Geosynthetic Institute Awards Fellowship to Georgia Tech Savannah Ph.D. Candidate Tanay Karademir

Sept. 24, 2010 - PRLog -- SAVANNAH (24-Sep-10) -  Tanay Karademir, doctoral candidate in Geosystems Engineering at Georgia Tech Savannah, has been selected as a recipient of the 2010 Geosynthetic Institute (GSI) Fellowship. The $10,000 fellowship, which is renewable for a second year, was awarded to only four individuals following a world-wide call for proposals focused on innovative geosynthetics research. The fellowship recipients were nominated by their academic department head for conducting research on a geosynthetics topic or area that promotes the proper use of the material or system being investigated.

Karademir’s research focuses on the effects of elevated temperature on the behavior of geosynthetic interfaces. Environmental conditions such as temperature impact the long term performance, strength and deformation characteristics of most materials in infrastructure applications. The mechanical and durability properties of geosynthetic materials are strongly temperature dependent.

The interfaces between geotextiles and geomembranes (fiber-texture interaction) as well as between granular materials such as sands and geomembranes (particulate-continua interaction) in landfill applications are subject to temperature changes due to seasonal temperature variations as well as exothermic reactions occurring in the waste body. This can be a critical factor governing the stability of modern waste containment lining systems. Historically, most laboratory geosynthetic interface testing has been performed at room temperature. Information today is emerging that shows how temperatures in liner systems of landfills can be much higher.

Karademir in lab were Karademir's research focuses on the effects of elevated temperature on the behavior of geosynthetic interfaces In response to this, an extensive research study is being undertaken at Georgia Tech. Georgia Tech is investigating temperature effects on interface shear behavior between needle punched non-woven polypropylene geotextiles and either smooth polyvinylchloride (PVC) or smooth and textured high-density polyethylene (HDPE) geomembranes; and sands and smooth PVC and HDPE geomembranes. A unique temperature controlled chamber is being utilized to simulate the field conditions at elevated temperatures and evaluate shear displacement-failure mechanisms under elevated temperature conditions. Complementary single-filament tensile tests and surface hardness tests are providing insight into the role of temperature in the observed behavior differences.

Karademir was nominated by his advisor Dr. J. David Frost who is the Vice Provost of Georgia Tech and the Director of the Georgia Tech Savannah Campus. “Karademir is truly committed in finding unique and inventive ways to solve real-world engineering issues,” says Dr. Frost. “As a Ph.D. candidate, his research endeavors are making a significant impact on geosynthetic studies.”

Karademir holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Bogazici University in Istanbul and a Master of Science in Civil Engineering from Northeastern University in Boston.

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About the Geosynthetic Institute
GSI is a consortium of organizations involved with the study and use of geosynthetics and includes federal and state governmental agencies, facility owners, designers, consultants, QC and QA organizations, testing laboratories, resin and additive suppliers, manufacturers, and installation contractors. GSI currently consists has over 70 member organizations of which approximately 45% are international.
www.geosynthetic-institute.org

About Georgia Tech Savannah
The Georgia Institute of Technology, also known as Georgia Tech, is one of the world's premier research universities. Ranked the 12th best engineering and information technology university in the world by the Times Higher Education-QS World University Rankings and seventh among U.S. News & World Report's top public universities, Georgia Tech has more than 20,000 students and is among the nation's top producers of women and minority engineers. The Georgia Tech Savannah campus offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in mechanical engineering, civil and environmental engineering, and electrical and computer engineering.
www.gtsav.gatech.edu

For more information:
http://www.gtsav.gatech.edu/go/news/geosynthetic-institut...

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