Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
Cutting-Edge Research Opportunities for Undergraduate and Graduate Students
At South Dakota Mines, we extend research opportunities to both undergraduate and graduate students. We value the potential and enthusiasm of undergraduate students and offer them the incredible opportunity to engage in cutting-edge research projects alongside our esteemed faculty. Our faculty members are renowned experts in their fields, possessing established reputations for their contributions to research and are eager to mentor and guide students by providing exciting exciting opportunities to contribute to research projects.
Whether you're an undergraduate or graduate student, our collaborative environment offers the chance to work on transformative initiatives such as turning waste into sustainable energy, developing materials for lunar habitats, and improving roadway pavement design. Engaging in these real-world projects provides invaluable hands-on experience, setting you apart and equipping you with the skills necessary for successful careers.
Join our vibrant research community at South Dakota Mines and unleash your potential alongside fellow students and esteemed faculty. By participating in research, you'll make a tangible impact and develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration skills that will benefit you throughout your academic and professional journey. Ignite your curiosity and contribute to shaping the world around us. Your journey in research starts here, at South Dakota Mines.
Research Facilities:
- The Renewable Energy Research Laboratory provides students and faculty with a state-of-the-art laboratory for research and design of next-generation solar and wind technology.
- The Biogeochemistry Core Facility contains cutting-edge instrumentation to support student and faculty ecological and environmental research.
- The Advanced Materials Processing Center is the lead in a consortium which teams universities with government, national laboratories and industry sponsors for research and development of materials joining, fabrication, and repair technologies.
- The Geotechnical Laboratory has the state’s most comprehensive set of equipment to support geotechnical research, including a single apparatus for triaxial shear, consolidation/swell, and unconfined compression testing as well as facilities for advanced testing of asphalt and soil.
- The Rama Materials Laboratory is equipped with instrumentation and data acquisition equipment for testing novel materials, mechanical systems, and structural components.
Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences
The Department of Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences at South Dakota Mines has a rich history of research going back to 1959, when a special resolution created the Institute of Atmospheric Sciences. At that time, the emphasis was on weather modification and hail damage research. Today, areas of scientific emphasis have broadened to include aspects of atmospheric and environmental studies varying from air quality and convection in the atmosphere to ecosystem structure and the effects of climate on our earth's ecosystems. In addition to creating a research facility, it was also necessary to create a teaching unit that allowed master's degree students to complete the work required by the scientists while they earned their graduate degree in meteorology (now atmospheric and environmental sciences). These students, then and now, work as colleagues of the research scientists.
The expanded mission of the Department of Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences is to study the physical, chemical, and biological processes that affect the composition and dynamics of the earth's atmosphere. Our research and educational programs focus on regionally relevant issues of national concern and global importance. Research conducted at the department is linked to undergraduate, master of science (MS) and doctor of philosophy (PhD) degree curricula that provide a fundamental understanding of the atmosphere, biosphere, and hydrosphere. Together our research and educational programs provide opportunities for students to conduct theoretical and applied research and training related to earth-atmosphere systems and their interactions.
Our vision is to create opportunities for students to become colleagues with the research faculty, conducting leading-edge science to determine how the Continental Earth System functions, and transforming this science into products and services of value to society. Our researchers convert observations made across scales of time and space, from atmosphere to leaf, into fluxes of heat, moisture, material, and momentum. These fluxes are then incorporated into numerical models that describe the behavior of natural systems and that can predict their behavior in the future.
Civil Engineering
The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering is actively engaged in research aimed at enhancing society by developing new materials, preserving and protecting the environment, creating sustainable solutions, increasing our understanding of engineering systems and their design, and examining the best approaches for training a new engineering workforce. CEE researchers are highly collaborative and are working with colleagues both on-campus and across the globe on multi-disciplinary projects.
These pages include descriptions of recent and developing CEE research in the following strategic areas:
- Energy and the Environment
- Civil Engineering Materials
Leveraging campus resources, faculty in CEE are working with labs and centers on campus including:
- Additive Manufacturing Laboratory (AML)
- Arbegast Materials Processing and Joining Laboratory (AMP)
- Composites and Polymer Engineering Laboratory (CAPE)
- Experimental and Computational Mechanics Laboratory
FACULTY CONTACTS:
- Dr. Jennifer Benning,
Assistant Professor - Dr. Venkata Gadhamshetty,
Assistant Professor - Dr. Scott Kenner,
Professor - Dr. Soonkie Nam,
Assistant Professor - Dr. James Stone,
Department Head
CAREER: Corrosion Resistance of Nano-meter Graphene Coatings in Aggressive Microbial Environment
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded Professor Gadhamshetty with a prestigious CAREER award that carries a $500,000 research grant. The central goal of this project is to investigate a new class of minimally invasive (thickness of few nanometers), pin-hole-free, robust, and protective coatings made from conformal graphene for use against microbial corrosion. While there are commercial coatings available for metal protection, they fail in the aqueous and microbial environments. The annual costs for the direct and indirect effects of metallic corrosion on infrastructure have been reported to reach nearly $1 trillion in United States. Microbial corrosion accounts for 20-40 % of the total corrosion costs. This project enables the rational design of the next generation of minimally invasive, nanometer-scale, microbial-corrosion resistant coatings featuring graphene building blocks. It will focus on four broader impact objectives: 1) to develop an Adobe-director-based virtual laboratory to provide students with hands-on tutorials on microbial corrosion/Gr experiments; 2) to integrate graphene research in undergraduate curriculum; 3) to encourage under-represented American Indians (from 9 SD reservations) to join BS and MS degrees; and 4) to work with educational experts to evaluate the educational/outreach activities.
Riverbank Erosion and Stability on the Missouri River
The increasing number of extreme climate events is ultimately responsible for severe river flow conditions that cause drought, flooding, and freezing. These conditions alter the hydraulic and geotechnical properties of both the river flow and riverbanks, and eventually make riverbanks more susceptible to bank erosion and mass failure. In South Dakota, sections of the Missouri River have experienced significant loss of riverbanks due to erosion and mass failure, directly affecting several local communities including a Native American tribe. A research team led by Dr. Soonkie Nam at South Dakota Mines has teamed up with USGS researchers to experimentally and numerically investigate the riverbanks near Lower Brule, SD.
