Laboratories
Laboratories are essential ingredients of both teaching and research activities. Teaching laboratories offer a hands-on experience for both undergraduate and graduate students to work with specialized equipment. Our research laboratories are equiped with state-of-the-art equipment and instruments to allow analysis and research in all aspects of civil engineering.
Advanced Transportation Management Laboratory (SEB 218)
The Advanced Transportation Laboratory supports research efforts in freeway and transportation system surveillance, evaluation, and control. The laboratory is the endpoint of a fiber-optic connection to the Georgia Department of Transportation NaviGAtor transportation management system. The laboratory houses data base servers collecting and archiving 20-second freeway flows, speeds, and occupancies. The laboratory also houses a remote control station that provides access to the pan-tilt-zoom cameras along the entire Atlanta freeway system.
Environmental biotechnology laboratory (DEEL/ES&T)
Environmental biotechnology laboratory (DEEL/ES&T) houses instrumentation available for research on biotransformation of toxic compounds as well as the enrichment of microorganisms indigenous to soil and sediment systems with unique degradative capabilities. Research on in-situ bioremediation and phytoremediation of contaminated sites and design of innovative bioreactors for industrial and hazardous wastes is conducted.
Environmental Computational Labs (ES&T)
A variety of computational studies, including large-scale environmental modeling and computational chemistry on environmental organics, is supported by a system of high performance workstations, networked over fiber optic lines to allow parallel, distributed computing as well as high bandwidth access to supercomputer facilities. In addition to the workstations, a variety of PCs support physical experiments, data analysis, and other activities. These resources are available for both research and educational activities.
Environmental Hydrodynamics Laboratory (GT-SAV)
The Environmental Hydrodynamics Laboratory, located at GT-Savannah, houses an array of sensors for description of fluid mechanics - water, primarily - in natural environments: rivers, lakes, estuaries, and coastal and ocean environments. The equipment list includes: Two Acoustic Doppler current profilers for measurement of waves and currents, several non-directional wave gauges, Triaxys wave buoy with Iridium satellite telemetry for measurement of directional wave energy spectra, underwater tagging and relocating equipment, a GPS surveying system, a combination GPS/fathometer for navigation, a survey-grade digital acoustic fathometer, underwater digital imaging equipment (still + video), several digital video systems, several small boats on trailers, a 6 ft x 12 ft enclosed trailer with power, lights, and air conditioning for equipment transport, wetsuits, drysuits, and other diving equipment, underwater communications gear, sensors for quantification of water quality, microscope, numerous computers for lab and field use.
Environmental Science & Engineering Instrumentation laboratories (ES&T and DEEL).
Major analytical equipment supporting laboratory capabilities in EnvE are located in specialized and general labs throughout DEEL and ES&T. The instrumentation includes microcomputer-controlled gas chromatographs equipped with auto-samplers and a variety of detectors including FID, ECD, TCD, ELCD, PID, FPD, and Mass Spectrometer. A GC/MS/MS with EI/CI options and a sample preconcentration trap provides an advanced technology for trace organic pollutant analysis. Ion and liquid chromatographs with a computer-controlled auto-sampler and DAD and fluorescence detectors are available. An HPLC with ELCD detector provides a unique method to analyze compounds, such as surfactants, which cannot be satisfactorily detected with other methods. A fully automated Inductively Coupled Plasma/Mass Spectrometer (ICP/MS) combined with a laser ablation sampler and an ultrasonic nebulizer and a flow injection mercury spectrometer are available. A micropore analyzer and an automatic mercury porosimeter in the laboratory enable measurements of adsorption isotherms and surface-area and pore-size distributions, contained in powdered or bulk samples to be made. Other instruments in the laboratory are a liquid scintillation counter, a capillary electrophoresis chromatograph, atomic absorption spectrometers, organic carbon and TOX analyzers, infrared and fluorescence spectrophotometers, laser particle analyzers, and a polarograph. Access to high resolution mass spectrometers, scanning electron microscopes, FTNMR spectrometers, neutron activation analytical instrumentation and LC/MS is available.
