Claudia Zapata was appointed assistant professor in the School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment at Arizona State University in August 2006. She received her doctorate in geo-environmental engineering from ASU in 1999. Zapata's primary research interest is in the area of unsaturated soil behavior. She focused on fluid flow and volume change modeling for expansive soils, with applications related to the behavior of pavement subgrades and slabs-on-grade foundation design. At ASU, Zapata has been actively involved in the development of the new mechanistic-empirical guide for "Design of New and Rehabilitated Pavement Structures," in the assessment of pavement performance due to environmental factors and in the study of fluid flow and volume change properties of expansive soils under slabs on grade residential foundations.
Her main research interest is geared to the understanding of moisture flow, volume change, and strength of unsaturated soils and the impact of temperature gradients on their behavior. Practical applications include studies of foundation design on problematic soils, and environmental and dynamic loading effects on pavement design.
My area of expertise deals with unsaturated soil mechanics. The importance of this area is that it allows for the most cost-effective design possible and therefore, promotes the sustainable development of infrastructure. The research I am currently pursuing comprises several distinctive areas:
The first area deals with fundamental research on temperature effects on moisture movement under covered areas. Geotechnical problems where coupled thermal-moisture flow phenomenon is an important design factor include: 1) Thermal behavior of ground as a source of geothermal energy; 2) Analysis of barriers for nuclear waste storage; 3) Water balance of evapotranspirative (ET) covers for municipal solid waste containment; 4) Assessment of vapor barriers for building slabs and subsurface walls; 5) Heat transfer/dissipation from buried electrical cables, underground tanks and pipelines; 6) Heat applied directly to the soil to clean up degraded areas; 7) Vapor migration calculations at contaminated soil and groundwater sites, and 8) Coupled thermal-moisture movements in pavement systems.
The second area, and undoubtedly the one of greatest technical impact, deals with matric suction/moisture content effects on the resilience of soil materials subjected to dynamic loading. These studies are aimed at conducting laboratory testing and modeling required to incorporate environmental effects into fundamental theories and models that only consider externally applied mechanical loads. This applied research is fundamental to the advancement of mechanistically based pavement design methodologies, and it is of paramount interest and national and international levels. It is of importance to note that the US recently adopted a new, mechanistic pavement design methodology through the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. I am proud to note that I was in charge of the research team at ASU that introduced these advanced models that account for real time environmental effects upon the response of soil and pavement materials. For the first time, in pavement design methods, environmental effects were incorporated into pavement performance in a rational and mechanistic manner. Future research in this area is being pursued, and is very promising given the importance to tranportation infrastructure nationally and internationally.
Summer 2022 | |
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Course Number | Course Title |
CEE 590 | Reading and Conference |
CEE 592 | Research |
CEE 593 | Applied Project |
CEE 595 | Continuing Registration |
CEE 599 | Thesis |
CEE 790 | Reading and Conference |
CEE 792 | Research |
CEE 795 | Continuing Registration |
CEE 799 | Dissertation |
Spring 2022 | |
---|---|
Course Number | Course Title |
VIP 194-FSE | Special Topics |
VIP 194-HON | Special Topics |
VIP 294-FSE | Special Topics |
VIP 294-HON | Special Topics |
VIP 394-FSE | Special Topics |
VIP 394-HON | Special Topics |
CEE 492 | Honors Directed Study |
CEE 493 | Honors Thesis |
