UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Behnoud Kermani, doctoral student in civil engineering, was recently awarded a Geosynthetic Institute (GSI) Fellowship grant for his research proposal aimed at evaluating the capabilities and effectiveness of geotextile separation in preventing subgrade soil fines from migrating into permeable subbase and base materials.
The GSI Fellowship is a prestigious award that seeks research topics focusing on innovative geosynthetics research and development projects. Emphasis is placed on relevant topics of interest to the geosynthetics community.
“I am honored and thrilled to be selected as a GSI fellow,” Kermani said. “I am certain that such a highly praised fellowship provides a precious opportunity for me to extend my research to make real impact on solving pressing field problems using geotextiles.”
Kermani’s proposal titled “Evaluation of Effectiveness of Geotextile Separation in Preventing Migration of Fine Particles from Subgrade to Overlying Layer in Pavement Due to Cyclic Traffic Loading” focuses on the problem of subgrade migration due to cyclic traffic loading in pavement systems. He intends to explore and assess preventive measures using geotextiles as a separator and filter layer between subgrade and subbase materials for both flexible asphalt concrete and rigid concrete pavement systems.
The outcome of this research will provide the basis for recommendations for revising the Department of Transportation’s policy concerning the use and requirement of geotextile for subgrade-subbase separation and may ultimately lead to economical and effective long-lasting pavement systems.
Ming Xiao, associate professor of civil engineering and Shelley Stoffels, professor of civil engineering, are Kermani’s advisers.
“I would like to express my sincere and deepest gratitude and appreciation to my dear advisers for their continued support and help throughout my study at Penn State,” Kermani said.
Kermani received his bachelor's degree in civil engineering from Azad University in Tehran, Iran and his master’s degree in civil engineering with the emphasis on geotechnical engineering from Temple University.
His research interests are in geotechnical and pavement engineering, particularly in pavement performance and mechanisms, particle transport and multi-phase flow and distribution through porous media, soil mechanics, and pavement design and rehabilitation.