News — Construction, Geotechnical and Structures

Briaud Presents Louis Menard Lecture in Paris, France

September 12, 2013

It was serendipitous that Jean-Louis Briaud, Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Program manager at the Texas A&M Transportation Institute, found himself presenting the prestigious Louis Menard Lecture in Paris, France, September 2. The annual lecture is part of the International Conference of Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering.

Forty years ago, as a young civil engineering lecturer at the University of New Brunswick in Canada, Briaud came up with a concept for measuring the strength and deformability of soil. He took his drawings to the library and quickly discovered that a device called the pressuremeter — allowing engineers to design stable foundations based on those soil conditions — had already been invented. The inventor was none other than Louis Menard, who (also as a student) had come came up with the idea 17 years before Briaud. (Read More)

Cracking under Pressure: How Moisture and Heat Affect ASR and DEF Structures

May 17, 2011

Texas weather runs the gamut — cold winters in some areas, occasionally heavy rains, times of drought and always baking summer heat. Concrete structures are built to last, but it’s the little things that get you sometimes. Little things like moisture and heat over time can trigger reactions in concrete structures that cause cracking and ultimately deterioration. Read More

The Right Time and the Right Place: Taking Care of Our Infrastructure

April 14, 2011

Texas’ transportation system has allowed the state to successfully compete in a global market. An efficient transportation network allows companies to move their goods efficiently and effectively, offering just-in-time service to their customers.

In the current economic climate, the agencies that oversee our transportation system must make every dollar count. This renewed focus means using the right maintenance technique on our roadways at the right time. And knowing just what that technique should be takes solid research. Read More

Streamlining the construction process: TTI researchers find ways to cut costs

March 7, 2009

State departments of transportation (DOTs) throughout the country are battling the same worsening problems: a lack of funds for road construction and soaring prices for materials like steel and concrete. When funds are available, these rising costs have DOTs scrambling for dollar-stretching ideas.

“Construction costs have almost doubled between 1998 and 2006,” says Ivan Damnjanovic of the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI), who headed up a one-year study for the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to examine current practices and suggest improvements to the construction process. “DOTs have little control over external factors like the rising cost of fuel and asphalt, but they do have control over the bidding and design process.” Read more

Briaud Presents Louis Menard Lecture in Paris, France

Cracking under Pressure: How Moisture and Heat Affect ASR and DEF Structures

The Right Time and the Right Place: Taking Care of Our Infrastructure

Streamlining the construction process: TTI researchers find ways to cut costs

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