The increasing number of extreme climate events is ultimately responsible for severe
river flow conditions that cause drought, flooding, and freezing. These conditions
alter the hydraulic and geotechnical properties of both the river flow and riverbanks,
and eventually make riverbanks more susceptible to bank erosion and mass failure.
In South Dakota, sections of the Missouri River have experienced significant loss
of riverbanks due to erosion and mass failure, directly affecting several local communities
including a Native American tribe. A research team led by Dr. Soonkie Nam at South
Dakota Mines has teamed up with USGS researchers to experimentally and numerically
investigate the riverbanks near Lower Brule, SD.Evaluating Stormwater Contamination in Rapid City, South Dakota
Stormwater management is an area of increasing importance to the field of engineering as global climate change increases extreme weather events and continued land development decreases permeable surface area to absorb stormwater runoff. In this research, Dr. Scott Kenner and his team are working to solve a problem of fecal contamination in stormwater runoff in two of Rapid City's major drainage basins. The project seeks to determine the source of contamination, and then evaluate recent stormwater design criteria developed by the city to determine their effectiveness in preventing or mitigating contamination.
Stormwater management is an area of increasing importance to the field of engineering
as global climate change increases extreme weather events and continued land development
decreases permeable surface area to absorb stormwater runoff. In this research, Dr.
Scott Kenner and his team are working to solve a problem of fecal contamination in
stormwater runoff in two of Rapid City's major drainage basins. The project seeks
to determine the source of contamination, and then evaluate recent stormwater design
criteria developed by the city to determine their effectiveness in preventing or mitigating
contamination.Agricultural Life Cycle Assessment Modeling
Agriculture and other industries are turning to engineers to assist them in meeting demands from the marketplace for sustainability and reduction in greenhouse gas production in their operations. With the sponsorship of several agricultural organizations, Dr. James Stone and his colleagues at South Dakota State University are developing several life cycle assessment (LCA) models for all aspects of swine, beef, and feed (corn, soymeal, distillers’ grain) production, including feed growing and harvesting, antibiotic manufacturing, and facility operations. The research team will use these models to identify ways to increase swine production efficiencies, reduce resource consumption and negative environmental impacts, and improve the overall sustainability of these operations.
Agriculture and other industries are turning to engineers to assist them in meeting
demands from the marketplace for sustainability and reduction in greenhouse gas production
in their operations. With the sponsorship of several agricultural organizations,Modeling the Effect of Urbanization on Two Watersheds in Rapid City, SD
Continued urbanization has led to increased volumes of storm water runoff and decreased water quality in many previously forested or suburban watersheds. The goal of this study is to assess the impacts of increased impervious area and its connectedness on water quantity and quality in storm water runoff for two drainage basins in the Rapid Creek watershed in Rapid City, South Dakota. The results of this study emphasize that the level of connection between the impervious surfaces has a significant influence on the volume and peak flow rates occurring at the watershed outlet. This research was funded by the city of Rapid City and an USGS Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit agreement with South Dakota Mines. For more information, contact Dr. Scott Kenner.
Continued urbanization has led to increased volumes of storm water runoff and decreased
water quality in many previously forested or suburban watersheds. The goal of this
study is to assess the impacts of increased impervious area and its connectedness
on water quantity and quality in storm water runoff for two drainage basins in the
Rapid Creek watershed in Rapid City, South Dakota. The results of this study emphasize
that the level of connection between the impervious surfaces has a significant influence
on the volume and peak flow rates occurring at the watershed outlet. This research
was funded by the city of Rapid City and an USGS Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit
agreement with South Dakota Mines. For more information, contact Dr. Scott Kenner.
Can Electricity Be Generated from Waste at Ambient Conditions?
Dr. Gadhamshetty’s laboratory focuses on the development of next-generation, biological and bioelectrochemical processes for treating anthropogenic waste. This research is innovative due to its ability to extract energy and electricity from the waste matter, with simultaneous waste treatment. The technologies can be applied for recovering energy from wastewater and landfills at ambient conditions. The cutting-edge research lies at the intersection of microbiology, electrochemistry, nanomaterials, and reactor design), and provides innovative solutions to complex problems facing our environment. Current research is focused investigating the feasibility of bioelectrochemical technology to treat and polish municipal wastewater, for possible reuse as the cooling water in power plants.
Dr. Gadhamshetty’sParticle-Mediated Enhanced Transport of Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds in the Indoor Environments
Occupants of buildings are exposed toxic chemicals from the vast number of modern building products and furnishings that continuously release these compounds. The occupants’ burden of toxic semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOC) is significantly affected by proximity to sources in indoor environments. The NSF funded collaborative research effort between South Dakota Mines, Missouri S&T, Virginia Tech and University of Sydney will carefully combine experimental quantification of relevant parameters (partition and transport phenomena) with model analysis. The results will be used to test theoretical models of particle mediated enhanced emissions and uptake. Further, experimental results and mass-transfer models will be integrated into indoor air quality models to improve predictions of exposure, dose and risk to indoor sources of SVOCs. Contact Dr. Jennifer Benning for more information.
Occupants of buildings are exposed toxic chemicals from the vast number of modern
building products and furnishings that continuously release these compounds. The occupants’
burden of toxic semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOC) is significantly affected by
proximity to sources in indoor environments. The NSF funded collaborative research
effort between South Dakota Mines, Missouri S&T, Virginia Tech and University of Sydney
will carefully combine experimental quantification of relevant parameters (partition
and transport phenomena) with model analysis. The results will be used to test theoretical
models of particle mediated enhanced emissions and uptake. Further, experimental results
and mass-transfer models will be integrated into indoor air quality models to improve
predictions of exposure, dose and risk to indoor sources of SVOCs. Contact Dr. Jennifer
Benning for more information.Geochemical Fate and Transport Modeling for Uranium In-situ Recovery (ISR) Mining
The goal of uranium ISR restoration is a return of the site to pre-operation baseline conditions, but historically, this is not always feasible. Uranium ISR sites typically exhibit varying degrees of natural attenuation potential that may influence the degree of restoration required, with reactive iron and organic carbon shown to strongly influence uranium transport and fate. Reactive transport modeling provides useful insight into the inherent restoration potential of a mined aquifer, providing stakeholders with a better understanding of potentially necessary restoration requirements. The research performed by Dr. James Stone's research group ( http://jamesstonesdsmt.wix.com/stone) include 1-D uranium transport surface complexation modelling efforts that integrate data from batch adsorption isotherm experiments using post-mining and post-reclamation soil core samples, site upgradient groundwater.
