Teaching

Courses Taught (University of Nebraska-Lincoln)

CIVE 472/872 Pavement Design and Evaluation: The aim of this course is to provide students with thorough and general understanding in the concepts of the pavement design based on stress analyses of various types of pavement structures (e.g., flexible, rigid, composite pavements). In particular, this course will highlight the clear understanding of each pavement design factor and its effects on pavement performance. Based on the understanding of design factors and structural analyses of pavements, students will learn both traditional (somewhat empirically developed) pavement design methods and the newer design method based on the mechanistic-empirical (M-E) pavement design concept. An advanced topic of fully mechanistic pavement analysis-design methods will also be presented.

CIVE 891 Infrastructural Material Distresses: Mechanism, Diagnosis, and Repair: This course focuses on the main engineering problems in infrastructural materials. The deficiency may be the result of the faults of design, the use of unsuitable materials, improper workmanship, exposure to an abnormally aggressive environment, excessive structural loading, accident, or a combination of two or more of such errors or failures.  This course intends to outline the basic mechanisms of deterioration, the main approaches of diagnosing and evaluating the types and extent of damage, the progress of selecting materials and methods to return infrastructural material to a desirable condition, and the application of repair.

CIVE 498/898 - Advanced Materials of Construction: This course introduces applications, properties, and production technologies of various types of advanced construction materials including cement and concrete, asphalt concrete, steel, and fiber-reinforced polymer. Topics including sustainability, durability, repair and preventative measures, materials characterization, as well as recent advances are also to be covered.

CIVE 378 - Materials of Construction: Introduction to the behavior, testing, and design of soil, portland cement concrete, steel, wood and composites. Experiments covering the concepts of stress and strain under axial, torsional, shear and flexural loading conditions. Common ASTM laboratory test procedures and specifications, field quality control tests and statistical applications.

CIVE 898 - Geotechnical/Materials Graduate Seminar 

Courses Taught (Texas State University)

CIM 3420Concrete Construction Methods: This course examines effects of concrete-making materials (aggregates, cements, admixtures, etc.) on the properties of fresh and hardened concrete. Concrete mixture proportioning calculations and statistical analysis of strength tests are also studied.

CIM 3330 – Concrete Construction Methods: This course covers forming, shoring, placing and reinforcing operations. Transporting, placing, consolidating, finishing, jointing and curing concrete for cast-in-place foundations, pavements, slabs on ground, structural frames, and other structural members are studied. Other topics include waterproofing concrete foundations and erecting precast concrete members.

CIM 4330 – Management of Concrete Products – Ordering and Scheduling: This course is designed to provide the student with a basic understanding of managing the ordering and delivery process common to all concrete products. Emphasis will be in planning, organizing and controlling at both the first-line supervisory and managerial levels.

CIM 4340 – Concrete Problems: Diagnosis, Prevention, and Dispute Resolution: Course involves diagnosing/preventing problems related to concrete production, testing, construction and performance. Students learn to identify causes of fresh and hardened concrete problems, i.e. fast and slow setting, air content variations, low strength, cracking and scaling. Pre-job conferences and dispute resolution methods are examined.

CSM 2342 – Construction Materials and Processes: This course will introduce students to various types of construction materials including ceramics, ferrous, non-ferrous, and organic materials used in construction. Their properties, working characteristics, and processes used to manufacture and assemble these materials are studied. Laboratory activities are used to reinforce lecture material.

CSM 3363 – Heavy, Civil, and Highway Construction System: Selection, acquisition, and capabilities of heavy construction equipment are presented. Applications of economics to performance characteristics and production of equipment is discussed. Sector-specific construction management methods are covered, including unit price estimating, equipment fleet design, repetitive scheduling, and major components of highways, bridges, and engineered facilities.

TECH 4390 – Internship: Supervised on-the-job professional learning experience in construction, manufacturing, electronics, and other technical areas. This course provides practical work experience in their particular field of interest.

TECH 5384 – Problems in Technology: Graduate students investigate a special topic by developing a technical problem, researching the topic, and presenting the findings. Plans will be developed on an individual basis with strict faculty supervision.

 

Grants

Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI): J. Tate, J. Hu, “Major Upgrade of the RFM 1239: Computer Integrated Manufacturing Laboratory to Offer High-Performance Computing and Visualization for Engineering and Technology Students. A Collaborative Proposal between the Ingram School of Engineering and the Department of Technology”, Project Sponsor(s): Texas State University, Amount $42,500, 04/2009 – 09/2009.

 

Awards and Honors

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Distinguished Teaching Award (2020)

Holling Family Master Teacher Award (2020)

Holling Family Distinguished Teaching/Advising/Mentoring Award, College of Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln (2019)

College Achievement Awards for Excellence in Teaching, College of Science and Engineering, Texas State University (2014)