Major Focus Areas of Research

• Biomimetics of energy efficiencies for indoor environments

  This is an interdisciplinary theme involving the physiology expertise of biologists (including both botanists and zoologists), image analysis expertise of computer scientists, heat transfer and transport expertise of mechanical engineers, and geotechnical expertise of civil engineers. Our objective is to learn from the natural evolution of thermoregulatory behavior of human skin and plant leaves and apply that knowledge to design Geodermis, a system of natural and sustainable materials including soils and plants, for use in human-built environment to minimize energy needed for heating and cooling.

• Integrated Research and Education: Synergisitc Incorporation of Humanities in Engineering Curricula

  Partnerships with researchers from education and learning science led to NSF-funded ventures on design of geoenvironmental engineering as an interdisciplinary curriculum at Kansas State. Subsequent efforts in this focus area include development of broad engineering curricula where humanities and social sciences are presented to students, not as fragmentary principles, but as non-technical dimensions of engineering principles. Proposals submitted in this area are currently being reviewed by the NSF.

• Physicochemical and Biological Mechanisms of Pore

  Another interdisciplinary theme involving chemical engineers and biologists, this area of research focused on colloid particle transport, deposition, and re-entrainment mechanisms in porous media. The research was later extended to: i) “Facilitated transport” of contaminants in soils, ii) Piping and self-healing of cracks in levees, earthen dams, and embankments, iii) Liner behavior in waste lagoons, etc.

• Immiscible Fluid Phase Dynamics

  Started out as a simple study dealing with clean-up of contaminated sites, this research evolved into a highly interdisciplinary theme over a period of fifteen years involving collaborations with physicists, mechanical engineers, mathematicians, and computer scientists. In its latter phase, funded by NASA, this research identified the basic mechanisms of immiscible fluid (air) dynamics under micro- and zero-gravity conditions.

• Basic Research on Upscaling Using Fractals, Random Networks, and Stochastic/Uncertainty Analyses

  This theme focused on developing methods that allow upscaling of properties from micro- to lab- to field-scale using fractal systems and random networks. Another dimension of this theme was to employ First-Order Second-Moment (FOSM) methods and Kalman filters to characterize the uncertainties in predictive modeling, intrinsic uncertainties in system parameters, and modeling errors.