The goal of uranium ISR restoration is a return of the site to pre-operation baseline
conditions, but historically, this is not always feasible. Uranium ISR sites typically
exhibit varying degrees of natural attenuation potential that may influence the degree
of restoration required, with reactive iron and organic carbon shown to strongly influence
uranium transport and fate. Reactive transport modeling provides useful insight into
the inherent restoration potential of a mined aquifer, providing stakeholders with
a better understanding of potentially necessary restoration requirements. The research
performed byLife Cycle Assessment (LCA) Modeling for Future Oilseed-based Biofuel Production in the Northern Great Plains
Rural economic growth in semi‐arid regions of the western US could be improved by
an expansion into biofuels through production of Brassica carinata and Camelina sativa
as an alternative to wheat‐summer fallow cropping. These high oil content (~40%) seeds
can readily be converted to advanced biofuels, while co‐products are a high‐protein
meal suitable for livestock feed. Regional challenges of limited rail service and
decaying roadways have further intensified competition with the growing fossil fuel
industry for shipping existing and new agricultural commodities. It is critical to
identify how transportation networks can be used and upgraded to most efficiently
drive and assist sustainable economic growth. Dr. Jim Stone and his research group ( http://jamesstonesdsmt.wix.com/stone) are working with members of the South Dakota
Oilseed initiative, USDA, and industrial partners ARA and Argisoma in developing an
integrated life-cycle and transportation analysis to assess the sustainability of
biofuels and meal production scenarios for our region.
GasCube: Mobile Waste to Energy Concept for Remote US Air Force Base Deployments
The scope and objective of this program is to develop a modular process that converts organic waste from Air Force bases to energy and compost. The ‘Gas Cube’ concept is a deployable, rugged, self-contained system to convert organic base solid waste and wastewater biosolids into methane and compost, allowing the Air Force to better utilize mobile base organic wastes to produce useful energy and other products. This research is being accomplished by Dr. Jim Stone and members of his research group ( http://jamesstonesdsmt.wix.com/stone) along with collaborators from Chemical and Biological Engineering Department and industry.
Source Water Implications Associated with the Current Black Hills Mountain Pine-Beetle Infestation
The focus of this research is to quantify the effects on source water hydrology and supply due to the current mountain pine beetle (MPB) outbreak within the Black Hills of South Dakota. Currently, 390,000 acres of Rocky Mountain ponderosa pine within Black Hills National Forest (BHNF) has been impacted and is predicted to exponentially continue throughout the Black Hills of South Dakota and Wyoming, resulting in more than 1,000,000 acres of ponderosa pine die off. Without immediate implementation of expensive control measures (e.g., mechanical stand thinning, chemical treatments), the Black Hills will be more susceptible to expansive wildfires, loss of wildlife habitat and tourism revenue, and perhaps most importantly, potentially long term impairment of regional water resources. As land-surface cover changes, MPB outbreak is suspected to result in significant changes to local and regional surface water and groundwater resources as hydrologic patterns are altered. These effects may necessitate long-term changes to water management as both the quantity and quality of local and regional surface water and groundwater resource may be compromised. Recent studies for lodge pole pine MPB-impacted areas of Colorado, Wyoming, and British Columbia document dramatic changes with groundwater recharge zones and regional flow regimes, however there is much uncertainty how widespread ponderosa pine die off may impact Black Hills regional source water resources. Dr. Jim Stone's research group ( http://jamesstonesdsmt.wix.com/stone) in collaboration with USGS are investigating water quality changes for various MPB impacted watersheds within the Black Hills.
The focus of this research is to quantify the effects on source water hydrology and
supply due to the current mountain pine beetle (MPB) outbreak within the Black Hills
of South Dakota. Currently, 390,000 acres of Rocky Mountain ponderosa pine within
Black Hills National Forest (BHNF) has been impacted and is predicted to exponentially
continue throughout the Black Hills of South Dakota and Wyoming, resulting in more
than 1,000,000 acres of ponderosa pine die off. Without immediate implementation
of expensive control measures (e.g., mechanical stand thinning, chemical treatments),
the Black Hills will be more susceptible to expansive wildfires, loss of wildlife
habitat and tourism revenue, and perhaps most importantly, potentially long term impairment
of regional water resources. As land-surface cover changes, MPB outbreak is suspected
to result in significant changes to local and regional surface water and groundwater
resources as hydrologic patterns are altered. These effects may necessitate long-term
changes to water management as both the quantity and quality of local and regional
surface water and groundwater resource may be compromised. Recent studies for lodge
pole pine MPB-impacted areas of Colorado, Wyoming, and British Columbia document dramatic
changes with groundwater recharge zones and regional flow regimes, however there is
much uncertainty how widespread ponderosa pine die off may impact Black Hills regional
source water resources. Water Resources Research in Mongolia
Mongolia is a vast contrast in watershed environments from the vast Gobi Desert region
north to the glacial Altai Mountains. The climate is mostly arid to semi-arid with
annual average precipitation on the order of 350 mm. Rapid growth in the mining industry,
increasing domestic demands and development of irrigated agriculture is placing significant
demands on available water resources. Due to the characteristics of the Mongolian
climate, climate change is also a significant factor in water resources development
and management. Through his 2012-13 Fulbright Scholarship Dr. Kenner has developed
collaborative research with Soninkhishig Nergui, Head of Biology, National University
of Mongolia. The focus of their research is on developing environmental low flows
for major rivers in the Selenge River basin which represents approximately 70% of
the drainage area to Lake Baikal. The results of this work will provide critical information
for water resources development in Mongolia.
Additionally Dr. Kenner is working collaboratively with Oyuntungalaa at the Science
and Technological School at Erdenet and the Erdenet Cooper Mine. Water management
applications toward a water budget for the mining complex to minimize use of make-up
water (from the Selenge River) to the mine is being conducted. With the rapid growth
in demands and multiple project alternatives development and application of Integrated
Water Resources Management through Shared Vision Planning is being developed and applied
for the Orkhon River Basin.
