Khalid Alshibli

Associate Department Head of Graduate Studies and Professor

Biography

Khalid Alshibli joined UT as a professor at the Department of Civil and Envrionmental Engineering in fall 2011. Before joining UT, Alshibli served as a faculty at Louisiana State University and Southern University for 11 years. He received his PhD from University of Colorado at Boulder in 1995. He was then appointed as a Research Associate at the Department of Civil, Environmental & Architectural Engineering, University of Colorado at Boulder.

In October 1995, NASA/ Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) management asked him to move to Huntsville, Alabama to represent the Mechanics of Granular Materials (MGM) Science team and to establish a testing laboratory at MSFC. His relation with the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) began in the fall of 1996 when he was appointed as a part-time instructor at the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE). Alshibli was then appointed as a Research Assistant Professor at CEE, UAH from February 1998 to January 2001.

In August 1998, the Space Sciences Laboratory of NASA/ Marshall Space Flight Center appointed him as the Project Scientist for the MGM Microgravity Experiment. Project scientist responsibilities include managing all scientific aspects of MGM project, responsible for the scientific integrity of the mission within project/program constraints, etc. He continued to serve as a Project Scientist at Science Directorate of MSFC until March 2006.

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Research

Non-destructive evaluation of geomaterials

Mechanics of granular materials

Experimental soil mechanics

Soils constitutive modeling

Foundation engineering

Behavior of granular materials under very low effective stresses

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Education

PhD in Geotechnical Engineering, University of Colorado at Boulder, Colorado, USA, Aug. 1995

MS in Geotechnical Engineering, Jordan Univ. of Science & Technology, Jordan, Aug. 1991, First Class Rank with Distinction

BS in Civil Engineering, Jordan Univ. of Science & Technology, Jordan, Aug. 1988, First Class Rank with Distinction

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Awards and Recognitions

• ASCE's J. James R. Croes Medal, 2018
• UT-CEE Research Recognition Award, 2018
• UT-CEE Service Recognition Award, 2016
• CEE Research Recognition Award, 2013-2014
• Achievement Award, CEE, Louisiana State University, 2007
• Teacher of the Year Award, College of Engineering, Southern University and A&M College, 2005-2006
• Engineering Faculty Professionalism Award, Louisiana Engineering Foundation, 2005
• NASA / Marshall Space Flight Center Group Achievement Award, 2003

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Publications

Hasan, A. and Alshibli, K. A. (2010), “Discrete Element Simulation of Strength Properties of Johnson Space Center (JSC-1A) Lunar Regolith Simulant”, ASCE, Journal of Aerospace Engineering, Vol. 23, No. 3, pp. 157-165.

Hasan, A. and Alshibli, K. A. (2010), “Experimental Assessment of 3D Particle-to-Particle Interaction within Sheared Sand using Synchrotron Microtomography”, Geotechnique, Vol. 60, No. 5, pp. 369-379.

Alramahi, B. A., Alshibli, K. A., and Fratta, D. (2010), “Effect of Fine Particle Migration on the Small-Strain Stiffness of Unsaturated Soils”, ASCE, Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, Vol. 136, No. 4, pp. 620-628.

Mohammad, L., Nazzal, M., Abu-Farsakh, M., and Alshibli, K. (2009), “Estimation of Subgrade Soil Resilient Modulus From In Situ Devices Test Results”, ASTM, Journal of Testing and Evaluation, Vol. 37, No. 3, pp. 245-253.

Alshibli, K. A. and Hasan, A. (2009), “Strength Properties of JSC-1A Lunar Regolith Simulant”, ASCE, Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, Vol. 135, No. 5, pp. 673-679.

Alramahi, B. A., Fratta, D., and Alshibli, K. A. (2008), “Parameter Estimation for Evaluation of In Situ Density and Moisture Content Using Elastic and Electromagnetic Wave Propagation”, Journal of the Transportation Research Board, No. 2045, pp. 19-28.

Alshibli, K. A. and Hasan, A. (2008), “Spatial Variation of Void Ratio and Shear Band Thickness in Sand Using X-ray Computed Tomography”, Geotechnique, Vol. 58, No. 4, pp. 249-257.

Alramahi, B. A., Alshibli, K. A., Fratta, D., and Trautwein, S. (2008), “A Suction-Control Apparatus for the Measurement of P and S-wave Velocity in Soils”, ASTM. Geotechnical Testing Journal, Vol. 31, No. 1, pp. 12-23.

Nazzal, M. D., Abu-Farsakh, M., Alshibli, K. A., and Mohammad, L. (2007), “Evaluating the LFWD Device for In Situ Measurement of Elastic Modulus of Pavement Layers”, Journal of the Transportation Research Board, No. 2016, pp.13-22.

Alshibli, K. A. and Akbas, I. S. (2007), “Strain Localization in Clay: Plane Strain versus Triaxial Loading Conditions”, Geotechnical and Geological Engineering, Vol. 25, No. 1, pp. 45-55.

