Civil Engineering (CENG)
Graduate Studies
570-577-1112
www.bucknell.edu/CivilEngineering
Professors: Jeffrey C. Evans (chair), Ph.D. Lehigh. Matthew Higgins, Ph.D. Virginia Polytechnic Instiitute and State University, Richard G. McGinnis, Ph.D. California-Berkeley. James G. Orbison, Ph.D. Cornell, Ronald D. Ziemian, Ph.D. Cornell.
Associate Professors: Richard D. Crago, Ph.D. Cornell. Thomas D. DiStefano, Ph.D. Cornell. Michael Toole, Ph.D. Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Assistant Professors: Stephen G. Buonopane, Ph.D. Johns Hopkins University. Michael A. Malusis, Ph.D. Colorado State. Kelly A. Salyards, Ph.D. Pennsylvania State University. Xiaokum (Cara) Wang, M.S. Tsinghua University.
Areas of Concentration
Faculty research interests emphasize the following areas: environmental engineering, soil mechanics and foundation engineering, structures, transportation, water resources, computer graphics, computer-aided design, railroad engineering, engineering mechanics, timber structures, pavement design, and materials performance and characterization, construction safety and innovation.
Current research topics are: vertical subsurface barriers for the remediation of hazardous waste sites; transformation of slurry trench cutoff wall materials from the passive hydraulic barrier materials into active treatment materials while maintaining their passive hydraulic barrier characteristics; flow in compounds section open channels with mixed flow at a free overfall; interaction of main channel and flood flows in unsteady flow; design of steel structures using advanced methods of analysis; appropriateness of existing numerical models for nonlinear transport processes in environmental systems; pedestrian safety; guardrails and median barrier crash worthiness; tests of open web steel joist; full-scale tests of metal-plated timber trusses; rotational stiffness of truss heel joints; stiffness coefficients of metal plated connected truss joints with varying direction of loading between grain angles and metal plate axis; in-situ nondestructive testing of timber structural members; vibration serviceability; the diffusion of having engineers and architects design for construction safety; biodegradation of municipal solid waste in engineered reactors; coagulation, flocculation and sedimentation in aqueous systems; mitigation of odor potential at wastewater and solid waste treatment facilities; bioremediation of contaminated ground water; adsorption of heavy metals by microorganisms; characterization of pollution from agricultural sources; biological conversion of waste materials to useful forms of energy, such as methane and hydrogen, lifecycle analysis of engineered environmental systems.
Thesis
The thesis is considered a contribution to the education of the candidate and normally results in an original contribution to the body of engineering knowledge. Thesis requirements in civil engineering may be satisfied by:
- an experimental or theoretical research project;
- an exercise in solving a practical engineering problem involving novel features, which may or may not comprise design, and with or without required experimental verification. The thesis is followed by a final oral or written examination that must be passed at least two weeks before the degree is to be received.
Facilities and Courses
Thesis work can be conducted in any of the current research areas in the department or in any area acceptable to the adviser and the department. Excellent computational and experimental facilities are available, including university computing resources and laboratory facilities for computer-aided engineering and design, materials testing, structural testing, dynamic materials characterization, geotechnical engineering, environmental engineering, and fluid mechanics and hydraulics. The following describes the courses offered by the department.
Note that not all courses are taught every year. A total of seven and one-half course credits, including the thesis, is required for the MSCE degree.
Courses Offered
600. Design in Structural Engineering (I; 3, 3)
First assumptions, selection of initial sections, connect design, beam-columns design, and procedure to follow after making a first choice so as to arrive at a final design; major national specifications affecting designs such as AISC, AASHTO 1996, ACI, ASCE 7-95 Standard, and various building codes. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.
601. Advanced Reinforced Concrete Design (I; 4, 0)
Behavior and design of reinforced concrete beams, beam columns, slender columns, footings, retaining walls, and abutments; introduction to two-way slab behavior and design. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.
602. Structural Theory II (II; 4, 0)
Analysis of statically indeterminate structures, comprehensive study of the flexibility and stiffness methods in conjunction with the digital computer; computer graphics. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.
603. Wood Engineering Design Principles (II; 3, 3)
Wood properties as construction materials; beams, columns, connections, and fasteners. Glue-laminated timber and other uses for timber framed structures in accordance with the 1997 National Design. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.
604. Structural Dynamics (I or II; 4, 0)
Analysis and design of structure subjected to dynamic loads, i.e. earthquake, wind gust, blast pressure, moving loads, machine foundations, etc. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.
605. Advanced Structural Steel Design (I or II; 4, 0)
Connection design and performance, plastic analysis, load and resistance factor design, stability of compression members, composite construction. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.
606. Advanced Structural Stability (II; 2, 2)
Provides a detailed treatment of the buckling characteristics of various structural elements and presents the different analytical methods used in the solution of stability problems.
607. Prestressed Concrete (I or II; 4, 0)
Analysis and design of various types of prestressed concrete units and structures with consideration of shear stresses and deflection, prestress losses, composite construction, and fabrication methods.
608. Finite Element Methods (AI; 3, 3)
Fundamental theory and applications for civil engineering, mechanical engineering, and engineering mechanics stress analysis problems. One-, two-, and three-dimensional elements, and axisymmetric elements, and their formulations; stress recovery techniques; modeling considerations; convergence criteria and error estimates; includes use of commercial and developmental finite element analysis programs.
