deformation of Granular Materials: A Micromechanics Approach
Omar Al Hattamleh, PhD, Chair: B. Muhunthan - The Failure of Teton Dam – A New Theory Based on “State Based Soil Mechanics”
Navaratnarajah Sasiharan, MS, Chair: B. Muhunthan
2002
- Aggregate Imaging System for Characterizing Fine and Coarse Aggregate Shape
Thomas Fletcher, MS, Chair: Eyad Masad - Comparative Analysis of Axial and Shear Moduli of Asphalt Mixes
Shadi-Mohd Saadeh, MS, Chair: Eyad Masad - Seismic Site Response for the February 28, 2001 Nisqually Earthquake, Washington
Angela Taylor, MS, Chair: Adrian Rodriguez-Marek
2001
- Relating the Microstructure of Asphalt Mixtures to Their Constitutive Behavior
Ala Abbas, MS, Chair: Tom Papagiannakis - A Numerical Model for Self-Weight Consolidation of Soil
King-Hong Chin, MS, Chair: B. Muhunthan - Performance Prediction of Asphalt Mixes Using the Superpave Gyratory Compactor
Samer Dessouky, MS, Chair: Eyad Masad - Implementation of High Performance Concrete in Washington State
Lisa James, MS, Chair: Eyad Masad - Energy Dissipation and Critical Strength of Sand
Dana Olcott, MS, Chair: B. Muhunthan
2000
- Site Response Studies for Evaluating the 1997 Uniform Building Code
Kenneth Cecil, MS, Chair: Balasingham Muhunthan - Direct Shear Test Modeling of Micropiles Used for Slope Remediation
Anthony Coyne, MS, Chair: Carlton Ho - Measurements and Modeling of Strain Distribution in Asphalt Mixes
Somadevan Niranjanan, MS, Chair: Eyad Masad - Some Aspects of Energy Dissipation During Shear Deformation of Sand
Maheswaran Raveendra, MS, Chair: Balasingam Muhunthan - Internal Structure Analysis of Asphalt Mixes to Improve the Simulation of Superpave Gyratory Compaction of Field Conditions
Laith Tashman, MS, Chair: Eyad Masad - Theoretical Modeling and Field Instrumentation of an Earth Retention System for Seismic Response
Julio Vela, PhD, Chair: Carlton Ho
1999
- A Study of Lateral Earth Pressure on Retaining Walls Due to Highway Live Load Surcharge
Teresa Gilman, MS, Chair: Balasingam Muhunthan
1998
- Relative Effects of Pavement Roughness and Traffic Congestion on Vehicle Excitation
Fernando Garcia De Quevedo, MS, Chair: Tom Papagiannakis - Permeability Simulation of Reconstructed Anisotropic Soil Medium
Eyad Masad, PhD, Chair: Balasingam Muhunthan - Permeability of Fine Grained Soils
Mike Nilsson, MS, Chair: Balasingam Muhunthan - Repeatability and Uncertainty of Seismic Site Response
Michael Woodworth, MS, Chair: Susan Chang
1997
- A New Index for Pavement Roughness
Balasingam Raveendran, MS, Chair: Tom Papagiannakis
1996
- Discrete Element Method for Slope Stability Analysis
Adrian Rodriguez-Marek, MS, Chair: Carlton Ho - An Energy Based Model for Soil Liquefaction
David Running, PhD, Chair: Balasingam Muhunthan - Shear Strength Parameters of Incinerated Municipal Solid Waste Ash
Jubran Said, MS, Chair: Balasingam Muhunthan
1995
- Soil Fabric Changes During Consolidation
Amy Adamcewicz, MS, Chair: Balasingam Muhunthan - The Elastic Parameters of a Mixture of Base Aggregate and Tire Chips
Wen-Pi Liu, MS, Chair: Tom Papagiannakis - Characteristics of Rubber-Modified Asphalts
Trent Lougheed, MS, Chair: Tom Papagiannakis - ABAQUS: A Finite, Element Tool for Studying Temperature Effects on Plain Jointed Concrete Pavements
Eyad Masad, MS, Chair: Ramzi Taha - Weigh-in-Motion Data QA Based on 5-Axle Tractor Semitrailer Truck Steering Axle Load Analysis
Weston Ott, MS, Chair: Tom Papagiannakis - Mechanisms of Swelling Pressure and Hydraulic Conductivity of Clays
Ramkishore Rao, MS, Chair: Balasingam Muhunthan - The Evaluation and Calibration of Weigh-in-Motion Systems
Kevin Senn, MS, Chair: Tom Papagiannakis