Alshibli, K.A., Alramahi, B., and Attia, A. M. (2006), “Assessment of Spatial Distribution of Porosity in Synthetic Quartz Cores Using Microfocus Computed Tomography (CT)”, Particulate Science and Technology: An International Journal, Vol. 24, No. 4, pp. 369-380.

Alshibli, K. A., Alsaleh, M. I., and Voyiadjis, G. Z. (2006), “Modeling Strain Localization in Granular Materials Using Micropolar Theory: Numerical Implementation and Verification”, International Journal for Numerical and Analytical Methods in Geomechanics, Vol. 30, No. 15, pp. 1525-1544.

Alsaleh, M. I., Voyiadjis, G. Z., and Alshibli, K. A. (2006), “Modeling Strain Localization in Granular Materials Using Micropolar Theory: Mathematical Formulations”, International Journal for Numerical and Analytical Methods in Geomechanics, Vol. 30, No. 15, pp. 1501-1524.

Alshibli, K. A. and Roussel, L. (2006), “Experimental investigation of slip-stick behavior in granular materials", International Journal for Numerical and Analytical Methods in Geomechanics, Vol. 30, No. 14, pp. 1391-1407.

Alshibli, K. A., Batiste, S. N., Sture, S., Lankton, M. (2006), “Micro-Characterization of Shearing in Granular Materials Using Computed tomography”, Advances in X-ray Tomography for Geomaterials, Desrues, J., Viggiani, G., and Besuelle, P. (Editors), ISTE Ltd, Great Britain, 2006, pp. 16-34.

Alsaleh, M. I., Alshibli, K.A., and Voyiadjis, G. Z. (2006), “Influence of Micro-Material Heterogeneity on Strain Localization in Granular Materials”, ASCE: International Journal of Geomechanics, Vol. 6, No. 4, pp. 248-259.

Alramahi, B. A. and Alshibli, K. A. (2006), “Applications of Computed Tomography (CT) to Characterize the Internal Structure of Geomaterials: Limitations and Challenges”, Site and Geomaterial Characterization, ASCE, Geotechnical Special Publication No. 149, pp. 88-95.

Alshibli, K.A. and Alramahi, B. (2006), “Microscopic Evaluation of Strain Distribution in Granular Materials during Shear”, ASCE, Journal of Geotechnical & Geoenvironmental Engineering, Vol. 132, No. 1, pp. 80-91.

Al-Raoush, R. and Alshibli, K. A (2006), “Distribution of Local Void Ratio in Porous Media Systems from 3D X-ray Micro-tomography Images” Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Vol. 361 (March), No. 2, pp. 441-456.

Abu-Farsakh, M., Nazzal, M. D., Alshibli, K. A., Seyman, E. (2005), “Application of Application of Dynamic Cone Penetrometer in Pavement Construction Control”, Journal of the Transportation Research Board, No. 1913, pp. 53-61.

Alshibli, K. A. and Williams, H. S. (2005), “A True Triaxial Apparatus for Soil Testing with Mixed Boundary Conditions”, ASTM Geotechnical Testing Journal, Vol. 28, No. 6, pp. 534-543.

Fratta, D. O., Alshibli, K. A., Tanner, W. M., and Roussel, L. (2005), “Combined TDR and P-wave Velocity Measurements for the Determination of In-Situ Soil Density” ASTM, Geotechnical Testing Journal, Vol. 28, No. 6, pp. 553-563.

Alshibli, K. A., Abu-Farsakh, M., and Seyman, E. (2005), “Laboratory Evaluation of the Geogauge and Light Falling Weight Deflectometer as Construction Control Tools”. ASCE, Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, Vol. 17, No. 5, pp. 560-569.

Voyiadjis, G. Z., Alsaleh, M. I., and Alshibli, K.A. (2005), “Evolving Internal Length Scales in Plastic Strain Localization for Granular Materials”, International Journal of Plasticity, Vol. 21, No. 10, pp. 2000-2024.

Alramahi, B. A., Alshibli, K. A., and Fratta, D. (2005), “Use of Elastic and Electromagnetic Waves to Evaluate the Water Content and Mass Density of Soils: Potential and Limitations” Geotechnical Applications for Transportation Infrastructure, ASCE Geotechnical Practical Publication (GPP) No. 3, Titi, (Editor), pp. 134-145.

Alramahi, B. A., Alshibli, K. A., and Attia, A. (2005), “Influence of Grain Size and Consolidation Pressure on Porosity of Rocks”, Geotechnical Special Publication (GSP) No. 13: Site Characterization and Modeling, ASCE Geo-Frontiers Conference, Austin, Texas, January 24-26, 2005.

Abu-Farsakh, M. Y., Alshibli, K. A., Nazzal, M. D., and Mohammad, L. N. (2004), “Evaluation of In situ Elastic Modulus of Subgrades and Base Layers using the Geogauge device” International Journal of Pavements, Vol. 3, No. 1-2, pp. 89-101.

