curriculum vitae

July 19, 2002

 

Evert C. Lawton, Ph.D., P.E., Professor and Associate Chair

Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering

University of Utah

122 South Central Campus Drive, Suite 104

Salt Lake City, Utah  84112-0561

Telephones:      (801) 585-3947 (office)

                        (801) 581-6931 (department)

            (801) 585-5477 (telefax)

            (801) 942-4891 (home)

E-mail:  Lawton@civil.utah.edu

Web Site:   http://www.civil.utah.edu/~lawton

 

EDUCATION

1986       Graduated in December from Washington State University with a Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering. Emphasis:  Geotechnical.

1983       Graduated in May from San Diego State University with a Master of Science in Civil Engineering.  Emphasis:  Geotechnical.

1980       Graduated in January from the University of Virginia with a Master of Engineering in Civil Engineering. Emphasis: Structural.

1977       Graduated with honors in May from the University of Virginia with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering.  Emphasis: Structural.

 

MASTER'S THESIS

"Behavior of Strip Footings on Reinforced Earth Slabs"

 

DOCTORAL DISSERTATION

"Wetting-Induced Collapse in Compacted Soil"

 

PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYMENT

December 1994 - Present:  Associate Chair;  July 2002 – Present, Professor;   July 1994 – June 2002:  Associate Professor;  August 1991 - June 1994  Assistant Professor - Department of Civil Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah

My duties include both teaching and research in geotechnical engineering, as well as departmental and university committee assignments and service to the community.

January 1987 - August 1991

Assistant Professor - Dept. of Civil & Arch. Engrg., University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida

My duties included both teaching and research in geotechnical engineering, as well as departmental and university committee assignments and service to the community.

June 1984 - December 1986

Teaching and Research Assistant - Washington State University, Pullman, Washington

I taught the introductory geotechnical engineering course for four semesters and the advanced geotechnical engineering course for one semester.  The research projects I worked on included construction control of pile driving, dynamic densification of sand, and effects of wetting-induced collapse on deep compacted fills.

May 1985 - August 1985

Construction Manager - Schnabel Foundation Company, Dallas, Texas

I was a Project Manager for several jobs that involved sheeting, bracing, and underpinning using tiebacks for temporary foundation excavations in downtown Dallas.  My responsibilities included design of complete tied-back retaining walls, testing tiebacks, monitoring performance of walls and underpinning (including settlement and deflection), and job bidding and cost estimating.

June 1982 - May 1984

Geotechnical Engineer - Bridge Division, Virginia Department of Highways and Transportation, Richmond, Virginia

My responsibilities included the analysis of geologic borings and soil parameters used for selection of foundation type, bearing capacity, type of piles, and pile lengths for bridges and other structures; as well as layout, analysis, and design of earth retaining structures.  I was also involved with troubleshooting geotechnical problems that developed during the preparation of the foundations for and the construction of retaining walls, bridges, and other structures.  I recommended solutions to these problems.  In addition, I acted as the liaison between the Department and proprietary design companies who prepared alternate plans for earth retaining structures.

June 1977 - August 1981

Structural Engineer - Bridge Division, Virginia Department of Highways and Transportation, Richmond, Virginia

I designed and analyzed steel, reinforced concrete, and prestressed concrete bridges and other structures.  I supervised technicians and draftsmen in materials evaluation, detailing, and estimating in conjunction with the preparation of construction plans for bridges and other structures.  Other duties I performed included the cross check of designs and details of structures prepared by other designers; instruction of Engineer Trainees on structural theory and detailing during the design process; and studied proposed alternate layouts of structures, including cost estimates and recommendation of type of structure.

 

HONORS AND AWARDS

1999-2000 Educator of the Year, Student Chapter of ASCE, University of Utah

1999-2000 Engineering Educator of the Year, Utah Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers

1994 Best State-of-the-Art Review Paper in Geotechnical Engineering, ASCE, "Review of Wetting-Induced Collapse in Compacted Soil," Journal of Geotechnical Engineering, Sept. 1992.

1994 College of Engineering’s Outstanding Teaching Award, University of Utah.

1993-94 James M. Robbins Excellence in Teaching Award, Chi Epsilon (national Civil Engineering honor society), Rocky Mountain District recipient.

1993 NOVA Award, national award for innovation in construction for development of Geopier Intermediate Foundation System (co-winner with Nathaniel S. Fox), Construction Innovation Forum, Ann Arbor, Michigan (CAM Magazine, March 1993, pp. 36-37).

1993 Anson Marston Award, Engineering Achievement of the Year Award, State of Iowa, for development of Geopier Intermediate Foundation System, co-winner with Nathaniel S. Fox.

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

American Society of Civil Engineers, Member

International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, Member

 

PROFESSIONAL REGISTRATION

California Professional Engineer License No. C039328

Florida Professional Engineer License No. 37850

Utah Professional Engineer License No. 93-190745-2202

Virginia Professional Engineer License No. 13774

Washington Professional Engineer License No. 22069

 

PUBLICATIONS

 

Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles and Specialty Publications

 

Fragaszy, R. J., and Lawton, E. (1984). "Bearing Capacity of Reinforced Sand Subgrades." Journal of Geotechnical Engineering, ASCE, Vol. 110, No. 10, October, pp. 1500-1507.