Pine Beetle Impacts on Watershed Runoff
Ponderosa pine has a significant effect on the hydrologic budget of arid to semi-arid watersheds, with estimates of evapotranspiration accounting for up to 95 percent of precipitation. There is a need for studies of the hydrologic response of ponderosa pine forests, which are not a snow-dominated system, but are rather semi-arid settings where evapotranspiration potentially plays a greater role in the hydrologic budget. Current research to develop predictive models of springflow and streamflow that represent the hydrologic response of a forested watershed to pine beetle infestation is being conducted. The models will be developed for the Black Hills, with emphasis on the Rapid Creek watershed above Pactola Dam (Figures 1), which has four USGS streamflow gauges, one climate station, and two SNOTEL sites. The model of hydrologic response to pine beetle infestation will be adapted from the conceptual model for a sub-alpine forested watershed. Modeled response will be compared to responses documented in other Rocky Mountain watersheds. This conceptual model includes five stages of tree mortality that potentially span 10 years, during which trees change from infested with green-needles, dead with red-needles, gray with no needles, falling trees, and finally regeneration. Hydrologic responses include changes to water yield (fraction of precipitation that becomes runoff), peak flow, low flow and timing of flow events. We will also explore the potential for Landsat (particularly the new imagery from Landsat 8) to identify stages of tree mortality and validate the current mapping.
Ponderosa pine has a significant effect on the hydrologic budget of arid to semi-arid
watersheds, with estimates of evapotranspiration accounting for up to 95 percent of
precipitation. There is a need for studies of the hydrologic response of ponderosa
pine forests, which are not a snow-dominated system, but are rather semi-arid settings
where evapotranspiration potentially plays a greater role in the hydrologic budget.
Current research to develop predictive models of springflow and streamflow that represent
the hydrologic response of a forested watershed to pine beetle infestation is being
conducted. The models will be developed for the Black Hills, with emphasis on the
Rapid Creek watershed above Pactola Dam (Figures 1), which has four USGS streamflow
gauges, one climate station, and two SNOTEL sites. The model of hydrologic response
to pine beetle infestation will be adapted from the conceptual model for a sub-alpine
forested watershed. Modeled response will be compared to responses documented in other
Rocky Mountain watersheds. This conceptual model includes five stages of tree mortality
that potentially span 10 years, during which trees change from infested with green-needles,
dead with red-needles, gray with no needles, falling trees, and finally regeneration.
Hydrologic responses include changes to water yield (fraction of precipitation that
becomes runoff), peak flow, low flow and timing of flow events. We will also explore
the potential for Landsat (particularly the new imagery from Landsat 8) to identify
stages of tree mortality and validate the current mapping.- Dr. Sangchul Bang,
Professor - Dr. Soonkie Nam,
Assistant Professor - Dr. Marc Robinson,
Assistant Professor - Dr. Christopher Shearer,
Assistant Professor
Civil Engineering Materials
Structural Thermal Insulation Composites
One of NASA’s long-term goals is the establishment of a sustained human presence throughout the solar system. Achieving this goal is dependent on the development of extraterrestrial habitats that can support human life in extreme environments. Extreme temperatures and temperature fluctuations as well as pressure loads are perhaps the greatest challenge to engineers on this research project. This NASA funded research led by Dr. Marc Robinson includes material development and testing as well as finite element modeling to aid in the design and optimization of multifunctional composites for extraterrestrial habitat applications.
Microbes to Control Dust Storms in Asia
Dust storms have been problematic in Mongolia, China, Korea, and Japan for thousands of years. Dr. Sookie Bang and Dr. Sangchul Bang have recently obtained funding from Lotte Engineering and Construction of Korea for a project to use microbially induced calcite precipitation (MICP), also known as bacterial cement, in combination with soil fibers to strengthen and prevent the sand particles from becoming airborne. An added benefit of this approach is the production of ammonia by the bacteria. Ammonia acts as a fertilizer to aid vegetative growth and further reduces the potential for dust production. Lotte E&C has a memorandum of agreement with the Mongolian government to build an approximately 1,000 mile long rail line across Mongolia for transporting coal and minerals. This technique holds promise for protecting the rail line from sand storms.
Dust storms have been problematic in Mongolia, China, Korea, and Japan for thousands
of years. Dr. Sookie Bang and Dr. Sangchul Bang have recently obtained funding from
Lotte Engineering and Construction of Korea for a project to use microbially induced
calcite precipitation (MICP), also known as bacterial cement, in combination with
soil fibers to strengthen and prevent the sand particles from becoming airborne. An
added benefit of this approach is the production of ammonia by the bacteria. Ammonia
acts as a fertilizer to aid vegetative growth and further reduces the potential for
dust production. Lotte E&C has a memorandum of agreement with the Mongolian government
to build an approximately 1,000 mile long rail line across Mongolia for transporting
coal and minerals. This technique holds promise for protecting the rail line from
sand storms.Concrete-Filled Fiber Reinforced Polymer Tubes for Structural Applications
Concrete-filled fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) tubes for structural building elements represent a novel application of advanced composite materials. Concrete-filled FRP tubes have several advantages over conventional reinforced concrete elements. The FRP tube acts as stay-in-place formwork greatly reducing construction cost and time. In addition the tube serves as external reinforcing eliminating the need for internal steel reinforcing as well as providing concrete confinement and increased resistance to degradation in corrosive environments. This research, led by Dr. Marc Robinson, illustrates that full composite action between the concrete tubes and core could be developed to significantly increase the strength and stiffness of the beams.
Stabilization of Unpaved Roads with Enzymes
Unpaved roads compose a significant majority of roads in South Dakota. These roadways need regular and emergency maintenance, costing South Dakota local and county government a significant amount of money and endangering the safety of local drivers. The mechanical stability of stabilized gravel roadways depends on the type of stabilizers used and the soil and aggregate properties such as fines contents and plasticity index. In this project, Dr. Soonkie Nam is evaluating the mechanical behavior of unpaved roads that are mixed with bio-enzyme chemical agents. This project will provide detailed information on how to more efficiently use bio-enzymes in unpaved road stabilization.
