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The Utilization of Great Lakes’ Dredged Sludge in Cementitious Composites: Investigation and Assessment

Principal Investigator: Xiaoli Xiong
Affiliation: Purdue University
Initiation Date: 2024

This one-year research project is dedicated to investigating the viability of utilizing dredged sludge from the Great Lakes as a substitute for fine aggregates in cementitious composites. The research encompasses experimental investigation such as the chemical and physical properties of the dredged sludge and the fresh and mechanical performance of cementitious composites incorporating this material. Subsequently, a “cradle to gate” life cycle assessment will be conducted for cementitious composites with dredged sludge.

The primary goal of this project is to propose an innovative recycling approach for managing pollutant-laden dredged sludge, aiming to reduce the reliance on traditional sand in the construction industry.


Comparing the effects of submerged shoreline stabilization structures on eco-geomorphological processes at two different coastline typographies in southern Lake Michigan

Principal Investigator: Hillary Glandon
Affiliation: University of Illinois, Illinois Natural History Survey
Initiation Date: 2024

Submerged, “reef-style” breakwaters may be a viable nature-based solution for shoreline protection and ecological enhancement. However, the lack of quantitative data on the effectiveness of such nature-based solutions limits the ability of managers to implement them within Great Lakes coastal communities.

Our goals are to use monitoring data to (a) inform habitat restoration and protection efforts around Lake Michigan and other Great Lakes, and (b) provide the much needed geomorphic and sediment-routing context to help assess the regional impacts of such structures (and their broader utility). We will accomplish these goals through the following objectives: Obj 1) Determine the effect of the two different artificial reefs on aquatic species abundance and diversity through comparisons to long-term (2016-present) ecological monitoring sites co-located with the reefs. Obj 2) Quantify bathymetric changes to the nearshore environment surrounding the reefs and topographic changes to the adjacent beach environment, evaluating post-reef morphodynamics in context of available pre-construction data (post-2018 at Site 1). Obj 3) Engage a variety of coastal stakeholder groups by way of discussion forums, workshops, fact sheets, or other meeting types. 


Recycling Bottom Sediments from Great Lakes in Sustainable Construction Materials

Principal Investigator: Yizhou Lin
Affiliation: Purdue University
Initiation Date: 2023

This research project proposes a computational model validated by experimental testing to improve various characteristics of sustainable cement and concrete by reusing waste materials from the Great Lakes as additives in sustainable building materials. The model will be paired with AI algorithms to efficiently determine the feasibility of recycling bottom sediment from the Great Lakes as a sustainable construction material and analyze the impact of the additive on concrete performance. The goal of the proposed research is to reduce environmental pollution and improve the current ecological system by recycling the bottom sediments in the Great Lakes region, thus improving the efficiency of concrete use in actual construction and the ecological sustainability of the Great Lakes region.


Data-Driven Modeling for Hazard-Resilient Infrastructure in Southern Lake Michigan Communities

Principal Investigator: Junyi Duan
Affiliation: Purdue University
Initiation Date: 2023

During the given one-year research period, I plan to develop a data-driven model integrating the physical model of infrastructure vulnerable to hazard and artificial intelligence machine learning algorithms to offer precautions and suggestions to resist natural hazards and enhance infrastructure flood resilience for the southern Lake Michigan communities. The proposed research targets to provide coastal communities with on-time and accessible suggestions to resist flooding attacks, support coastal industrial development without interference, give organizations reasonable, efficient recommendations to minimize the flooding impact on infrastructure, and offer the government customized design advice for infrastructure in the southern Lake Michigan region. Most importantly, this research will call public attention to the resilience of coastal communities and infrastructure.


Benthic Community Response to the Addition of a Nearshore Submerged Shoreline Stabilization Structure and the Subsequent Sediment Accumulation in Southern Lake Michigan

Principal Investigator: Amber Schmidt
Affiliation: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Initiation Date: 2023

Quantifying the introductory impacts of an artificial reef on the nearshore community in Lake Michigan have not been made a priority in any experimental design. This project aims to mend this lack of understanding by combining biology and geology to create a new understanding of the effects of a newly constructed artificial reef (Rubble Ridges). This will be accomplished by observing the effects of sediment accumulation around a newly constructed artificial reef on benthic community diversity and growth. Sampling at the reef site will include sampling for invertebrates, encrusting organisms, and fish once a month during the sampling season. We will compare the trends from the Rubble Ridges site to the trends from the control site.

The objectives for this study are (1) to determine the difference in abundance and diversity of benthic organisms between the submerged shoreline stabilization structure site and the control site over a 2-year period, (2) to determine if the development of nearshore artificial reefs positively impact benthic communities in Southern Lake Michigan, and (3) to determine if benthic community diversity and abundance changes due to sediment accumulation and changes in sand grain size. We hypothesize that there will be an increase in abundance and diversity in benthic communities at the submerged shoreline stabilization structure site in comparison to the control site, that these artificial reefs will have a positive impact on the benthic communities in Southern Lake Michigan, and that sediment accumulation and larger sand grain size provide suitable habitat areas that will increase the diversity and abundance of the surrounding benthic community. Project managers and scientists can utilize this information in upcoming projects, whose intent is to prevent shoreline erosion, as a means to further understand this relationship.


Improving Infrastructure Flood Resilience of the Southern Lake Michigan Region with Fluid-Structure Interaction Model

Principal Investigator: Chengcheng Tao
Affiliation: Purdue University
Initiation Date: 2022

This project proposes a computational framework to efficiently simulate the flood-infrastructure interaction mechanism, assess the impact and risk of flood on the infrastructure in the southern Lake Michigan region and provide recommendations on the selection of rational infrastructure types suitable for the flooding area. The goal of the proposed research is to mitigate potential losses, improve the current post disaster reconstruction strategy and therefore enhance the flood resilience of the infrastructure and coastal communities in the Great Lake region. Key outcomes include an extensive literature review on the flood hazard data and infrastructure damage data in the southern Lake Michigan region, and a computational framework that integrates the fluid-structure interaction model and flood risk assessment model.


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