VIP 494-FSE | Special Topics |
VIP 494-HON | Special Topics |
CEE 499 | Individualized Instruction |
CEE 558 | Unsaturated Soil Mechanics |
CEE 580 | Practicum |
CEE 590 | Reading and Conference |
CEE 592 | Research |
CEE 593 | Applied Project |
CEE 595 | Continuing Registration |
CEE 599 | Thesis |
CEE 790 | Reading and Conference |
CEE 792 | Research |
CEE 795 | Continuing Registration |
CEE 799 | Dissertation |
Fall 2021 | |
---|---|
Course Number | Course Title |
VIP 194-FSE | Special Topics |
VIP 194-HON | Special Topics |
VIP 294-FSE | Special Topics |
VIP 294-HON | Special Topics |
VIP 394-FSE | Special Topics |
VIP 394-HON | Special Topics |
CEE 452 | Foundations |
CNE 452 | Foundations |
CEE 492 | Honors Directed Study |
CEE 493 | Honors Thesis |
CEE 494 | Special Topics |
VIP 494-FSE | Special Topics |
VIP 494-HON | Special Topics |
CEE 499 | Individualized Instruction |
CEE 553 | Advanced Soil Mechanics |
CEE 590 | Reading and Conference |
CEE 592 | Research |
CEE 593 | Applied Project |
CEE 595 | Continuing Registration |
CEE 598 | Special Topics |
CEE 599 | Thesis |
CEE 790 | Reading and Conference |
CEE 792 | Research |
CEE 795 | Continuing Registration |
CEE 799 | Dissertation |
Summer 2021 | |
---|---|
Course Number | Course Title |
CEE 590 | Reading and Conference |
CEE 592 | Research |
CEE 593 | Applied Project |
CEE 595 | Continuing Registration |
CEE 599 | Thesis |
CEE 790 | Reading and Conference |
CEE 792 | Research |
CEE 795 | Continuing Registration |
CEE 799 | Dissertation |
Spring 2021 | |
---|---|
Course Number | Course Title |
VIP 194-FSE | Special Topics |
VIP 194-HON | Special Topics |
VIP 294-FSE | Special Topics |
VIP 294-HON | Special Topics |
VIP 394-FSE | Special Topics |
VIP 394-HON | Special Topics |
CEE 492 | Honors Directed Study |
CEE 493 | Honors Thesis |
VIP 494-FSE | Special Topics |
VIP 494-HON | Special Topics |
CEE 499 | Individualized Instruction |
CEE 554 | Shear Strength/Slope Stability |
CEE 580 | Practicum |
CEE 590 | Reading and Conference |
CEE 592 | Research |
CEE 593 | Applied Project |
CEE 595 | Continuing Registration |
CEE 598 | Special Topics |
CEE 599 | Thesis |
CEE 790 | Reading and Conference |
CEE 792 | Research |
CEE 795 | Continuing Registration |
CEE 799 | Dissertation |
Fall 2020 | |
---|---|
Course Number | Course Title |
VIP 194-HON | Special Topics |
VIP 294-FSE | Special Topics |
VIP 294-HON | Special Topics |
VIP 394-FSE | Special Topics |
VIP 394-HON | Special Topics |
CEE 492 | Honors Directed Study |
CEE 493 | Honors Thesis |
CEE 494 | Special Topics |
VIP 494-HON | Special Topics |
CEE 499 | Individualized Instruction |
CEE 553 | Advanced Soil Mechanics |
CEE 590 | Reading and Conference |
CEE 592 | Research |
CEE 593 | Applied Project |
CEE 595 | Continuing Registration |
CEE 598 | Special Topics |
CEE 599 | Thesis |
CEE 790 | Reading and Conference |
CEE 792 | Research |
CEE 795 | Continuing Registration |
CEE 799 | Dissertation |
Summer 2020 | |
---|---|
Course Number | Course Title |
CEE 590 | Reading and Conference |
CEE 592 | Research |
CEE 593 | Applied Project |
CEE 595 | Continuing Registration |
CEE 599 | Thesis |
CEE 790 | Reading and Conference |
CEE 792 | Research |
CEE 795 | Continuing Registration |
CEE 799 | Dissertation |
Spring 2020 | |
---|---|
Course Number | Course Title |
VIP 194-FSE | Special Topics |
VIP 194-HON | Special Topics |
VIP 294-FSE | Special Topics |
VIP 294-HON | Special Topics |
VIP 394-FSE | Special Topics |
VIP 394-HON | Special Topics |
CEE 492 | Honors Directed Study |
CEE 493 | Honors Thesis |
VIP 494-FSE | Special Topics |
VIP 494-HON | Special Topics |
CEE 499 | Individualized Instruction |
CEE 554 | Shear Strength/Slope Stability |
CEE 580 | Practicum |
CEE 590 | Reading and Conference |
CEE 592 | Research |
CEE 593 | Applied Project |
CEE 595 | Continuing Registration |
CEE 599 | Thesis |
CEE 790 | Reading and Conference |
CEE 792 | Research |
CEE 795 | Continuing Registration |
CEE 799 | Dissertation |
Fall 2019 | |
---|---|
Course Number | Course Title |
VIP 194-FSE | Special Topics |
VIP 194-HON | Special Topics |
VIP 294-FSE | Special Topics |
VIP 294-HON | Special Topics |
VIP 394-FSE | Special Topics |
