Portland State University’s Geotechnical Engineering Laboratory supports research, education, and applied testing in soil mechanics, geotechnical earthquake engineering, and infrastructure resilience.
Faculty and students use laboratory experiments, field investigations, computational analysis, and physical modeling to study how soils and infrastructure respond to environmental and seismic forces. The lab also collaborates with universities, public agencies, industry partners, and engineering professionals on research and consulting projects.
Research Areas
Research conducted through the Geotechnical Engineering Laboratory addresses the behavior of soils and soil–structure systems under static, cyclic, and seismic loading. Areas of research include:
- Soil mechanics and soil characterization
- Geotechnical earthquake engineering
- Soil liquefaction and mitigation
- Microbially induced desaturation
- Monotonic and cyclic soil behavior
- Soil–structure interaction
- Seismic performance of waterfront structures
- Cone penetration testing
- Field instrumentation and subsurface monitoring
- Centrifuge and physical modeling
- Infrastructure resilience and disaster preparedness
Specific research activities vary according to current projects, partnerships, and funding. Read Lab News to learn about recent experiments, fieldwork, collaborations, and student research.
Laboratory Testing
The laboratory provides facilities and equipment for characterizing soil properties and studying the behavior of intact and prepared specimens. Testing and analysis may include:
- Soil index and classification tests
- Intact specimen testing
- Monotonic testing
- Cyclic testing
- Soil strength and deformation analysis
- Sample preparation and characterization
- Instrument calibration and data collection
- Testing for research and consulting projects
Laboratory equipment is regularly serviced and calibrated to support accurate, reliable testing.
Field Research
Field investigations allow researchers to examine soil behavior under real-world conditions and compare field observations with laboratory and computational results. Recent work has involved:
- Cone penetration testing
- Electrical resistivity tomography
- Nuclear magnetic resonance testing
- Volumetric water-content monitoring
- Subsurface gas monitoring
- Installation of field sensors
- Collection and analysis of geotechnical field data
These methods help researchers characterize subsurface conditions, monitor changes over time, and evaluate approaches for reducing geotechnical hazards.
Earthquake Engineering and Liquefaction Research
A major area of research is understanding and reducing the effects of earthquakes on soils, foundations, waterfront structures, and other critical infrastructure. Researchers study soil liquefaction, ground deformation, seismic soil–structure interaction, and the performance of structures built on liquefiable soils. Current and recent projects have examined topics such as the seismic behavior of wharf structures and the use of microbially induced desaturation as a potential liquefaction-mitigation method. This work contributes to broader efforts to improve infrastructure resilience and prepare communities for earthquakes, including hazards associated with the Cascadia Subduction Zone.
Physical and Centrifuge Modeling
Researchers use physical models to study complex geotechnical systems under controlled conditions. Centrifuge modeling makes it possible to evaluate how scale models of soils and structures behave under stresses representative of full-scale conditions. Portland State faculty and students collaborate with researchers at the University of California, Davis Center for Geotechnical Modeling on centrifuge experiments. These projects provide students with experience in model design, instrumentation, experimental testing, and data interpretation.
Student Research
Undergraduate and graduate students play an active role in the laboratory’s research. Depending on the project, students may gain experience with:
- Preparing and testing soil specimens
- Conducting soil index tests
- Operating laboratory and field equipment
- Designing physical models
- Installing and monitoring sensors
- Writing code and processing data
- Analyzing experimental results
- Preparing technical reports and research papers
- Presenting findings to academic and professional audiences
Students work alongside faculty members, graduate researchers, visiting scholars, and project collaborators. These experiences help students connect classroom concepts with real geotechnical engineering problems. Meet Our Students to learn more about the people conducting research in the lab.
Research Collaboration
The Geotechnical Engineering Laboratory collaborates with academic institutions, government agencies, engineering professionals, and other research organizations. Collaborating institutions include:
- University of California, Davis
- University of Maine
- Arizona State University
- National Science Foundation
- Oregon Museum of Science and Industry
These collaborations expand the laboratory’s research capabilities and create opportunities for shared experiments, specialized testing, student training, and public education.
Applied and Consulting Projects
In addition to academic research, the laboratory supports selected applied and consulting projects. These projects allow researchers and students to investigate practical geotechnical problems while producing data relevant to engineering analysis and decision-making. The availability and scope of testing depend on the laboratory’s equipment, schedule, staffing, and current research commitments.
About the Geotechnical Engineering Group
The Geotechnical Engineering Laboratory is part of Portland State University’s civil and environmental engineering community. Its work combines fundamental research with practical applications in soil mechanics, earthquake engineering, infrastructure resilience, and geotechnical design. Through laboratory testing, field investigation, physical modeling, and academic collaboration, the group works to improve understanding of the ground beneath our communities and the infrastructure built upon it.