Geotechnical/Pavements
General Admission Requirements
A student admitted to enrollment in graduate study in Geotechnical and Pavement Engineering normally has, as a minimum, an undergraduate degree in Civil Engineering and must meet the competitive Graduate School admission requirements. Initial correspondence concerning admission should be addressed to the Graduate School, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742. The application material may be obtained from the CEE web site or by mail. The applications packet from the Graduate School provides information on application procedures and deadlines. Applicants applying for financial assistance are advised that early application increases the chances for receiving financial aid from the University, but applicants are also urged to search out the full range of fellowships and cooperatives support arrangements that can provide support for studies from sources outside the university.
The application deadline for foreign students is considerably before the intended beginning of studies. It is extremely important for these students to comply strictly with all admission requirements noted in the Graduate School Admission Booklet. If these are not followed precisely, undue delays in processing will occur. Questions concerning criteria and requirements for foreign applicants should be addressed to the Director, International Education Services, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742.
Students not having a Civil Engineering undergraduate degree may be admitted to the Geotechnical, Pavements and Materials program but will be considered on a case by case basis. As a general rule, successful completion of several undergraduate Civil Engineering courses will be required as suitable background for graduate level engineering courses in the program before graduate study may begin for such students. Under no circumstance will these undergraduate courses be applicable toward either the M.S. or the Ph.D. program.
Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science
A minimum of thirty semester hours, with a minimum average grade of "B" in courses approved for graduate credit, is required for the degree of M.S. in Civil Engineering. All requirements for the degree must be completed within a five-year period. Students may transfer up to six credit hours of approved courses that have not been used toward another degree from another university. Students pursuing the MSCE degree in the Geotechnical and Materials Engineering program may do so by selecting one of three options. These options are: (1)-full time - thesis option, (2) full time - non-thesis option, and (3) part-time. In general, students with research assistantships enroll under the full time - thesis option. The non-thesis option is usually reserved for students receiving no financial aid through University research contracts and for part time students who typically are employed by outside agencies and enrolled in graduate course work for a limited number of hours per semester. While students are encouraged to attend the program on full time status, some graduate courses are offered in the evening, early morning, or late afternoon to accommodate part time students. However, those enrolled in this option should recognize that some required courses may only be offered during the day and/or late afternoon, necessitating prior arrangements with their employers to attend these courses.
THESIS OPTION
In the thesis option, the student takes six credit hours of thesis research toward the thirty hours required. Of the remaining twenty-four hours, no fewer than twelve must be selected from courses in the major subject as outlined on page 9. The remaining twelve credit hours may be chosen from other courses offered either by the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering or outside the Department provided they are at least 400 level, and meet the approval of both the student's major advisor and the Graduate School to constitute a unified program of study. A minimum grade average of B must be maintained throughout the program. In addition, the Master's thesis must be defended before a committee appointed by the Graduate School and all other current Graduate School requirements must be met.
NON-THESIS OPTION
In the non-thesis option, a minimum of eighteen credit hours must be selected from the geotechnical and materials engineering courses listed on page 9. The remaining twelve credit hours may be chosen from other courses offered either by the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering or outside the Department provided they are at least 400 level, and meet the approval of both the student's advisor and the Graduate School to constitute a unified program of study. A minimum grade average of B must be maintained throughout the program. As for the thesis option, the program must meet the approval of both the student's major advisor and the Graduate School to constitute a unified program of study. A scholarly paper, described below, must also be prepared by the student supervised by the student's advisor; no credit hours are awarded for that paper. All other current Graduate School requirements must be met.
The purpose of the scholarly paper associated with the non-thesis option is to reflect the student's competence, advanced standing and ability to do independent, critical work. The topic of the scholarly paper must be selected at least the semester before the expected date of graduation and must meet the approval of the major advisor. Four typed copies of the paper must be given to the major professor no later than three weeks prior to the expected graduation date.
Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy
The Ph.D. program in Civil Engineering is intended for students who are interested in developing the rigorous critical facilities associated with research that are necessary primarily, but not exclusively, for research and teaching careers. Hence, the emphasis in the program is on developing and demonstrating the ability to do original research in Civil Engineering.
ADMISSION TO THE Ph.D. PROGRAM
Students are encouraged to apply to the Ph.D. program in Civil Engineering if they have received an M.S. degree in Engineering or related fields. If their previous education is not in engineering or closely related fields, students are encouraged to consult with the appropriate specialty group faculty before they apply. After consultation with the appropriate specialty group faculty and the Civil Engineering Director of Graduate Studies, the Civil Engineering Chairperson may recommend to the Graduate School that an applicant be admitted. The Dean of Graduate Studies and Research makes the final admission decision.
A grade point average of 3.5 on a scale of 4.0 maximum in the preceding M.S. academic program is expected for Ph.D. applicants. Provisional admission may be granted to an applicant whose previous work is deficient in content, but is adequate with respect to the quality of the applicant's performance.
The Civil Engineering Department includes the following six areas of concentration: Structures, Construction Management, Environmental, Geotechnical and Materials, Transportation, and Water Resources. Each of these groups offers a doctoral program. All Ph.D. applicants must state on their admission application the specialty in which they are interested, and their admission will be applicable only to that group. If a student later wishes to switch to another specialty group, the faculty of the new group will consult with the faculty of the original group, review the original admission application and make an independent decision before a change may be made.
A student previously admitted to the Master's degree program, who wishes to continue studies toward the Ph.D. degree, must submit an application to the Graduate School requesting admission to the Ph.D. program. With the concurrence of the appropriate specialty group, the Chairperson may approve the request and will then forward it to the Dean of Graduate Studies and Research for approval. If the request is not approved, the student may be permitted to take courses in Civil Engineering only as a special student, after completion of the master's degree.
Admission to the Ph.D. program does not constitute admission to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree. Certain requirements must be satisfied before admission to candidacy will be granted. These are discussed in the following sections.
Requirements for the Ph.D. Degree
In order to qualify for the Ph.D. degree, the student must accomplish the following:
- a) Complete a program of course work approved by the student's academic advisor. In some areas of concentration, an advisory committee rather than one advisor must approve a student's program. Register for and complete at least 12 dissertation research credits. Maintain a grade point average of 3.5 or better.
- b) Pass a Ph.D. qualifying examination.
- c) Submit a Ph.D. dissertation for review by the Dissertation Committee.
- d) Pass an oral doctoral examination in defense of the dissertation.
- e) Satisfy all other current graduate school requirements.
All requirements for the Ph.D. degree must be completed within four years from the end of the semester in which the student passes the Ph.D. qualifying examination. The student must be registered for at least one credit hour during the final semester in which the degree is awarded.
1. Course Work
The course work program typically consists of at least 18 credit hours of courses beyond those required for the M.S. degree. Courses taken at schools other than the University of Maryland may be included in the program, subject to approval by the student's advisor or advisory committee. It is also recommended that each student complete at least 9 credit hours in a minor field. These hours shall be in related courses but need not necessarily be offered in a single department.
2. The Ph.D. Qualifying Examination
In order to be admitted formally to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree, the student must pass the Qualifying Examination. The student must complete all requirements for admission to candidacy at least two semesters prior to taking the final Doctoral Examination in defense of the dissertation.
The Qualifying Examination consists of a written exam. The length of the written exams will be determined by the specialty groups. The student in consultation with his or her academic advisor will decide when the Qualifying Examination may be taken. The majority of the course work must be completed prior to the examination.
The specialty group will select the members of the Examining Committee, subject to approval of the Civil Engineering Department Chairperson. For the written examination, the Examining Committee will be composed of four or more members of the Civil Engineering Department. For the oral defense of the dissertation proposal, the Examining Committee will be supplemented by the remaining members of the Ph.D. Dissertation Committee including at least one regular member of the UMCP Graduate Faculty from outside the Civil Engineering Department. The examination will cover material mainly related to the student's course work and research. A student passing the qualifying examination will be eligible for admission to candidacy. The chairperson of the Examining Committee will inform the student and the Civil Engineering Chairperson in writing concerning the results of the examination.