Unpaved roads compose a significant majority of roads in South Dakota. These roadways
need regular and emergency maintenance, costing South Dakota local and county government
a significant amount of money and endangering the safety of local drivers. The mechanical
stability of stabilized gravel roadways depends on the type of stabilizers used and
the soil and aggregate properties such as fines contents and plasticity index. In
this project, Dr. Soonkie Nam is evaluating the mechanical behavior of unpaved roads
that are mixed with bio-enzyme chemical agents. This project will provide detailed
information on how to more efficiently use bio-enzymes in unpaved road stabilization.Development of Alkali-Activated Geopolymers Using Waste Materials
Geopolymers are produced by mixing an aluminosilicate precursor with a highly concentrated aqueous alkali activator to form a hardened binder. Geopolymers have broad applications in the construction field as a cost-effective and less carbon intensive alternative to ordinary portland cement (OPC) concrete due to their high dimensional stability and mechanical strength. This research, led by Dr. Chris Shearer, examines potentially suitable precursor materials from industrial waste streams to synthesize geopolymers. The geopolymer samples are assessed based upon their mechanical and durability performance. The structure and chemistry of the binders are also analyzed to determine their fundamental properties.
Geopolymers are produced by mixing an aluminosilicate precursor with a highly concentrated
aqueous alkali activator to form a hardened binder. Geopolymers have broad applications
in the construction field as a cost-effective and less carbon intensive alternative
to ordinary portland cement (OPC) concrete due to their high dimensional stability
and mechanical strength. This research, led by Dr. Chris Shearer, examines potentially
suitable precursor materials from industrial waste streams to synthesize geopolymers.
The geopolymer samples are assessed based upon their mechanical and durability performance.
The structure and chemistry of the binders are also analyzed to determine their fundamental
properties.Use of Energy By-Products as Supplementary Cementitious Materials
The use of finely divided pozzolanic or latent hydraulic materials as a partial replacement of cement in concrete can improve strength development and durability. This research, led by Dr. Chris Shearer, investigates new and existing types of energy by-products for use in concrete as supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs). Research has focused on two emerging energy by-products, biomass ash and co-fired fly ash. These ashes are generated by firing biomass and co-firing biomass with coal, respectively. The viability of these ashes for use as SCMs is evaluated by measuring their impact on the early- and late-age properties of concrete in addition to determining their compliance with existing standards. Furthermore, the chemical and physical characteristics of the ashes are linked to binder properties to better understand their effect on concrete performance.
Quality Base Material Produced Using Full Depth Reclamation on Existing Asphalt Pavement Structure
Full depth reclamation (FDR) is one of the three major types of asphalt recycling
techniques. FDR is considered when the pavement is highly deteriorated or has deep
cracking due to design deficiencies or an inadequate base. Other indications that
a road could use FDR are frequent transverse and lateral cracking, reflective cracking,
severe rutting and frost heaves. Studies have shown that asphalt recycling can cost
up to 50% less than conventional methods, therefore, it is a cost effective and environmentally
friendly method of asphalt pavement recycling. FDR consists of pulverizing the entire
asphalt pavement section along with a predetermined amount of underlying base, sub-base,
or sub-grade material to produce a new base course through compaction and addition
of additives, which is then overlaid with a new riding surface course. This process
can be done by pulverization and mixing in-place with a reclaimer/stabilizer machine
or by pulverization in-place then hauling the recycled material to a central plant
for mixing. This recently completed research was a $1.3 M project sponsored by the
Federal Highway Administration. Research scopes include: development of standardized
laboratory testing methods, development of FDR mix design guide, field tests, establishment
of laboratory testing and design procedures, and field performance monitoring.
Development of Geo-Biological Dust Control Technique
Dust control in construction sites, open pit mining areas, quarries, and unpaved roads has been an extremely important and sensitive issue because of the immediate effects of dusts on human living conditions and on efficient operations. This research addresses the potential use of microbial methods for suppressing dusts specifically in construction sites. Microbial method utilizing a common soil microorganism, Sporosarcina pasteurii, is well known for its environmentally friendliness. Our previous studies indicate that this microbial treatment provides strong, aggregated soil particles to prevent them from being airborne. The microbial dust suppression also persists for a much longer period, eliminating the need of frequent reapplication of dust suppressant associated with conventional methods. Main scopes of this research, supported by NSF, Samsung E&C, and Lotte E&C includes: (1) bench-scale biological laboratory study to identify the effectiveness and appropriateness of three microbial dust suppression methods on different types of soil and site conditions; (2) geotechnical laboratory study to provide necessary support for the biological study; and (3) full-scale field implementation to demonstrate the effectiveness of the developed microbial dust suppression technique. Eventually, this technology is expected to be applied to the minimization of global spread of desertification.
Dust control in construction sites, open pit mining areas, quarries, and unpaved roads
has been an extremely important and sensitive issue because of the immediate effects
of dusts on human living conditions and on efficient operations. This research addresses
the potential use of microbial methods for suppressing dusts specifically in construction
sites. Microbial method utilizing a common soil microorganism, Sporosarcina pasteurii,
is well known for its environmentally friendliness. Our previous studies indicate
that this microbial treatment provides strong, aggregated soil particles to prevent
them from being airborne. The microbial dust suppression also persists for a much
longer period, eliminating the need of frequent reapplication of dust suppressant
associated with conventional methods. Main scopes of this research, supported by
NSF, Samsung E&C, and Lotte E&C includes: (1) bench-scale biological laboratory study
to identify the effectiveness and appropriateness of three microbial dust suppression
methods on different types of soil and site conditions; (2) geotechnical laboratory
study to provide necessary support for the biological study; and (3) full-scale field
implementation to demonstrate the effectiveness of the developed microbial dust suppression
technique. Eventually, this technology is expected to be applied to the minimization
of global spread of desertification.Suction Piles and Suction Anchors for Off-shore Structures
An Innovative underwater permanent foundation system utilizing suction piles was introduced in the offshore industry in recent years. Since then, this new foundation system has been successfully used in numerous occasions on a variety of offshore structures in a wide range of environments due to its low cost, simplicity, efficiency, and reliability. Originally conceived as a retrievable mooring point for floating oil and gas production facilities in the open sea, suction piles are expected to provide a viable alternative to the conventional anchoring system that utilizes either drag embedment anchors, plate anchors, or drilled or driven piles. Suction piles typically have a large diameter with a relatively large diameter-to-length ratio. They are installed by applying a suction pressure inside the pile, which acts as an external surcharge to push the pile into the seafloor. They may be retrieved later by applying a positive pressure inside the pile. Most significant advantages of suction piles are (1) easy installation, (2) large bearing capacity, and (3) retrievability. Suction anchors have been developed to provide resistance against tension. They are buried at considerable depths of seafloor and placed with a suction pile. Suction anchors therefore can replace conventional tension resisting foundation systems, since they can provide much higher capacity with less cost. Research on suction piles and suction anchors has been supported in the past and currently by the US Navy, National Science Foundation, Daewoo E&C, and Korea Electric Power Corporation. Suction piles and suction anchors were designed and used for foundations of caisson-type breakwater, temporary mooring of immersed under-sea tunnel sections, and foundations for floating breakwater. Currently, 3-7 mega-watt off-shore windmill foundation is being designed with these systems.
