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Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing

  • two graduate students work in the railway lab

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Our Research

Our cutting-edge research aims to enable our society to develop sustainable and intelligent infrastructure systems. We support practical solutions to societal challenges through the discovery of knowledge. Our graduate and undergraduate students work side by side with faculty in numerous labs and research groups that are breaking ground in many fields of engineering.

Research Strengths:

wastewater treatment plant

Environmental Engineering

Our research in environmental engineering focuses on the improvement of the environmental quality of air, water and soil. With approximately 7,500 sq. ft. of laboratory and office space, we perform various research activities such as physico-chemical and biological remediation and treatment, modeling, solid and hazardous waste control, and drinking water system design. Our faculty has expertise in air pollution control, process and molecular modeling, environmental nanotechnology, life cycle analysis, solid waste treatment and management and water/wastewater treatment for developing communities, among other fields.

a grad student works with the centrifuge

Geotechnical Engineering

Our research in geotechnical engineering includes the development of advanced methods for soil characterization, the design and performance of foundations and earth structures, and physical modeling of geosystems subjected to natural hazards including floods, hurricanes, and earthquakes. Our geotechnical lab includes standard, advanced and full-scale testing facilities; including two automated triaxial testing systems, two resonant columns, and a 15g-ton centrifuge for physical model testing. Our faculty have expertise in soil dynamics, liquefaction, advanced field and laboratory methods, non-destructive evaluation, unsaturated soil behavior, engineered soils, mine tailings, and centrifuge modeling techniques, among others.

overhead view of the structural engineering lab

Structural Engineering

Our research in structural engineering includes the development of advanced materials, non-destructive evaluation techniques, and the use of sensing mechanisms to expand the remaining life and the use of structural systems. Our 7,400 sq. ft. high-bay lab allows us to test full-size specimens in a variety of configurations. Our faculty have expertise in materials engineering, advanced sensing, probabilistic methods, and dynamics, among other fields.

researcher stands in river

Water Resources Engineering

Our research in water resources engineering includes the study of flood formation and routing with applications to the hydraulics of levee and dam breaches and urban flooding, particle transport with application to transport of sediments and contaminants in natural system, morphodynamics of rivers, estuaries, deltas and submarine systems, and river basin management. Our 9,700 sq. ft. lab is well-equipped to perform high-resolution velocity and topo-bathymetric measurements, as well as particle characterization. Our faculty has expertise in hydrology, fluid and sediment transport mechanics and morphodynamics.

bridges and overpasses

Transportation Engineering

Research in transportation engineering includes the development and evaluation of novel approaches to improve the efficiency and safety of the transportation network, as well as making it more reliable and resilient. Our faculty have expertise in a number of areas, including port operations, freight logistics, urban transit, high-speed railroad and pavement design. Their research also addresses the impact of the transportation system on the environment, natural resources and public health.

train tracks

Railway Engineering

Our Railway Engineering group conducts basic and applied research related to performance and condition assessment and safety of the railway infrastructure and operations. Our faculty have expertise in health monitoring, remote sensing, inspection, diagnostics and prognostics for track and structures; laboratory and in-situ testing at the material, component and system levels along with computer modeling and simulations; and structural, soil, track and vehicle dynamics. These research activities are supported by state-of-the-art computational and experimental facilities.

 

 


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