EPITOME (SEB 328)
Engineering Platforms for Intelligent Tutoring and Multimedia Experiences (EPITOME) Laboratory This laboratory comprises research and assessment activities in intelligent tutoring and intelligent learning environments for engineering disciplines. It is composed of a dedicated space with multimedia servers and Sun, PC, and Macintosh workstations with video capture, editing, and overlay capabilities. It is one of the partner units within the ECDC initiative.
GWRI Remote Sensing Laboratory
The remote sensing laboratory at the Georgia Water Resources Institute was established in 1999 with funding from the Georgia Research Alliance. The facility consists of two satellite tracking antennas, a computer that manages the acquisition of data and their visualization and a storage system where satellite images are archived for use in research projects. Data are received from geo-stationary as well as polar orbiting satellites. Geo-stationary satellites can cover North and South America (GOES-8 and GOES-9), and provide data in the visible, near-infrared, water vapor, and thermal infrared bands. NOAA polar orbiting satellites provide high resolution visible, near-infrared, water vapor, and thermal infrared images every 4 hours. They also provide information on winds and atmospheric pressure over the windows of coverage. This data base can be accessed very easily and is currently used for the development and testing of remote sensing methods for hydro-meteorological variables. One such project is the development of an operational rainfall estimation and flood forecasting system for all major Georgia basins. Satellite data from the GWRI facility is used for developing new precipitation estimation and drought monitoring, assessment, and forecasting methods.
Hydraulics Laboratory (Mason 114)
The Hydraulics Laboratory, located in Mason 114-116 supports CEE 4200-Hydraulic Engineering, which is required of all undergraduates. This laboratory facilitates hands-on evaluations of fluid mechanics fundamentals and theories which are presented in the lecture portion of CEE 4200. Equipment includes a Venturi meter with total and static pressure taps, a jet-impact apparatus to demonstrate conservation of momentum, pipe friction apparatus for air, water, and oil flows for measuring the head loss and velocity profile for a range Reynolds numbers, flumes to demonstrate basic open channel flow principles (including hydraulic jumps), a falling sphere apparatus for coefficient of drag measurements and similitude, a wind tunnel for pressure distribution measurements, and a pump stand with computer control and data acquisition. The Hydraulics Laboratory also houses extensive research facilities including a large constant-head tank, a 4.3-m wide sediment scour flume, a 24-m long tilting flume, a recirculating flume for cohesive sediment resuspension, a recirculating salt-water flume, a density-stratified towing tank, and a 24-m long wave tank. Laboratory measurement techniques and equipment include Acoustic Doppler Velocimetry (ADV), Laser Doppler Velocimetry (LDV), Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV), Laser Induced Fluorescence (LIF), and three-dimensional visualization. This equipment and instrumentation is utilized in research on topics such as bridge foundation scour by rivers, sedimentation tank design, cohesive sediment resuspension, and open channel flow turbulence and its influence on aquatic organism tracking behavior.
In-situ Testing Laboratory (Mason 238)
The In-Situ Testing Laboratory maintains a full suite of in-situ testing equipment, including a GeoStar cone rig. This has a 20-tonne capacity hydraulic system mounted on a 6-tonne flatbed truck with twin earth anchors to achieve great push forces and depths. With this equipment, we have penetrated to depths of over 30+ meters in Alabama, South Carolina, Missouri, Arkansas, and Tennessee. Our arsenal of probes includes a standard 35-mm diameter electric piezocone, a 44-mm piezocone, miniature friction cone, three electronic seismic piezocone penetrometers (5-, 10-, and 15-tonne capacities), a dielectric piezocone, new resistivity module, flat plate dilatometer system, monocell pressuremeter, and field vanes. Two commercial field computers are used with the seismic penetrometers and two .Rube-Goldberg. Data acquisitions that are homemade and work off of laptops are available, as well. We just acquired a new electric A.P. van den Berg dual-element piezocone and Geoprobe Systems has donated a complete membrane interface probe (MIP) system for geoenvironmental sampling. GT also maintains a hydropunch, downhole resistivity probe, surface resistivity systems, ground penetrating radar, magnetic survey system, crosshole geophone array, drill rods, field data acquisition boards, computers, and a hand-portable hydraulic actuator and pump station. There is a complete set of downhole and crosshole geophone equipment with a downhole hammer, geophysical seismographs, and three HP spectrum analyzers.