Lawton, E. C., and Hsu, C.-L. (2002). "Full-Scale Uplift Tests on Single Geopier Elements." Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, ASCE (to be submitted October 2001)

Lawton, E. C., and Hsu, C.-L. (2002). "Predictive Methods for Uplift Capacity of Geopier-Supported Foundations." Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, ASCE (to be submitted October 2001)

Lawton, E. C., Hsu, C.-L., and Cook, C. R. (2002). "Lateral Capacity of Geopier-Supported Foundations." Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, ASCE (to be submitted September 2001).

Lawton, E. C., and Fox, N. S. (1992). "Field Experiments on Soils Reinforced with Small Discontinuous Multi-Oriented Geosynthetic Inclusions," Transportation Research Record No. 1369: Advances in Geotechnical Engineering, Transportation Research Board, pp. 44-53.

Lawton, E. C., and Fox, N. S. (1994). "Settlement of Structures Supported on Marginal or Inadequate Soils Stiffened with Short Aggregate Piers."  Vertical and Horizontal Deformations of Foundations and Embankments, ASCE Geotechnical Special Publication No. 40, Vol. 2,
pp. 962-974.

Lawton, E. C., Fox, N. S., and Handy, R. L. (1994).  "Control of Settlement and Uplift of Structures Using Short Aggregate Piers."  In-Situ Deep Soil Improvement, ASCE Geotechnical Special Publication No. 45, pp. 121-132.

Lawton, E. C., Fragaszy, R. J., and Hardcastle, J. H. (1991). "Stress Ratio Effects on Collapse of Compacted Clayey Sand."  Journal of Geotechnical Engineering, ASCE, Vol. 117, No. 5, May,
pp. 714-730.

Lawton, E. C., Fragaszy, R. J., and Hardcastle, J. H. (1989). "Collapse of Compacted Clayey Sand." Journal of Geotechnical Engineering, ASCE, Vol. 115, No. 9, September, pp. 1252-1267.

Lawton, E. C., and Fragaszy, R. J., and Hetherington, M. D. (1992) "Review of Wetting-Induced Collapse in Compacted Soil," Journal of Geotechnical Engineering, ASCE, Vol. 118, No. 9, September, pp. 1376-1394.

Lawton, E. C., Fragaszy, R. J., Higgins, J. D., Kilian, A. P., and Peters, A. J. (1986). "Review of Methods for Estimating Pile Capacity," Transportation Research Record No. 1105: Structure Foundations, Transportation Research Board, pp. 32-40.

Lawton, E. C., Heimdal, T. M., Roadifer, J. W., and Robinson, K. S. (1999). "Laboratory Study of the Feasibility of Stabilizing Zinc Clinker and Road Millings to Produce a Low Permeability Pavement Material."  Transportation Research Record No. 1673: Geomaterials, Journal of the Transportation Research Board, paper no. 99-0751, pp. 31-38.

Lawton, E. C., Khire, M. V., and Fox, N. S. (1993). "Reinforcement of Soils by Multi-Oriented Geosynthetic Inclusions," Journal of Geotechnical Engineering, ASCE, Vol. 119, No. 2, February, pp. 257-274.

Lawton, E. C., and Merry, S. M. (2000). "Performance of Geopier Reinforced Soil Foundations During Simulated Seismic Tests on I-15 Bridge Bents." Transportation Research Record No. 1736: Soil Mechanics 2000, Transportation Research Board, pp. 3-11.

Lawton, E. C., Mokashi, A. A., and Fox, N. S. (1996). "Field Tests and Numerical Analyses of a Subgrade Soil Reinforced with Grids of Stabilized Granular Columns. "  Transportation Research Record No. 1534:  Geosynthetics:  Cold Regions, Flexible Pavements, and Other Issues, Transportation Research Board, pp. 72-79.

Lawton, E. C., Schubach, J. R., Seelos, R. T., and Fox, N. S. (1995).  “One-Dimensional Compression Characteristics of Artificial Soils Composed of Multioriented Geosynthetic Elements.” Transportation Research Record No. 1474: Mechanically Stabilized Backfill and Properties of Geosynthetics and Geocomposites, Transportation Research Board, pp. 73-81.

Lin, C. C., Lawton, E. C., Caliendo, J. A., and Anderson, L. R. (1996). “An Iterative Finite Element-Boundary Element Algorithm.”  Computers and Structures, Vol. 59, No. 5, June 3, pp. 899-909.

 

Peer-Reviewed Conference Papers

 

Merry, S. M., Li, C., and Lawton, E. C. (1999). "Performance of Spread Footings on Subgrades Reinforced with Geogrid and Geojax."  Proceedings, Geosynthetics ’99, Boston, MA, Industrial Fabrics Association International, St. Paul, MN, April 28-30, Vol. 1, pp. 401-412.

