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 Water Resources  

PhD in Civil Engineering
Water Resources Engineering


 
Research in hydraulics, water resources engineering, and coastal engineering focuses on problems which have great impacts on urban and coastal environments. PhD students can choose from a number of research topics depending on one's interest and background. Research topics normally range from theoretical modeling to computer modeling to experimental modeling. Many research projects are funded by Federal agencies and local government agencies as well as private industrial firms such as: the National Science Foundation (NSF), the County of Los Angeles, the San Gabriel Valley Protection Association, and the Taiwan Power Company. In addition, the USC Foundation for Cross-Connection Control and Hydraulic Research (FCCCHR) provides research funding support for Ph.D. students. 


Current Research

  • Wave-Structure Interaction (Lee and Wellford). Numerical and experimental studies have been conducted to investigate the interaction between nonlinear transient ocean waves and submerged/semi-submerged coastal structures. Finite element and boundary element methods have both been used to solve a number of wave-structure interaction problems. Kinematics and dynamics of the overtopping waves over the coastal structure are being modeled numerically and experimentally. The results are important for the design of coastal structure and the protection of harbors and marinas.
  • Surface Runoff Due to Urbanization (Lee). The process of urbanization greatly increases the surface runoff rate as well as the total runoff volume. Using the storm runoff data of rapidly urbanizing watersheds and the data of several unurbanized watersheds in the Southern California area, a statistical study has been conducted to develop the relationship between peak runoff rate and total runoff volume as a function of several urbanization parameters. The study is useful for developing management strategies for controlling urban runoffs.
  • Slurry Transports in Pressurized Conduits (Lee). Experimental studies have been conducted to study the hydraulic transport characteristics for coal slurry in pressurized conduits. These studies produce data needed for the design of slurry pipelines with varying degree of solid/water concentration.
  • Long Term Variability of Groundwater Basins (Lee). This long term research project permits the study of long term variability of groundwater resources in the San Gabriel basins from the mountain area to the coastal zone. Groundwater levels at more than 300 wells are being monitored weekly, monthly, and semiannually. The results are important for the development of groundwater recharge and groundwater management strategy. Computational models are being developed to simulate groundwater flows using the measured results for calibrations.
  • Full Scale Well/Aquifer Model (Lee, Williams, Synolakis, Pirbazari). Many research projects are being conducted using this unique, full scale well/aquifer physical model. The research topic includes: well screen testing, groundwater recharge study, and groundwater pollutant transports modeling. This large scale physical model will generate experimental data which is important for calibration and verification of computer models for groundwater basins.
  • The Sloshing of the LA Dam during the Northridge 1994 Earthquake (Synolakis). Many of the dams in LA shook violently during the 1994 Northridge earthquake where reports recorded 30ft waves going over the reservoir crests. This is a laboratory and analytical study to determine what actually happened in one of the larger reservoirs, the LA dam, during the earthquake. The study will also provide generic data for the sloshing and seiching of large basins during strong ground motion.
  • Advanced Testing Procedures for Backflow Preventers (Lee). The USC Foundation for Cross-Connection Control and Hydraulic Research has established a long standing reputation for the approval of backflow preventers. Experimental procedures for advanced testing of backflow preventers such as cyclic testing and thermal loop testing are continuously being developed to assist the approval of backflow preventers to be used in the water industry. Computer simulations for flows passing through backflow preventers are also conducted in order to theoretically compute the flow structure, flow separation characteristics and energy losses in backflow preventers in the pressurized piping network.
  • Three-Dimensional Studies of Tsunami Runup (Synolakis). This is a study of the three dimensional effects of tsunamis. A three-dimensional numerical model is under development for predicting the coastal effects of long waves. Experiments are conducted at an off campus facility to generate a high quality data set for calibrating the numerical model. The physical problems modeled are a long wave of finite crest length propagating up a plane beach, the wave runup up a circular island and the wave runup near NE Bay in California.
  • The Forces on Accelerating Plates (Synolakis). This is a study of the flow field near a vertical plate as it is accelerating in a fluid with a free surface. The objective is to study the forces experienced by dams during earthquakes during the first microseconds of the motion. A high speed camera is used to obtain data for the first second of the fluid motion. An analytical model solving the equations of motion in Lagrangian coordinates is under development.
  • The Maximum Height of Rise of Elliptical Jets (Synolakis). This is the study of the mixing and dispersion of elliptical and rectangular jets in stratified fluids. The objective is to enhance the near-field dilution of outfall diffusers discharging wastewater in the ocean. This is primarily a laboratory study; experiments are being conducted in a stratified tank and measurements are made using conductivity probes and the group's Laser-Doppler Velocimeter.
  • Treatment of Industrial Wastewater (Yen). Development of new chemical and microbiological treatment procedures for converting industrial wastewater to game and recreational and other alternative uses.

