Tara Cavalline, Ph.D, P.E.

Tara Cavalline, Ph.D, P.E.

Professor, Civil Engineering Technology & Construction Management
Engineering Technology and Construction Management
704-687-5035
Smith 233

Personal Website

Website

Degrees & Professional Registration

  • Doctor of Philosophy, Infrastructure and Environmental Systems, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 2012
  • Master of Science, Civil Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, 1999
  • Bachelor of Science with Honors and Distinction, Civil Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, 1998
  • Professional Engineer licensed in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Pennsylvania

Research

  • Portland cement concrete and cementitious materials
    • Durability and service life
    • Optimizing materials and mixture design
    • Enhancing performance of concrete infrastructure
    • Quality assurance for concrete construction
  • Sustainable construction materials
  • Masonry materials
  • Bridge Management Systems
  • Pavement Management Systems

Projects

  • PI, “Investigating Thermal and Mechanical Inputs for Rigid Pavement Design in North Carolina.” August 2021 to July 2023 ($144,629) (Lead PI Dr. Gauhar, Sabih, Western Carolina University, $238,713)
  • PI, “Developing a Workflow for Safe and Cost-effective UAV-enabled Bridge Inspection with Multiple UAV Platforms.” August 2021 to July 2023 ($125,682) (Lead PI Dr. Ali Karimoddini, Agricultural and Technical State University, $373,177)
  • PI, “Evaluation of J-Rox as SCM for Concrete Applications,” Global Sustainable Solutions. November 2019 to August 2021 ($41,284).
  • PI, “Advancing Concrete Pavement Technology Solutions – Performance Engineered Mixtures (PEMs)/AASHTO PP 84-19 QC Guidance.” FHWA. ($60,000). October 2019 to December 2021. (PI Dr. Peter Taylor, Iowa State University, $9.0M).
  • PI, “Advancing Concrete Pavement Technology Solutions – Recycling and Reuse of Waste Products.” FHWA. ($105,000). July 2019 to July 2021. (PI Dr. Peter Taylor, Iowa State University, $9.0M)
  • PI, “Developing a Safe and Cost-effective Physics-based Flight Control Methodology for a UAV-enabled Bridge Inspection.” NCDOT ($89,073) (former PI – Dr. Navid Goudarzi). August 2019 to July 2021. (Project Lead PI Dr. Ali Karimoddini, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, $259,861).
  • PI, “Petrographic Examination and Laboratory Testing of Concrete Core Samples.” Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI). May 2019 to February 2020. ($5,001).
  • Co-PI, “Effective Characterizations of Recycled Concrete Aggregate (RCA) for Concrete Applications.” ACI Foundation. ($20,000). June 2019 to January 2021. (PI Dr. Jiong Hu, University of Nebraska-Lincoln $50,000)
  • PI, “Continuing Toward Implementation of Performance Engineered Concrete Mixtures.” NCDOT, August 2019 to July 2021 ($294,204). (Co-PI Dr. Brett Tempest)
  • PI, “Petrographic Examination and Laboratory Testing of Concrete Core Samples,” 2019 Pavement Management Program, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Atlanta, Georgia. Aviation Infrastructure Services. May 2019 to June 2020 ($69,256) (Co-PI Dr. Wesley Williams).
  • PI, “Performance Engineered Concrete Mixtures – FHWA Implementation Funds.” NCDOT, October 2018 to May 2021 ($69,942). (Co-PI Dr. Brett Tempest)
  • Co-PI, “Evaluating Corrosive Site Performance and Policy with Concrete Admixtures.” NCDOT, August 2018 to July 2021 ($270,522) (PI Dr. Brett Tempest).
  • PI, “Durable and Sustainable Concrete Through Performance Engineered Concrete Mixtures.” NCDOT, August 2017 to July 2019 ($280,025) (co-PI Dr. Brett Tempest). Nominated by NCDOT as High Value Research Project for 2021 AASHTO High Value Research Program.
  • PI, “Shalom Park Petrographic Evaluation,” SKA Consulting Engineers, July 2017 to October 2017 ($3,144).
  • PI, “Petrographic Examination and Laboratory Testing of Concrete Core Samples”, 2016 Pavement Management Program, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Atlanta, Georgia. Aviation Infrastructure Services. October 2016 to November 2017 ($66,334) (Co-PI Dr. Wesley Williams).
