Graduate Research Traineeships in Civil Infrastructure Systems

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Primarily because of extensive use by an increasing population and a significant building boom following World War II, our nation's infrastructure is degrading at an alarming rate. It is clear that there will not be sufficient funds in the foreseeable future to address all the needed infrastructure replacements simultaneously. It is therefore necessary to prioritize the needed repair, rehabilitation, and replacement strategies. To prioritize the custodians of the infrastructure must have knowledge of assessment technologies, deterioration science, structural evaluation and analysis, construction methodologies, and new high performance materials. This proposal is for the establishment of a five year, Masters through Ph.D., interdisciplinary graduate research traineeship program which will provide the future custodians and educators of the custodians the engineering knowledge to effectively manage our infrastructure. The program will be a fully integrated interdisciplinary curriculum of material science, non-destructive testing, structural mechanics, construction engineering and management, and sensor and control activator technologies. Integration will be achieved through summer research programs and a fourth year research capstone course. A core course curriculum will be developed from existing, developing, and to be developed courses in statistical data analysis, electromagnetic sensors and waves, signal processing, non-destructive evaluation of materials, infrastructure condition assessment, structural evaluation and analysis, deterioration science, fiber-polymer composites, health monitoring sensors and damage control, and construction. The core curriculum will provide the breath for the student to understand the problems encountered in maintaining our infrastructure. Specialization in one of the areas will provide the depth to crate solutions. Research training will be accomplished through industry and university cost-sharing summer research durin g the first three years and during the fourth year. Fourth year research will be team solutions to industry problems and the fifth year will be devoted to dissertation research. A unique faculty-industry mentor program will be established to aid in the retention of students. The program will be laden with the development of communication skills to insure student success. Student recruitment will be on a personal basis by participating faculty and graduate students and unique international educational opportunities will be established. Program student accommodations will be under the umbrella of the Center for Infrastructure Assessment and Management with newly constructed dedicated office and research facilities.