Dr. Anand Puppala Awarded 2024 ASCE J. James R. Croes Medal: Celebrating Excellence in Engineering Research

• Award
• Center for Infrastructure Renewal
• Faculty
• Infrastructure

Aerial view of Eagle Mountain lake and dam. | Image: The University of Texas at Arlington Libraries, Special Collections

The J. James R. Croes Medal, established by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) in 1912, honors exceptional contributions to engineering research. Named after John James Robertson Croes, a former ASCE president, this prestigious award is given annually to authors of papers published in ASCE journals that exhibit practical value and significant impact on engineering practice. The medal is awarded to the authors of one of the top two papers selected from approximately 7,000 papers published each year in 35 ASCE technical journals and numerous conference proceedings.

This year, the award was bestowed upon Dr. Puppala and his research team - Santiago R. Caballero Olmedo, Ph.D., P.E., M.ASCE; Tejo V. Bheemasetti, Ph.D., A.M.ASCE; and Sayantan Chakraborty, Ph.D., A.M.ASCE - for their research paper "Geotechnical Visualization and Three-Dimensional Geostatistics Modeling of Highly Variable Soils of a Hydraulic Fill Dam," published in the ASCE Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering in September 2022. Dr. Caballero, Dr. Bheemasetti, and Dr. Chakraborty were former doctoral students under the supervision of Dr. Puppala. They are now working in esteemed academic institutions and industries in the USA and India.

The paper introduces a novel framework that combines geotechnical in-situ test data with geostatistical modeling and visualization techniques to enhance subsurface characterization accuracy at highly variable sites. The study focuses on an aging hydraulic fill dam, where multiple seismic cone penetration tests were conducted to determine soil properties such as the soil behavior type index, effective friction angle, and undrained shear strength.

The researchers developed anisotropic semivariogram models to account for spatial variability and directional anisotropy of the soil properties. Using 3D kriging interpolation, they created three-dimensional visualization models of the soil properties. These models were validated against laboratory test data, helping to identify critical zones within the dam that might be prone to geotechnical hazards. This innovative approach highlights the effectiveness of combining in-situ data, 3D interpolation, and visualization techniques for better understanding and managing soil configurations in complex sites like hydraulic fill dams and mine-tailings sites.

Dr. Anand J. Puppala is a distinguished professor and the A.P. & Florence Wiley Chair at Texas A&M University in the Zachry Department of Civil Engineering. He also serves as the director of the Center for Infrastructure Renewal. Dr. Puppala has been named a 2024 Distinguished Member by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), an accolade reserved for civil engineers who are either ASCE Members or Fellows and have attained eminence within the civil engineering realm. He leads groundbreaking research in geotechnical engineering, with expertise in expansive and unsaturated soils, ground modification, and sustainability in geotechnical engineering. His significant academic and research background is highlighted by numerous publications and leadership roles in professional organizations.

Dr. Santiago R. Caballero Olmedo is a geotechnical engineer affiliated with Geosyntec Consultants in Costa Mesa, California, and serves as an adjunct professor and lecturer at California State University, Fullerton, and Loyola Marymount University. His research focuses on geotechnical visualization and three-dimensional geostatistics modeling, contributing to advanced site characterization techniques for geotechnical hazards.

Dr. Tejo V. Bheemasetti serves as an assistant professor at the University of Arizona, Tucson. His research interests lie in geotechnical engineering, particularly in addressing issues caused by problematic soils. He has authored over 50 peer-reviewed research articles, showcasing his extensive contributions to the field.

Dr. Sayantan Chakraborty is an assistant professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, India. His research includes chemical stabilization of soils and seismic response and slope stability analyses of earthen dams, contributing to the safety and stability of critical infrastructure.

Their combined efforts exemplify the high standards of research and practical application celebrated by the J. James R. Croes Medal. We extend our deepest congratulations to each of them on earning this prestigious award!