Civil Engineering Research

Dr. Ashok Pandit

Contaminant transport in Subsurface Media

Dr. Pandit has developed a finite element program SOLTRA (Solute Transport) for predicting the movement of contaminants in the subsurface media. The concentration contours (Figure 1 and 2) indicate how the model can predict the spreading of a contaminant in a confined acquifer.  Figure 3 shows the mesh designed to solve the problem.

                                                               Figure 1

                                                               Figure  2

                                                              Figure 3

Numerical Model

Dr. Pandit's students have used the well-known finite difference model, MODFLOW, to predict groundwater seepage in teh indian River Lagoon, an estuary on the east-central coast of Florida.

Physical Model

A scaled replica of a sediment trap, known as a baffle box, was used to determine the efficiency of the baffle box in removing fine and course sediments.

Saltwater Intrusion

Dr. Pandit's finite element model SOLTRA (Solute Transport) was also used to determine the chloride concentration levels and velocity vectors (see figures below) in the surficial aquifer below the Indian River lagoon, an estuary on the east-central coast of Florida.

 

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Hydrologic Modeling

Dr. Pandit developed a hydrologic, water balance model to determine the productivity of high salt marshes and their effects on the waters of the Indian River lagoon an estuary on the east-central coast of Florida. (Show Figure)

Stormwater Management

Dr. Pandit has done a variety of research in the area of stormwater management. He has investigated the rainfall-runoff relationship of asphalt and concrete pavements. He has also developed a Curve Number based model CALSIM (Continuous Annual Load Simulation) to predict the non-print source pollutant loadings from urbanizing and rural watersheds. The model is being used by Florida's St. Johns River Management District (SJRWMD) in their projects. Dr. Pandit and doctoral student Dr. C. Youn have developed a continuous model WEANES that determines the long-term efficiency of a wet retention/detention pond. (See their 2005 publications at http://civil.fit.edu/dr__pandit.html#Publications )