The Faculty

Selected Publications
  • Borrero, J., Ortiz, M., Totov, V.V., Synolakis, C.E. (1997). Field Survey of Mexican Tsunami,” EOS, Transactions American Geophysical Union, 78(8), pp. 85, 87-88.
  • Bourgeois, J., Petroff, C., Yeh, H. Titov, V., Synolakis, C.E., Benson, B., Kuroiwa, J., Lander, J., Norabuena, E. (1999). Geological Setting, Field Survey and Modeling of the Chimbote, Northern Peru, Tsunami of 21 February 1996,” Pure and Applied Geophysics, 154, 3/4.
  • Briggs, M.J., Synolakis, C.E., Harkins, G.S., Green, D.R. (1995). Laboratory Experiments of Tsunami Runup on a Circular Island,” Pure and Applied Geophysics, 144, 3/4, 569-593.
  • Cordery, S.A., Kuo, J.F., and Yen, T.F. (1988). A Closed-Loop Air Stripping System for Ground Water Remediation,” Proceedings, Hazmancon 1988 (T. Burszlynsk, ed.), ABAG, San Francisco, pp. 694-701.
  • Kanoglu, U., and Synolakis, C.E. (1998). Long Wave Run up on Piecewise Linear Topographies,” Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 374, pp. 1-28.
  • Katawa, Y., Benson, B.C., Borrerom, J., Davies, H., De Lange, W., Imamura, F., Synolakis, C.E. (1999). Tsunami in Papua New Guinea, EOS,” Transactions American Geophysical Union, 80(9) pp. 101-105.
  • Kerh, T., Lee, J.J., and Wellford, L.C. (1995). Predictions of Confined Shear Flows Over a Wall Obstacle,” International Journal of Modeling and Simulation, 15(1), pp. 23-29.
  • Kitto, A., Pirbizari, M., Badriyha, B., Ravidran, V., Synolakis, C.E. (1997). Emissions of Volitile and Semi-Volitile Organic Compounds and Particulate Matter from Hot Asphalts,” Environmental Technology, 18, 121-138.
  • Kerh, T., Lee, J.J., and Wellford, L.C. (1997). Transient Fluid-Structure Interaction in a Control Valve,” ASME Fluid Engineer Division, 119, pp. 001- 006.
  • Lai, C.P., Lee, J.J., and Wu, F. (1993). Computer-Aided Design of Harbors for Diffraction, Refraction and Dissipations of Incident Waves,” Proceedings of the 15th Conference on Ocean Engineering, Taiwan, R.O.C., Nov., pp. 405-418.
  • Lee, J.J., Zhuang, F., and Chang, C. (1993). Kinematics of Wave Overtopping on Marine Structure,” Proceedings of the Second International Symposium on Ocean Wave Measurement and Analysis (WAVE 93), July 25-28, New Orleans, pp. 821-834.
  • Lee, J.J., Lai, C.P. and Yigong, Li (1998). Application of Computer Modeling for Harbor Resonance Studies of Long Beach and Los Angeles Harbor Basins,” Proceedings of 26th International Conference on Coastal Engineering, June 22-26, 1998, Copenhagen, Denmark, pp. 1196-1209.
  • Li., Y, Yang, I.C.Y., Lee, K.I., and Yen, T.F. (1994). In Situ Biological Encapsulation: Biopolymer Shields,” in Applied Biotechnology for Site Remediation (R.E. Hinchee, D.B. Anderson, F.B. Metting Jr., and G.D. Saylor, eds.), Lewis Publishers, Boca Raton, FL, pp. 275-286.
