UROP Research Mentor Project Submission Portal: Submission #1313

serial: '1313'
sid: '21161'
uuid: 14d34623-618b-4e8d-9020-a72cde7596d2
uri: /urop-research-mentor-project-submission-portal
created: '1755839268'
completed: '1755839638'
changed: '1756135447'
in_draft: '0'
current_page: ''
remote_addr: 46.110.208.240
uid: '0'
langcode: en
webform_id: urop_project_proposal_portal
entity_type: node
entity_id: '1116'
locked: '0'
sticky: '0'
notes: ''
metatag: meta
data:
  roundtable_info: {  }
  approximately_how_many_hours_a_week_would_the_research_assistant: '8 hours a week'
  are_you_currently_looking_for_students_: 'Yes'
  confirmation_1: '1'
  contact_email_fsu_email: ''
  contact_email_fsu_email2: ''
  contact_email_fsu_email_if_affiliated_: melwardany@fsu.edu
  faculty_advisor_confirmation: ''
  faculty_advisor_name: ''
  faculty_advisor_s_fsu_email: ''
  fsu_college: 'FAMU-FSU College of Engineering'
  fsu_department_if_applicable_: 'Civil and Environmental Engineering'
  headshot_optional_: '62881'
  if_the_project_location_is_off_campus_does_the_student_need_to_p: 'FSU Buss Services'
  mentoring_philosophy: 'I believe undergraduate research should be an enjoyable and motivating experience that fosters curiosity, confidence, and independence. My approach emphasizes regular weekly meetings to provide structure, guidance, and feedback, while also celebrating progress and keeping students engaged. I encourage students to take ownership of their projects, develop problem-solving skills, and see research as both a process of discovery and a source of personal growth. By creating a supportive and inclusive environment, I aim to help students enjoy the research journey, stay motivated through challenges, and build transferable skills that will serve them in graduate school, professional practice, and beyond.'
  mentor_handbook_and_faqs: '1'
  name_of_other_faculty_collaborator_if_applicable_: ''
  number_of_assistants_needed_faculty_postdoc_max_6_graduate_stude: '2'
  other_faculty_collaborator_s_preferred_pronouns: ''
  overall_research_project_description: |-
    With the growing use of mechanistic-empirical models in pavement design, performance testing of asphalt materials has become increasingly important. These models rely on accurate performance data—particularly fatigue cracking behavior—to inform the structural design of pavements. However, traditional performance tests (e.g., uniaxial cyclic fatigue test) are time-consuming, require specialized equipment, and involve substantial material and labor costs.

    This project explores an innovative, non-destructive approach using image analysis of asphalt mixtures to predict fatigue performance. By analyzing key characteristics such as aggregate gradation, orientation, and structure from specimen images, the goal is to establish correlations between visual aggregate features and fatigue cracking performance indicators. This image-based method has the potential to reduce reliance on costly mechanical testing, saving both time and materials for practitioners and accelerating the pavement design process.

    During the UROP term, the student will assist in capturing and processing high-resolution images of asphalt mixture specimens, quantifying aggregate structure using image analysis software, and performing statistical or machine learning-based correlation with known fatigue performance data.
  please_add_any_additional_information_here: 'Please note: UROP Research Mentor meeting by appointment. Please email me at melwardany@fsu.edu'
  please_provide_a_link_to_your_publications_a_video_clip_or_a_web: 'https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=bCev1f8AAAAJ&view_op=list_works&sortby=pubdate'
  please_select_the_choice_that_most_accurately_describes_your_exp: In-person
  please_select_the_location_of_your_project_: 'FAMU-FSU College of Engineering'
  position_availability_for_student_research: 'Flexible schedule'
  position_title: Faculty
  primary_research_mentor_name: 'Michael Elwardany'
  project_keywords: 'Image Analysis, Composites, Fatigue Cracking, Asphalt Concrete'
  relevant_student_major_s_: 'Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, and other engineering majors'
  research_mentor_preferred_pronoun2: ''
  research_mentor_pronouns: He/him/his
  research_mentor_supervisor_if_different_from_above_: ''
  research_tasks_for_student_research_assistant_s_: |
    Data collection (Capturing images of Samples)
    Literature review
    Data analysis
    Building software for analysis
    Documentation and reporting of outcomes
  roundtable_times_and_zoom_links: ''
  skills_that_research_assistants_may_need_: |-
    Required:
    Basic research skills
    Basic data analysis skills
    Programming skills
    Recommended:
    Coding Skills
  title_of_the_project: 'Image Analysis of Composite Materials (i.e., Asphalt Concrete)'
  update_url: 'https://cre.fsu.edu/urop-research-mentor-project-submission-portal?element_parents=elements/research_mentor_information/headshot_optional_&ajax_form=1&_wrapper_format=drupal_ajax&token=GzC2AItbGXC9YnDnpe_RaPxgmQrQUPFnAsb1ZNs8LgA'
  urop_performance_evaluation: '1'
  urop_poster_presentation: '1'
  when_potential_research_assistants_are_reaching_out_via_email_2: ''
  when_potential_research_assistants_are_reaching_out_via_email_wh: ''
  when_students_are_reaching_out_via_email_what_is_your_preferreda: Dr.
  would_you_like_to_participate_in_the_urop_research_mentor_round2: 'No'
  would_you_like_to_participate_in_the_urop_research_mentor_roundt: ''
  year: '2025'