3. The Ph.D. Dissertation
The student is urged to select a dissertation topic and obtain the assistance of a dissertation advisor as early as possible after admission to the Ph.D. program. An oral exam of the proposed dissertation topic is the next step in this process. The selection of an advisor would be based upon interests and program objectives as well as consultation with the specialty group faculty. The Dissertation Committee will consist of at least five members, including the Dissertation Advisor. The latter will nominate the other members. At least five of the members must hold a doctoral degree, at least three must be regular members of the UM graduate faculty, and at least one of the last three must be from outside the Civil Engineering Department. The entire committee must be approved by the Civil Engineering Chairperson and by the Graduate School.
The Dissertation Committee will have responsibility for the supervision of the student's progress in performing the necessary research and preparation of the dissertation. This committee will make the final decision concerning the acceptance of the completed dissertation. The completed dissertation will be prepared and submitted in accordance with the requirements of the Manual for Graduate Theses, available from the College of Graduate Studies and Research.
Work on the dissertation may commence at any time. However, all requirements for admission to candidacy must be completed at least two semesters prior to the examination in defense of the dissertation. In the event that a student fails to gain admission to candidacy, the Ph.D. degree will not be awarded, regardless of progress on the dissertation.
Ordinarily, the dissertation research should be conducted on the campus of the University of Maryland with a dissertation advisor who is a member of the faculty of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. In cases where it is deemed to be justified, other arrangements may be made, subject to the approval of the Civil Engineering chairperson and the Dean of Graduate Studies and Research.
4. The Doctoral Examination.
If the Dissertation Committee finds the dissertation to be satisfactory, the student will be called for the final oral doctoral examination covering the subject matter of the dissertation and the student's program area. The doctoral examination must be given not earlier than two semesters after the student completes all requirements for admission to candidacy, and the student must be registered for at least one credit hour during the semester in which the final oral examination is given. The examination will be conducted by the Dissertation Committee, subject to the approval of the Civil Engineering chairperson and the Dean of Graduate Studies and Research. A majority vote with no more than one dissenting vote or abstention will be required to pass the examination.
A notice of the doctoral examination including time and place will be sent to all Civil Engineering faculty members. The examination will be open to interested faculty, staff, and students. The student will be responsible for adequate advertising of the examination.
Results of the doctoral examination will be reported in writing to the student, the chairperson of Civil Engineering and the Dean of Graduate Studies and Research by the chairperson of the Dissertation Committee. In the case of a failure on the final oral examination, one additional examination will be permitted, if recommended by the Dissertation Committee. The second examination will be scheduled at a time set by the Dissertation Committee, but within one year of the first attempt.
Areas of Research Activity
To date, a wide variety of technical topics have been researched within the Geotechnical and Materials Engineering area. In order to provide the potential applicant with some idea of the range of these studies, a general list of research interests of the faculty is provided below.
Soil Properties and Behavior (Aggour, Aydelik, Goodings)
• Expansive soils.
• Centrifuge modelling of soils.
• Characterization of unsaturated soil strength.
• High gradient seepage through soil.
• Grain size effects in soil strength measurement.
• Characteristics of dredged materials.
Earth Retaining Structures (Aggour)
• Effects of compaction on retaining walls.
• Reinforced soil retaining wall-strip and geotextile.
• Tieback systems.
Geomechanics (Aydelik, Schwartz)
• Computational mechanics (e.g., finite element, boundary element, • coupled boundary element-finite element techniques)
• Dynamic/non-linear fracture mechanics.
• Unsaturated groundwater flow analysis.
• Constitutive modeling for geomaterials
• Image analysis applications in geotechnical engineering.
