Welcome to the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Frank Loeffler one of six UT/ORNL Governor's Chair
Frank Loeffler, a leading expert in environmental microbiology and the use of bacteria to clean and protect environmental resources, has been named the sixth University of Tennessee-Oak Ridge National Laboratory Governor’s Chair.
Loeffler will serve in the departments of microbiology and civil and environmental engineering at UT Knoxville and in ORNL’s biological and environmental sciences directorate. For full article.
Dr. Edwin Burdette was the first speaker of the recently expanded seminar series
To kick-off the newly expanded spring seminar series, Dr. Edwin Burdette spoke about “Bridge Research at the University of Tennessee.” The newly expanded format will include speakers and topics from both the geotechnical and structural fields of engineering. Dr. Burdette’s presentation was held in 324 Perkins Hall on Thursday, January 21. The seminars are held each Thursday at 3:40pm.
Dr. Burdette earned B.S. and M.S. degrees from The University of Tennessee, Knoxville in 1957 and 1961, and he received a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois in 1969. Since 1969 he has been active in research and teaching, and he has consulted extensively in the area of structural engineering. He has received a number of teaching and research awards and since 1981 has held the Fred N. Peebles Professorship.
If interested in attending any of the spring seminars, see http://www.engr.utk.edu/civil/news/ for the schedule.
PDH credits are available. Parking is available at University Center Public Parking Garage & Plaza. Seminars can also be accessed through the LiveOnline@UT system. For additional information, contact nrober10@utk.edu or eburdett@utk.edu.
Dr. Glenn Tootle’s Glacier Research Spotlighted in National Media
The Associated Press recently highlighted the research of Dr. Glenn Tootle, Assistant Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Dr. Tootle’s research demonstrates that some of the largest glaciers in the Teton Range have lost more than 20% of their surface area over the last 40 years. The glaciers contribute to regional stream flow long after the annual snow pack has melted and are an important source of irrigation water for people in Wyoming, Idaho and Utah. The story was carried in many newspapers in the Western US including the example here.
Civil Engineering Students Tour Construction Project Site
In keeping with the department goal of providing a high quality learning environment to allow students to enter the general practice of civil engineering, over 30 undergraduate and graduate students toured a nearby project site to expand their knowledge of deep foundations. This site tour afforded the students an opportunity to see firsthand the construction of a foundation system which they design in their future career.
On November 20 th, Long Foundation Drilling Company facilitated a site tour of the new Electrical and Computer Engineering facility under construction at the College of Engineering. Chris Long and Billy Powers with Long Foundation Drilling Company (pictured below in orange and red hardhats, respectively) discussed the planning and construction of drilled shaft foundations which will support the new building. The students were able to witness the construction sequence and understand the quality control measures undertaken to install these deep foundations. Recent graduate, Loren Litton, PE, with Professional Engineers, Inc. was also available to explain the quality assurance role that civil engineers perform in the construction process.
Institute of Geotechnology Sponsors Field Demonstration at Proposed Estabrook Building
In the continuing series of seminars sponsored by the Institute of Geotechnology (IG), Master Drillers, Inc. recently mobilized a drilling rig to the site of the proposed new Estabrook Building to demonstrate bedrock coring techniques. The field demonstration offered a unique opportunity for students in civil and environmental engineering to observe a very important aspect of geotechnical projects….subsurface investigation. The students asked questions about the proposed Estabrook Building project, as well as learned about other field exploration projects conducted by the local drilling company. Master Drillers’ president, Sam Wilkinson, supervised the field demonstration and answered questions, as well as challenged the students with questions about local geology and deep foundations.
IG concludes the fall 2008 seminar series on November 20th with a presentation entitled “Design of Tieback Wall System for New Electrical and Computer Engineering Building”. Presentation will be given by Vaughn Godet, P.E., with construction manager with Schnabel Foundation Company. The seminar is open to the public; contact the department office for more information.
Department of
Civil & Environmental Engineering
223 Perkins Hall
Knoxville, Tennessee 37996-2010
Phone: 865-974-2503
Fax: 865-974-2669
E-mail: cee@utk.edu
Dr.
Dayakar Penumadu
Department Head