Dr. Puppala’s research group had a strong presence at the 105th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board (TRB) in Washington, D.C., from January 11-15, 2026. Our team presented cutting-edge research through both lectern and poster sessions, contributing to important discussions in transportation engineering and infrastructure.
Dr. Anand Puppala delivered a keynote lecture titled “Innovative Technologies in Geotechnical Engineering for Supporting Transportation Infrastructure” at the IACIP Meeting during the conference. His presentation highlighted the critical role of transportation geotechnics and innovative technologies in enhancing infrastructure resilience. Dr. Puppala focused primarily on the challenges of building on problematic expansive soils and on geotechnical research into bridge de-icing solutions. His lecture featured detailed field studies from North Texas regarding bridge de-icing and the performance of wicking geotextiles in pavements. Additionally, he discussed the integration of UAVs and remote sensing for advanced asset management in bridge maintenance and highway embankments. His presentation also showcased the transformative potential of 3D printing technologies, demonstrating how local soils can be used in specialized CSA mixes to create sustainable construction materials.
We are also proud to highlight the following student presentations from our group: Ayush Kumar, E.I.T,. presented his USDOT-funded research on “Experimental Modeling of Artificial Mangrove Systems for Protection of Coastal Highway Embankments. His study explores these systems as a sustainable alternative to conventional coastal defense methods, showing how they can significantly reduce wave energy and mitigate embankment erosion. This forward-thinking approach provides coastal communities with an eco-friendly, resilient solution to safeguard vital transportation infrastructure from increasingly severe extreme weather events.
Sopharith Chou presented his MnDOT-funded research on the “Influence of Moisture and Temperature Fluctuations on Clay Stabilized with Calcium-Based Stabilizers”. The study examines clay soils stabilized with lime, cement, and lime sludge (a waste byproduct) under moisture and temperature fluctuations using wetting–drying and freezing–thawing conditioning. Overall, this work emphasizes the importance of carefully considering durability evaluation methods when selecting stabilization materials for resilient transportation infrastructure.
Shanmukha Sai Avinash Gonnabathula, E.I.T. had an engaging poster presentation on his USDOT-funded research on “Drainage and Interface Behavior of Wicking Geotextile with Expansive Soil Under Varying Moisture Conditions,” which evaluates the critical application of wicking geotextiles on expansive soil slopes. This study provides vital insights into the drainage and interface performance of soil-geotextile systems under different moisture conditions, offering a more resilient approach to managing slope stability in challenging environments.
Muddassir Sanei presented his research on an NSF-funded
project, “Assessment of Geopolymer Synthesis Parameters on Strength of Stabilized Fat Clay Using Statistical and Machine Learning Techniques.” This study focuses on developing innovative and industry-centered stabilization solutions for coastal infrastructure development. The work focused not only on using geopolymers for fat clay stabilization but also on leveraging statistical and machine-learning methods to optimize their synthesis.
Kyle Parr presented a poster, “Novel Four-Season Durability Methods for Cement-Stabilized Clays,” funded by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. This work investigates how chemically stabilized soils degrade in strength and stiffness under four-season cyclic environmental loading. Insights from this study provide greater clarity on how cement-stabilized soils behave in the long term under seasonal temperature and moisture variation, which can be beneficial for the development of future pavement designs.
AKASH TANSHETTE delivered an engaging poster presentation on a USDOT-funded project on “Transforming Local Soils into 3D-Printable Construction Materials Using CSA Cement.” The study explores how locally available soils can be effectively utilized in 3D concrete printing through CSA-soil composite mixes. This work provides valuable insights into the performance and applicability of CSA-soil systems for additive construction, highlighting their potential as a more economical and sustainable solution, particularly in challenging, resource-limited environments.
Beyond the technical insights, the conference was a milestone for Dr. Puppala’s research group, as Kyle Parr was honored with the Student of the Year award for the CREATE University Transportation Center. It is inspiring to see this recognition of students’ efforts to advance improvements in transportation infrastructure.