An Innovative underwater permanent foundation system utilizing suction piles was introduced
in the offshore industry in recent years. Since then, this new foundation system
has been successfully used in numerous occasions on a variety of offshore structures
in a wide range of environments due to its low cost, simplicity, efficiency, and reliability.
Originally conceived as a retrievable mooring point for floating oil and gas production
facilities in the open sea, suction piles are expected to provide a viable alternative
to the conventional anchoring system that utilizes either drag embedment anchors,
plate anchors, or drilled or driven piles. Suction piles typically have a large diameter
with a relatively large diameter-to-length ratio. They are installed by applying
a suction pressure inside the pile, which acts as an external surcharge to push the
pile into the seafloor. They may be retrieved later by applying a positive pressure
inside the pile. Most significant advantages of suction piles are (1) easy installation,
(2) large bearing capacity, and (3) retrievability. Suction anchors have been developed
to provide resistance against tension. They are buried at considerable depths of
seafloor and placed with a suction pile. Suction anchors therefore can replace conventional
tension resisting foundation systems, since they can provide much higher capacity
with less cost. Research on suction piles and suction anchors has been supported
in the past and currently by the US Navy, National Science Foundation, Daewoo E&C,
and Korea Electric Power Corporation. Suction piles and suction anchors were designed
and used for foundations of caisson-type breakwater, temporary mooring of immersed
under-sea tunnel sections, and foundations for floating breakwater. Currently, 3-7
mega-watt off-shore windmill foundation is being designed with these systems.Riverbank Erosion and Stability on the Missouri River
The increasing number of extreme climate events is ultimately responsible for severe river flow conditions that cause drought, flooding, and freezing. These conditions alter the hydraulic and geotechnical properties of both the river flow and riverbanks, and eventually make riverbanks more susceptible to bank erosion and mass failure. In South Dakota, sections of the Missouri River have experienced significant loss of riverbanks due to erosion and mass failure, directly affecting several local communities including a Native American tribe. A research team led by Dr. Soonkie Nam at South Dakota Mines has teamed up with USGS researchers to investigate the riverbanks near Lower Brule, SD. In situ and laboratory geotechnical and hydraulic tests are being performed to identify the major factors responsible for the erosion and bank failures, and numerical analysis models that take into account unsaturated soil properties are currently being considered.
The increasing number of extreme climate events is ultimately responsible for severe
river flow conditions that cause drought, flooding, and freezing. These conditions
alter the hydraulic and geotechnical properties of both the river flow and riverbanks,
and eventually make riverbanks more susceptible to bank erosion and mass failure.
In South Dakota, sections of the Missouri River have experienced significant loss
of riverbanks due to erosion and mass failure, directly affecting several local communities
including a Native American tribe. A research team led by Dr. Soonkie Nam at South
Dakota Mines has teamed up with USGS researchers to investigate the riverbanks near
Lower Brule, SD. In situ and laboratory geotechnical and hydraulic tests are being
performed to identify the major factors responsible for the erosion and bank failures,
and numerical analysis models that take into account unsaturated soil properties are
currently being considered.Materials Testing for Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design
The Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide (MEPDG) has been developed for a new pavement design and analysis tool that requires new design parameters. This study is designed to determine the resilient modulus (Mr) and dynamic modulus (E*) values for typical soil and construction materials used in the state and will eventually lead to the creation of a comprehensive database containing pertinent material input variables that will be available for future mechanistic-empirical designs. The research group led by Dr. Soonkie Nam and Dr. Lance Roberts have begun testing samples of subgrade materials, hot mix asphalt (HMA), and warm mix asphalt (WMA) from across South Dakota. South Dakota Mines recently acquired a state-of-the-art Asphalt Mixture Performance Tester (AMPT; also known as a Simple Performance Tester) that has the ability to perform resilient modulus, dynamic modulus, and repeated load triaxial tests utilizing custom designed operational software.
TheImprovement of Engineering Properties of Soil and Agricultural By-products
The need to acquire good quality soil is a major factor contributing to higher construction costs. Improving substandard soils with stabilizing agents has proven to be both practical and economical for many types of earth works. Multiple options have been proposed for the chemical stabilization of soils, several of which have been successfully demonstrated in engineering projects. However, the chemicals used may not be environmentally friendly and can create secondary issues such as the corrosion of contacting materials and the leaching of chemicals into the subsoil, groundwater and aquifers. Developing new stabilizing agents that improve the mechanical behavior of problematic soils but have only a minimal environmental impact has long been a goal for researchers. The primary objective of this study is therefore to study the mechanical, chemical and biological characteristics of substandard soils mixed with agricultural by-products. The preliminary results indicate that shear strength does indeed increase due to the addition of this material, highlighting the potential utility of further research on the application of agricultural by-products in soil improvement.