  • Co-PI, “Improving Replacement Cost Data for NCDOT Highway Bridges.” North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT). August 2016 to July 2018 ($97,070). (PI – Dr. Matthew Whelan).
  • PI, “Scott Hall – Evaluation of Concrete Core Samples,” KSQ Design, June 2016 to August 2016 ($2,636).
  • PI, “Technical Assistance Project, I-85 Concrete Pavement.” North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) Technical Assistance Project TA-2016-08. January 2016 to May 2016 ($6,953)
  • PI, “Petrographic Examination and Laboratory Testing of Concrete Airfield Pavements to Assist with Marking Adhesion Failure Analysis.” Aviation Infrastructure Solutions, December 2015 to July 2016. (AIS) ($17,314).
  • PI, “FHWA Concrete Recycling, Technology Transfer of Concrete Pavement Technologies – Year Four & Five.” Snyder & Associates, Inc. September 2015 to June 2018. ($43,795)
  • PI, “Internal Curing of Concrete Using Lightweight Aggregate.” North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT). August 2015 to July 2018 ($284,649). (Co-PI Dr. Brett Tempest).
  • Co-PI, “Guidelines for Prioritization of Bridge Replacement, Rehabilitation, and Preservation Projects.” North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT). August 2015 to July 2018 ($181,802). (PI – Dr. Matthew Whelan).
  • Co-PI, “Beneficial Uses of High Carbon Fly Ashes in Portland Cement Concrete with Air Entrainment,” August 2015 to December 2017, Duke Energy Corporation, ($139,286). (PI – Dr. Brett Tempest)
  • PI, “Analysis of Hardened Air Void System of Concrete.” North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT). Technical Assistance Project TA-2016-02. August 2015 December 2015 ($6,776).
  • PI, “Evaluation of Thermal Performance of Lightweight Concrete.” Stalite. May 2015 to September 2015. ($9,817).
  • PI, “Testing of Roller Compacted Concrete Specimens.” Andale Construction. May 2015 to June 2015. ($3,751).
  • PI, “Improved Data for Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design for Concrete Pavements.” North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT). August 2014 to August 2017 ($235,955). (Co-PI Dr. Brett Tempest).
  • Co-PI, “Cost Analysis on the Reuse of Concrete Residuals.” North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT). August 2014 to August 2016 ($209,367). (PI – Dr. Nicholas Tymvios)
  • PI, “Petrographic Examination and Laboratory Testing of Concrete Core Samples – 2013 Pavement Management Program, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Atlanta, Georgia.” Boudreau Engineering. April 2014 to May 2015. ($62,963). (Co-PI Dr. Wes Williams)
  • PI, “Determination of Bridge Deterioration Models and Bridge User Costs for NCDOT Bridge Management System.” North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), August 2013 to August 2015 ($174,801) (Co-PIs Dr. Matthew Whelan and Dr. Brett Tempest).
  • PI, “Laboratory Testing of Concrete Cores for Coefficient of Thermal Expansion” North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), May 2013 to December 2013 ($6,454).
  • PI, “Durability of Lightweight Concrete Bridge Decks – Field Evaluation.” North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT). August 2010 to October 2012 ($180,186). Nominated by NCDOT as High Value Research Project for 2013 AASHTO High Value Research Program.
  • Co-PI, “Development of a Concrete Masonry Design and Construction Course.” National Concrete Masonry Association Foundation. January 2013 to May 2014 ($8,511). (PI – Dr. Thomas Nicholas).
  • Co-PI, “Development and Validation of Pavement Deterioration Models and Analysis Weight Factors for the NCDOT Pavement Management System.” North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT). April 2011 to April 2013 ($180,509). (PI – Dr. Dong Chen, Co-PI Dr. Vincent Ogunro).
  • PI, “Petrographic Examination and Laboratory Testing of Concrete Core Samples.” 2010 Pavement Management Program, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Atlanta, Georgia. Materials Managers and Engineers. May 2010 to October 2010 ($38,150).
  • PI, “Petrographic Examination of Concrete Core Samples.” 2007 Pavement Management Program, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Atlanta, Georgia. United Consulting. May 2007 to September 2007 ($24,999).

