CEE Project #1: Tsunami impact on breakwaters and seawalls
Faculty Mentor: Jeremy Bricker (jeremydb@umich.edu)
Research Mode: In lab or hybrid, up to the student.
Prerequisites: Completed basic physics, statics/dynamics. Completed or taking fluid mechanics or similar course. Completion of mechanics of materials (solid/structural mechanics) is suggested but not required.
Project Description:
During the 2011 Japan tsunami, many seawalls and breakwaters failed because they were overflowed by the tsunami. We are developing design guidelines for seawalls and breakwaters to be resilient against tsunami overflow and impact. This requires laboratory experiments in a hydraulic open channel flume, where we measure forces, torques, and pressures applied on small-scale models of breakwaters and seawalls. We also run numerical simulations (Computational Fluid Dynamics, CFD) to scale results up from laboratory to field size. UROP students will assist the PhD student setting up the laboratory models, take measurements in the laboratory, analyze laboratory data, and draft reports of their results. Students with significant computer programming experience can also be involved in running and analyzing CFD simulations.
- Set up laboratory models of breakwater and seawall in the open channel flume. Measure the setup to ensure conformity with design of experiment.
- Configure data acquisition system to measure pressure, force, and torque at the desired timing and sensitivity.
- Assist the PhD student by operating pumps and gates in the flume to create flow simulating tsunami.
- Plot acquired data in Excel, Matlab, Python, or similar software, and process data to remove outliers and errors.
- Analyze results to compare with hydraulics and structural theory.
- Write a technical report to present the results. Also present results visually and orally to research team.
- Students with strong computer programming skills can replace the laboratory experiments with CFD simulations, if they want.
CEE Project #2: Fragility of buildings subject to storm surge induced flooding
Faculty Advisor: Jeremy Bricker (jeremydb@umich.edu)
Research Mode: In lab or hybrid, up to the student.
Prerequisites: Completed basic physics, statics/dynamics. Completed or taking fluid mechanics or similar course. Completion of mechanics of materials (solid/structural mechanics) is suggested but not required.
Project Description: Hurricane storm surge causes extensive damage to buildings. However, there is a large uncertainty about how likely buildings are to survive hurricanes due to a lack of data about actual flood forces these buildings are exposed to, and a similar uncertainly about correlation with resulting damages. In this project, we conduct numerical flood simulations using the Delft-3D inundation model to hindcast the storm surge and waves generated by Hurricane Irma, which made landfall in Florida in 2017. The student will independently learn how to setup and run the inundation model, analyze results, and correlate with damage data. Some of this will be done in cooperation with a PhD student in the lab, but the student must be able to work independently. Programming and/or computer skills are useful.
CEE Project #3: Detection of Regulated and Unregulated Disinfection Byproducts in Water
Faculty Advisor: Alex Szczuka (aszczuka@umich.edu)
Research Mode: In lab
Project Description: Drinking water disinfection is one of the greatest public health achievements of the twentieth century. Disinfectants readily remove disease-causing pathogens in our water and help prevent millions of deaths from waterborne illnesses. However, when disinfectants are applied to water, disinfection byproducts, which are probable carcinogens, can form. While some classes of disinfection byproducts are regulated in drinking water, toxicologists have found that disinfection byproducts that are not regulated in drinking water can be orders of magnitude more toxic to cells than regulated disinfection byproducts. In this project, we will develop methods to detect both regulated and unregulated disinfection byproducts in water, and explore how alternative disinfectants affect disinfection byproduct formation.
CEE Project #4: Disinfection of Viral Nucleic Acids
Faculty Advisor: Krista Wigginton (kwigg@umich.edu)
Postdoctoral Mentor: Alex Szczuka (aszczuka@umich.edu)
Research Mode: In lab
Project Description: Disinfectants are used ubiquitously to inactivate viruses on surfaces, in water treatment, and in food processing. To do so, disinfectants target various components of viruses, including viral nucleic acids (e.g. DNA/RNA). The rate of reaction of disinfectants with nucleic acids, and hence the rate of virus inactivation, can vary based on the environment that viruses are in. In this project, we will use both analytical chemistry and microbiology techniques to determine how disinfectants affect nucleic acids in viruses in different environments.
CEE Project #5: Design and Manufacturing of Large-Scale Deployable Structures
Faculty Mentor: Evgueni Filipov (filipov@umich.edu)
Research Mode: In Lab & Hybrid
Project Description: Deployable structures that use the principles of origami could lead to applications in multiple scales and disciplines from biomedicine to space exploration. In architecture and civil engineering reconfigurable facades could adapt to the environment, and rapidly deployable shelters and bridges could be used for disaster relief efforts. The objective of this project will be to explore how to scale up principles of origami for structural engineering applications. The student will first create an analytical model to study the motion and geometry of an origami-inspired deployable structure. Next, a laser cutter will be used to fabricate panels for a scaled prototype of the structure. These individual panels will then be interconnected with metallic or plastic hinges that allow for deployment and reconfiguration. The systems will be constructed to minimize the stowed volume while allowing for a reliable deployment that requires minimum force input. Time permitting, the student will conduct experimental testing to quantify the stiffness of different deployable systems.
CEE Project #6: Laboratory and In-Situ Image Analysis for Soils
Faculty Mentor: Roman D Hryciw, romanh@umich.edu)
Prerequisites: Junior Standing, CEE 345
Project Description: The geotechnical image analysis group in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department will be developing image analysis tools for characterizing soils in-situ by a Vision Cone Penetrometer (VisCPT). The SURE student will assist the faculty and a PhD student with collection of data and its analysis. The research will also require literature review and meetings with research group participants. It is envisioned that the project will lead to at least one conference and one journal paper co-authored by the SURE student.
