Research activities...
Dr. Horvath has been involved in scholarly research for almost all of his professional career, beginning with the
commencement of his doctoral studies in 1973. His doctoral research dealt with the broad topic of soil-structure interaction
(SSI) with a specific emphasis on subgrade models used for mat (raft) foundation analysis. Dr. Horvath's research activity
increased significantly when he became a full-time faculty member at Manhattan College in 1987.
Because of his strong background in engineering practice, Dr. Horvath's research has always been of a practical,
applications-oriented nature. His current research interests include:
Additional details about Dr. Horvath's current research activities can be found on his curriculum vitae which is available upon
request to clients and prospective clients only. Click here to access digital copies of many of Dr. Horvath's recent
publications.
John S. Horvath Consulting Engineer - Copyright 2008-2012 by John S. Horvath. All rights reserved. - This page was last revised on 29 December 2011.
Dr. Horvath has been involved in scholarly research for almost all of his professional career, beginning with the
commencement of his doctoral studies in 1973. His doctoral research dealt with the broad topic of soil-structure interaction
(SSI) with a specific emphasis on subgrade models used for mat (raft) foundation analysis. Dr. Horvath's research activity
increased significantly when he became a full-time faculty member at Manhattan College in 1987.
Because of his strong background in engineering practice, Dr. Horvath's research has always been of a practical,
applications-oriented nature. His current research interests include:
- Cellular geosynthetics (geofoams and geocombs). The term "geofoam" was defined by him in the early 1990s to
generically describe all types of closed-cell foams used in geotechnical applications. He independently researched,
wrote, and self-published the first and still only English-language monograph on the subject titled "Geofoam
Geosynthetic" that was published in 1995 and is now out of print. In 1996, he personally and independently
established the first website, The Geofoam WWW Site, devoted exclusively and objectively to all aspects of geofoam.
He personally funded and maintained this website for over four years. In 1999, Dr. Horvath expanded his interest in
the use of cellular materials in geotechnical construction and coined and defined the term geocomb to generically
describe extruded open-cell geosynthetic products with a honeycomb appearance that complement geofoams in
lightweight-fill applications. Most recently, and as a continuation of his more than 20 years of researching geofoams,
Dr. Horvath was a co-principal investigator (co-PI) for National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP)
Project No. 24-11(02) titled "Guidelines for Geofoam Applications in Slope Stability Projects". This research project,
which was officially launched at the beginning of the 2007 U.S. Federal fiscal year and completed in 2011 and was
managed at the University of Memphis, was an extension of the earlier NCHRP Project No. 24-11(01) for Fiscal Year
1998 study titled "Guidelines for Geofoam Applications in Embankment Projects" that was managed at the University
of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and for which Dr. Horvath was also a co-PI. Both of these funded-research projects
were administered by the Transportation Research Board (TRB).
- Soil-structure interaction problems including mat (raft) foundations and piled rafts; all types of earth-retaining
structures (including under seismic loading); integral-abutment bridges; and vertical anchors to resist uplift loads.
This is a continuation and extension of his career-long interest in all types of SSI problems. A particular interest
involves the broad applications of geofoam compressible inclusions for controlled yielding of soil and rock adjacent to
relatively rigid earth-retaining structures to create controlled yielding and concomitant earth-pressure reduction.
- Methodologies and computer software development for analysis of the load-settlement behavior of footings and
driven piles in coarse-grain soil based on soil parameters derived from site characterization using in-situ test data.
This is called the integrated site characterization and foundation analysis concept. One of Dr. Horvath's
particular interests in this area is promoting the greater awareness and use of a third deep-foundation capacity
mechanism for use with tapered deep-foundation elements (both driven and drilled piles and drilled shafts) that is
based on cylindrical cavity expansion and is in addition to the traditional mechanisms of side friction and end bearing.
Additional details about Dr. Horvath's current research activities can be found on his curriculum vitae which is available upon
request to clients and prospective clients only. Click here to access digital copies of many of Dr. Horvath's recent
publications.
John S. Horvath Consulting Engineer - Copyright 2008-2012 by John S. Horvath. All rights reserved. - This page was last revised on 29 December 2011.
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