Current and Recent research in soil behavior and geotechnical engineering

Evaluation of Miniature Full Flow Penetrometers and Push Cone for Laboratory Measurement of Remolded Undrained Shear Strength of Soft Clays
Adriane .G. Boscardin advised by Don J. DeGroot

Mobilized Undrained Shear Strength of Cohesive Soils by Constant Volume Direct Simple Shear and Ring Shear Testing
Hoang.Q. Nguyen (BA), advised by Don J. DeGroot

Full-Scale Pilot Study to Reduce Lateral Stresses in Retaining Structures Using GeoFoam
Matthew .W. Ciuffetti, advised by Alan J. Lutenegger

Assessing Sample Disturbance of Clay Soils using Small Strain Shear Modulus, Gmax, as Determined from Laboratory Bender Element Tests.
Researcher: Melissa M. Landon, advised by Don J. DeGroot

The objective of this research is to determine if Gmax measured in the laboratory using bender elements can be used to assess sample quality. The assessment of sample disturbance and soil specimen quality prior to strength testing using Gmax from non-destructibe bender elements tests is advantageous as it will allow engineers to choose specimens that will yield high quality data for engineering design.

Scale Effects of Shallow Foundation Bearing Capacity on Granular Soils
Researcher: Amy B. Cerato, advised by Alan J. Lutenegger

The proposed research investigates the influence of scale on the bearing capacity of shallow foundations on coarse-grained granular soils and develops suggested design guidelines for analysis of bearing capacity that take into account the grain-size of the soil.

Use of the Seismic CPTU for Site Characterization in Soft Clays
Researcher: Joseph Jakubowski III, advised by Don J. DeGroot

The proposed masters research involves the site characterization of soft clay deposit using the seismic piezocone. In addition to a depth record of tip and sleeve resistances and pore pressure measurements, the SCPTU allows for the in situ determination of Vs, valuable in the prediction of the effects from dynamic conditions.

Quantification of Sample Disturbance in Soft Clays
Researcher: Steven E. Poirier, advised by Don J. DeGroot

The proposed research investigates methods of evaluating sample disturbance in saturated clay. The main focus of the investigation centers around methods involving measurements of the residual porewater pressure (suction).

Geologic and Engineering Properties of Connecticut Valley Varved Clay
Researcher: Don J. DeGroot and Alan J. Lutenegger

Connecticut Valley Varved Clay (CVVC) is a lacustrine soil deposit that was formed approximately 15,000 calendar years ago in glacial lake Hitchcock during the retreat of the late Pleistocene ice sheet in New England, USA. The main distinguishing feature of the deposit, as in most glacial lake deposits, is the alternating layers of clay and silt-fine sand. The material for these deposits entered Glacial Lake Hitchcock by melt water streams formed from the retreating glacier. During the warm summer seasons, the fine sand and silt size particles from the outwash deposited on the lake bottom whereas during the calmer winter seasons, when the lake surface was frozen, the clay particles settled out of suspension. The resulting pair of layers, which is known as a varve, represents one year of deposition. The thickness of the varves varies considerably depending on location within the lake and time of deposition ranging from a few millimeters to as large as 1 m thick. Typical deposits of CVVC contain from several hundred to several thousand varves.

For all references please refer to:
DeGroot, D.J. and Lutnegger, A.J. (2002) "Geology and Engineering Properties of Connecticut Valley Varved Clay," Characterisation and Engineering Properties of Natural Soils, Tan et al. (eds), Vol. 1, pp.695-724.

The following research topics are also our faculty's focus in their recent research:

Micromechanics of Pariculate Materials with Binders
Computer Simulation Model for Deformation and Damage of Bonded Particulates
Collaborative Research: Unstable Behavior of the Southern Margin of the Laurentide Ice Sheet and Implications for Ice-Sheet Dynamics and Climate Change
Site Evaluation and Instrumentation of an Earth Retention System for a Seismic Event
Performance of Rubblized & Reconstructed Sections of I-91 Manufactured Loam Using Compost Material
Geotechnical Engineering in Rail Transportation
Specifications for Large-Span Culverts
Fundamentals of Buried Pipe Installation
Evaluation of Passive Earth Pressures in Intergral Bridge Abutments
Reinforced Soil Foundations
Salt/Premix Storge Practices and Groundwater Quality
A New Experimental Approach Toward a Unified Theory of Time-Dependent Consolidation

For more information about past research projects click here