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  • Post-wildfire slope stability and geoenvironmental impacts of wildfires

      Our research group investigates post-wildfire slope stability issues from multiple perspectives that can broadly be grouped into three research topics: (i) post-wildfire landslides, (ii) post-wildfire erosion and debris flows, and (iii) post-wildfire hillslope stabilization and geoenvironmental impacts of wildfires. We investigate the temporal changes in mechanical, hydraulic, and physicochemical behavior of wildfire-burnt soil; ash redistribution; and root cohesion to understand the mechanisms that control landslides, debris flows, and erosion and model post-wildfire slope stability. We use a variety of tools for this research including laboratory and field testing, field sensors, drone-based and terrestrial LiDAR, and satellite imagery. We investigate the effects of mobilized soil and ash on downstream water quality. We use polymeric and bio-based additives to mitigate post-wildfire slope stability issues to minimize soil loss without sealing the soil surface or creating challenges related to downstream water quality.

      1. Farid, A., Alam, M. K., Goli, V. S. N. S., Akin, I. D., Akinleye, T., Chen, X., Cheng, Q., Cleall, P., Cuomo, S., Foresta, V., Ge, S., Iervolino, L., Iradukunda, P., Luce, C., Koda, E., Mickovski, S.B., O’Kelly, B., Paleologos, E.K., Peduto, D., Ricketts, E.J., Sadegh, M., Sarris, T.S., Singh, D.N., Singh, P., Tang, C., Tardio, G., Vaverkova, M.D., Veneris, M., and Winkler, J. 2024. “A review of the occurrence and causes for wildfires and their impacts on the geoenvironment.” Fire, 7(8), 295. https://doi.org/10.3390/fire7080295
      2. Akin, I.D., Akinleye, T., and Robichaud, P.R., 2023, “Changes in soil properties over time after a wildfire and implications to slope stability,” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng., 149(7): 04023045.
      3. Ahmed, A., Hohner, A.K., Robichaud P.R., and Akin, I.D., 2023, “Effects of post-wildfire erosion and wildfire ash on downstream water quality,” ICEG2023, Chania, Greece.
      4. Ahmed, A., Robichaud P.R., and Akin, I.D., 2023, “Evaluation of water vapor sorption isotherms to quantify wildfire ash in soil,” GeoCongress 2023, Los Angeles, CA.
      5. Ahmed, A., Hohner, A.K., Robichaud, P.R., and Akin, I.D., 2022, “Geoenvironmental impacts of post-wildfire hillslope stabilization with xanthan gum and polyacrylamide,” GeoCongress 2022, Charlotte, NC.
      6. Akin, I.D., Garnica, S.S., Robichaud, P.R., and Brown, R.E., 2022, “Surficial stabilization of wildfire-burnt hillslopes using xanthan gum and polyacrylamide,” Geotechnical and Geological Engineering, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-021-01951-4.
      7. Akin, I.D., and Akinleye, T.O., 2021, “Water vapor sorption behavior of wildfire-burnt soil,” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng., doi: 10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0002648.
      8. Akin, I.D., 2021, “Post-wildfire stability and improvement of hillslopes near PNW transportation infrastructure to increase mobility,” Pacific Northwest Transportation Consortium.

      Bio-geotechnics

      Our group uses nature-inspired, environmentally-friendly, bio-based additives for soil improvement. We currently investigate the stability of kangaroo rat burrows in extreme desert environments. We use additives produced by burrow microbial communities in soil improvement.

      1. Tirkes, S., Aydin, D., Thompson, M., Collins, C.E., Beyenal, H., and Akin, I.D., “Stability of kangaroo rat burrows in the Sonoran Desert: Evidence of biocementation,” Canadian Geotechnical Journal, https://doi.org/10.1139/cgj-2024-022.
      2. Akin, I.D., Tirkes, S., and Collins, C.E., 2023, “Geotechnical insights of mammal burrows in loose desert sand,” Acta Geotechnica, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11440-023-02000-5.
      3. Martinez, A., DeJong, J., Akin, I., Aleali, A., Arson, C., Atkinson, J., Bandini, P., Baser, T., Borela, R., Boulanger, R., Burrall, M., Chen, Y., Collins, C., Cortes, D., Dai, S., DeJong, T., Del Dottore, E., Dorgan, K., Fragaszy, R., Frost, D., Full, R., Ghayoomi, M., Goldman, D., Gravish, N., Guzman, I.L., Hambleton, J., Hawkes, E., Helms, M., Hu, D.L., Huang, L., Huang, S., Hunt, C., Irschick, D., Lin, H., Lingwall, B., Marr, W.A., Mazzolai, B., McInroe, B., Murthy, T., O’Hara, K., Porter, M., Sadek, S., Sanchez, M., Santamarina, C., Shao, L., Sharp, J., Stuart, H., Stutz, H.H., Summers, A.P., Tao, J., Tolley, M., Treers, L., Turnbull, K., Valdes, R., van Passen, L., Viggiani, G., Wilson, D., Wu, W., Yu, X. and Zheng, J. 2021. “Bio-inspired Geotechnical Engineering: Principles, Current Work, Opportunities and Challenges,” 2022, Géotechnique, doi: https://doi.org/10.1680/jgeot.20.P.170.
      4. Shariq, A.F., H. Beyenal, and I.D. Akin. 2021. “Biofilm addition improves sand strength over a wide range of saturations.” Biofilm, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bioflm.2021.100050.

