Teaching
Civil engineers will have to tackle some of the biggest challenges our society will face in the coming years. We need to attract talented students to our profession and equip them with the necessary tools and motivation to tackle crumbling infrastructure, clean energy, depleted water supply, and increasingly severe natural and manmade disasters. Dr. Yost aims to leverage her experience in research and practice to prepare courses that are interesting, challenging, and relevant. Students will leave her courses not only with a basic grasp of necessary tools in geotechnical engineering, but also with an idea of how to use those tools to solve big, impactful problems.
Courses:
CE 597: Geotechnical Subsurface Characterization
Penn State - SP25
Geotechnical subsurface characterization is a critical first step for any construction project. This course will discuss several common invasive subsurface characterization techniques, including the Standard Penetration Test (SPT), Cone Penetration Test (CPT), Dilatometer Test (DMT), Pressuremeter Test (PMT), and Vane Shear Test (VST). Several geophysical testing methods will also be introduced, including seismic refraction, Multichannel Analysis of Surface Waves (MASW), and Microtremor Array Measurements (MAM). In this course, students learn how to: (1) process real in-situ data and learn how to identify bad data; (2) create representative subsurface profiles; (3) utilize correlations to obtain information about soil type, strength, stiffness, stress history, permeability, and other important geotechnical parameters from in-situ data; (4) identify appropriate in-situ testing techniques for specific applications and subsurface conditions; and (5) use in-situ data for direct geotechnical design. This is a 3-unit course offered to graduate students in civil engineering.
CE 335: Engineering Mechanics of Soils
Penn State - SP23, FA23, SP24 - Syllabus
Every part of our built environment is connected to the earth in some way, which is why understanding and accounting for the behavior of soil is vital to civil engineering design. This course will help you gain a basic understanding of geotechnical engineering as well as the properties of soil and their application to civil engineering design. The topics covered include: engineering properties of soils, classification of soils, soil strength and compressibility, as well as a brief introduction to the design of retaining walls and shallow foundations. This is a 3-unit course offered to undergraduate students in civil engineering.
CE 435: Foundation Engineering
Penn State - FA24
Design methods for foundations and earth structures. Site investigation, including determination of soil properties for design. Design of footings and piles, including stability and settlement calculations. Design of earth retaining structures. This is a 3-unit course offered to undergraduate students in civil engineering.