Research Focus Area: Geotechnical/Materials

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

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
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
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
Peter Taylor
Research Associate, Professor
  • Improving concrete materials and performance
  • Durability aspects of concrete pavements
  • Sustainability and improved specifications/protocols for concrete pavements
Kejin Wang
Wilson Engineering Professor
  • Chemistry and microstructure of concrete
  • Portland cement and supplementary cementitious materials
  • Sustainable concrete materials
Christopher Williams
Gerald and Audrey Olson
Professor in
Civil Engineering
  • Asphalt materials characterization
  • Asphalt design, performance and construction
  • Development and performance of bioasphalts