Extramural Funding Record

• Research Projects/Contracts
  • US-Tanzania Workshop: Uses of earth-based bricks in developing countries. 2009. Co-Principal Investigator (with Obonyo Esther and Tate D). National Science Foundation. $50,000.
  • Flow and Distribution of Fluid Phases Through Porous Plant Growth Media in Microgravity. 1999-2006. Co-Principal Investigator (with Susan Steinberg, Dani Or, Alexander Iwan, and Gerard Kluitenberg). NASA Johnson Space Center. $1 million.
  • Combined Research-Curriculum Development (CRCD) in Geoenvironmental Engineering. 2003-2006. Principal Investigator (with Steward, Bhandari, Erickson, and Hutchinson as collaborators). National Science Foundation. $407,986.
  • Community Outreach and Assistance – Links to TOSC, TOSNAC, and TAB. 2001-2006. (with Blasé Leven as Co-PI). Midwest Hazardous Substance Research Center, EPA and Purdue University. A five-year activity with a total funding of $1.5 Million.
  • Pore Fluid Dynamics in Fine-Grained Soils. Principal Investigator. 2000-2007. A seven-year project with Agricultural Experiment Station at Kansas State University. Total funding was $200,000.
  • Engineering Applications of Compost Materials. Principal Investigator. 2003-2006. A three-year project with Kansas Livestock Association and Kansas Department of Health and Environment. Total funding was $250,000.
  • Containment barriers for agricultural waste. Principal Investigator. 1997-2003. Agricultural Experiment Station, Kansas State University. $180,000.
  • Holcomb Landfill Revegetation, Liner Design, Construction, and Leachate Study. Principal Investigator. Sunflower Electric Power Corporation. $65,000.
  • Acquisition of Low-Vacuum Scanning Electron Microscope for Biological, Physical, Chemical, and Engineering Research and Training. Co-Principal Investigator (with S. Ramaswamy, George Clark, and Rob Denell). National Science Foundation (MRI Program). $176,190.
  • Evaluation of lagoons for containment of waste in Western Kansas. Co-Investigator (with J. Ham and C.W. Rice). 1999-2000. Kansas Water Office. $70,000.
  • Modeling animal waste transport through compacted clay liners. 1998-1999. Kansas Center for Agricultural Resources and Environment (KCARE). $43,000.
  • U.S.-Korea Cooperative Research: Impact of particle transport in soils on filter performance. Principal Investigator. 1998-2003. National Science Foundation. $30,057.
  • Development of soil filter design nomograms incorporating physicochemical and biological mechanisms. Principal Investigator (with L.A. Glasgow and G. Marchin as Co-Is). 1997-2000. National Science Foundation. $350,000.
  • A physicochemical and biological approach to soil filter clogging prevention in infrastructure systems. Principal Investigator (with L.A. Glasgow and G. Marchin as Co-Is). 1997-1998. Kansas Science and Technology Advanced Research (K-STAR) and National Science Foundation. $21,848.
  • Impact of colloid-associated transport of pesticides on groundwater quality. Principal Investigator. 1993-1997. Agricultural Experiment Station, Kansas State University. $100,000.
  • Evaluation of lagoons for containment of waste in Western Kansas. Co-Investigator (with J. Ham and C.W. Rice). 1998-1999. Kansas Water Office. $100,000.
  • Evaluation of lagoons for containment of waste in Western Kansas. Co-Investigator (with A.P. Schwab, J. Ham, and M.K. Banks). 1997-1998. Kansas Department of Health and Environment. $100,000.
  • Virtual Library: Transferring HSRC Research Results Through the Internet. Co-Investigator (with L. Erickson). 1996-1997. EPA Great Plains/Rocky Mountain Hazardous Substance Research Center. $37,200.
  • Boeing Cooperative Environmental Technology Transfer. Principal Investigator (with S. Grant). 1996-1997. EPA Great Plains/Rocky Mountain Hazardous Substance Research Center. $29,430.
  • Bioremediation of hazardous organic contaminants at textural interfaces in the subsoil. Co-Investigator (with M.K. Banks, C. Rice, and G. Kluitenberg). 1995-1997. Environmental Protection Agency (EPSCoR). $200,000.
  • The use of Poplar trees in remediating heavy metal contaminated sites. Co-Investigator (with Gary Pierzynski, Larry Erickson, and Larry Davis). 1992-1995. Great Plains/Rocky Mountain Hazardous Substance Research Center. $150,000.
  • Utilization and potential commercialization of waste generated in manufacturing industries of Kansas. Principal Investigator (with L.T. Fan and S.T. Chou). 1994-1996. Advanced Manufacturing Institute, Kansas State University. $32,906.
  • Modification of medical syringe as a permeability-measurement device. Principal Investigator. 1995-1996. Advanced Manufacturing Institute, Kansas State University. $35,000.
  • Vibratory phase separation of immiscible contaminants (NAPLs) in soils. Principal Investigator. 1992-1995. Research Initiation Award. National Science Foundation. $88,183.
  • Engineering Research Equipment Grant: Full-Scale facility for the experimental investigation of attenuation characteristics of Soils. Principal Investigator. 1992-1993. National Science Foundation. $33,000.
  • Development of a prototype accident mapping computer program for Kansas. Co-Investigator (with R.W. Stokes). 1992-1993. Kansas Department of Transportation. $63,578.
  • Feasibility of ultrasonic enhancement of in-situ remediation techniques. Principal Investigator (with A. Hadim as Co-I). 1992-1994. NSF Hazardous Substance Management Research Center, New Jersey Institute of Technology. $102,020.
  • A study of the efficiency of vibroflotation in in-situ phase separation of immiscible contaminants (NAPLs). Co-Investigator (with G.P. Korfiatis). 1990-1991. EPA Northeast Hazardous Substance Research Center. $57,640.
• Projects with Administrative Role, Minor Technical Role, and Travel Awards/Grants
  • Establishment of University Transportation Center at Kansas State University. Administrative role. Federal Highway Administration. $1.5 mil.
  • Technical Outreach Services for Communities (TOSC) Program, FY 2000. Administrative role with L. Erickson as the Co-PI. Environmental Protection Agency. $325,000.
  • Special Group Incentive Research Awards Program: Environmental Air Quality. Administrative role with L. Erickson and M. Hosni as the Co-PIs; 1999-2001. Kansas State University Foundation. $261,439.
  • Beneficial effects of vegetation in pollution prevention and remediation of contaminated soil and water. Cooperator (with M.K. Banks, L.C. Davis, R.S. Govindaraju, G. M. Pierzynski, A.P. Schwab, and A.L. Youngman). 1995-1997. Environmental Protection Agency (EPSCoR). $200,000.
  • Engineering Overview of a Road Recycling Machine for Portland Cement Concrete Pavement. Principal Investigator. Kansas Department of Transportation. $32,600.
  • A Planning Visit to Seoul, Korea, for Cooperative Research: Impact of Particle Transport in Soils on Filter Performance. Principal Investigator. National Science Foundation (International Programs Division). $3,800. November 1996.
  • Faculty Development Award – Travel to Sydney, Australia, for research presentations/discussions at the University of Wollongong, 1999. Kansas State University. $500.
  • Faculty Development Award – Travel to Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium, for paper presentation at the Biot Poromechanics Conference, September 1998. Kansas State University. $618.
  • Faculty Development Award - Travel to Cardiff, Wales, for paper presentation at the Geoenvironmental Conference of the British Geotechnical Society, September 1997. Kansas State University. $2,500.
  • Faculty Development Award - Travel to Osaka, Japan, for paper presentation at the Second International Congress on Environmental Geotechnics, and to Seoul, Korea, to develop a cooperative research program with Korea University, November 1996. Kansas State University. $4,482.
  • Faculty Development Award - Travel to Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, and to attend International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering, New Delhi, India, January 1994. Kansas State University. $2,680.
  • Preliminary Life Cycle Environmental Assessment (LCEA) for Anti-Traction Material (ATM). Consultant on characterization of materials and their interaction with hydraulic and mechanical properties of soils. This is part of a $1.65 million dollar project funded by the Office of Naval Research, Department of Defense (PI: Larry Erickson, with several other collaborators). Project administered through NEER (Nonlethal Environmental Evaluation Remediation) Center.