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P.V. Vijay
Assistant Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
College of Engineering and Mineral Resources
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Research

Areas of Research Interest/Activities

  • Durability of glass, carbon, and basalt FRP bars and fabrics for concrete and steel structures.
  • Development and implementation of hybrid FRP composites for highways and waterway infrastructure.
  • Application of recycled tire derived geo cylinders (TDGC)  for pavement and structural applications.
  • Thermo-mechanical characterization (bending, tension, compression, impact, rupture and hardness) at coupon, component and system levels with static and fatigue loads for “green” construction materials, conventional materials and recycled thermoplastics for sustainable infrastructure.
  • Evaluation of thermo-mechanical properties, bond strength, failure modes and durability of GFRP/ CFRP bars and wraps to provide sustainable solutions for bridges and highways.
  • Evaluation and screening of different thermoset resins for use as matrix material in fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) bars in terms of strength, stiffness, knock-down factors, and durability under varying pH, temperature (including freeze-thaw) and sustained stress.
  • Characterization of aged and non-aged polymeric resins through differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA).
  • Bending, shear, creep and fatigue behavior of concrete rectangular and T-beams reinforced with steel and GFRP bars or FRP fabrics under static and fatigue loads.
  • Ductility/deformability indices, knock-down factors of concrete beams reinforced with steel and rehabilitated with FRP for sustainable field implementation.
  • Accelerated and natural aging behavior of FRP bars/wraps with nanoclay.
  • Instrumentation and automatic data acquisition of test specimens at nano-, milli- and macro-scales.

  • Developing, manufacturing (industrial- and small-scale), and evaluating natural fiber reinforced building wall panels, nanocomposite reinforcing bars, recycled offset polymer blocks, signboards, signposts, pavement panels, recycled wood and polymer railroad ties.
  • Sustainable strengthening/rehabilitation of infrastructure (concrete beams, columns, bridge piers and wing walls) with FRP fabric wrapping.
  • Green composite wall panels and systems with natural fibers and resins.
  • Aging and creep behavior of concrete beams strengthened by FRP fabrics/plates.
  • Jointed concrete pavement slab construction and rehabilitation with FRP dowels
  • Bending behavior of steel stringers bonded with CFRP plates under static and fatigue loads.
  • Bending behavior of concrete beams reinforced with bundled steel bars.
  • Non-destructive evaluation and rehabilitation of corroded soccer stadium reinforced concrete structure (RC) 
  • Evaluation of prestressed girders cracked during manufacturing process.
  • FE modeling of constructed infrastructure systems for thermo-mechanical responses: at material, component and system level.
  • Developing green FRP systems for hydraulic structures to replace large and heavy steel structures.
  • Durability of glass, carbon and basalt FRP.
  • Rehabilitation of concrete, steel and timber members/structures using FRP.
  • Hybrid FRP composites for highways and waterway infrastructure.
  • Use of recycled tires for strengthening pavement base/subbase systems and bridge abutments.

Research-to-Practice (Design, Development, Field Implementation and Monitoring)

  • Design and implementation of modular and rapidly installable FRP pedestrian bridge deck system for 104 ft. span, Jackson Mill, W.Va. (2016-2018) 
  • Development and installation of lightweight, corrosion resistant, and paint-free FRP Protection Panels (10ft x 12 ft) for lock and dam side walls to withstand barge swipe impact forces (Huntington, W.Va., US Army Corps of Engineers, 2016-17)
  • Evaluation and analysis of fire affected historic buildings at Harpers Ferry, W.Va. (Harpers Ferry, W.Va., 2016)
  • Laboratory and field evaluation of recycled tires for pavement base/subbase strengthening, various locations in Morgantown, W.Va. (2015-2018)
  • Development and installation of strong, corrosion resistant, modular and integrated FRP Wicket Gates (4 ft x 16 ft x 2 ft each overall) in lieu of timber wicket gates (Upper Mississippi River, Peoria Lock and Dam, IL, 2015)
  • Evaluation and field implementation of corrosion resistant ceramic composite and polymer coating systems for steel hydraulic gates of dam structures (Mobile District, Alabama, Tainter Gates, 2015)
  • Rehabilitation of 20 bridge steel piles with FRP: Bridge Corroded Steel Pile Rehabilitation (East Lynn Bridge with acid mine water flow, W.Va., 2014)
  • Underwater (20 ft. submerged) rehabilitation of damaged concrete discharge ports with FRP (Chickamauga Lock and Dam, TN, 2013)
  • Development, field implementation and evaluation of fire-resistant and Green Modular FRP Wall Panel System (10ft x 12 ft), Eastwood School, Morgantown, W.Va. (2011-2013)
  • Laboratory testing, field evaluation and/or rehabilitation of ~80 to 100-year-old masonry and timber school buildings-Gilmer County, Preston County, and Marion County, WV (Sandfork Middle School, Normantown High School, Troy Elementary School, Fairmont High School, South Preston Middle-School, 2010-2016)
  • Development, Evaluation and Field Implementation of Damaged Timber Ties Rehabilitated with Recycled Thermoplastic FRP Shells (Moorefield, W.Va., 2008-2010)
  • Field Rehabilitation of Damaged Timber Piles on Dry or submerged Bridge Trestles using FRP fabrics (about 60 long- and short-piles with a height of 6 ft to 15 ft. were rehabilitated, South Branch Valley Railroad Network over several miles, W.Va., 2010-2011)
  • Development, Evaluation and Field Implementation of Damaged Timber Ties (8”x10”x10ft) Rehabilitated with thermoset FRP Shells, Moorefield, W.Va. (TTCI, Pueblo, Colorado, 2010-2012)
  • Development and implementation of recycled thermoplastic offset blocks (6” x 8” x 10”) for highway guardrail system (Star-city, Morgantown, W.Va., 2008-2010)
  • Development, field construction and evaluation of modular FRP pavement panels with novel anchoring systems for rapid implementation on two lanes (22 ft x 100 ft), (University High School, Morgantown, W.Va., 2010-2012)
  • Development, field construction, and evaluation of FRP dowels for Jointed Concrete Pavements (24 ft x 150 ft), (Corridor-H, Elkins, WVW.Va.
  • Rehabilitation of Jointed Concrete Pavements (JPCP) with FRP and steel dowels (14 ft x 24 ft), (Rt. 119, University Avenue, Morgantown, W.Va., 2002-2014)
  • Design and Rehabilitation of Concrete Abutment Wing Walls and Columns with FRP fabrics (East Street Viaduct, Wood County, W.Va., 2000)
  • Design and rehabilitation of prestressed concrete girders with carbon FRP wraps (Muddy Creek Bridge, Preston County, W.Va., 2000).
  • Design specification development for field construction of World’s first Concrete Deck with FRP bars only without any steel (McKinleyville Bridge, Wheeling, W.Va., 1996)
  • Development of Specification and Guidelines and first text book on FRP use for structural design for use in “strength, durability, cracking, creep, deflection, fatigue-limits” for various structural members with FRP bars, fabrics and shapes (provided to ACI, ASCE, FHWA, FRA and NIST subcommittees, committees and members, journal publications. Specifications used in various field structures, 1995-2018)