Teaching

My teaching goal is to 1) developing effective teaching strategies to disseminate advanced concepts in soil modeling together with the governing physical principles into graduate and undergraduate level courses; 2) retaining a diverse group of students with strong fundamentals to tackle the interdisciplinary and global challenges involving coupled multiphysical problems. 

CVEN 3708 GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING I

Fall 2018, 2019

To introduce the terminology, basic principles and theories, analytical methods and laboratory techniques in soil mechanics for geotechnical and foundation engineering. Geotechnical engineers work on problems involving soils and rocks and their interaction with structures. This is a broad field requiring the integration of analysis, critical thinking and judgment, site-specific testing, empirical evidence, and knowledge of geology. Every geotechnical project is unique and challenging because of the uncertainties involved. This course will provide the foundation for geotechnical analyses. 

CVEN 3718 GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING II

Spring 2022, 2023 

Fall 2023

To learn the fundamental principles of soil mechanics and laboratory testing. To apply them to the design of geotechnical structures, such as retaining walls, slopes, and foundations. 

CVEN 5708 SOIL MECHANICS

Fall 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023

The course focuses on the mechanical properties of soils relevant to geotechnical engineering practices. The topics covered include stress path, shear strength, compressibility, consolidation and stress-strain behavior of cohesive and cohesionless soils. Experimental techniques and field test determining these parameters will be discussed. Students will also be trained to use commercial Finite Element packages to study geotechnical engineering case histories. 

CVEN 5628 SEEPAGE AND SLOPES

Spring 2020

Fundamental principles of the seepage theory and flow nets are reviewed for saturated flow in porous media. Seepage in unsaturated soils is discussed, including the determination and selection of the unsaturated material characteristics such as suction-saturation and saturation-hydraulic conductivity relationships. The mechanics of unsaturated soils is covered. Effective stress for unsaturated soils is introduced with a review of physical processes in partially saturated pores. The shear strength criterion for unsaturated soils is then developed and compared with the saturated ones. Finally, stability analysis methods for saturated slopes are presented. The selection of shear strength parameters for stability analyses is discussed. The stability of unsaturated slopes is also discussed in the context of unsaturated soil mechanics. Both conventional methods of slices and the Finite Elements technique will be discussed in class and utilized for solving homework problems. 

CVEN 7718 ENGINEERING PROPERTIES OF SOILS

Spring 2018, 2019, 2023

The course covers the theoretical aspects of soil mechanics. Topics of discussion include the basics of indicial notation, soil strength characteristics, linear/ nonlinear isotropic and anisotropic elasticity, theory of plasticity and its application on soil modeling, critical state concept and Cam-Clay model, and advanced constitutive models for soils. Poroelasticity and viscoelasticity are covered briefly at the end of the course for research-oriented students.