Selected recent publications

• Cavalline, T.L., Morian, D., and Schexnayder, C.J. (2021). Construction Quality in the Alternate Project Delivery Environment. ASCE Press. ISBN 078441582X, 9780784415825

• Cavalline, T.L., Fick, G.J., and Innis, A. (2021, in press) “Quality Control for Concrete Paving: A Tool for Agency and Industry.” National Concrete Pavement Technology Center, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa.

• Cavalline, T.L., Gallegos, J., Castrodale, R.W., Freeman, C., Liner, J., and Wall, J. (2021). “Influence of Lightweight Aggregate Concrete Materials on Building Energy Performance.” Buildings, 11(3), 94. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings11030094.

• Milla, J., Cavalline, T.L., Rupnow, T.D., Melugiri-Shakaramurthy, B., Lomboy, G., and Wang, K. (2021). “Methods of Test for Concrete Permeability: A Critical Review.” ASTM Advances in Civil Engineering Materials, 10(1), 172-209. https://doi.org/10.1520/ACEM20200067

• Cavalline, T.L., Newsome, R.A., Tempest, B.Q., and Leach, J.W. (2020). “Autogenous Shrinkage of Internally Cured Conventional, Latex-Modified, and Very High Early Strength Latex-Modified Concrete and Mortar.” ASTM Advances in Civil Engineering Materials, 9(1), 557-573. https://doi.org/10.1520/ACEM20200059

• Armaghani, J., and Cavalline, T.L. (2020, in press). Concrete Technology for Transportation Applications. National Cooperative Highway Research Program Synthesis Topic 49-09. Transportation Research Board, National Research Council. Washington, D.C.

• Kasana, D., Smithwick, J., Mayo, G., and Cavalline, T. (2019). “Improving DOT Product Evaluation Programs: Exploring the Relationship Between Initial Review and Customer Satisfaction.” Submitted to ASCE Journal of Management in Engineering, 36(3),DOI:

• Mahama, E., Karimoddini, A., Khan, M., Cavalline, T.L., Hewlin Jr., R.L., Smith, E. (2022). Testing and Evaluating the Impact of Illumination Levels on UAV-assisted Bridge Inspection.” IEEE Aerospace Conference. Big Sky, Montana. March 5-12, 2022.

• Cavalline, T.L., Sullivan-Green, L.E., Liu, R., Hailes, P., Delatte, N.J., Carper, K.L., Bosela, P.A., Rens, K., Adamtey, S., and Wood, J.G.M. (2022) “Failure Case Studies of Concrete Structures.” 9th Forensic Engineering Congress, American Society of Civil Engineers. (accepted, conference postponed until Nov 2022 due to Covid)

• Liu, R., Ataei, H., Rens, K., Cavalline, T.L., Hailes, P., Sullivan-Green, L., Bosela Sr., P., Delatte, N., and Rice-Boayue, J., Adamtey, S., and Onsarigo, L. (2022). “A Practical Application of Code of Ethics in Failure Case Studies.” 9th Forensic Engineering Congress, American Society of Civil Engineers. (accepted, conference postponed until Nov 2022 due to Covid)

• Hewlin, R.L. Jr., Smith, B., Cavalline, T., and Karimoddini, A. (2021). “Aerodynamic Performance Evaluation of a Skydio Drone via CFD as a Platform for Bridge Inspection: Phase 1 Study.” 2021 ASME Fluids Engineering Division Summer Meeting.

• Mahama, E.K., Walpita, T., Karimoddini, A., Eroglu, A., Goudarzi, N., and Cavalline, T.L. (2021). “Testing and Evaluation of Radio Frequency Immunity of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles for Bridge Inspection. IEEE Aerospace Conference. Big Sky, Montana. March 6-13, 2021.

• Goyal, R., Whelan, M.J., and Cavalline, T.L. (2019). “Multivariable Proportional Hazards-based Probabilistic Model for Bridge Deterioration Forecasting.” Journal of Infrastructure Systems (accepted). 10.1061/(ASCE)IS.1943-555X.0000534 • Tymvios, N., Cavalline, T.L., Maycock, R., Albergo, C., and Roberts, J. (2019). “State of US Practice for the Disposal and Reuse of Concrete Residuals.” ASCE Practice Periodical on Structural Design and Construction. 24(4). DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)SC.1943-5576.0000447

• Goyal, R., Whelan, M., and Cavalline, T. (2019). “Duration-based Forecasting of Bridge Condition with Non-Parametric Kaplan-Meier Survival Functions.” 5th Annual Conference on Smart Monitoring, Assessment, and Rehabilitation of Civil Structures. Potsdam, Germany, August 27-19, 2019.

• Cavalline, T.L., Tempest, B.Q., Leach, J.W., Newsome, R.A., Loflin, G.D, and Fitzner, M.J. (2019). “Internal Curing of Concrete Using Lightweight Aggregate.” Final Report, Project FHWA/NC/2016-06, North Carolina Department of Transportation. May 2019.

• Whelan, M.J., Cavalline, T.L., Phillips, P., and Rice, C. (2019). “Improving Replacement Cost Data for NCDOT Highway Bridges.” Final Report, Project FHWA/NC/2017-09, North Carolina Department of Transportation.

• Whelan, M.J., Cavalline, T.L., Alar, A., and Lane, K. (2019). “Guidelines for Prioritization of Bridge Replacement, Rehabilitation, and Preservation Projects.” Final Report, Project FHWA/NC/2016-05, North Carolina Department of Transportation.

• Snyder, M.B., Cavalline, T.L., Fick, G., Taylor, P. Klokke, S., and Gross, J. (2018). Recycling Concrete Pavement Materials: A Practitioners Reference Guide. National Concrete Pavement Technology Center, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa. http://www.cptechcenter.org/concrete-recycling/

• Cavalline, T.L., Tempest, B.Q., Blanchard, E., Medlin, C., Chimmula, R., and Morrison, C. (2018). “Impact of Local Calibration Using Sustainable Materials for Rigid Pavement Analysis and Design.” ASCE Journal of Transportation: Part B Pavements, 144(4).

• Cavalline T.L. (2018). “Concrete Pavement Recycling Series – Protecting Water Quality Through Planning and Design Considerations” Technical Brief, February 2018. National Concrete Pavement Technology Center, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa. Aavailable at http://www.cptechcenter.org/

• Cavalline T.L. (2018). “Concrete Pavement Recycling Series – Protecting the Environment During Construction” Technical Brief, February 2018. National Concrete Pavement Technology Center, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa. Available at http://www.cptechcenter.org/

• Cavalline, T.L., Green, C.S., Tymvios, N., (2018). “Failures All Around Us: Use of Student-Identified Failure Case Studies to Teach the Investigation Process.” American Society of Civil Engineers Forensic Engineering 8th Congress, Austin, TX, November 29-December 2, 2018.

• Liu, R., Nastar, N., Cavalline, T., Sullivan-Green, L.E., Bosella, P.A., Delatte, N.J., Parfitt, M.K., and Carper, K.L. (2018). “Failing Forward – Construction Failure Case Studies.” American Society of Civil Engineers Forensic Engineering 8th Congress, Austin, TX, November 29-December 2, 2018.

• Goyal, R., Whelan, M.J., and Cavalline, T.L. (2018). “Predictive fidelity of bridge deterioration models: probabilistic vs. deterministic.” 9th International Conference on Bridge Maintenance, Safety and Management (IABMAS2018), Melbourne, Australia. July 9-13, 2018.

• Cavalline, T.L., Tempest, B.Q., Blanchard, E.H., Medlin, C.D., and Chimmula, R.R. (2018). “Improved Data for Mechanistic-Empirical Design for Concrete Pavements”. Final Report, Project FHWA/NC/2015-03, North Carolina Department of Transportation. August 2018.

• Tempest, B.Q, Cavalline, T.L., and Ojo, T. (2018). “Performance of Portland Cement Concrete Containing Chemically Beneficiated High Loss On Ignition Fly Ashes With Air Entrainment.” Final Report, submitted to Duke Energy. April 30, 2018.

• Cavalline, T.L., Castrodale, R.W., Freeman, C., and Wall, J. (2017). “Impact of Lightweight Aggregate on Concrete Thermal Properties.” ACI Materials Journal, 114(6), 945-956.

• Nicholas, T., Cavalline, T., Johnson, D., and Laney, M. (2017). “Thermal Performance of a Recycled Aggregate Using Building Energy Simulation Programs.” International Journal of Engineering Research and Innovation, (9)1, 30-39.

• Tempest, B.Q., Cavalline, T.L, and Gergely, J. (2017) “Predicting Corrosion-related Bridge Durability with Laboratory Measured Permeability Results: A Case Study of the Virginia Dare Memorial Bridge.” ASCE Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities, 31(5), https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CF.1943-5509.0001048.