 

Invited Papers

 

Lawton, E. C. (1999). "Performance of Geopier Foundations During Simulated Seismic Tests on I-15 Bridge Bents." 34th Symposium on Engineering Geology and Geotechnical Engineering, Logan, Utah, April, 25 pp.

 

Conference Papers Accepted Based on Review of Abstract

Cook, C. R., Lawton, E. C., and Pantelides, C. P. (2002). " Soil-Structure Interaction of Bridges Subjected to Lateral Loads." Proceedings, 7th U.S. National Conference on Earthquake Engineering (accepted).

Deng, Z., Lawton, E. C., May, F. E., Smith, S. W., and Williams, S. R. (1992). "Estimated Impact Forces on Houses Caused by the 1983 Rudd Creek Debris Flow."  Proceedings, 1992 Arid West Flood Conference, Association of State Floodplain Managers, Las Vegas, Nevada, pp. 103-115..

Deng, Z., May, F. E., and Lawton, E. C. (1992).  "Fuzzy Clustering of Potential Debris Flow Canyons."  Proceedings, 1992 Arid West Flood Conference, Association of State Floodplain Managers, Las Vegas, Nevada, pp. 125-137.

Fragaszy, R., Lawton, E., and Asgharzadeh-Fozi, Z. (1983). "Bearing Capacity of Reinforced Sand," Proceedings, Eighth European Conference on Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering, Helsinki, May, pp. 357-360.

Larson, C. T., Lawton, E. C., Bravo, A., and Perez, Y. (1993). "Influence of Oversize Particles on Wetting-Induced Collapse of Compacted Clayey Sand."  Proceedings, 29th Symposium on Engineering Geology and Geotechnical Engineering, Reno, Nevada, March, pp. 449-459.

Lawton, E. C., Chen, J., Larson, C. T., Perez, Y., and Bravo, A. (1993).  "Influence of Chemical Admixtures and Pore Fluid Chemistry on Wetting Induced Collapse of Compacted Soil."  Proceedings, 29th Symposium on Engineering Geology and Geotechnical Engineering, Reno, Nevada, March, pp.  425-448. 

Li, C., and Lawton, E. C. (1998). "Numerical Study of Using Multioriented Geosynthetic Inclusions as Artificial Backfill Soil for Retaining Walls."  Proceedings, 33rd Symposium on Engineering Geology and Geotechnical Engineering, Reno, Nevada, March, pp. 197-203.

Li, C., Merry, S. M., and Lawton, E. C. (1999). "Performance of Spread Footings on Subgrades Reinforced with Geogrids and Geojacks." Proceedings, 34th Symposium on Engineering Geology and Geotechnical Engineering, Logan, Utah, April, pp. 245-256.

Robinson, K. S., Lawton, E. C., and Fox, N. S. (1995). "Increase in Subgrade Modulus of Bearing Soils for Pavements by the Installation of Short, Stabilized, Granular Columns." Proceedings, 31st Symposium on Engineering Geology and Geotechnical Engineering, Logan, Utah, March,
pp. 103-114.

White, D. J., Lawton, E. C., and Pitt, J. M. (2000) "Lateral earth pressure induced from rammed aggregate piers," Proceedings, 53rd Canadian Geotechnical Conference, Montreal, Vol. 2,
pp. 871-876.

 

Reports and Theses

Deng, Z., and Lawton, E. C. (1992). "A Preliminary Study of Impact Forces Caused by the 1983 Rudd Creek Debris Flow." University of Utah Department of Civil Engineering, Utah Division of Comprehensive Emergency Management, and Davis County Public Works and Flood Control, 44 pp.

FEMA (1997). "Boise County Debris Flow."  FEMA-DR-1154-ID, FEMA/STATE Interagency Technical Report, February 5 (I was one of several contributors to the report).

Fox, N. S., and Lawton, E. C. (1990). "Cohesionless Soil and Small Discontinuous Reinforcing Elements in Composite Engineering Material."  Final Report, National Science Foundation, Phase I SBIR Grant No. ISI-8961474, December, 130 pp.

Fox, N. S., and Lawton, E. C. (1996).  “Improvement of Subsoils for Support of Pavements Using a Grid of Stabilized Granular Columns.”  Final Report, National Science Foundation, Phase I SBIR Grant No. DMI-9360798, June, 30 pp.

Fragaszy, R. J., Higgins, J. D., and Lawton, E. C. (1985). "Development of Guidelines for Construction Control of Pile Driving and Estimation of Pile Capacity," Washington State Transportation Center, Final Report, Research Project Y-2811, June, 81 pp.

Fragaszy, R. J., and Lawton, E. (1984). "Bearing Capacity Studies of Reinforced Earth Slabs," Final Report, National Science Foundation, Grant No. CME-8106339, March.

Lawton, E. C. (1983). "Behavior of Strip Footings on Reinforced Earth Slabs," unpublished Master's Thesis presented to San Diego State University, San Diego, May, 103 pp.