      Waste recycle and reuse

      1. Barzegar, M., Wen, H., Mivechi, M., Akin, I.D., and Edil T.B., “Investigation of excessive settlement involving recycled asphalt pavement in highway embankment”, Transportation Geotechnics, Vol. 40: 100991.
      2. Barzegar, M., Wen, H., Akin, I.D., and Edil T.B., 2023 “Laboratory assessment of recycled asphalt pavement (RAP) as roadway embankment material,” Transportation Research Record, https://doi.org/10.1177/036119812211510.
      3. Bollinger, D., Erickson, J., Stone-Weiss, N., Lere-Adams, J., Karcher, S., Akin, I.D., and McCloy, J.S., 2021, “Structure of amorphous aluminosilicates obtained from mineral transformation: potential path for partial remediation of alkaline waste,” Environmental Advances, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envadv.2021.100136.
      4. Wen, H., Barzegar, M., Mivechi, M., Akin, I., Muhunthan, B., and Edil, T., 2022, “Utilization and limitations of using recycled asphalt pavement (RAP) as roadway embankment material,” Illinois Tollway.

      Unsaturated soil mechanics

      1. Whitehead, R., Schreyer, L., and Akin, I.D., 2024, “A multi-scale model of overburden pressure and water content in montmorillonite-bearing clayey soils,” Geotechnical and Geological Engineering, 42, 3843–3856. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-024-02761-0.
      2. Lee, J., Fratta, D., Akin, I.D., 2022, “Shear strength and stiffness behavior of fine-grained soils at different surface hydration conditions,” Canadian Geotechnical Journal, doi: https://doi.org/10.1139/cgj-2021-0033.
      3. Akin, I.D., Akin, I.D., Potter, L.S., and Edil, T.B., 2021, “Implications of interparticle forces on resilient and shear modulus of unsaturated compacted kaolinite,” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng., doi: 10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0002692.
      4. Akin, I.D., and Likos, W.J., 2020, “Relationship between water vapor sorption kinetics and clay surface properties,” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng., 146(9): 06020015.
      5. Akin, I.D., and Likos, W.J., 2019, “Suction stress of clay over a wide range of saturations,” Geotechnical and Geological Engineering, doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-019-01016-7.
      6. Akin, I.D., and Likos, W.J., 2017, “Implications of surface hydration and capillary condensation to strength and stiffness of compacted clay,” J. Eng. Mech., doi:10.1061/(ASCE)EM.1943-7889.0001265.
      7. Akin, I.D., and Likos, W.J., 2017, “Brazilian tensile strength testing of compacted clay,” Geotech. Test. J., doi: 10.1520/GTJ20160180.
      8. Akin, I.D., and Likos, W.J., 2017, “Tensile strength and stiffness of compacted clay between residual saturation and air-entry,” Geotechnical Frontiers, Orlando, FL.
      9. Akin, I.D., and Likos, W.J., 2016, “Single-point and multi-point water sorption methods for specific surface areas of clay,” Geotech. Test. J., Vol. 39 (2): 291-300.
      10. Akin, I.D., and Likos, W.J., 2016, “Evaluation of isotherm models for water vapor sorption behavior of expansive clays,” J. Perf. Const. Fac., doi: 10.1061/(ASCE)CF.1943-5509.0000899.
      11. Khorshidi, M., Lu, N., Akin, I.D., and Likos, W.J., 2016, “Intrinsic relation between specific surface area and soil water retention,” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng., doi: 10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0001572.
      12. Akin, I.D., and Likos, W.J., 2014, “Specific surface area of clay using water vapor and EGME sorption methods,” Geotech. Test. J., Vol.37 (6): 1-12.

      Geoenvironmental engineering

      1. Akinleye, T.O., Hohner, A.K., Shi, X., and Akin, I.D., 2022, “Influence of Electrochemical Remediation on the Hydraulic and Mechanical Behavior of a Metal-Contaminated Clayey Soil,” GeoCongress 2022, Charlotte, NC.
      2. Akinleye, T., Akin, I.D., Hohner, A., Chowdhury, I., Watts, R., Shi, X., Dutmer, B., Mueller, J., and Moody, W. 2021, “Evaluation of electrochemical treatment for removal or arsenic and manganese from field soil,” Illinois Center for Transportation.
      3. Pelletier, A., Hohner, A., Akin, I.D., Chowdhury, I., Watts, R., Shi, X., Dutmer, B., and Mueller, J. 2021, “Bench-scale electrochemical treatment of co-contaminated clayey soil,” Illinois Center for Transportation.
      4. Hohner, A.K., Pelletier, A., Akin, I., Chowdhury, I., Watts, R., Shi, X., Dutmer, B., and Mueller, J., 2020, “Summary of Illinois regulations and review of treatment alternatives for contaminated soils in right-of-ways,” Illinois Center for Transportation.
      5. Akin, I.D., Chen, J., Benson, C.H., and Likos, W.J., 2018, “Evaluation of water vapor sorption and electrical conductivity methods to determine bentonite content of a soil-bentonite barrier,” IFCEE 2018, Orlando, FL.
      6. Akin, I.D., Chen, J., Likos, W.J., and Benson, C.H., 2017, “Water vapor sorption of bentonite-polymer mixtures contracted with aggressive leachates,” Geotechnical Frontiers, Orlando, FL.
      7. Akin, I.D., and Likos, W.J., 2016, “Water vapor sorption of polymer-modified bentonites”, Geo-Chicago, Chicago, IL.