The need to acquire good quality soil is a major factor contributing to higher construction
costs. Improving substandard soils with stabilizing agents has proven to be both practical
and economical for many types of earth works. Multiple options have been proposed
for the chemical stabilization of soils, several of which have been successfully demonstrated
in engineering projects. However, the chemicals used may not be environmentally friendly
and can create secondary issues such as the corrosion of contacting materials and
the leaching of chemicals into the subsoil, groundwater and aquifers. Developing new
stabilizing agents that improve the mechanical behavior of problematic soils but have
only a minimal environmental impact has long been a goal for researchers. The primary
objective of this study is therefore to study the mechanical, chemical and biological
characteristics of substandard soils mixed with agricultural by-products. The preliminary
results indicate that shear strength does indeed increase due to the addition of this
material, highlighting the potential utility of further research on the application
of agricultural by-products in soil improvement.
- Dr. Christopher Shearer,
Assistant Professor
STEM Education in Civil and Environmental Engineering
To promote sustainable water resource management on the Pine Ridge Reservation, Drs. Jennifer Benning, Scott Kenner and Foster Sawyer (GeolE) and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Environmental Protection Program partnered together on a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) education grant for the protection of water resources on the reservation. This partnership represents an innovative co-management approach towards protection of water resources through education. A multi-tiered environmental education project was created with the aim of advancing critical watershed management components. Solutions were generated through sustainable localized adaptation strategy and provided for the integration of numerous organizations’ resources while facilitating accomplishment of each organization’s mission. As a result of this project higher-order technical watershed management processes been integrated to fill needs within the Oglala Sioux Tribe Non-Point Source management plan.
Pre-engineering Collaboration with Oglala Lakota College (OLC)
This NSF supported project establishes collaborative offerings of gateway and bottleneck courses that occur in the first two years of engineering curricula coupled with hands-on laboratory and service learning experiences. Courses are being offered using a combination of lectures, laboratories, and online distant deliveries through the 11 OLC Centers on the Pine Ridge Reservation. The primary project objective is to increase recruitment and retention of Native American students in pre-engineering and engineering programs across South Dakota. Civil engineering, geological engineering, and environmental engineering fields are the focus of this pilot project. Curricula designed for the program include classroom instruction at OLC, South Dakota Mines, and SDSU, real world experiences through service learning projects, and extensive interaction with cultural and community leaders. Contact Dr. Foster Sawyer (Dept of Geology and Geological Engineering) for more information.
This NSF supported project establishes collaborative offerings of gateway and bottleneck
courses that occur in the first two years of engineering curricula coupled with hands-on
laboratory and service learning experiences. Courses are being offered using a combination
of lectures, laboratories, and online distant deliveries through the 11 OLC Centers
on the Pine Ridge Reservation. The primary project objective is to increase recruitment
and retention of Native American students in pre-engineering and engineering programs
across South Dakota. Civil engineering, geological engineering, and environmental
engineering fields are the focus of this pilot project. Curricula designed for the
program include classroom instruction at OLC, South Dakota Mines, and SDSU, real world
experiences through service learning projects, and extensive interaction with cultural
and community leaders. Contact Dr. Foster Sawyer (Dept of Geology and Geological Engineering)
for more information.Pedagogy into Practice: Teaching Environmental Design through the Native American Sustainable Housing Initiative
This NSF supported project establishes collaborative offerings of gateway and bottleneck courses that occur in the first two years of engineering curricula coupled with hands-on laboratory and service learning experiences. Courses are being offered using a combination of lectures, laboratories, and online distant deliveries through the 11 OLC Centers on the Pine Ridge Reservation. The primary project objective is to increase recruitment and retention of Native American students in pre-engineering and engineering programs across South Dakota. Civil engineering, geological engineering, and environmental engineering fields are the focus of this pilot project. Curricula designed for the program include classroom instruction at OLC, South Dakota Mines, and SDSU, real world experiences through service learning projects, and extensive interaction with cultural and community leaders. Contact Dr. Foster Sawyer (Dept of Geology and Geological Engineering) for more information.
This NSF supported project establishes collaborative offerings of gateway and bottleneck
courses that occur in the first two years of engineering curricula coupled with hands-on
laboratory and service learning experiences. Courses are being offered using a combination
of lectures, laboratories, and online distant deliveries through the 11 OLC Centers
on the Pine Ridge Reservation. The primary project objective is to increase recruitment
and retention of Native American students in pre-engineering and engineering programs
across South Dakota. Civil engineering, geological engineering, and environmental
engineering fields are the focus of this pilot project. Curricula designed for the
program include classroom instruction at OLC, South Dakota Mines, and SDSU, real world
experiences through service learning projects, and extensive interaction with cultural
and community leaders. Contact Dr. Foster Sawyer (Dept of Geology and Geological Engineering)
for more information.Research Facilities
A10 Storm Penetrating Aircraft
Since the retirement of the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (South Dakota Mines) storm-penetrating T-28 research aircraft in 2004, the national and international storm research communities have been without means of obtaining in-situ measurements of thunderstorm processes. In 2010 the National Science Foundation (NSF) took steps to remedy this. The NSF funded the Center for Interdisciplinary Remotely Piloted Aircraft Studies (CIRPAS) at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA, to requisition a Fairchild A-10 from the US Air Force. A year later, the USAF agreed to lend a mothballed A-10 to the US Navy. The NSF funds provided to CIRPAS will cover regeneration, reinforcement for storm penetration, and instrumentation for scientific research. Andy Detwiler, Donna Kliche, and other scientists and graduate research assistants at South Dakota Mines, will collaborate with CIRPAS to operate the aircraft as a national facility in support of national and international storm research projects.
Laboratory Facilities
The department has recently acquired a set of research-grade portable surface weather
observing stations that measure temperature, moisture, pressure, solar radiation,
wind speed, and wind direction. One of the stations also includes a tipping bucket
rain gauge to measure rainfall. These stations provide students with hands-on experience
collecting and analyzing weather data and can be deployed to study mesoscale weather
patterns in the Black Hills region.
The atmospheric and environmental sciences department has a long history of numerical
modeling expertise. To this end, we maintain a fleet of high-performance computing
platforms capable of running state-of-the-art numerical weather prediction models
such as the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model developed by the National
Center for Atmospheric Research. This includes a high resolution forecast version
of the WRF model being run in real-time for the Black Hills region in western South
Dakota and versions of WRF adapted for regional climate and coupled hydrologic modeling.