Lawton, E. C. (1986). "Wetting-Induced Collapse in Compacted Soil." Ph.D. Dissertation, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, December, 185 pp.

Lawton, E. C. (1996).  "Chemical Stabilization of Clinker and Road Millings. "  Final Report to ASARCO, Inc., Salt Lake City, Utah, March, 8 pp.

Lawton, E. C. (1997). "Stabilization of Mining Wastes with Clay and Chemicals." Final Report to ASARCO, Inc., Salt Lake City, Utah, July, 56 pp.

Lawton, E. C., and Merry, S. M. (1999). "Performance of Geopier Foundations During Simulated Seismic Tests at South Temple Bridge on Interstate 15, Salt Lake City Utah." Report No. UUCVEEN99-06, Interim Report to UDOT/FHWA, June, 36 pp.

Lawton, E. C. and Merry, S. M. (2000). "Performance of Geopier-Supported Foundations During Simulated Seismic Tests on Northbound Interstate 15 Bridge over South Temple, Salt Lake City Utah." Report No. UUCVEEN00-03, Final Report to UDOT/FHWA, December, 73 pp.

Lawton, E. C., Pantelides, C. P., and Cook, C. R. (2001). "Soil-Pile-Structure Interaction of Bridge Bents Subjected to Lateral Loads." Report No. UUCVEEN 01-07, Final Report to UDOT/FHWA, December, 178 pp.

Books

Section 5A titled "Soil Improvement and Stabilization: Non-Grouting Techniques" in Practical Foundation Engineering Handbook, Edited by R. W. Brown, McGraw-Hill, 1996, pp. 5.1 - 5.276.

 

Section 6A titled "Soil Improvement and Stabilization: Non-Grouting Techniques" in Practical Foundation Engineering Handbook, Edited by R. W. Brown, McGraw-Hill, 2001, pp. 6.1 - 6.340.

Other

Lawton, E. C., Fox, N. S., and Handy, R. L. (1994).  "Short Aggregate Piers Defeat Poor Soils."  Civil Engineering, ASCE, Vol. 64, No. 12, December, pp. 52-55.

 

SPONSORED RESEARCH

 

External Funding

"Measurement of Consolidation and Drainage Properties of Fine-Grained Soils Using In-Situ Techniques." UDOT/FHWA, PI (Steven Bartlett, Co-PI), $130,000, 6/1/02 – 12/31/03 (approved for funding, total amount not yet finalized).

"Subsurface Exploration and Design of Foundation for Biological Stack."  Dugway Proving Grounds, PI, $20,000, 6/28/01 – 9/15/01.

"Ultimate and Residual Capacity of Geopier Foundations Subjected to Lateral, Uplift, and Compressive Loads." UDOT/FHWA, PI, $122,300, Geopier Foundation Company ($15,000 in-kind matching), 7/1/01 to 12/31/02.

"Instructional Shake Tables: A Cooperative Effort in Earthquake Engineering Education."  NSF Instructional Equipment Grant via Washington University of Missouri, PI for U of U, $6,000 (plus $6,000 departmental match).

"Response, Analysis, and Design of Geopier Foundations and Bridge Bent Pile Foundations Subjected to Lateral, Uplift, and Compressive Loads."  UDOT/FHWA, PI, $209,146, Geopier Foundation Company ($25,000 in-kind matching), 2/1/99 to 3/31/02.

"PEER Graduate Fellowship for Chang-Lin Hsu."  Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research (PEER) Center via UC Irvine, 9/1/98 – 8/31/99, $12,500.

"Response, Analysis, and Design of Pile Foundations and Granular-Column Reinforced Shallow Foundations Subjected to Compressive, Uplift, and Lateral Loads."  Jointly funded by NSF ($82,000 including 10,000 REU), UDOT/FHWA ($70,000 under the title "Structural and Geotechnical Testing of the South Temple I-15 Overpass Bridge"), Geopier Foundation Company ($40,000 in-kind matching), and the University of Utah ($32,000 matching on equipment), PI, 3/15/98 to 12/31/00.

"Stabilization of Mining Wastes with Clay and Chemicals."  ASARCO Inc., Salt Lake City, UT, 9/1/95 - 6/30/97, PI, $32,591.

"Chemical Stabilization of Zinc Clinker and Road Millings."  ASARCO Inc., Salt Lake City, UT, 4/15/95 - 12/31/95, PI, $4,080.

"Improvement of Subsoils for Support of Pavements Using a Grid of Stabilized Granular Columns."  National Science Foundation, SBIR Phase I grant, 1/1/94 - 4/30/95, subcontract from The Earthwater Corporation, Lithonia, Georgia, PI, $21,449.

"Cohesionless Soil and Small Discontinuous Reinforcing Elements in Composite Engineering Material." National Science Foundation, SBIR Phase II grant, 8/15/93 - 8/14/95, subcontract from The Earthwater Corporation, Lithonia, Georgia, PI, $112,592 (includes REU award of $7,400).