Highway and Airfield Pavement Engineering (Goulias, Schwartz)
• Design of layered pavement systems
• Nondestructive field evaluation of pavements
• Pavement deterioration modeling
• Pavement management systems (project/network analysis).
• Pavement rehabilitation methodologies.
Materials Characterization/Behavior (Goulias, Schwartz)
• Characterization of pavement materials (bituminous, cement stabilized, granular, soils).
• Advanced constitutive model formulation and calibration
• Rational asphalt mix design.
• Fatigue of stabilized materials.
• Repeated load-permanent deformation behavior for asphalt concrete and unbound materials.
• Aggregate, Mortars and Portland Cement Concrete evaluation.
• Maturity, Fatigue, Shrinkage and Durability Modeling of Concrete Materials
• Design and Performance of Low Shrinkage, Fiber Reinforced, High Fly Ash Volume and High Performance Concrete.
Foundations (Aggour)
• Piles under static and dynamic loading.
• Settlement of footing on residual soils.
• Soil provisions for approaches to bridges.
• Settlement of bridge.
• Disposal of utility wastes.
• Soil improvements.
• Compaction grouting.
Dynamics (Aggour, Goodings)
• Dynamic moduli characterization.
• Cratering in soils.
• Lunar soil excavation.
• Machine foundations.
Earthquake Engineering (Aggour)
• Soil response under random loads.
• Dynamic earth pressure.
• Damping of soils and structures.
• Liquefaction of soils.
• Soil-structure interaction.
• Time effect on dynamic soil properties.
• Effect of loading type on dynamic soil properties.
• Specimen size effects in simple shear testing.
Nondestructive Evaluation (Aggour, Goulias)
• Nondestructive testing of foundation.
• Non Destructive testing of Concrete and Composites
• Ultrasonic testing of timber piles.
• Instrumentation for NDT evaluations.
Geoenvironmental Engineering (Aydelik)
• Design of waste containment systems.
• Soil remediation and stabilization.
• Geosynthetics.
• Beneficial re-use of industrial by-products.
• Waste materials in construction.
A wide variety of graduate level courses are offered on a permanent basis in the geotechnical and materials and supporting areas to afford a Master's or Ph.D. applicant a highly versatile and flexible plan of study to meet his or her particular interests. Because of the extreme importance of a well balanced academic program, a plan of study is individually formulated by each student with his or her faculty advisor. Within the geotechnical and materials area, several concentrations exist that may easily be developed.
Geotechnical and Materials Course Descriptions
The following is a list of present course offerings and a brief course abstract for Geotechnical and Material courses.
ENCE 441 -FOUNDATION DESIGN (3)Critical review of classical lateral earth pressure theories, analysis of retaining walls and reinforced earth walls, subsurface explorations, bearing capacity and settlement of shallow foundations, design of deep foundations that includes both pile foundations and drilled shafts.
ENCE 444 – LABORATORY CHARACTERIZATION OF GEOMATERIALS (3)
Review of major soil tests and their interpretation for engineering purposes. Engineering classification tests (Atterberg limits and grain size distribution), permeability, in-situ and lab density-moisture test, soil strength (CBR, unconfined compression, direct shear test and triaxial) and compressibility characteristics.
ENCE 447 - PAVEMENT ENGINEERING (3)
Fundamental principles underlying the design, construction, maintenance and repair, and management of highway and airfield pavement systems. Pavement performance (functional/structural; elevation); pavement mechanics (multi-layered elastic theory; slab theory); pavement materials (properties and characterization); environmental effects; current rigid and flexible design methods (new/rehabilitation); construction (new construction; maintenance/repair; rehabilitation); economic evaluation; pavement management.
ENCE 640 - ADVANCED SOIL MECHANICS (3)
Introduction to the use of elastic theory in stress and displacement solutions to geotechnical engineering (soil and rock mechanics). Classical settlement (consolidation) and compressibility theories, including finite difference solution for vertical and radial drainage.
