Department of Civil Engineering

Professor James McDonald, Chairperson.

Horn Professor Mehta; Professors Borrelli, Fedler, Gregory, Kiesling, Norville, J. Smith, Sweazy, Urban, and Vallabhan; Associate Professors Burkett, Rainwater, Ramsey, Thompson, and Vann; Assistant Professors Akram, Darwish, Jackson, Jayawickrama, Mollhagen, Senadheera, and D. Smith; Lecturers Elms, Letchford, and Phelan; Adjunct Faculty: Minor.

This department offers study in the following graduate degree programs: CIVIL ENGINEERING, Master of Science in Civil Engineering and Doctor of Philosophy; ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING, Master of Environmental Engineering; ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT, Master of Science in Environmental Technology Management.

For the master's and doctoral degrees in civil engineering, the student may choose one or more of several areas of specialization including environmental engineering, water resources engineering, structural engineering, wind engineering, engineering mechanics, geoenvironmental engineering, and geotechnical engineering.

Students with a baccalaureate degree in engineering may enter the graduate program by having their entrance credentials evaluated by both the Graduate Dean and the department. For applicants with a baccalaureate degree in science or mathematics, certain leveling courses in engineering normally are required. Persons desiring to enter the graduate program in civil engineering should consult with a graduate advisor.

Two general plans of study are available for the Master of Science degree: a 30-hour plan (which includes 6 hours credit for the master's thesis) and a 36-hour plan (which includes 3 hours credit for the master's report). The decision on which plan to follow is made jointly by the student and faculty advisor.

The master's degree in environmental engineering is an ABET accredited freshman-to-master's degree program specializing in environmental engineering. It is a design-oriented program that culminates in a comprehensive design problem rather than a research-oriented thesis.

Students choosing the master's program in environmental technology management may choose one or more of six areas of specialization: environmental technology management, land quality, water quality, hazardous and toxic waste, solid waste, and air quality. Course selection will be from several engineering and science disciplines. Certain leveling courses may be required for students entering the environmental technology and management program with a baccalaureate degree in science, mathematics, or technology. For acceptance into the degree program, students must have their entrance credentials evaluated by both the Graduate Dean and the department. The required undergraduate course prerequisites are MATH 1351, 2350, BIOL 1403, CHEM 1307 & 1107, 1308 & 1108, and ECO 2301 or their equivalents. In addition, students should have the computer skills necessary to do the analytical work required in the program.

All graduate students are required to register for CE 5101, each long semester unless exempted by the chairperson. Seminar courses do not count toward fulfilling credit hour requirements for the master's and doctoral programs.

Courses in Civil Engineering. (CE)

5101. Civil Engineering Seminar (1:1:0). Individual study of engineering problems of special interest and value to the student.

5310. Numerical Methods in Engineering (3:3:0). Prerequisite: MATH 3350 or consent of instructor. Numerical techniques for the formulation and solution of discrete and continuous systems of equilibrium, eigenvalue and propagation problems.

5311. Advanced Mechanics of Solids (3:3:0). Stress and strain at a point; theories of failure; unsymmetrical bending; curved flexural members; beams on continuous support; experimental and energy methods.

5313. Theory of Elastic Stability (3:3:0). Theory of the conditions governing the stability of structural members and determination of critical loads for various types of members and structural systems.

5314. Theory of Plates and Shells (3:3:0). Stress analysis of plates and shells of various shapes; small and large deflection theory of plates; membrane analysis of shells; general theory of shells.

5316. Theory of Elasticity (3:3:0). Analysis of stress and strain; equilibrium and compatibility equations; plane stress, plane strain, and axisymmetric problems; torsion of noncircular shafts; finite difference and finite element models; energy principles.

5317. Boundary Element Method (3:3:0). Integral transformations. Potential problems in two and three dimensions, two and three dimensional problems in elastostatics, coupling of boundary and finite element methods.

5318. Finite Element Methods in Continuum Mechanics (3:3:0). Prerequisite: CE 5310 and 5311 or consent of instructor. Theory of the finite element method-constant strain elements; plane stress or strain for axisymmetric problems; application to plates and shells, torsion, heat transfer and seepage problems.