"Engineering Research Equipment - Computer Automated and Controlled Triaxial and Oedometric Soil Testing Systems." National Science Foundation, Research Equipment Grant program, 12/1/92 - 5/31/94, PI, $45,033 (plus $22,517 in matching funds by Univ. of Utah).

"Impact Forces Caused by Debris Flow in North-Central Utah," State of Utah, Department of Public Safety, Division of Comprehensive Emergency Management, 10/1/92 - 7/31/93, PI, $23,260

"One-Dimensional and Multi-Dimensional Stress-State Analyses of Wetting-Induced Collapse in Unsaturated Soils." National Science Foundation, Research Initiation Grant No. MSS-9196241, 7/1/90 - 11/30/93, PI, $78,000 (includes two REU awards totaling $18,000).

"Cohesionless Soil and Small Discontinuous Reinforcing Elements in Composite Engineering Material." National Science Foundation, SBIR Phase I Grant No. ISI-8961474, 1/1/90 - 12/31/90, subcontract from The Earthwater Corporation, Lithonia, Georgia, PI, $16,650.

"Investigation of Creep and Collapse Mechanisms in Soil." National Science Foundation, Research Equipment Grant No. MSM-8807660, 9/1/88 - 8/31/90, Co-PI, $35,300.

 

Internal Funding

"Synthesis of Laboratory and Field Geotechnical Testing in the Undergraduate Civil Engineering Curriculum.” BEEF funding, Co-PI with Dr. Scott Merry, $69,000 (2/3 from College of Engineering, 1/3 from Civil & Environmental Engineering)

"Data Acquisition System for Undergraduate Geotechnical Engineering Courses."  Starter/Mentor Grant from the Faculty Assistance Subcommittee, $6,000 ($4,000 to Dr. Scott Merry as Starter, $2,000 to me as Mentor), 1997.

"Large Diameter Cyclic Triaxial Cell."  Research Equipment Support Grant, 1996, $7,000.  (PI Dr. Scott Merry, I was first Co-PI)

"Large-Scale Direct Shear Machine for Testing Soils." Research Equipment Support Grant, 1994, $6,750, PI.

"Equipment for Simulating Debris Flow Impact," Research Equipment Support Grant, 1993, $13,100, PI.

"Direct Shear Testing System," Undergraduate Laboratory Improvement Grant, 1992, $23,000, PI.

"Chemical Stabilization of Collapsible Soils," University Research Committee, Faculty Grant, 1992, $4,975.

"Computer-Automated and Controlled Triaxial and Oedometric Soil Testing Systems," Research Support Committee grant, 1992, $15,000, PI.

"A Study of Modified Stone Columns in Weak, Frictional Material," General Research Support Award, University of Miami, 1989, $4,657, PI.

"Reinforcement of Soil with Small, Random, Discontinuous Inclusions," College of Engineering Research Equipment Grant, University of Miami, 1989, $14,375, PI.

"Control of Wetting-Induced Volume Changes in Expansive Fills Using Soil-Stabilization Techniques," Summer Award in Natural Sciences and Engineering, University of Miami, 1989, $6,000, PI.

"Geomechanics Research Equipment," College of Engineering Research Equipment Award, University of Miami, 1988, $15,000, Co-PI.

"A Study of Buoyancy Effects on Contaminant Transport in Porous Media," General Research Support Award, University of Miami, 1988, $3,250, Co-PI.

"One-Dimensional and Three-Dimensional Effective Stress Analyses of Wetting-Induced Collapse in Compacted Soils," Summer Award in Natural Sciences and Engineering, University of Miami, 1988, $6,000, PI.

"Strength of Materials Laboratory Improvements," College of Engineering Teaching Equipment Award, University of Miami, Co-PI, March 1988, $11,670.

"Geotechnical Laboratory Improvements," College of Engineering Teaching Equipment Award, University of Miami, March 1988, $21,700, PI.

"One-Dimensional and Three-Dimensional Effective Stress Analyses of Wetting-Induced Collapse in Compacted Soils," General Research Support Award, University of Miami, 1988, $5,000, PI.

"Wetting-Induced Collapse in Compacted Soils," Research Initiation Grant, University of Miami, 1987, $10,650, PI.

 

PATENTS

Fox, N. S., and Lawton, E. C. (1993). "Discontinuous Structural Reinforcing Elements and Methods for Reinforcing and Improving Soils and Other Construction Materials."  U. S. Patent No. 5,145,285, issued September 8.

Fox, N. S., and Lawton, E. C. (1993). "Short Aggregate Piers and Method and Apparatus for Producing Same.”  U. S. Patent No. 5,249,892, issued October 5.

 

CONSULTING ACTIVITIES

The following list is representative of the types of projects I have consulted on:

Geopier Foundation Technical Consulting:  For several years, I have provided advanced technical consulting to Geopier Foundation Company regarding difficult technical issues that have developed during projects.

Dugway Stack Foundation Design:  Hired by Dugway Proving Grounds to design a specialized foundation to support a stack system designed to emit simulated biological agents.

