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Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering

Mechanics and Materials

We are working towards the common goal of understanding, modeling, and improving a wide spectrum of traditional and emerging materials, using theoretical, experimental, and computational mechanics from nano to macro scale.

Focus Areas

Theoretical mechanics

  • Constitutive modeling – viscoelasticity, plasticity, viscoplasticity
  • Damage mechanics, fracture, and fatigue
  • Mechanics of porous media
  • Crystal mechanics
  • Scaling theories
  • Finite plastic deformation

Experimental Mechanics

  • Micromechanics – nanoindentation, nano scratch, and rheometry
  • Durability and damage mechanics
  • Chemo-mechanics
  • Low- and high-cycle fatigue, fracture, permanent deformation
  • Integration of material, component, and system testing
  • Nondestructive evaluation

Computational Mechanics

  • Finite element analysis and related methods
  • Inverse problems and optimization
  • Data-driven methods and machine learning
  • Multiscale modeling – hierarchical and concurrent

Applications to specific materials

  • Asphalt and asphalt concrete
  • Cementitious materials and concrete
  • Composites – fiber-reinforced polymers
  • Geological materials – shale, sandstone, carbonates, and soil
  • Metals and alloys – single crystals and polycrystalline materials
  • Sustainable bio-materials

Faculty

Our research in action:

Dr. Mohammad Pour-Ghaz examines the deteriorated bridge slabs.

Dr. Mohammad Pour-Ghaz examines the deteriorated bridge slabs.

Graduate research assistant preparing a soil specimen for testing.

Visualizing moisture flow in fractured concrete using advanced electrical imaging technology.

Facilities and Centers

Graduate Course Requirements

The Master of Science (MS) degree requires a minimum of 30 semester hours of graduate study including up to 6 credit hours for a thesis and a final oral examination.  Every student is expected to work closely with his/her academic advisor to develop a well-coordinated plan of coursework to supplement and complement their research.

The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree normally includes one academic year of full-time coursework beyond the master’s degree. The major component of the Ph.D. program is the preparation of a dissertation reporting the results of an original investigation that represents a significant contribution to knowledge.

Graduate Courses

Primary Courses – Mechanics of Materials

Course NumberCourse Name
CE 515Advanced Strength of Materials
CE 714Stress Waves
CE 718Constitutive Modeling of Engineering Materials
CE 741Geomechanics of Stress Deformation
CE 742Deformation and Instability of Soils
CE 759Inelastic Behavior of Construction Materials
CE 794Advanced Topics in Structures and Mechanics
MAE 543Fracture Mechanics
MAE 730Modern Plasticity
PY 543Introduction to the Structure of Solids

Primary Courses – Computational Methods and Mathematics

Course NumberCourse Name
CE 526Finite Element Method in Structural Engineering
CE 536Introduction to Numerical Methods for Civil Engineers
CE 721Advanced Finite Element Methods
CE 793NModeling and Computing for Geotechnical Engineering
MA 501Advanced Mathematics for Engineers and Scientists I
MA 502Advanced Mathematics for Engineers and Scientists II

Primary Courses – Materials Behavior and Engineering

Course NumberCourse Name
CE 548Engineering Properties of Soils I
CE 594Properties of Concrete and Advanced Cement-Based Composites
CE 595Bituminous Materials
CE 595Multiscale Characterization of Asphalt Materials
CE 751Theory of Concrete Mixtures
CE 790Advanced Topics in Civil Engineering
CE 793BPhysicochemical and Biological Aspects of Soil Behavior
CE 794Modeling Behavior of Infrastructure Materials

Related Courses

Physical Properties Of Fiber Forming Polymers, Fibers, and Fibrous StructuresCourse Name
CE 522Theory and Design of Prestressed Concrete
CE 523Theory and Behavior of Steel Structures
CE 524Analysis and Design of Masonry Structures
CE 528Structural Design in Wood
CE 529FRP Strengthening and Repair of Concrete Structures
CE 537Computer Methods and Applications
CE 549Soil and Site Improvement
CE 594CNondestructive Evaluation of Civil Infrastructure
CE 724Probabilistic Methods of Structural Engineering
CE 726Advanced Theory of Concrete Structures
CE 737Computer-Aided Engineering Systems
CE 744Foundation Engineering
CE 746Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering
CE 747Geosynthetics in Geotechnical Engineering
CE 755Highway Pavement Design
CE 757Pavement Management Systems
BAE 528Biomass to Renewable Energy Processes
BME 550Medical Imaging: Ultrasonic, Optical, and Magnetic Resonance Systems
BME (TE) 566Polymeric Biomaterials Engineering
MA 513Introduction to Complex Variables
MA 520Linear Algebra
MA 573Mathematical Modeling of Physical and Biological Processes I
MA 574Mathematical Modeling of Physical and Biological Processes II
MAE 531Engineering Design Optimization
MAE 536Micro/Nano Electromechanical Systems
MAE 537Mechanics of Composite Materials
MAE (MSE) 539Advanced Materials
MAE 546Photonic Sensor Applications in Structure
MSE 531Physical Metallurgy
MSE 540Processing of Metallic Materials
MSE 545Ceramic Processing
MSE 555Polymer Technology and Engineering
MSE 556Composite Materials
MSE 712Principles of Corrosion
MSE 741Introduction to Nanomaterials
PY 511Mechanics I
PY 512Mechanics II
PY 519Biological Physics
PY 525Computational Physics
PY (TE) 570Polymer Physics
PY 753Introduction To the Structure Of Solids II
SSC 511Soil Physics
SSC 521Soil Chemistry
SSC 532Soil Microbiology
TE (TT) (TTM) 533Lean Six Sigma Quality
TE (BME) 566Polymeric Biomaterials Engineering
TMS 500Fiber and Polymer Microscopy
TMS (TE) 565Textile Composites
TMS 761Mechanical and Rheological Properties Of Fibrous Material
TMS 762Physical Properties Of Fiber Forming Polymers, Fibers and Fibrous Structures
TMS (MSE) 763Physical Properties Of Fiber Forming Polymers, Fibers, and Fibrous Structures