Eight undergraduate students will participate in a ten-week comprehensive research experience. In accordance with his/her interests, each student will do one of the following: 1) join in a project investigating strains in geomaterials in underground water disposal tunnels; 2) investigate advanced acoustic wave propagation methods to detect flaws in materials 3) use laser interferometry to detect crack propagation in brittle materials; 4) join in an exciting development of a new fast-scan scanning electron Microscope; 5) use a new interactive graphical program to analyze a fracture mechanics problem; 6) assist in an experimental effort to understand internal micro cracking of solids through data obtained for a x-ray device; 7) assist in developing and testing video recording equipment to automate construction operations; and 8) conduct a study to correlate the intact and fissured properties of rocks using indicative techniques. At least half of the students will be selected from applicants from other institutions, especially those without active research programs. Women, minority and handicapped applicants will particularly be recruited. The students will become familiar with their projects through early contact with the research director and will present a preliminary seminar on the research. Each student can expect to learn to work quite independently over the course of the summer. He/she will also present a final seminar on the research, assist in writing a publication describing the work, and may travel to a meeting to present the results.