609. Advanced Mechanics of Materials (I or II; 4, 0)
Unsymmetrical bending, torsion, plates, beams on elastic-foundations, plasticity, elastic stability.
619. Advanced Topics in Structural Engineering (I or II; 4, 0)
Topics will vary. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.
621. Hydrology (I or II; 3, 3)
The interrelation of meteorological conditions, precipitation, surface runoff, and groundwater storage. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.
622. Open Channel Flow (I or II; 4, 0)
Steady flow with the continuity, energy, momentum, and flow resistance equations; flow profiles; channel controls and transitions; introduction to unsteady flow.
629. Advanced Topics in Water Resources (I or II; 4, 0)
Topics will vary. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.
631. Urban and Regional Planning (I or II; 4, 0)
Problems of urban and regional planning and the treatment of various factors of a comprehensive plan. Emphasis on the interrelationships among engineering, sociology, geography, and economics.
632. Transportation Policy and Planning (I or II; 4, 0)
Analysis of policy in a social and environmental context. Transportation supply, demand, and pricing. Evaluation of alternative plans. Analysis of transportation benefits and costs.
633. Mass Transportation Seminar (II; 4, 0)
A pragmatic analysis of mass transportation, its history, present condition, and future; with emphasis on the social and economic aspects of transit. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.
634. Innovative Transportation Engineering (II; 4, 0)
Innovative concepts in the field of transportation engineering, including planning techniques, such as context-sensitive design and GIS and engineering/design/operations techniques, including roundabouts, traffic calming, andITS. Prerequisite: CENG 330 or permission of the instructor.
639. Advanced Topics in Transportation (I or II; R; 4, 0)
Topics will vary. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.
640. Physical/Chemical Treatment Processes (I or II; 3, 3)
Fundamental principles of physical and chemical treatment processes used to treat air and water pollution, such as ion-exchange, coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, air stripping, disinfection, adsorption, and membrane processes. Laboratory experiments are used to reinforce theory and to develop design criteria
for full-scale treatment processes. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.
641. Environmental Engineering Biotechnology (I or II; 3, 3)
Theory and design of biological waste treatment facilities. Conversion of waste materials to useful forms of energy and life-cycle analysis of engineered environmental systems. Biological treatment of industrial wastes and bioremediation of hazardous wastes. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.
642. Solid Waste Management (I or II; 4, 0)
This course covers the technology, policy, and management of municipal solid waste generation. Topics include recycling, material recovery, waste reduction, landfilling, and combustion.
644. Hazardous Waste Management (I or II; 3, 3)
Toxicology, industrial waste pretreatment, stabilization techniques, facilities siting, secure landfill design, incineration, legal and liability issues, public participation, remedial action, and emergency response. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.
645. Environmental Engineering Chemistry (I or II; 3, 3)
Principles of aquatic chemistry and applications with emphasis on acid-base reactions, solubility, precipitation, and oxidation reduction reactions in water. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.
646. Water Treatment Design (I or II; 4, 0)
Design of water supplies, water treatment plants, distribution systems, sewers and wastewater treatment plants. Environmental and economic impact. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.
647. Air Pollution Control (I; 3, 1)
Historical perspective on air pollution in the United States, measurement of air quality, meteorology and climatology, modeling of atmospheric dispersion, sources of air pollution — stationary sources and mobile sources, health effects, control of gaseous and particulate emissions, global problems such as greenhouse
gases and ozone, regulatory and legal concerns. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.
648. Environmental Engineering Unit Operations and Processes (I or II; 3, 3)
Fundamental principles of physical, chemical, and biological systems used in the treatment of air, soil and water in the field of environmental engineering. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.
649. Advanced Topics in Environmental Engineering (I or II; R; 4, 0)
Topics will vary. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.
650. Foundation Engineering (I or II; 3, 3)
Application of the theories and principles of soil mechanics to foundation design. Subsurface investigations; methods of analysis, design, and construction of foundations; bearing capacity and settlement of shallow and deep foundations; excavation and bracing; earth structures. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.
651. Environmental Geotechnology (II; 3, 3)
Interaction between hazardous and toxic wastes and geotechnical properties of soils. Hazardous and toxic wastes in the subsurface environment. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.
652. Ground Improvement Engineering (I or II; 3, 3)
Application of soil mechanics principles to improving the engineering characteristics of soils. Includes mechanisms of soil stabilization, grouting, deep dynamic compaction, reinforced earth, sand drains, and preconsolidation. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.
653. Advanced Soil Mechanics (I or II; 3, 3)
Advanced study of the theories of strength, hydraulic conductivity and compressibility. Critical review of soil origin and composition effects upon the physical and engineering properties of soils. Introduction to soil dynamics. Planning, execution, and interpretation of soil testing programs. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.
659. Advanced Topics in Geotechnical Engineering (I or II; 4, 0)
Topics will vary. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.
671. Architectural Engineering (I or II or S; 4, 0)
Introduction to the engineering of buildings, methods and materials of construction; design of windows and wall systems; design and specifications of mechanical systems. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.
672. Construction Engineering (II; 3, 4)
Construction materials and processes; contracting, planning and scheduling; estimating and project control.
680. Special Topics in Civil Engineering (I or II; R) Half to full course
Individual projects in laboratory work, design, or library studies, depending upon the nature of the problem selected.
699. Thesis (I and/or II)
Research on the graduate level under the direction of a faculty member.