Draper Irrigation Canal Failure:  Hired as consultant by Draper City to investigate failure of Draper Irrigation Canal that created deep erosion channel adjacent to existing homes.  Prepared plan for repairing erosion channel and designed temporary repair methodology to canal.

Banks, Idaho Debris Flow:  Hired as a consultant by FEMA to conduct a field evaluation of the alluvial fan and watershed, determine potential for additional debris flows and volumes, estimate potential future debris flow impact forces, and recommend hazard mitigation techniques.  The estimation of impact forces from potential future debris flows was based on state-of-the-art numerical analysis techniques recently developed in research by a Ph.D. student.

Sharon Steel Tailings Site, Midvale, Utah:  Hired as consultant to assist in independent evaluation of EPA remediation measures for the 270 acres of tailings at the site, which remain from previous precious metal leaching operations.

Drum Mine, Millard County, Utah:  Design of 500,000 ft2 heap leach pad for gold mining operation, including primary geosynthetic liner, secondary clay liners, leak detection system, construction specifications, and settlement monitoring system.

Slope Stability Analyses for Subdivision Lots, Sandy, Utah:  Performed subsurface exploration and static and seismic slope stability analyses for new houses under construction or in the design and planning stages.

Georgia Dome Stadium Project, Atlanta, Georgia:  Assistant Project Director for geotechnical and foundation engineering study.  Contributed to the development of an innovative approach which reduced estimated shallow foundation settlement to less than one-fifth of that estimated for standard shallow foundations.

Delta Airlines Hangar Bay 5 Project, Atlanta, Georgia:  Geotechnical Consultant for special K0 Stepped Blade and Iowa Borehole Shear Tests.  Consultant for evaluation of data and application to laterally loaded pile analysis.

400 Peachtree Center Project, Atlanta, Georgia:  Geotechnical Consultant for excavation bracing system study utilizing K0 Stepped Blade data.

Villa Trinidad and Villa Martinique Subdivisions, San Diego, California:  Geotechnical Consultant on 80 ft deep compacted fill projects in which substantial damage occurred from expansion and collapse of foundation soils beneath residential structures.

Cutler Creek Club, Miami, Florida:  Geotechnical Consultant for investigation of potential sinkhole development.  Determined cause of subsidence and designed and supervised appropriate remedial measures.

Mooring Facility, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba:  Geotechnical Consultant for floating hotel designed for U. S. Navy.  Managed subsurface investigation and engineering evaluation study.

 

SERVICE (external)

 

Professional Societies

Transportation Research Board, Committee A2J02, Chemical and Mechanical Stabilization of Soils, Member, Jan. 1999 – present.

American Society of Civil Engineers, Soil Properties Committee and Unsaturated Soils Subcommittee, Member, 1994 - Present.

American Society of Civil Engineers, Utah Section, Geotechnical Engineering Group. Chair of the Educational Committee (1992-95).

Florida Engineering Society, Engineers in Education Practice Section.  I was an officer for four years from 1987 to 1991.  I held the offices of Secretary/Treasurer, Second Vice-Chairman, First Vice-Chairman, and Chairman.

 

Other

I have reviewed over 50 papers submitted for publication to various journals, including the Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, Transportation Research Record, Geotechnical Testing Journal, and Geotextiles and Geomembranes.

 

I have served on the Education Committee of the Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research (PEER) NSF center from 1998 - present.

I served on the organizing committee of 34th Annual Symposium on Engineering Geology and Geotechnical Engineering held April 1999 in Logan, Utah.

Served on NSF panel to review CAREER proposals (November 2001).

invited lectures

"Performance of Geopier-Supported Foundations During Simulated Seismic Tests on I-15 Bridge Bents." Presented December 15, 2000 to Utah chapter of American Society of Civil Engineers, Salt Lake City, Utah.

"Performance of Geopier Soil Reinforcement During Simulated Earthquake on I-15 Bridge Span, Salt Lake City, Utah."  Presented June 18, 1999 to Engineers and Architects of the South Bay, Torrance, California.

"Performance of Geopier Foundations During Simulated Seismic Tests on I-15 Bridge Bents." 34th Symposium on Engineering Geology and Geotechnical Engineering, Logan, Utah, April 30, 1999.

"Performance of Geopier Foundations Subjected to Simulated Earthquake Loads."  Presented November 5, 1998 to UDOT 1998 Annual Engineer’s Conference, Snowbird, Utah.

"Retrofit of Bridges Using Advanced Composites and Geopiers."  Presented October 15, 1998 to the Structural Engineers Association of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, with Dr. Chris Pantelides.

"Impact of Debris Flows on Structures and Its Mitigation."  Presented December 11, 1996 to Utah Division of Comprehensive Emergency Management (Utah Interagency Technical Team) in Salt Lake City, Utah and January 31, 1997 to FEMA Disaster Field Office (FEMA/Idaho Interagency Technical Team) in Boise, Idaho.