5319. Nonlinear Finite Element Analysis (3:3:0). Nonlinear behavior of solids, geometric and material nonlinearities, Lagrangian and updated Lagrangian methods, Prandtl Reuss equations, and incremental elastic plastic analysis.

5321. Advanced Soil Engineering I (3:3:0). Prerequisite: CE 3321 or equivalent, or consent of instructor. Introduction to physio-chemical properties of soils; soil structure; soil classification; permeability; principle of effective stress; stress-deformation; stress paths and strength characteristics; partly saturated soils; advanced consolidation theory; secondary consolidation; field instrumentation.

5323. Advanced Foundation Engineering (3:3:0). Prerequisite: Computer programming skills and consent of instructor. Advanced foundation engineering theory and practice, bearing capacity, settlement analysis, piles and pile groups, drilled piers, wave equation analysis.

5324. Foundation Structures (3:2:3). Prerequisite: Computer programming and consent of instructor. Application of soil mechanics theory and structural design principles to the design of typical civil engineering foundation structures­footings, retaining walls, basement walls, slabs-on-ground, braced excavations, piles, and pile caps.

5325. Soil-Structure Interaction (3:3:0). Prerequisite: CE 5310 and 5311 or consent of instructor. Numerical methods for beam on elastic foundation; piles and pile groups; laterally-loaded piers; slab on elastic foundation.

5326. Analysis and Design of Earth Structures (3:3:0). Prerequisite: CE 5321 or consent of instructor. Principles of stability analysis and design as applied to earth dams, embankments, fills, cuts, and natural slopes; pore pressure considerations; initial and long-term stability.

5327. Geotechnical Practice for Waste Disposal (3:3:0). Review of government regulations; risk assessment; site investigation techniques; design and installation of land fills; land treatment; toxic waste handling.

5331. Advanced Work in Specific Fields (3). Nature of course depends on the student's interest and needs. May be repeated for credit.

5333. Advanced Work in Water Resources (3). Individual studies in advanced water resources. May be repeated for credit.

5340. Advanced Structural Analysis I (3:3:0). Prerequisite: Proficiency in basic structural analysis techniques and computer programming. Fundamentals and applications of modern methods of structural analyses using computers.

5342. Advanced Design of Steel Structures (3:3:0). Prerequisite: CE 4342 or consent of instructor. Advanced design structures, utilizing LRFD design concepts.

5343. Advanced Reinforced Concrete Design (3:3:0). Prerequisite: CE 4343 or consent of instructor. Understanding advanced concrete design concepts and discussion of new concrete material technology.

5344. Advanced Design of Timber Structures (3:3:0). Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. Advanced design of timber components and systems by ASD methods and introduction to LRFD design concepts.

5346. Structural Dynamics I (3:3:0). Dynamic response of single and multidegree of freedom systems; modal analysis of lumped and continuous mass systems.

5347. Structural Dynamics II (3:3:0). Prerequisite: C E 5346 or consent of instructor. Design consideration for structures subjected to time-varying forces including earthquake, wind, and blast loads.

5348. Wind Engineering (3:3:0). Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. Understanding the nature of wind related to wind-structure interaction, and wind loads on structures. Design loads for extreme winds, tornadoes, and hurricanes.

5351. Advanced Pavement Materials (3:3:0). Materials science, characterization, test methods, mix design, specifications and performance of pavement materials including aggregates, bituminous materials, and portland cement concrete.

5352. Advanced Pavement Design (3:3:0). Analysis and design of flexible and rigid pavements; pavement type selection; loading; failure criteria and reliability; mechanistic pavement design; design exercises using existing methods.

5353. Pavement Management Systems (3:3:0). Pavement distresses and evaluation, nondestructive testing, back-calculation of layer moduli, pavement performance models, pavement maintenance, rehabilitation, pavement management concepts, existing pavement management systems.

5360. Open Channel Hydraulics (3:3:0). Channel geometry and parameters. Uniform and varied flow.

5361. Surface Water Hydrology (3:3:0). Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. Advanced study of hydrolic cycle: hydrolic abstractions (evaporation and detention storage), surface runoff mechanisms, data analysis, hydrographs, separation, runoff routing, and frequency analysis.