• Cavalline, T.L. (2017). “Concrete Pavement Recycling – Project Selection and Scoping”. Technical Brief, September 2017. National Concrete Pavement Technology Center, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa. Available at http://www.cptechcenter.org/ • Chen, D. and Cavalline, T.L. (2017). “A Robust Data Processing Method for Pavement Performance Models.” Submitted to the World Conference on Pavement and Asset Management (WCPAM) 2017. Milan, Italy, June 12-16, 2017.

• Tymvios, N., Cavalline, T.L., and Albergo, C. (2017). “Cost Factors Affecting Decisions for Recycling and Reuse of Concrete Residuals in North Carolina.” Canadian Society for Civil Engineering Conference, Leadership in Sustainable Infrastructure, Vancouver, Canada. May 31-June 1, 2017.

• Castrodale, R.W. and Cavalline, T.L. (2017). “Thermal Properties of Lightweight Concrete and Their Impact on Bridge Design.” 2017 Precast Concrete Institute (PCI) Convention and National Bridge Conference. Cleveland, Ohio, February 28 – March 4, 2017.

• Tymvios, N., Cavalline, T.L., and Albergo, C. (2017). “Cost Analysis on the Reuse of Concrete Residuals.” Final Report, Project FHWA/NC/2015-12, North Carolina Department of Transportation.

• Cavalline, T.L., Calamusa, J.T., and Kitts, A.M. and Tempest, B.Q., (2016). “Field Observed Cracking of Paired Lightweight and Normalweight Concrete Bridge Decks.” International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials, 11(1), 85-97. DOI: 10.1007/s40069-016-0176-1.

• Cavalline, T.L. (2016). “Quantifying the Sustainability Benefits of Concrete Pavement Recycling.” Technical Brief, December 2016. National Concrete Pavement Technology Center, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa. http://www.cptechcenter.org/concrete-recycling/Recycling-tech-brief-sustainability.pdf

• Goyal, R., Whelan, M., and Cavalline, T.L. (2016). “Characterizing the effect of external factors on deterioration rates of bridge components using multivariate proportional hazards regression.” Structure and Infrastructure Engineering. http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15732479.2016.1217888.

• Goyal, R., Whelan, M., and Cavalline, T. (2016). “Multivariate Regression Modeling of Bridge Deterioration: Identifying Factors Influencing Deterioration over the Life-Cycle.” Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Bridge Maintenance, Safety, and Management (IABMAS 2016). Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil, 26-30 June 2016.

• Nicholas, T., Cavalline, T.L., Johnson, D., and Laney, M. (2016). “Thermal Performance of a Recycled Aggregate Utilizing Building Energy Simulation Programs.” IAJC/ISAM Joint International Conference, Orlando, Florida, November 6-8, 2016.

• Cavalline, T.L., Ley, M.T., Weiss, W.J., Van Dam, T., and Sutter, L. (2016). “A Road Map for Research and Implementation of Freeze-Thaw Resistant Highway Concrete.” 11th International Conference on Concrete Pavements, San Antonio, TX, August 28-31, 2016.

• Ramsey, J.D., Cavalline, T.L., Whelan, M.J., Goyal, R., and Tempest, B.Q. (2016) “A 25-Year Retrospective on Bridge-Related Crashes in North Carolina: Frequencies, User Costs, and Crash Forecasting Models.” Transportation Research Board 2016 Annual Meeting.

• Cavalline, T.L. and Delatte, N.J. (2015). “Learning from the World Trade Center Collapse – Use of a Failure Case Study in a Structures and Materials Laboratory Course.” Journal of Engineering Technology, 32(2), 2-17. Winner of American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) Engineering Technology Division (ETD) Best Paper Award.

• Cavalline, T.L. and Delatte, N. (2015). “Learning from the World Trade Center Collapse – Use of a Failure Case Study in a Structures and Materials Laboratory Course.” Proceedings of the 122nd American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) Annual Conference and Exposition (Seattle, WA), June 14-17, 2015.

• Chen, D., Cavalline, T., and Mastin, N. (2015) “Piecewise Linear Models for Ordinal Pavement Distress Data”. 9th International Conference on Managing Pavement Assets (ICMPA9), Washington D.C., May 18-21, 2015.