"Soil Stabilization Techniques."  Presented February 10, 1995 to the Earth Sciences Research Institute, University of Utah, Research Seminar Series.

"Geopier Intermediate Foundation System."  Presented in September 1993 to the Western States Council of Structural Engineers Association/Structural Engineers of Utah combined meeting, Deer Valley, Utah.

"Reinforcement of Cohesionless Soils with Multi-Oriented Inclusions."  Presented in October 1990 to the ASCE Georgia Geotechnical Group, Atlanta, Georgia.

"Use of Tied-Back Retaining Walls for Support of Deep Excavations."  Presented in April 1987 to the Association of Cuban Civil Engineers, Miami, Florida.

 

graduate students (major advisor)

 

Ph.D.

Chia-Ching Lin.  Graduated March 1996.  Dissertation titled “Parametric Study of the Stress-Strain-Strength Characteristics of Bearing Soils Reinforced with Vertical Granular Elements Using a Finite Element-Boundary Element Coupling Method.”

Zhilong Deng. Graduated Summer 1997.  Dissertation titled "Impact of Debris Flows on Structures and Its Mitigation." Supported by a grant from the Utah Department of Public Safety

Tolga Ozer.  Began August 2001 and his dissertation will be on the topic of estimation of consolidation and drainage properties for soft soils from in-situ and laboratory methods (Research Assistant on UDOT/FHWA funded project). 

 

M.S.

Umesh Kale (University of Miami).  M.S. degree awarded May 1994.  His thesis is titled "Consolidation and Creep in Soft Clays."

Milind Khire (University of Miami).  M.S. degree awarded December 1992.  His thesis is titled "Reinforcement of Cohesionless Soils by Small Discontinuous Multi-Oriented Geosynthetic Inclusions."

Anagha Mokashi.  M.S. degree was awarded March 1996.  Her thesis is titled "Improvement of Subsoils for Support of Pavements Using a Grid of Stabilized Granular Columns."

John Roadifer.  M.S. degree was awarded June 1997.   His thesis is titled "Characteristics and Predictability of Wetting-Induced Volume Changes in Various Compacted Soils."

Tor Heimdal.  Is working on the project titled "Stabilization of Mining Wastes with Clay and Chemicals.  Expected to graduate December 2001.  (Co-Major Advisor with Dr. Donald Hayes).

James Schubach.  Is working on the project titled "Cohesionless Soil and Small Discontinuous Reinforcing Elements in Composite Engineering Material" is expected to receive his degree by December 2001.

Chang-Lin Hsu.  M.S. degree award August 2000.  His thesis is titled "Uplift Capacity of Geopier Foundations." 

Curtis Cook.  Successfully defended in July 2000 his M.S. thesis titled "Soil-Pile-Structure Interaction of Bridge Bents Subjected to Lateral Loads."  Submitted final thesis to Thesis Editor August 2001, will officially graduate December 2001.  (Co-Major Advisor with Dr. Chris Pantelides)

Brian Warner: Began May 2001 and his thesis will be on the topic of the ultimate and residual compressive capacity of Geopier-supported foundations.  (Research Assistant on UDOT/FHWA funded project)

Gurpreet Singh: Began August 2001 and his thesis will be on the topic of ultimate and residual uplift capacity of Geopier-supported foundations (Research Assistant on UDOT/FHWA funded project)

M.E.

Brad Lauchnor.  Graduated March 1996.  His M.E. research report is titled "Influence of Pore Fluid Chemistry on Collapse of Clays"

Nick Welch.  Completed work October 1997.  His M.E. research report is titled "A Study of Foundation Embedment for Elastic and Inelastic Soil Parameters."

 

Undergraduate students involved in research

Martin Olson, Summer 2002. "Ultimate and Residual Capacity of Geopier-Supported Foundations Subjected to Compressive and Uplift Loads." (Independent Study)

Josh Anderson, Summer 2002. "Ultimate and Residual Capacity of Geopier-Supported Foundations Subjected to Compressive and Uplift Loads." (Independent Study)

Amir Mansouri, May 2001 – July 2002. "Ultimate and Residual Capacity of Geopier-Supported Foundations Subjected to Compressive and Uplift Loads." (Independent Study)

Brian Warner, May 2000 – May 2001. "Response, Analysis, and Design of Geopier Foundations and Bridge Bent Pile Foundations Subjected to Lateral, Uplift, and Compressive Loads."  (Supported as Undergraduate Research Assistant from UDOT/FHWA grant)

Jared Marsden, May 2000 – August 2000. "Response, Analysis, and Design of Geopier Foundations and Bridge Bent Pile Foundations Subjected to Lateral, Uplift, and Compressive Loads."  (Supported as Undergraduate Research Assistant from UDOT/FHWA grant)

Matt Deml, Summer and Fall 1999. "Response, Analysis, and Design of Geopier Foundations and Bridge Bent Pile Foundations Subjected to Lateral, Uplift, and Compressive Loads."  (Summer Internship from Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research Center)

