URL: http://lafayette.parameterid.com/index.php/fuseaction/research.introduction
Research Activities

Research Overview:
My research background is in application of physical and computational modelling to porous media to facilitate: 1) development of new sensing and measurement methods; 2) characterization of materials; and 3) modification of the materials for improved and predetermined response. I have utilized optimization methods for system identification and parameter estimation in both study of porous media and civil infrastructure systems.

I implemented this approach to the study of:
  • Transient coupled flow in porous media. Combining non-equilibrium thermodynamics formulations, non-destructive transient testing and parameter estimation methods.
  • Bridge health monitoring, with modeling and instrumented real-time web-based monitoring.
  • Electrokinetic remediation of hydrocarbon contaminated soils.
  • Distributed Fiber Optic sensor development for strain, temperature, moisture and vibration/impact measurements.
  • Unsaturated flow and contaminant transport in porous media.
  • Small strain material characterization by wave based methods (ultrasonic, bender element, resonant column).
  • Polymer and hydrogel swelling, coating and use for sensing.
  • Impact/ballistic characterization of viscoelastic oil-based clays.
as evident from my list of publications and submitted proposals.

My Current Research Activities:
My current research focus can be gathered in two major areas: 1) Utilization of nondestructive wave propagation and high-speed image analysis methods for material characterization; and 2) Improvement of granular material response subject to vibration for stabilization purposes.
  1. Distributed fiber optic sensor development
  2. Electrically Assisted Hydrocarbon Transport in Porous Media
  3. Polymer Kinetics and Ultrasonic Characterization
  4. Measurement of Ballistic Strains in Clay
  5. Impact characterization of visco-elastic materials
  6. Wave based material characterization
  7. Low-Frequency Wireless Characterization of Soils
  8. Liquefaction Remediation
  9. Quantification of Aging and Thixotropy of Oil-based Clay

List of Research Projects

SPONSORED RESEARCH

  • 2012 "Advanced Sensors for Body Armor Blunt Trauma Evaluation (LUBA-1)," (August 2012), CO-PI, US Department of Defense (DOD), Collaborative Proposal with Lehigh University, Lafayette Budget $159,858, under review.

  • 2012 "MRI-Acquisition of a Tri-modal brain computer interface system," (2012), NSF-MRI, Co-PI, In Review.

  • 2011-2012 "Soil Treatment with Rheological Fluids," Principal Investigator, Widener University, Provost Grant.

  • 2010-2011 "Strain Measurements in Ballistic Backing Material Using Fiber-Optic Sensors," Principal Investigator, Department of Defense, Subcontract through Lehigh University.

  • 2009-2010 "Acoustic Characterization of Frequency Dependent Elastic Properties of Hydrophilic Hydrogels," Principal Investigator, Widener University, Provost Grant.

  • 2007-2008 "Swelling Response of a Polymer as Detection Mechanism for Development of a Fiber Optic Based Chemical Sensor," Principal Investigator, Widener University, Faculty Development Award.

  • 2003-2004 "Multi-Regional Reactive Transport Due to Strong Anisotropy in Unsaturated Soils with Evolving Scales of Heterogeneity," Research Associate, DOE Solicitation: DE-FG07-02ER63512.

  • 2003-2004 "SGER: Distributed Measurement of Temperature, Moisture and Strain for Civil Engineering Applications in Subsurface," Research Faculty, Sponsor: NSF CMS-010908.

  • 2001-2003 "Development of a Model Health Monitoring Guide For Major Bridges," Research Assistant Professor/Consultant, Sponsor: FHWA.

  • 2000-2002 "Investigative Studies for Performance Evaluation and Condition Assessment of the Commodore Barry Bridge," Research Assistant Professor/Project Manager, Sponsor: Delaware River Port Authority of PA and NJ (DRPA), (Phase II).

  • 1999-2000 "Investigative Studies of Performance Evaluation and Condition Assessment of the Commodore Barry Bridge," Research Assistant Professor/Group Manager, Sponsor: Delaware River Port Authority of PA and NJ (DRPA), (Phase I).

  • 1998-1999 "Bridge Structural Identification for Condition Assessment," Research Engineer/Post Doc. Fellow, National Science Foundation CMS-9622259; in collaboration with Cincinnati, Tufts and Northeastern Universities.

  • 1997-1998 "Electroosmotically Aided Restoration of TCE Contaminated Soil," Research Engineer, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Environmental Restoration Division, Contract No. B3450123, University of California, Livermore Ca.

  • 1997-1998 "Electrochemical Extraction of Cynaide and Fluoride from Conductive Porous Media," Research Engineer, EPI, Wayne, PA.

  • 1996-1997 "Elektrokinetic Treatment Study of TCE Contaminated Porous Media," Research Engineer, Stanford Linear Accelerator Center, Menlo Park, Ca.

    • Research without support - Self-supported Research Projects: