Colorado State University

Research

First NEESWood Test Occurred on June 30, 2009

In Japan, on June 30, 2009, the first series of shake table tests on the NEESWood Capstone building took place. There was a small shake equivalent to a 72 year return period and a larger shake with a 475 year return period. Both are scalings of the Northridge, Canoga Park, record from 1994. The steel moment frame is engaged for the testing tomorrow.

Graywater irrigation: Potential water conservation tool

Sybil Sharvelle and Larry Roesner, professors with the Urban Water Center in Colorado State's College of Engineering, are in the first year of a three-year $370,000 graywater study awarded by the Water Environment Research Foundation to investigate the effects of using household graywater for residential landscape irrigation. They are sampling soil, plants, and water at homes with graywater systems in California, Arizona, Texas and Colorado.

(Photo of the graywater research team: Prof. Sybil Sharvelle, graduate student Adam Jokerst, and Prof. Larry Roesner)

"We are assessing plant health, soil chemistry and microorganisms in graywater irrigation areas and comparing the findings with samples taken in the same yard where similar vegetation exists that is irrigated with city water," Sharvelle said. "You can't just assume that if a plant looks good now, that it has long-term viability. By applying scientific analyses of plant health, soil quality and microbial populations, we will be able to shed better light on whether it is safe to irrigate landscape for long periods with graywater."

To read the full article, click here.

The primary locations for Civil and Environmental Engineering research are:

  • Engineering Building

    The Engineering Building, on the main Colorado State campus, is home to Civil and Environmental Engineering, as well as other engineering departments. Map.

  • Glover Building (Engineering South)

    The Glover Building, also known as Engineering South, is home to the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, as well as several civil engineering labs and computing spaces.

  • Engineering Research Center (ERC)

    The ERC is an 110,000-square-foot research facility supporting faculty and student projects in civil, electrical, and mechanical engineering. Director: Christopher I. Thorton, phone: (970) 491-8394.