  • Liu, P. L-F, Cho, Y-C, Briggs, M., Kanoglu, K., Synolakis, C.E. (1995). Solitary Wave Runup on a Conical Island,” Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 302 , pp. 259-285.
  • Loh, D., Ayer, R.M., Taylor, D., and Lee, J.J. (1993). Impact of Urbanization on Storm Runoff,” Proceedings of 1993 ASCE International Symposium on Engineering Hydrology, July 25-30, 1993, San Francisco, pp. 989-994.
  • Sobhani, S., Lee, J.J. and Wellford, L.C. (1988). Interaction of Periodic Waves with Inclined Portable Breakwater,” ASCE Journal of Waterways, Ports, Coastal and Ocean Engineering Division, 114(6), pp. 745-761.
  • Synolakis C.E. (1987). The Runup of Solitary Waves,” Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 185, pp. 523-545.
  • Synolakis, C.E. (1990). On the Generation of Long Waves in the Laboratory,” ASCE Journal of Waterways, Ports and Coastal Engineering, 116(2), pp. 252-266.
  • Synolakis, C.E. (1995). Field Survey of the East Java Earthquake and Tsunami,” Pure and Applied Geophysics, 144(3/4), pp. 839-855.
  • Synolakis, C.E. (1995). Tsunami Prediction,” Science, 270, pp. 15-16.
  • Synolakis, C.E., Imamura, F., Tsuji, Y., Matsutomi, S., Tinti, B., Cook, B., and Ushman, M. (1995). Damage Conditions of East Java Tsunami of 1994 Analyzed,” EOS, Transactions, American Geophysical Union, 76(26) , pp. 257 and 261-262.
  • Synolakis, C.E., Liu, P. L-F, Yeh, H., Carrier, G. (1997). Tsunamigenic Seafloor Deformations,” Science 278, pp. 598-600.
  • Tadepalli, S. and Synolakis, C.E. (1996). Model for the Leading Waves of Tsunamis,” Physical Review Letters, 77, pp. 2141-2145.
  • Titov, V.V., and Synolakis, C.E. (1998). Numerical Modeling of Tidal Wave Runup,” ASCE Journal of Waterways, Port, Coastal and Ocean Engineering, 124(4), pp. 157-171.
  • Titov, V.V., and Synolakis, C.E. (1997). Extreme Inundation Flows during the Hokkaido-Nansei-Oki Tsunami,” Geophysical Research Letters, 24(11), pp. 1315- 1318.
  • Titov, V.V. and Synolakis, C.E. (1998). Numerical Modeling of Tidal Wave Runup,” ASCE Journal of Waterways, Ports, Coastal and Ocean Engineering, 24(4), pp. 157-171.
  • Yen, T.F., and Chen, J. (1990). Transport of Microorganisms to Enhance Soil and Groundwater Biorememdiation,” Proceedings, Hazmacon, (T. Bursynski, ed.) ABAG, San Francisco, II, pp. 95-100.
  • Zaki, N. M., and Lee, J.J. (1994). Laser Doppler Velocimeter Measurements in Separated Flows in Circular Pipe,” ASME Fluid Engineering Division,191, June, pp. 149-154.
  • Zhuang, F., Chang, C., and Lee, J.J. (1994). Kinematic Measurements of Wave Overtopping Using Laser Doppler Velocimeter,” ASME Fluid Engineering Division, 191, June, pp. 83-88.
  • Zhuang, F. and Lee, J.J. (1996). A Viscous Rotational Model for Wave Overtopping Over Marine Structures,” Proceedings of 25th International Conference on Coastal Engineering, Sept. 2-6, 1996. Orlando, Florida, pp.2178- 2191.