Webinar Description

Geosynthetics (geogrid, geotextile, and geocell) have been commonly used to improve performance of unpaved roads (e.g., low volume roads, haul roads, and construction platforms) through their functions of separation, drainage, stabilization, and/or reinforcement. This lecture will explain the basic principles and mechanics involved in the above functions, discuss the design methods including the Giroud-Han method developed based on mechanics and calibrated with test data, and present case histories to illustrate how geosynthetics can be used to solve challenging problems and improve performance of unpaved roads economically and sustainably in field.

About the presenter

Dr. Jie Han is the Glenn L. Parker Professor of Geotechnical Engineering in the Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering Department at the University of Kansas. He received his Ph.D. degree in Civil Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1997. He has gained extensive teaching, research, and industry experiences in geosynthetics, ground improvement, pile foundations, buried structures, and roadways. Prof. Han is the sole author of the book entitled “Principles and Practice of Ground Improvement” and has published approximately 450 peer-reviewed journal and conference papers.  Prof. Han is a Board Governor of the ASCE Geo-Institute, a council member of the International Geosynthetics Society, the past chair of the ASCE Geo-Institute Soil Improvement Committee, and the chair of the TRB Transportation Earthworks Committee. Prof. Han has been invited to give more than 200 keynote/invited lectures and short courses around the world, including the State of the Practice Lecture at the 21st Annual George F. Sowers Symposium in Atlanta, Georgia in 2018, the 18th UK IGS Lecture in London in 2018, and the 3rd Robert M. Koerner Award Lecture in 2021.  He has received numerous awards from the profession including but not limited to the 2011 Shamsher Prakash Prize for Excellence in Practice of Geotechnical Engineering, the 2014 the International Geosynthetics Society Award, the 2017 ASCE Martin S. Kapp Foundation Engineering Award, and the 2018 ASCE Kansas City Section Engineer of Year Award.  Prof. Han was elected to the ASCE Fellow in 2014.