Acquisition of ESEM for Soil Liquefaction Research

将为微粒力学领域的新实验研究提供研究设备。随着环境扫描电子显微镜（ESEM）的发明，人们将有可能首次观察到未涂覆的湿样品在其自然状态下，这将比以前更清楚地了解这种现象。新制造的ESEM将用于对层状土壤液化的微观结构特征进行深入研究。要考虑的颗粒材料是由沙子、淤泥、砾石和水组成的。本研究的长期目标是在宏观和微观层面上对层状粉砂砾石复合材料在地震液化条件下的行为提供基本的理解。目前人们对砂-粉-砾复合材料的循环行为知之甚少，但这些材料通常存在于冲积沉积物和水力填充物中，它们在地震期间具有液化的历史。使用该设备完成的研究不仅将为这些分层土壤的建模提供基础进步，而且还将为处理高危险土木系统（如大型水坝和其他结构）提供见解。如果我们能够加深对这些材料的了解，我们将在抗震减灾过程中受益匪浅。该设备将显著提高杰克逊州立大学土木工程系（少数，非博士）的研究能力。授予机构（基于NSF的定义）。ESEM具有广泛的应用，也将用于环境和生物系统的扫描显微镜。此外，根据同其他组织的协议，这些设备将供它们使用。本项目中广泛的学生活动和学生对实验的接触将大大提高在科学和工程学科中代表性不足的少数民族的代表性。通过将研究与教育的现代整合，该计划为学生提供了研究机会，从而增强了现有的研究整合计划。实施严格的管理、维护、评估和评估计划，以监控项目的发展和成果，并确保项目活动的成功实施。将广泛传播项目活动和结果，以增进对科学和技术的了解。技术转让、外展计划和程序将包括继续与国家研究实验室的现有合作，如美国陆军工程兵团工程、研究和发展中心（ERDC）水道实验站（WES），在评审期刊上发表论文，在国内或国际会议上发表论文，在年度大学研究研讨会上发表本科生研究报告，实验室演示，大学预科外展计划，并通过大学网站传播项目活动。通过大幅改善研究和培训基础设施，并将其提供给广泛的项目、应用程序和学生，预计该仪器获取项目将对大量未被充分代表的学生产生非常积极的长期影响。

Research equipment will be provided for new experimental research in the area of particulate mechanics. With the invention of the environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM), it will be possible for the first time to view uncoated wet samples in their natural states, which will give a clearer insight into the phenomenon than has not been available previously. The newly manufactured ESEM will be used to perform advanced research on microstructure features of liquefaction of layered soils. The particulate materials to be considered are composed of sand, silt, gravel, and water. The long-term goal of this research is to provide fundamental understanding of the behavior of stratified silt-sand-gravel composites under seismic liquefaction conditions at both macroscopic and microscopic levels. The cyclic behavior of sand-silt-gravel composites is presently poorly understood, yet these materials are commonly found in alluvial deposits and hydraulic fill, which have a history of liquefaction during earthquakes.The research to be accomplished with this equipment will not only provide a fundamental advancement of modeling of these stratified soils, but also will provide insight when dealing with high hazard civil systems such as large dams and other structures. If we could sharpen our understanding of these materials, we would greatly benefit during earthquake hazard mitigation process. This equipment will significantly improve the research capability of the Department of Civil Engineering at Jackson State University (a minority, and non-Ph.D. granting institution based on the NSF's definition) in Mississippi. The ESEM, having wide range applications, will also be used in the scanning microscopy of environmental and biological systems. In addition, based on agreements with other organizations, the equipment will be available for their use. The wide range of student activities in this project and the student exposure to the experiments will significantly enhance the representation of underrepresented minorities in science and engineering disciplines.The proposed program, by modern integration of research into education, provides research opportunities for students and thus enhances the existing research integration programs. A rigorous management, maintenance, and evaluation and assessment plan is implemented to monitor project development and outcomes, and to ensure the successful implementation of the project activities. The project activities and results will be disseminated broadly to enhance scientific and technological understanding. The technology transfer, outreach programs and procedures will include the continuation of the existing collaboration with national research laboratories such as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Engineering, Research, and Development Center (ERDC) Waterways Experiment Station (WES), publication of papers in refereed journals, presentations at the national or international conferences, undergraduate research presentations at the annual college research seminar, laboratory demonstration, pre-college outreach program, and the dissemination of the project activities through the university web site. It is expected that this instrumentation acquisition project, by substantially improving the research and training infrastructure, and by making it available to wide range of programs, applications, and students, will have a very positive long-term impact on large numbers of underrepresented students.