ENCE 641 - ADVANCED FOUNDATION SYSTEMS (3)
Review of soil properties and subsurface exploration, evaluation and design of shallow foundations, including settlement and bearing capacity of spread footings and mats. Discussion of methods of soil improvement. Analysis and design of deep foundations including single pile, pile load testing, pile group actions, and drilled shaft foundation for both vertical and horizontal loads. Load and resistance factor design concepts applied to these systems.
ENCE 643 - THEORY OF SOIL STRENGTH (3)
Shear strength of cohesive and cohesionless soils is analyzed using the Critical State Soil Mechanics theory of soil strength. Conventional laboratory strength tests and Mohr-Coulomb representation of soil strength are also discussed, ending with recommended design parameters.
ENCE 644- ADVANCED PAVEMENT AND CIVIL ENGINEERING MATERIALS (3)
Dynamic material characterization. Elastic, plastic and viscoelastic behavior, energy analysis. Physical and mechanical properties, NDT. Performance analysis such creep, fatigue, and durability. Recent developments in aggregate evaluation. Portland cement concrete, high performance concrete, conventional and modifield asphalt binders and mixture. Polymers and composites, geotextiles, smart and self-healing materials, recycled and reclaimed materials.
ENCE 645- GEOTECHNICS OF WASTE DISPOSAL (3)
Fundamental aspects of geotechnical engineering that apply to problems of waste containment and remediation, basic principles of containment systems, compacted clay liners and clay mineralogy, hydraulic conductivity of compacted soils, methods of laboratory and field hydraulic conductivity measurements, design of waste containment systems, landfill settlement, geosynthetic liners, waste compatibility, contaminant transport through liners, leachate collection systems, gas collection systems, covers and caps.
ENCE 646- GEOSYNTHETICS ENGINEERING (3)
Use of geosynthetics in geotechnical and geoenviromental construction, evaluation of fundamental, long lasting principles related to the geosynthetics that can be employed in the design, design methodologies with geosynthetics, discussion of properties and behavior of geosynthetics in a laboratory setting, measurement and quantification of geomechanical and hydraulic behavior of various geosynthetics.
ENCE 647 – SLOPE STABILITY AND SEEPAGE (3)
Theoretical and practical aspects of seepage effects, and groundwater flow, review of shear strength principles, flow through porous media, hydraulic conductivity, flow nets, determination of water pressure, seepage forces and quantity of seepage, laboratory and field tests for shear strength, infinite slopes, block analysis, method of slices, seismic analysis of slopes, effective and total stress analysis, computer program for slope stability analysis, slope stability problems in waste disposal, construction excavations, reinforced embankments, embankments on soft ground.
ENCE 740 - COMPUTATIONAL GEOMECHANICS (3)
In-depth treatment of standard numerical analysis techniques for stress analysis and fluid flow problems in geomechanics. Emphasis on the underlying theoretical formulations, practical applications, and potential pitfalls in each numerical technique. A variety of realistic geomechanics problems is solved using student-developed and existing computer programs.
ENCE741 – EARTH RETAINING STRUCTURES (3)
Introduction to types and uses of earth retaining structures, and lateral earth pressure concepts and theories. Analysis and design of retaining walls and shoring structures and their bracing systems. These include retaining walls, mechanically stabilized earth walls, cantilever and anchored sheet piling, cellular cofferdams, braced cuts, soil nailing, and the design of tiebacks and anchors. Load and resistance factor design concepts applied to these systems.
ENCE742 - EMBANKMENT DAM DESIGN (3)
An overview of embankment dam engineering, including: planning; design (basic design requirements; typical cross-sections; seepage control; embankment stability; freeboard and riprap); construction considerations; surveillance, safety and maintenance; and special dams (small dams; rockfill dams; mine waste; dams in cold climates). Speakers from engineering practice are included in the lecture series.
