NOTE: This is the second installment of "Catching Up With…", a column that invites engineering and construction professionals working with geosynthetics to share their stories of recent activities: travels, projects and site visits, event reports, lectures, current research, etc. For more information, contact the editor, Chris Kelsey.
THE VIEW FROM KOREA
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In the first issue of "Catching Up With…", Dr. Ian D. Peggs of I-CORP INTERNATIONAL mentioned his visit to INHA University in Incheon, Korea. Prof. Han-Yong Jeon runs the geosynthetics lab at INHA. We caught up with him via email to learn more about what he and his students are working on these days.
INHA University is located about 30 miles outside of Seoul. Jeon works in the GeoSynthetics Research Lab (GSRL) is part of the university’s Division of Nano-Systems Engineering. I had the opportunity to visit the lab two years ago when Jeon played host to a number of us who spoke in a session he arranged for the Fiber 2006 conference at Seoul National University.
We were all very impressed with the lab and the level of complexity his students and staff pursue in their work; and in the great degree of involvement they have with Korea’s growing geosynthetics industry.
Currently, Jeon reports, the research interests at GSRL can be separated into three areas. They, and their sub-topics, are as follows:
The Standardization and Regulation of Geosynthetics
* Modification and addition of new items to geosyntheics test methods – ISO and ASTM related
* Research and development (R&D) of geosynthetics test equipment
* Regulation of geosynthetic performance specifications for installation and design
Manufacturing a advanced geosynthetic materials with fusion technology
* New geosynthetic materials that use nano-tube applicated technology in environmental fields
* Hybrid type geosynthetics that have alternative functional properties
* Eco-friendly and eco-adaptive geosynthetics with bio-degadable materials
Analysis and interpretations of geosynthetic material applicability and performance
* Long-term performance of geosyntheic materials before and after installation
* Finite Element Model (FEM) applications to predict performance change of geosynthetics materials
* Suggestion of new analytical method to interprete geosynthetic performance
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To be sure, this is a busy program, but it is one that is both needed and welcomed. Standardization, performance assurance, and green engineering will be some of the most important measures going forward for geosynthetics.
We certainly hope that Dr. Jeon will check in with us again soon, and that we will be able to pass along those updates to our readers, for these are topics we don’t want to lose sight of.
Chris Kelsey is an editorial consultant to geosynthetica.net. He can be reached at chris@geosynthetica.net.
ARCHIVE
"Cathcing Up With…" Issue 1 – Ian D. Peggs, 31 July 2008.
"Catching Up With…" Issue 2 – Han-Yong Jeon, 8 August 2008.