VIP 394-HON | Special Topics |
CNE 452 | Foundations |
CEE 452 | Foundations |
CEE 492 | Honors Directed Study |
CEE 493 | Honors Thesis |
VIP 494-FSE | Special Topics |
VIP 494-HON | Special Topics |
CEE 499 | Individualized Instruction |
CEE 553 | Advanced Soil Mechanics |
CEE 590 | Reading and Conference |
CEE 592 | Research |
CEE 593 | Applied Project |
CEE 595 | Continuing Registration |
CEE 598 | Special Topics |
CEE 599 | Thesis |
CEE 790 | Reading and Conference |
CEE 792 | Research |
CEE 795 | Continuing Registration |
CEE 799 | Dissertation |
Summer 2019 | |
---|---|
Course Number | Course Title |
CEE 590 | Reading and Conference |
CEE 592 | Research |
CEE 593 | Applied Project |
CEE 595 | Continuing Registration |
CEE 599 | Thesis |
CEE 790 | Reading and Conference |
CEE 792 | Research |
CEE 795 | Continuing Registration |
CEE 799 | Dissertation |
Spring 2019 | |
---|---|
Course Number | Course Title |
VIP 194-FSE | Special Topics |
VIP 194-HON | Special Topics |
VIP 294-FSE | Special Topics |
VIP 294-HON | Special Topics |
VIP 394-FSE | Special Topics |
VIP 394-HON | Special Topics |
CEE 492 | Honors Directed Study |
CEE 493 | Honors Thesis |
VIP 494-FSE | Special Topics |
VIP 494-HON | Special Topics |
CEE 499 | Individualized Instruction |
CEE 554 | Shear Strength/Slope Stability |
CEE 580 | Practicum |
CEE 590 | Reading and Conference |
CEE 592 | Research |
CEE 593 | Applied Project |
CEE 595 | Continuing Registration |
CEE 599 | Thesis |
CEE 790 | Reading and Conference |
CEE 792 | Research |
CEE 795 | Continuing Registration |
CEE 799 | Dissertation |
Fall 2018 | |
---|---|
Course Number | Course Title |
VIP 194-FSE | Special Topics |
VIP 194-HON | Special Topics |
VIP 294-FSE | Special Topics |
VIP 294-HON | Special Topics |
VIP 394-FSE | Special Topics |
VIP 394-HON | Special Topics |
CNE 452 | Foundations |
CEE 452 | Foundations |
CEE 492 | Honors Directed Study |
CEE 493 | Honors Thesis |
VIP 494-FSE | Special Topics |
VIP 494-HON | Special Topics |
CEE 499 | Individualized Instruction |
CEE 553 | Advanced Soil Mechanics |
CEE 590 | Reading and Conference |
CEE 592 | Research |
CEE 593 | Applied Project |
CEE 595 | Continuing Registration |
CEE 598 | Special Topics |
CEE 599 | Thesis |
CEE 790 | Reading and Conference |
CEE 792 | Research |
CEE 795 | Continuing Registration |
CEE 799 | Dissertation |
Summer 2018 | |
---|---|
Course Number | Course Title |
CEE 590 | Reading and Conference |
CEE 592 | Research |
CEE 593 | Applied Project |
CEE 595 | Continuing Registration |
CEE 790 | Reading and Conference |
CEE 792 | Research |
CEE 795 | Continuing Registration |
CEE 799 | Dissertation |
Spring 2018 | |
---|---|
Course Number | Course Title |
VIP 194-FSE | Special Topics |
VIP 194-HON | Special Topics |
VIP 294-FSE | Special Topics |
VIP 294-HON | Special Topics |
VIP 394-FSE | Special Topics |
VIP 394-HON | Special Topics |
CEE 492 | Honors Directed Study |
CEE 493 | Honors Thesis |
VIP 494-FSE | Special Topics |
VIP 494-HON | Special Topics |
CEE 499 | Individualized Instruction |
CEE 551 | Advanced Geotechnical Testing |
CEE 554 | Shear Strength/Slope Stability |
CEE 580 | Practicum |
CEE 590 | Reading and Conference |
CEE 592 | Research |
CEE 593 | Applied Project |
CEE 595 | Continuing Registration |
CEE 599 | Thesis |
CEE 790 | Reading and Conference |
CEE 792 | Research |
CEE 795 | Continuing Registration |
CEE 799 | Dissertation |
Fall 2017 | |
---|---|
Course Number | Course Title |
VIP 194-FSE | Special Topics |
VIP 194-HON | Special Topics |
VIP 294-FSE | Special Topics |
VIP 294-HON | Special Topics |
VIP 394-FSE | Special Topics |
VIP 394-HON | Special Topics |
CNE 452 | Foundations |
CEE 452 | Foundations |
CEE 492 | Honors Directed Study |
CEE 493 | Honors Thesis |
VIP 494-FSE | Special Topics |
VIP 494-HON | Special Topics |
CEE 499 | Individualized Instruction |
CEE 553 | Advanced Soil Mechanics |
CEE 590 | Reading and Conference |
CEE 592 | Research |
CEE 593 | Applied Project |
CEE 595 | Continuing Registration |
CEE 598 | Special Topics |
CEE 599 | Thesis |
CEE 790 | Reading and Conference |
CEE 792 | Research |
CEE 795 | Continuing Registration |
CEE 799 | Dissertation |