Infrastructure Environmental Testing Chambers (Structural Lab)
The School operates and maintains several unique, large environmental chambers suitable for studying full size structural components under various combinations of loading and environmental conditions. The primary chamber is 19 ft long, 13 ft wide and 12 ft high with cyclic temperature range from 40F to 180F, relative humidity range from 20% to 95%, fresh and salt water spray, and UV exposure. A secondary chamber has a 400 sqft room having the ability to maintain constant temperature and humidity level for long-term material and structural component evaluation, a 1400 sqft concrete mixing and preparation facility with full ASTM test apparatus, plus a fog room, and polymer composites preparation room, and other material and testing areas.
Joint ORNL/GT Computational Laboratory
The School of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) at Georgia Tech hosts a Joint ORNL/GIT Faculty. Dr. Costas Tsouris is a research Professor in EnvE and has research laboratories in ES&T/DEEL. Dr. Tsouris conducts research on carbon sequestration at ORNL using a high pressure vessel simulating the deep ocean (Seafloor Process Simulator) and collaborates with CEE faculty on interface and colloid science using neutron scattering. Georgia Tech is one of the seven Core Universities of Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). This affiliation facilitates collaboration between ORNL research scientists and engineers with Georgia Tech faculty and initiation of Joint Faculty Appointments between the two institutions. It also opens the door for Georgia Tech faculty to use state-of-the-art multimillion-dollar facilities available at ORNL including the High-Flux Isotope Reactor and Spallation Neutron Source (under construction) for neutron-scattering studies, X-ray machines for X-ray scattering studies, the worlds fastest computer (under construction) for teraflop computations, the Nano-phase Materials Center (under construction) for nanoscience/nanotechnology studies, and the High-Temperature Materials Laboratory. Neutron and X-ray scattering facilities may be used to investigate materials, biomaterials, and interfaces including the structure of proteins and the electrical double layer which is very important in several environmental processes. The driving force for the worlds fastest computer at ORNL is the prediction of climate change, a subject studied by environmental engineers and scientists. The emerging of nanomaterials brings about new technological breakthroughs but also health concerns, which can be studied at the Nano-phase Materials Center.
Laboratory for Computational Hydrodynamics and Biofluids (Mason 232)
The Laboratory for Computational Hydrodynamics and Biofluids engages in cutting-edge research aimed at developing new computational fluid dynamics techniques that allow us to model, simulate, and elucidate the rich physics of a broad range of problems in hydrodynamics, hydraulics, and at the intersection between fluid mechanics and biology. Our ongoing work focuses on problems in renewable and environmentally friendly energy generation systems, river hydraulics, environmental fluid mechanics, cardiovascular hemodynamics, the fluid mechanics of swimming and flying across scales (from fish to plankton and birds to insects), and the study of fluid transport and mixing via chaotic advection. The laboratory is housed in 232 Mason. Our computational and visualization facilities consist of a 56-CPU Beowulf cluster, which is shared with the Georgia Tech Cardiovascular Fluid Mechanics Laboratory, a 20-CPU Beowulf cluster, a Silicon Graphics Origin 2000 with 8 CPUs, several top of the line dual-CPU PCs, a mass storage facility with well over 1.5 Terabyte capacity for data analysis and visualization, and a Tektronics Phaser 560 color laser printer.
http://www.ce.gatech.edu/~fs30/GroupWebpage/Introduction.htm
Laser-Induced Fluorescence Laboratory (Mason 114)
Located in the hydraulics laboratory, this specialized laboratory is used for demonstrations of turbulent mixing in CEE6261, Environmental Fluid Mechanics, and for graduate research. The laboratory houses specially built instrumentation that enables mapping of turbulent mixing processes in fluids in three-dimensions through use of laser-induced fluorescence.