Additionally, the department has a Unix computer lab for student use; access to University
of Colorado and NCAR supercomputing resources in collaboration with the USGS; a RAID
server for data storage; and access to an LDM data feed that brings in real-time weather
data from the National Weather Service for forecasting and research use.
Biogeochemistry Core Facility (BCF)
Being competitive in today's world of engineering requires keeping up with rapidly changing technology. The Biogeochemistry Core Facility contains modern, cutting-edge instrumentation to support student and faculty ecological and environmental research. Access to the BCF gives graduate and undergraduate students the tools needed to produce the highest-quality research, and the opportunity to acquire experience in operating some of today's most sophisticated analytical instruments.
The BCF Lab is an interdepartmental facility, funded in part by the following: NSF EPSCoR, SD Center for Biocomplexity, The Department of Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences at South Dakota Mines, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, NSF Major Research Instrumentation, and PACE.
Lab Contacts
- Dr. Lisa Kunza, Assistant Professor, Dept. of Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences, Phone: (605) 394-2449; Fax: (605) 394-6061
- Dr. James Stone, Dept. Head, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Phone: (605) 394-2443; Fax: (605) 394-5171;
- Dr. Larry Stetler, Professor, Dept. of Geology and Geological Engineering, Phone: (605) 394-2464;
- Dr. Edward Duke, Professor/Manager of Analytical Services Engineering & Mining Experiment Station, Institute of Multi-scale Material Developments and Processes, Phone: (605) 394-2388;
Equipment
For information on the use of this equipment, please contact us at 605-394-2291 or Dr. James Stone at (605) 394-2443.
Project Listing
- Does Differential Nutrient Limitation Enhance Ecosystem Energy Throughput?
- Role of Tribal Ecological Knowledge in dealing with water quality violations and global environmental change
- Establishing a Biogeochemistry Core Facility
- Composition of communities of methane-oxidizing bacteria in soils of Ponderosa Pine forests and their response to wildfires (Co-PI, with D Bergman – BHSU)
- Heavy Metal Inhibition During Biological Fe(III) Reduction: The Effect of Natural Organic Matter
- Acquisition of equipment cluster to strengthen a multi-disciplinary regional Biogeochemistry Core Facility for research and training
- Acquisition of laboratory and field instrumentation
Education and Outreach
The BCF facilitates:
- Development and implementation of new courses in terrestrial and aquatic biogeochemistry
- Better and efficient implementation of existing courses in CEE and IAS
- Research training of undergraduate and graduate students
- Development of enterprise teams on environmental issues
- Support implementation of ABET-mandated changes in engineering criteria to include environmental effects of engineering actions
Outreach:
- Promote collaborations among regional institutions
- Enhance recruitment and retention of American Indian students at South Dakota Mines in science and engineering disciplines
- Provide a facility to train high school teachers, (e.g. through RET) in environmental projects for enhancing the quality of high school education.
- Collaboration with local environmental companies
As we look to the future, the staff are working to develop additional unique opportunities associated with our region that leverage our historical strengths and developing expertise. For example, the T-28, a specialized aircraft designed to penetrate and investigate severe storms, operated for more than 30 years by IAS scientists for the NSF, retired in 2004. A Fairchild A-10 "Warthog", currently undergoing outfitting for scientific research into severe storms, is replacing the T-28. Our scientists are collaborating with the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA to conduct national and international storm research projects.
Department Offerings
All of the department's scientists also have a teaching load throughout the school year. The AES Program offers a minor in atmospheric sciences through the bachelor of science in atmospheric sciences program, an MS degree in atmospheric and environmental sciences, and a PhD program in atmospheric and environmental sciences. Graduate students are employed as research assistants on various projects.
The new knowledge developed as a result of basic research about the earth's biogeochemical system is transformed by atmospheric and environmental sciences students and scientists into practical applications. For example, information gained through linked observations and models in the Black Hills is being used to predict when and where lightning-caused fires are likely to occur. In addition, our scientists and students make field measurements during active fires using portable, solar-powered mesonet stations specifically deployed in the area of the fire, which are integrated with larger-scale observations and models generated and maintained by the National Weather Service in order to help deploy fire-fighting resources for maximum safety and effectiveness.
Our department strives to improve our understanding of the earth's natural ecosystems using observations made on a variety of platforms, such as a microwave radiometer, aircraft, and atmospheric soundings. These observations focus on specific phenomena such as lightning and severe storms and are linked to complex numerical models used to predict short- and long-term system behavior. Current modeling studies focus on hailstorms, thunderstorm electrification (including lightning), precipitation processes, their modification by cloud seeding, winter orographic clouds, and marine boundary-layer clouds.
Mesoscale Research
Mesoscale research has focused on the study of factors governing the initiation and organization of convective storms, mesoscale cloud systems, and topographic effects on airflow and precipitation. Recent work has included analysis of severe wind-producing convective storms and observational studies of bow echoes and supercell storms carried out jointly with the National Weather Service, Rapid City, to increase the understanding of these storms and to improve forecasting.
Another area of continuing research is the study of the influences of surface conditions, especially moisture availability, on mesoscale weather and climate. Related numerical modeling studies include the coupling of atmospheric, surface, and subsurface hydrologic processes in mesoscale models. Work is underway on remote sensing of land surface properties and processes and the use of remotely sensed data to initialize mesoscale models. New areas of work include the application of high-resolution mesoscale models to incident meteorology (as in wildfires) and local-scale ensemble forecasting. Global cloud and aerosol properties are being retrieved from satellite data, and their influence upon the earth's radiation budget and climate change is under study. Access to the supercomputer facilities at the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado, has been of great value in running the larger cloud models.
In our region
In order to leverage scientific and intellectual resources in the region, our faculty scientists collaborate with many partnering institutions such as the National Center for Atmospheric Research and the EROS Data Center, and with several Tribal Colleges, including Sinte Gleska and Oglala Lakota Colleges. Unique facilities associated with these collaborations include a tethered balloon system operated by department students and scientists for observing atmospheric chemistry profiles, and ground and aircraft-based LIDAR systems owned and operated by OLC and a local business enterprise, respectively. In addition, our students often serve as interns at the local National Weather Service Office, located adjacent to campus and linked to our department through a fiberoptic cable.