Dr. Thuy Vu
Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Undergraduate Coordinator
(956) 665-3729
Edinburg: EACSB 1.207
thuy.vu@utrgv.edu
Education
- Ph.D., Geotechnical Engineering, University of Missouri-Columbia, 2013
- M.S., Geotechnical Engineering, National University of Civil Engineering, Vietnam, 2002
- B.S., Civil Engineering, Hanoi Architecture University, Vietnam, 1997
Biography
Dr. Vu’s M.S. thesis topic involved the use of geosynthesis to increase the stability of slopes on soft clay. Her Ph.D. dissertation is on the topic of deep foundations involving full-scale testing, modeling, probability analysis, and load and resistance factor design. She took part in developing resistance factors for drilled shafts for the Missouri Department of Transportation's Engineering Policy Guidelines. For the last several years, she has been researching sustainable geothermal energy to find ways to improve its use in heating and cooling buildings. The geothermal energy research involves full-scale testing in Mission, Texas, laboratory testing, and 3D modeling using COMSOL and FLAC. Dr. Vu always encourages her students to generate ideas to educate the public about the benefits of geothermal energy. Her students were either placed or finalists in all the national competitions they attended; these competitions were sponsored by The Department of Energy and the American Society of Civil Engineers.
Research Interests
- Geothermal Energy and Energy Piles
- Retaining Walls and Slope Stability
- Deep Foundations
- Load and Resistance Factor Design