Materials Testing Laboratory (Mason 508)
The Materials Testing Laboratory, located in Mason 508B, supports CEE 3020-Civil Engineering Materials, which is required of all undergraduates. Equipment housed in this space and used for the laboratory portion of CEE 3020 includes two 22-kip capacity, screw-driven, universal test frames with computer control, one 120-kip capacity, hydraulic universal frame with computer control, one 400-kip capacity compression testing machine, Charpy impact tester, Rockwell Hardness tester, de-ionized water system, two ovens, and an insulated sieve shaker for sieve analysis. Additional support equipment, including testing fixtures for the frames, extensometers, load cells, computers, and other equipment is housed in this space.
Mechanics of Materials Lab (Mason 117)
The advanced Mechanics of Materials Lab (MoM Lab) at CEE is designed to test and evaluate the mechanical behavior of existing and innovative engineering materials. Contact and non-contact testing techniques are integrated to examine the thermo-mechanical response of coupon specimens and small structural components. The lab includes a servo-hydraulic test system capable of dynamic load application (55 kips). A Thermal Stress Analysis (TSA) system is installed for high-speed digital measurements of small changes in the temperature field of a loaded coupon. It consists of a sensitive infrared (IR) camera that is computer controlled and linked with a loading frame. The TSA-IR measurements can be correlated to a stress map. The MoM Lab is equipped with an automated Photoelastic Stress/Strain Analysis (PSSA) system used to measure the shear strain of coated coupons. An automatic polariscope measures the strain-induced birefringence to create a full-field strain map. Another important capability of the MoM Lab is an integrated system for crack growth testing using the above systems and a class of mounted gages used to measure the length of a propagating crack
Nearshore Coastal Processes Laboratory (GT-SAV)
The Nearshore Coastal Processes Laboratory is located at GT Savannah. This laboratory supports ongoing research into physical processes on the open coast, in rivers and in estuaries. The equipment housed here includes several Linux workstations for numerical modeling, digital video cameras, Windows workstations for digital video capturing and editing and over a terabyte of disk storage space
Non-Destructive Evaluation Laboratory (Mason 296)
The nondestructive evaluation laboratory is one of a small number facilities in which both the optical generation and detection of elastic waves in solids can be investigated. The existing dual probe laser interferometer, that uses a 2 watt argon-ion laser, can be modified and upgraded with minimum effort to have the sensitivity and robustness necessary to make the proposed measurements. Generation of ultrasound is accomplished with either a 10 or a 450 mJ Nd:YAG laser. This equipment is housed in a secure room that includes a Melles Griot optical bench (5 ft by 12 ft).
http://www.ce.gatech.edu/research/MESL/
Particle characterization and analysis laboratory (DEEL/ES&T)
Particle characterization and analysis laboratory (DEEL/ES&T) houses instrumentation to support research into aggregation and deposition processes in aqueous systems. Dynamic and static light scattering measurements can be conducted using a photon correlation spectrophotometer, enabling determination of particle size distribution of suspensions of submicron particles and determination of fractal dimensions of colloidal aggregates.
Particulate Media Research Laboratory (Mason 299)
The Particulate Media Research Laboratory addresses the fundamental study of soils and subsurface processes. This laboratory focuses on the behavior of soils at the microscale, taking into consideration interparticle forces, fabric, mineralogy and geometry, energy loss and coupling mechanisms, and emergent multi-scale phenomena. Distinct laboratory devices and experimental procedures are used for micro and meso-scale experimentation. The research methodology is complemented with analytical models built from fundamental physical principles.
Physicochemical process laboratory (DEEL/ES&T)
This lab is equipped to perform various physicochemical process experiments including coagulation, chemical disinfection and membrane processes. Available instruments include jar-tester, ozone generator, automatic multi-tubular ozone reactor, dead-end filtration cell, cross-flow filtration cell, and granular activated carbon filter column. Major analytical instruments include particle size analyzer, zeta potentiometer, ion chromatography, and size exclusion chromatography.
Residues Lab (DEEL)
Residues from treatment processes, contaminated soils and sediments, and hazardous/solid wastes are researched in laboratories focused on ultimate disposal and recycling of hazardous wastes using solidification/stabilization technology and extraction and characterization of trace inorganic and organic contaminants. Biological and physicochemical processes in residues, soil, and sediments are examined to determine fate and effects of contaminants.