Batiste, S. N., Alshibli, K. A., Sture, S., and Lankton, M. (2004), “Shear Band Characterization of Triaxial Sand Specimens Using Computed Tomography” ASTM, Geotechnical Testing Journal, Vol. 27, No. 6, pp. 568-579.

Alshibli, K. A., Godbold, D. L., and Hoffman, K. (2004), “The Louisiana Plane Strain Apparatus for Soil Testing”, ASTM, Geotechnical Testing Journal, Vol. 27, No. 4, pp. 337-346.

Alshibli, K. A. and Alsaleh, M. (2004), “Characterizing Surface Roughness and Shape of Sands Using Digital Microscopy”, ASCE, Journal of Computing in Civil Engineering, Vol. 18, No. 1, pp. 36-45.

Alsaleh, M.A, Alshibli, K.A. & Voyiadjis, G. (2004), “On the Bridging of the Length Scale and the Behavior of Granular Materials”, Geo Jordan 2004: Advances in Geotechnical Engineering With Emphasis on Dams, Highway Materials, and Soil Improvement, ASCE Geotechnical Practical Publication No. 1, pp. 191-199, Irbid, Jordan, July 12-15, 2004

Nazzal, M., Abu-Farsakh, M. Y., Alshibli, K. A., and Mohammad, L. (2004), "Evaluating the Potential use of a Portable LFWD for Characterization of Pavement Layers and Subgrades", Geotechnical Engineering for Transportation Projects, ASCE, Geotechnical Special Publication No. 126, Yegian, M. K. and Kavazanjian, E. (Editors), Vol. 1, pp. 915-924.

Abu-Farsakh, M. Y., Alshibli, K. A., Nazzal, M. D., and Seyman, E. (2004), “Evaluating the Stiffness Modulus of Highway Materials from the Geogauge Device” Geo Jordan 2004: Advances in Geotechnical Engineering With Emphasis on Dams, Highway Materials, and Soil Improvement, ASCE Geotechnical Practical Publication No. 1, pp. 287-298, Irbid, Jordan, July 12-14, 2004.

Alshibli, K. A., Batiste, S. N., and Sture, S. (2003), “Strain Localization in Sand: Plane Strain Versus Triaxial Compression”, ASCE, Journal of Geotechnical & Geoenvironmental Engineering, Vol. 129, No. 6, pp. 483-499.

Alshibli, K. A., Al-Hamdan, M. Z. (2001), “Modeling Volumetric Change of Soils Triaxial Specimens from Planar Images”, Computer-Aided Civil and Infrastructure Engineering, Vol. 16, No. 6, pp. 415-421.

Alshibli, K. A., and El-Saidany, H. A. (2001), “Quantifying Void Ratio in Granular Materials Using Voronoi Tessellation”, ASCE, Journal of Computing in Civil Engineering Vol. 15, No. 3, pp. 232-238.

Alshibli, K. A., Sture, S., Costes, N. C., Frank, M., Lankton, M., Batiste, S., and Swanson, R. (2000), “Assessment of Localized Deformations in Sand Using x-ray Computed Tomography”, ASTM Geotechnical Testing Journal, Vol. 23, No. 3, pp. 274-299.

Alshibli, K. A., and Sture, S. (2000), “Shear Band Formation in Plane Strain Experiments of Sand”, ASCE, Journal of Geotechnical & Geoenvironmental Engineering, Vol. 126, No. 6, pp. 495-503.

Alshibli, K. A., Batiste, S. N., Swanson, R. A., Sture, S., Costes, N. C., and Lankton, M. (2000), “Quantifying Void Ratio Variation in Sand Using Computed Tomography”, Geotechnical Measurements: Lab and Field, Geotechnical Special Publication No. 106, Proceedings of Geo-Denver 2000, pp. 30-43.

Abdullah, W., Alshibli, K., and Al-Zou’bi, M. (1999), “Influence of Pore Water Chemistry on the Swelling Behavior of Compacted Clays”, Applied Clay Science Journal, Vol. 15, No. 5-6, pp. 447-462.

Alshibli, K. A. and Sture, S. (1999), “Sand Shear Band Thickness Measurements by Digital Imaging Techniques”, Journal of Computing in Civil Engineering, ASCE, Vol. 13, No. 2, pp. 103-109.

Sture, S., Costes, N., Batiste, S., Lankton, M., Alshibli, K., Jeremic, B, Swanson, R., and Frank, M. (1998), "Mechanics of Granular Materials at Low Effective Stresses" ASCE, Journal of Aerospace Engineering, Vol. 11, No. 3, pp. 67-72.

Abdullah, W., Al-Zou’bi, M., and Alshibli, K. (1997), “On the Physico-Chemical Aspects of Compacted Clay Compressibility”, Canadian Geotechnical Journal, Vol. 34, No. 4, pp. 551-559.

Al-Shibli, K., Macari, E., and Sture, S. (1996), “Digital Imaging Techniques for the Assessment of Homogeneity of Granular Materials”, Emerging Technologies in Geotechnical Engineering, Transportation Research Board, Transportation Research Record No. 1526, pp. 128-128.