Jon Hansen, May 1999 – May 2000. "Response, Analysis, and Design of Geopier Foundations and Bridge Bent Pile Foundations Subjected to Lateral, Uplift, and Compressive Loads."  (Independent Study and Undergraduate RA)

Russell Anderson, August 1999 – May 2000.  "Response, Analysis, and Design of Geopier Foundations and Bridge Bent Pile Foundations Subjected to Lateral, Uplift, and Compressive Loads."  (Undergraduate RA)

John Bignell, May 1999 – May 2000.  "Response, Analysis, and Design of Geopier Foundations and Bridge Bent Pile Foundations Subjected to Lateral, Uplift, and Compressive Loads."  (Independent Study)

Rick Clayton, Summer 1999.  "Response, Analysis, and Design of Geopier Foundations and Bridge Bent Pile Foundations Subjected to Lateral, Uplift, and Compressive Loads."  (Independent Study)

Brent Sanders, Summer 1999.  "Response, Analysis, and Design of Geopier Foundations and Bridge Bent Pile Foundations Subjected to Lateral, Uplift, and Compressive Loads."  (Independent Study)

Rehnuma Rahman, September 1998 – March 1999.  "Response, Analysis, and Design of Pile Foundations and Granular-Column Reinforced Shallow Foundations Subjected to Compressive, Uplift, and Lateral Loads."  (NSF REU Stipend)

Robert Haight, Summer 1998, , "Response, Analysis, and Design of Pile Foundations and Granular-Column Reinforced Shallow Foundations Subjected to Compressive, Uplift, and Lateral Loads."  (Independent Study)

Chang-Lin Hsu, March 1998 – August 1998, "Response, Analysis, and Design of Pile Foundations and Granular-Column Reinforced Shallow Foundations Subjected to Compressive, Uplift, and Lateral Loads."  (Independent Study plus NSF REU Stipend)

David Plehn, March 1998 – June 1998, "Response, Analysis, and Design of Pile Foundations and Granular-Column Reinforced Shallow Foundations Subjected to Compressive, Uplift, and Lateral Loads."  (Independent Study plus NSF REU Stipend)

Ed Pezeshki, March 1998 – June 1998, "Response, Analysis, and Design of Pile Foundations and Granular-Column Reinforced Shallow Foundations Subjected to Compressive, Uplift, and Lateral Loads."  (Independent Study)

Jared Hanks, November 1996 – March 1997, "Cohesionless Soil and Small Discontinuous Reinforcing Elements in Composite Engineering Material."  (NSF REU Stipend)

Dan Lattin, September 1994 -December 1994, "Stabilization of Mining Wastes with Clay and Chemicals." (Undergraduate Research Assistant plus independent study)

Kimberley Robinson, June 1994 - September 1994, "Improvement of Subsoils for Support of Pavements Using a Grid of Stabilized Granular Columns."  (Undergraduate Research Assistant plus independent study)

Christopher Hale, February 1994 - May 1994, "Improvement of Subsoils for Support of Pavements Using a Grid of Stabilized Granular Columns."  (NSF REU Stipend)

Richard Seelos, April 1994 - July 1994, "Cohesionless Soil and Small Discontinuous Reinforcing Elements in Composite Engineering Material."  (NSF REU Stipend)

Carl Hall, September 1993 - March 1994, "One-Dimensional and Multi-Dimensional Stress State Analyses of Wetting-Induced Collapse in Unsaturated Soils."  (NSF REU Stipend)

Craig Larson, April 1992 - June 1993, "One-Dimensional and Multi-Dimensional Stress State Analyses of Wetting-Induced Collapse in Unsaturated Soils."  (NSF REU Stipend)

Yuanet Perez, February 1991 -June 1991, "One-Dimensional and Multi-Dimensional Stress State Analyses of Wetting-Induced Collapse in Unsaturated Soils."  (NSF REU Stipend)

Alice Bravo, - February 1991 - June 1991, "One-Dimensional and Multi-Dimensional Stress State Analyses of Wetting-Induced Collapse in Unsaturated Soils."  (NSF REU Stipend)

Susanne Scott, March 1990 - April 1991, "One-Dimensional and Multi-Dimensional Stress State Analyses of Wetting-Induced Collapse in Unsaturated Soils."  (unfunded preliminary research as independent study)

Frank Guyamier, June 1990 - April 1991, "Reinforcement of Cohesionless Soils with Randomly Mixed Plastic Elements."  (unfunded preliminary research)

Scott Fiske, February 1990 - August 1990, "One-Dimensional and Multi-Dimensional Stress State Analyses of Wetting-Induced Collapse in Unsaturated Soils."  (unfunded preliminary research as independent study)

Alain Carles, September 1989 - December 1989, "One-Dimensional and Multi-Dimensional Stress State Analyses of Wetting-Induced Collapse in Unsaturated Soils."  (unfunded preliminary research)

Lisa Tamayo, February 1989 - May 1989, "One-Dimensional and Multi-Dimensional Stress State Analyses of Wetting-Induced Collapse in Unsaturated Soils."  (unfunded preliminary research as independent study)