Rock, Fracture and BioMechanics Laboratory (Mason 247)
The Rock, Fracture and BioMechanics Laboratory studies fundamental and applied mechanical processes in geomaterials and geomaterial analogues. The laboratory includes two rooms, Mason 272 and 247. Mason 272 contains a dust and vibrationfree environment, while Mason 247 is used for larger experimental setups. Currently, Mason 272 hosts experiments with silicone replicas of human brains, to study their deformation due to applied internal and external loads, and to assist the imageguided constitutive modeling of brain tissue. The topics that are being investigated in Mason 247 include: (i) hydraulic fracturing of soft rocks, (ii) sand production from petroleum reservoirs, (iii) mechanisms of mixedmode (mode III) fracturing, (iv) and fracture mechanisms in compressive stress regimes. The major setups in Mason 247 consist of: (i) a largescale triaxial cell and a largescale steel cylinder, each inside their own load frame, and a stainless steel vessel inside a largescale highcapacity Instron load frame to study hydraulic fracturing with pressurecontrolled and constrained lateral boundaries, respectively; (ii) a largescale flow chamber to visualize the erosion of particulates during the extraction of liquids from the center of a layer of particulates; and (iii) transparent acrylic samples inside a torque load frame, to visualize the creation of cracks; the Instron load frame is also used to (iv) study the creation of fractures in solids. In addition to these major setups, Mason 247 also hosts a number of smaller setups (including the smallscale versions of the abovementioned largescale setups). Both rooms also contain various peripheral devices and instruments. In addition to research, the laboratory space is used for instruction for the courses "Rock Mechanics", "Applied Fracture Mechanics", and "Physical Properties and Rheology of Rocks".
Sowers Soil Mechanics Teaching Laboratory (Mason 101)
In honor of the late Professor George F. Sowers who was a Regents Professor with 50-year service to Georgia Tech, a special endowment established this teaching facility that includes state-of-the-art computer-automated lab testing workstations for soil mechanics. The laboratory facilitates experiments as part of CEE 4420-Subsurface Characterization. The laboratory includes two rooms: one for sample preparation and the other for measurement of soil strength, stiffness, and flow characteristics. The preparation room includes the equipment required for soil classification, (grain size distribution, hydrometer), as well as compaction and specimen control. The testing room includes a fall cone index, an odometer, pressure cells, and 5 workstations. Each of five workstations can be used to conduct a range of characterization tests including consolidation, triaxial, and permeability with porewater pressure monitoring, whereby the PC controls the loading procedures, as well as data acquisition and data reduction algorithms.
Subsurface Remediation and Contaminant Fate Laboratory (DEEL/ES&T)
Subsurface Remediation and Contaminant Fate Laboratory is used to develop, test and refine in situ remediation technologies, including surfactant flushing and thermal treatment, for restoration of contaminated aquifers, and to study the fate, distribution, and transport of contaminants linked to human health effects.
Thermal Systems Laboratory (ES&T 3115)
The Thermal Systems Laboratory is used for air pollutant formation and control studies. The pyrolysis and oxidation of gaseous, liquid and solid fuels and wastes is studied in laboratory-scale flow reactors. On-line and extractive analyses are performed. Chemical speciation of product gas streams is used to study reaction pathways of combustion byproduct formation and control. Particle physical and chemical properties are characterized. Quantum mechanical molecular modeling techniques are used to study the structural properties and reaction dynamics of air pollutants
Transport and kinetics laboratory (DEEL/ES&T)
This lab is focused on uptake of pollutants by various sorbents and chemical reactions in heterogeneous systems. Computer workstations are provided for solving computationally intensive problems and experimental systems of gas-liquid, liquid-liquid, and solid-liquid reactors. Physical aquifer models are available to investigate the entrapment, characterization, and remediation of NAPLs in subsurface systems. An X-ray tomography system is being constructed to provide non-destructive measurements of organic liquid saturation and distribution within heterogeneous porous media. Fate and transport laboratories focus on the sorption processes, contaminant bioavailability, and mass transfer limitations during contaminant transport. Computer workstations are utilized to couple experimental research with the development of numerical simulators for use as predictive tools.