News & Events

Department Events

Events

• Feb

  1

  SPREE Seminar Series - Ramez Hajj

  McCormick - Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)

  11:00 AM A230, Technological Institute

  EVENT DETAILS

  Multiscale characterization of viscoelastic construction materials using microscopic experiments and machine learning

  Viscoelastic materials are used widely in construction of built infrastructure, most notably in the case of asphalt binders used in road construction. The characterization of these materials presents substantial challenges due to their complex molecular makeup and time, temperature, and geometry-dependent failure mechanisms. Specifically, understanding the mechanism underlying failure due to fatigue and fracture has been a challenge. Meanwhile, at larger scales, the engineering of asphalt mixtures involves complex manipulation of volumetric and other variables. To address these challenges, a Bayesian Neural Network (BNN) was established to predict the dynamic complex modulus of asphalt mixtures based on a range of data from existing literature and our laboratory. The BNN was shown to have comparable errors to those observed experimentally when enough training and validation datasets were used. However, nonlinear viscoelastic problems provide more substantial challenges due to both lack of data and repeatability. Microscopic observations of the cavitation phenomenon underlying asphalt binder fracture were therefore observed using in-situ testing and darkfield microscopy. Future work involves predicting these cavitation events using physicsinformed neural networks.

  Bio

  Ramez Hajj is an Assistant Professor in the department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Prior to joining UIUC, he completed his Ph.D. and Master's in Civil Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin. He obtained his Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering with a minor in Engineering Science and Mechanics from Virginia Tech. Dr. Hajj's research spans everything related to asphalt materials and flexible pavements, from as small as investigating asphalt binder behavior at the molecular, nano-, and micro-scale, to developing novel materials for roadway pavement and railroad track applications, to solving network-level transportation infrastructure problems. Primarily, his research focuses on asphalt binders, mixtures, and pavements, but more broadly, these research areas are situated in wider research areas of viscoelasticity, composites, machine learning, and computational modeling. So far, his work includes fundamental scientific discoveries into the origins of cracking in asphalt binder microstructure, the development of predictive machine learning algorithms for linear viscoelastic properties, and practical contributions to the asphalt industry, state Departments of Transportation, and local transportation agencies. To date, he has authored more than 25 peer-reviewed journal articles in these areas and presented his work at many international conferences.

  more less

  TIME Wednesday, February 1, 2023 at 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

  LOCATION A230, Technological Institute    map it

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  CONTACT Stephanie Lukas    stephanie.lukas@northwestern.edu EMAIL

  CALENDAR McCormick - Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)

• Aug

  14

  Undergraduate Quantum Summer School

  McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science

  All Day Ford Motor Company Engineering Design Center

  EVENT DETAILSmore info

  Innovation in Quantum Pedagogy, Application, and its Relation to Culture (IQ-PARC), funded by the Department of Defense — National Defense Education Program, is extending an invitation to underrepresented students nationwide (including military-connected students) to participate in a summer school focused on quantum technologies, to be held at Northwestern University. Join us for presentations by faculty and industry partners introducing quantum technologies, cutting-edge research areas, and related job opportunities particularly in the areas of national security.

  This effort aims to foster an inclusive environment that encourages participation from all corners of the academic community. Successful applicants will receive up to $1,000 USD to cover travel and lodging expenses in Evanston, IL.

  Priority application deadline: May 15, 2024.

  Decisions will be sent by June 15, 2024.

  Register Now

  more less

  TIME Wednesday, August 14, 2024

  LOCATION Ford Motor Company Engineering Design Center    map it

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  CONTACT Dongyang Li    lidongyang@northwestern.edu EMAIL

  CALENDAR McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science

• Aug

  15

  Undergraduate Quantum Summer School

  McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science

  All Day Ford Motor Company Engineering Design Center

  EVENT DETAILSmore info

  Innovation in Quantum Pedagogy, Application, and its Relation to Culture (IQ-PARC), funded by the Department of Defense — National Defense Education Program, is extending an invitation to underrepresented students nationwide (including military-connected students) to participate in a summer school focused on quantum technologies, to be held at Northwestern University. Join us for presentations by faculty and industry partners introducing quantum technologies, cutting-edge research areas, and related job opportunities particularly in the areas of national security.

  This effort aims to foster an inclusive environment that encourages participation from all corners of the academic community. Successful applicants will receive up to $1,000 USD to cover travel and lodging expenses in Evanston, IL.

  Priority application deadline: May 15, 2024.

  Decisions will be sent by June 15, 2024.

  Register Now

  more less

  TIME Thursday, August 15, 2024

  LOCATION Ford Motor Company Engineering Design Center    map it

  ADD TO CALENDAR

  CONTACT Dongyang Li    lidongyang@northwestern.edu EMAIL

  CALENDAR McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science

• Sep

  18

  CEE Faculty Retreat

  McCormick - Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)

  10:00 AM 1702 Chicago Ave

  EVENT DETAILS

  Annual faculty retreat

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  TIME Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

  LOCATION 1702 Chicago Ave   

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  CONTACT Andrew Liguori    andrew.liguori@northwestern.edu EMAIL

  CALENDAR McCormick - Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)

• Sep

  18

  CEE Department BBQ & Poster Session

  McCormick - Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)

  4:00 PM 225 Greenwood St

  EVENT DETAILS

  Annual CEE BBQ and Poster Session to begin the academic year.

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  TIME Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM

  LOCATION 225 Greenwood St   

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  CONTACT Andrew Liguori    andrew.liguori@northwestern.edu EMAIL

  CALENDAR McCormick - Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)

• Sep

  20

  CEE New Student Orientation

  McCormick - Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)

  8:00 AM A230, Technological Institute

  EVENT DETAILS

  Orientation for new students to the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

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  TIME Friday, September 20, 2024 at 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM

  LOCATION A230, Technological Institute    map it

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  CONTACT Andrew Liguori    andrew.liguori@northwestern.edu EMAIL

  CALENDAR McCormick - Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)

• Sep

  24

  Fall 2024 Classes Begin (No Northwestern Monday in Fall)

  University Academic Calendar

  All Day

  EVENT DETAILS

  Fall 2024 Classes Begin (No Northwestern Monday in Fall)

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  TIME Tuesday, September 24, 2024

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  CONTACT Office of the Registrar    nu-registrar@northwestern.edu EMAIL

  CALENDAR University Academic Calendar

• Sep

  30

  Last day to add a class or change a section for Fall (Last day for tuition adjustment related to enrollment changes (to or from full-time). No reductions are made to bills for dropped or swapped classes after this date)

  University Academic Calendar

  All Day

  EVENT DETAILS

  Last day to add a class or change a section for Fall (Last day for tuition adjustment related to enrollment changes (to or from full-time). No reductions are made to bills for dropped or swapped classes after this date)

  more less

  TIME Monday, September 30, 2024

  ADD TO CALENDAR

  CONTACT Office of the Registrar    nu-registrar@northwestern.edu EMAIL

  CALENDAR University Academic Calendar

• Oct

  19

  CEE Fall Career Fair

  McCormick - Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)

  10:00 AM Louis Room, Norris University Center

  EVENT DETAILS

  Annual CEE Fall Career Fair for students.

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  TIME Saturday, October 19, 2024 at 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM

  LOCATION Louis Room, Norris University Center    map it

  ADD TO CALENDAR

  CONTACT Andrew Liguori    andrew.liguori@northwestern.edu EMAIL

  CALENDAR McCormick - Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)