Curriculum Development

1. 1993-94: Wrote and submitted a proposal to the faculty senate to re-vitalize and extend the undergraduate experience by developing a new course on Geotechnical Engineering Field Methods, rehabilitate existing equipment, and obtain complimentary pieces of equipment for the lab. Material in the new course provides hands-on approach to the areas associated with Geotechnical Engineering; namely: in-situ exploration and characterization of subsurface properties. Students will learn techniques for soil sampling and evaluation of in situ soil properties, installation of monitoring wells and in situ instrumentation for soil testing. In addition, students will be trained to perform in situ geotechnical and geoenvironmental site characterization and synthesize properties for the design of foundation support systems as well as the performance of environmental site assessment. Students will present their results and recommendations in the form of a consulting report. This course is devised as a capstone design course to satisfy ABET requirements. The course outline and contents were developed and the text book was identified.
2. 1993-94: Wrote and submitted a proposal to the faculty senate to revise the Earthwork Design Course to reflect the new developments in the field. The revisions included adding actual geotechnical case histories of newly developed and constructed earth systems. Computer applications and software, such as the US EPA model for waste impoundment analysis (GRADS) are included as part of the revisions. Design projects will be assigned and student teams conducting the projects will be evaluated by their peers and the instructor. This course has not been offered in the past five years. The course outline and contents were developed and the text book was identified.
3. 1993-94: CE 484- Groundwater and Seepage - Completely revised the groundwater and seepage course to include material and applications in the geoenvironmental field. Introduced the concepts applicable to waste migration and siting of landfills in addition to seepage through dams. The course included teaching several industry and standard models such as the US Geological Survey model, MODFLOW, Random Walk, and Seep. Students performed class projects using actual case histories. The students worked in groups and presented their findings orally and in the form of project report.
4. 1992-93: Introduced the use of computer programs in the lecture part of the undergraduate course CE 181. The programs are used by the students for reducing geotechnical data, such as grain size distribution and consolidation, solving phase diagrams, and computing stress distribution in the soil. The computer methods were introduced as a supplement to the traditional hand calculations. Modifications introduced Fall 1991. Updated computer usage during the Spring 1994 semester.
5. 1991-92 and 1992-93: Revitalized the contents of the undergraduate courses CE 181 and CE 281 to reflect the recent state-of-practice and innovations in the field of soil properties and foundation design. Revisions of CE 181 included adding sections on evaluation of soil properties using in situ methods and consolidation using Prefabricated Vertical Drains (one of my research areas.) Revisions in CE 281 included sections on soil improvement, geosynthetics and grouting. Spring 1991 and Spring 1993, respectively.

Generation of Instructional Material:

1. Prepared a laboratory guide that is tailored toward the needs of WVU undergraduate students in the area of laboratory soil testing. This manual has been used beginning Fall 1995 Semester.
2. Developed a set of design projects for CE 281 "Foundation Engineering" during the Spring 1993 semester. The projects have the common theme of designing foundation supporting a high rise building. The students performed the design work in groups, generated design reports, and presented their design to their peers, graduate students, and professors in the department. Favorable comments regarding the inclusion of the projects in the course were received from the students as documented in the students evaluation of the course during the Spring 93 semester.
3. Introduced the use of computerized data acquisition systems in the undergraduate laboratories of CE 181 "Introductory Soil Mechanics" beginning Fall 1992. The system is used in labor intensive and long term laboratory experiments. The students are presented with the opportunity to compare conventional and computerized monitoring devices. Updated the laboratory section of the course for the Spring 1994 semester. Modifications included upgrading the equipment for conducting hydraulic conductivity tests in the laboratory. Consequently, students now conduct both rigid wall and flexible wall tests. In addition, modification allowed for the students to use the nuclear density test in conjunction with the conventional methods for evaluation of in situ density and water content.
4. Developed, revised and modified all courses taught. The revisions included the introduction of new developments in the field of geotechnical engineering such as the use of geosynthetic material and the introduction of innovative laboratory techniques for soil characterization. These revisions can be seen in the courses syllabi. Courses Developed and Taught are:
   • CE 181, Introductory Soil Mechanics
   • CE 281, Foundation Engineering
   • CE 380, Soil Properties and Behavior
   • CE 381, Soil Testing
   • CE 484, Groundwater and Seepage
   • CE 486, Soil Dynamics
   • CE 491, Geosynthetics
   • CE 213, Introduction to Mechanics (N. C. State U.)

Guest Lecture or Speaker in Course:

COURSE	HRS	LECTURE SUBJECT	DATE
CE 196	6	Landfill Engineering: Permitting, Design, and Failures	Fall 94
CE 195	1	Overview of Geotechnical/Geoenvironmental Engineering	Fall 93
CE 349	1	Solid Waste Containment	Spring 93
CE 196	6	Overview of Landfill Design	Spring 93
CE 196	6	Overview of Landfill Design	Fall 92
CE 195	1	Geotechnical/Geoenvironmental Engineering and Opportunities for Graduate Studies	Fall 92
E-1	1	Introduction of Geotechnical Engineering	Fall 91

Instruction Related Activities:

1. Advised the undergraduate students in 1993-94, 1994-95, and 1995-96 on the concrete canoe competition, the spring technical conference, the spring banquet, Virginia's conference, and the fall picnic. The students recognized my effort by presenting me with the outstanding Faculty advising award and outstanding faculty participation award.
2. Presented a two-day short course to West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection/Natural Resources. The course title was: Introduction to Geosynthetic: Applications and Design for Waste Containment, May 1992. Student reviews of this class were exceptionally positive and are included in the file.
3. CE 290, Spring 1995 "In Situ Soil Flushing," 3-hour credit, 1 student: Independent study student conducted design of a "pump and treat system" for a one acre site. Cost analysis is conducted for cleaning the site using the conventional methods versus the innovative use of the PVD. Instructed the student on the design aspects and development of field drawings.
4. CE 491, Summer 1993 "Geosynthetics for Earth Reinforcement," 3-hour credit, 1 student: taught an independent study course on the use of geosynthetic material for conventional and dynamic resistance applications. Directed a graduate student to develop field testing program to investigate the use of geosynthetic material for blast resistance and protection of military structures.
5. CE 290, Summer 1992 "Retaining Walls for Composting Structure," 3-hour credit, 1 student: Independent study student conducted design of retaining box structures for sludge composting. The design included a leaching collection system. Instructed the student on the design aspects and development of construction drawings.