ENCE 743- SOIL DYNAMICS AND EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING (3)
Review of theory of vibration and wave propagation in elastic media. Field and laboratory methods for determining dynamic soil properties. Analysis and design of soil-foundation systems subjected to machinery generated vibrations and methods of foundation isolation. Earthquake causes, magnitude and intensity, seismic hazard evaluation, NEHRP site classification, site response analyses and ground motion amplification, liquefaction and response of earth structures.
ENCE 744- QA/QC AND SPECIFICATIONS FOR HIGHWAY MATERIALS (3)
Factorial Experiments and Analysis. Materials, Variability Components: Inherent and Testing Variability. Quality, Control/ Quality Assurance: Analysis Methods, Assurance Plans and Components. Specifications for Asphalt and Concrete Materials: Method, End-Result, Performance Based. Life Cycle Analysis and Performance Modeling Techniques. Use of Advanced Statistical Analysis for Material Properties Monitoring and Performance Predictions: ANOVA, Time Series, Spatial Data Analysis. Advanced Highway Materials including Polymer Modified and High Performance Asphalt and Concrete
ENCE 745- GEOENVIROMENTAL SITE REMEDIATION (3)
Analysis of various techniques for remediation of contaminated media, applicable regulations and methods of field reconnaissance, invasive and non-invasive methods of site characterization, geophysical techniques, geoenvironmental monitoring, monitoring in the unsaturated zone, vertical cut-off walls, caps, soil vapor extraction systems, air sparging, permeable reactive walls, waste stabilization and solidification systems, electro-kinetic remediation.
ENCE 747 – INFRASTRUCTURE AND PAVEMENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS (3)
Pavement and infrastructure management, system engineering. Condition evaluation and rating, non-destructive methods, performance evaluation and modeling, economic analysis, cost and benefits. Pavement management systems (PMS): overview, a framework for system design, project and network PMS, pavement condition and SHRP surveys, costs and benefits of improved levels of pavement management, PMS case studies. Use of geographic information systems (GIS), system concepts applied to design. Implementation of maintenance management systems. Bridge management systems: inspection, rating, benefits. Building management systems: critical issues, private and public ownership, life cycle cost. Infrastructure management systems
ENCE 489 - SPECIAL PROBLEMS (1-3)
Prerequisite: Senior Standing
ENCE 688 - ADVANCED TOPICS IN CIVIL ENGINEERING
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. May be taken for repeated credit when identified by topic title.
ENCE 689 – ADVANCED INDEPENDENT STUDY
Credit in accordance with work outlined by the Department. Prerequisite: Consent of the Department of Civil Engineering.
ENCE 799 - THESIS RESEARCH (Master's level)
Credit in accordance with work done each semester, but to total over all semesters, 6 credit hours toward the total of thirty credit hours needed for the MS.
ENCE 899 - DISSERTATION RESEARCH (Doctoral level)
Teaching and Research Facilities
Excellent facilities are available within the Department of Civil Engineering for the conduct of graduate level research. The library resources available to the graduate student at the University of Maryland are among the best in the nation. The University library, with over a million volumes, is supplemented by the Library of Congress, the National Bureau of Standards Library, the National Agricultural Sciences Library, and nearly 500 other specialized libraries in the Washington area. An extensive network of computing facilities is available for research and other academic activities within the program. Primary systems range from workstations located within the Civil Engineering Department (CE Design Lab) to centralized mainframes and supercomputers accessible through the University's Computer Science Center.
The Geotechnical / Pavement Engineering group has extensive soil and pavement materials laboratories covering a wide range of routine to sophisticated, state-of-the-art dynamic loading equipment. A detail description for each lab is provided in the following links:
- Pavement Materials Lab
- Centifuge Lab
- Soil Mechanics Lab
- Geo-environmental Lab
- other facilities
Research Centers
Center for Geotechnology Centrifuge Modeling
Faculty
Dr. M. Sherif Aggour
Dr. Deborah J. Goodings
Dr. Dimitrios G. Goulias
Dr. Charles W. Schwartz
Dr. Ahmet H. Aydilek