5362. Surface Water Modeling (3:3:0). Prerequisite: CE 5361 and consent of instructor. Theory and application of one-dimensional hydrodynamics models. Theory and application of watershed models.

5363. Groundwater Hydrology (3:3:0). Prerequisite: Consent of instructor and computer programming skills. Study of sources and fates of contamination in groundwater. Mathematical modeling of reactive and nonreactive pollutant movement. Aquifer restoration strategy.

5364. Groundwater Transport Phenomena (3:3:0). Prerequisite: Consent of instructor, computer programming skills. Study of sources and fates of contamination in groundwater. Mathematical modeling of reactive and nonreactive pollutant movement. Aquifer restoration strategies.

5365. Storm Water Management and Erosion Control Theory (3:3:0). Theory and concepts of soil erosion are studied to develop predictive models related to storm runoff, including development of plans to reduce damage from storm events.

5366. Water Resources Management (3:3:0). Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. Models and other technical elements of water resources systems in context of the political, social, and other environments in which they exist.

5383. Bioremediation of Wastes in Soil Systems (3:3:0). Factors impacting microbiological treatment of organic wastes in surface and subsurface soil environments will be examined for implications in system design and operation.

5390. Water and Wastewater Analysis (3:1:6). Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. Laboratory procedures for the physical, chemical, and biological examination of water, wastewater, and hazardous wastes. Interpretation of water quality data.

5391. Advanced Water Treatment (3:3:0). Prerequisite: C E or ENVE 3309 or consent of instructor. Water chemistry and microbiology; design procedures for municipal water treatment; advanced methods for quality control, renovation, and reuse.

5392. Conventional Wastewater Treatment Systems (3:3:0). Prerequisite: C E or ENVE 4309 or consent of instructor. Municipal wastewater treatment methods including suspended and attached growth biological systems, nitrification and denitrification, sludge stabilization, treated effluent and sludge disposal.

5393. Unit Processes Laboratory (3:0:9). Prerequisite: CE 5392. Operation and evaluation of water and wastewater treatment units for water quality control.

5394. Natural Systems for Wastewater Treatment (3:3:0). Examination of tertiary systems for municipal wastewater; natural systems (land application, wetlands, and aquaculture) and modular facilities incorporating unit operations, biological, and chemical processes.

5395. Solid and Hazardous Waste Treatment (3:3:0). Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. Treatment and disposal of municipal and industrial solid and hazardous wastes.

5396. Environmental Impact Analysis (3:3:0). Interdisciplinary approach to environmental analysis stemming from the National Environmental Policy Act; elements of impact-analysis and assessment methodologies.

5397. Limnological Aspects of Environmental Engineering (3:2:3). Study of the biological phenomena and physical, chemical interactions that occur in fresh and marine surface waters with emphasis on water pollution control including water quality hazard assessment techniques.

5398. Risk Management and Public Policy (3:3:0). Methods and principles of risk assessment will be examined. Incorporation of these findings into practical risk management programs meeting current policy requirements will be discussed.

6000. Master's Thesis (V1-6).

6330. Master's Report (3).

7000. Research (V1-12).

8000. Doctor's Dissertation (V1-12).

Courses in Environmental Engineering. (ENVE)

5302. Environmental Hygiene Engineering and Control (3:3:0). Human physiology and toxicology with relationships to epidemiology and occupational diseases. Emphasis placed on engineering control to assure compliance with control regulations.

5303. Design of Air Pollution Control Systems (3:3:0). Engineering analysis procedures techniques for the selection, application, and operation of air pollution control methods in various operational situations.

5304. Environmental Law and Policies (3:3:0). The legal structure (laws impacting water and air quality and solid-hazardous waste management) to control and manage the use of the environment is examined.

5305, 5306. Environmental Systems Design I, II (3:2:3 each). Student teams evaluate a waste problem, select and develop a treatment alternative in a feasibility study, and then finalize their design selections in technical memorandums.

5310. Principles of Environmental Technology and Management (3:3:0). The magnitude and impacts of the different waste streams produced by man and his activities on the various components of the environment will be examined.

5311. Environmental Systems Models and Information Reporting (3:3:0). Research report will be prepared on the modeling of an environmental system of process. Course stresses the research report as well as modeling techniques.


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LAST UPDATE: 3-9-01