Geotechnical/materials engineering faculty continue the legacy of cutting-edge research, investigating issues related to soil mechanics, geomaterials behavior and stabilization, asphalt concrete, Portland Cement Concrete, in situ testing, environmental geotechnology, bio-based materials and pavement design.
Major initiatives include Iowa State University’s Center for Earthworks Engineering Research, an internationally recognized resource for earthworks engineering and geo-construction technologies. Faculty from geotechnical/materials engineering also are heavily involved in the nationally acclaimed Wind Energy Initiative at Iowa State.
Research Faculty
Beena Ajmera
Assistant Professor |
- Fundamental static and dynamic behavior of geomaterials from mineralogical and chemical analyses under various climatic conditions
- Ground modification and soil improvement including the use of recycled materials, lightweight cellular concrete and biopolymers
- Soil and rock slope stability with a focus on rainfall-induced and earthquake-induced failures
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Jeramy Ashlock
Richard L. Handy Associate Professor |
- Full-scale multi-modal dynamic testing of surface and deep foundations
- Development of instruments and techniques for in situ and laboratory soil testing
- Geotechnical earthquake engineering
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Halil Ceylan
Professor |
- Design of Portland cement concrete and asphalt cement concrete
- Impacts of overweight implements of husbandry on roads and bridges
- Validation of pavement performance models for the mechanistic-empirical pavement design
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Cassandra Rutherford
Assistant Professor |
- Characterization of marine sediments subjected to dynamic loading
- Relationship between geohazard triggering mechanisms and sediment properties
- Advancement of laboratory testing devices
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Peter Taylor
Research Associate, Professor |
- Improving concrete materials and performance
- Durability aspects of concrete pavements
- Sustainability and improved specifications/protocols for concrete pavements
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Kejin Wang
Wilson Engineering Professor |
- Chemistry and microstructure of concrete
- Portland cement and supplementary cementitious materials
- Sustainable concrete materials
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Christopher Williams
Gerald and Audrey Olson
Professor in
Civil Engineering |
- Asphalt materials characterization
- Asphalt design, performance and construction
- Development and performance of bioasphalts
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