The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) takes on highly interdisciplinary research areas that are of critical importance to military operations. ERDC’s Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory is at the forefront of research that’s supporting the Department of Defense’s Arctic Strategy and capabilities in areas such as mobility and extreme cold weather operations. To better help the military achieve mission success in the Arctic’s extreme environment, ERDC has been focused on the region’s primary challenge, ice. An interdisciplinary team of researchers is now engaged in studying the material properties of ice -- examining it as both an adversary and a resource, with the objective of advancing force projection and force protection capabilities in Arctic regions. Watch to learn more.

The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) takes on highly interdisciplinary research areas that are of critical importance to military operations. ERDC’s Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory is at the forefront of research that’s supporting the Department of Defense’s Arctic Strategy and capabilities in areas such as mobility and extreme cold weather operations. To better help the military achieve mission success in the Arctic’s extreme environment, ERDC has been focused on the region’s primary challenge, ice. An interdisciplinary team of researchers is now engaged in studying the material properties of ice -- examining it as both an adversary and a resource, with the objective of advancing force projection and force protection capabilities in Arctic regions. Watch to learn more.

A team from the USACE Detroit District recently visited the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) to review ongoing research and development projects in the areas of military engineering and civil works. The visit gave Detroit District Commander Lt. Col. Brett Boyle and his team the opportunity to review technologies already available to address challenges the district is facing and to engage with ERDC’s engineers and scientists about future collaboration. Watch this video to learn more about Detroit District’s visit and the improvements they have made in their project planning process by involving R&D earlier in the process.

Justin Strickler from the U.S. Army Engineer Research...

Building upon decades of research and expertise, the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) is supporting the USACE New Orleans District and emergency officials as they respond to the intrusion of saltwater along the Mississippi River in south Louisiana. Lower precipitation totals across much of the central portion of the United States this summer have not only caused drought conditions in multiple states but have also led to a smaller and weaker Mississippi River. As a result, saltwater from the Gulf of Mexico that is normally held back by the force of the Mississippi River is now slowly making its way up the river, causing significant threats to communities in south Louisiana and their drinking water. In addition to modeling and forecasting the creep of saltwater up the river, ERDC is also providing world-class engineering support in mitigation efforts that include modifications to a sill – or underwater dam – that is designed to slow the intrusion.

Leveraging the power of interdisciplinary efforts at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), researchers are elevating the use of innovative construction materials, reducing the amount of CO2 emissions tied to traditional construction methods and providing sustainable solutions for the Department of Defense and the nation. Recently, Dr. Matt Glasscott, a research chemist at ERDC Environmental Laboratory, talked about the work to better understand the impact of sustainable building materials, how ERDC is at the forefront of this vital research and how ERDC’s multi-lab approach to critical challenges makes it perfectly suited to discover, develop and deliver these needed solutions.

Leveraging the power of interdisciplinary efforts at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), researchers are elevating the use of innovative construction materials, reducing the amount of CO2 emissions tied to traditional construction methods and providing sustainable solutions for the Department of Defense and the nation. Recently, Dr. Matt Glasscott, a research chemist at ERDC Environmental Laboratory, talked about the work to better understand the impact of sustainable building materials, how ERDC is at the forefront of this vital research and how ERDC’s multi-lab approach to critical challenges makes it perfectly suited to discover, develop and deliver these needed solutions.

Clean water can often be an afterthought in our daily lives, but not for the ERDC researchers who are performing state-of-the-art science and engineering to address sustainable water infrastructure challenges, such as providing clean water, as well as removing contaminants and extracting resources from water. This research space is focused on emerging contaminants, which are a consequence of high technology and advanced chemicals. To meet this challenge, ERDC is implementing a multidisciplinary approach that harnesses material technologies and processes that not only treat and remove contaminants from various water sources, but also target specific contaminants. These water infrastructure solutions will serve not only our military, but the nation too.

Clean water can often be an afterthought in our daily lives, but not for the ERDC researchers who are performing state-of-the-art science and engineering to address sustainable water infrastructure challenges, such as providing clean water, as well as removing contaminants and extracting resources from water. This research space is focused on emerging contaminants, which are a consequence of high technology and advanced chemicals. To meet this challenge, ERDC is implementing a multidisciplinary approach that harnesses material technologies and processes that not only treat and remove contaminants from various water sources, but also target specific contaminants. These water infrastructure solutions will serve not only our military, but the nation too.

The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center develops and maintains a world-class data analytics capability comprised of high-performance computing hardware and software platforms for large-scale analytics, as well as a team of highly trained data scientists. Researchers with the Program for Advanced Materials and Substances of Emerging Environmental Concern – or AMSEEC – also use advanced artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques to automate labor-intensive and error-prone data management tasks. Some of the processes include collection and analysis of large data sets required for development and application of computational models to predict effects of contaminants, tracking the movement of chemicals through complex environmental matrices, and evaluating possible pathways to develop new treatment technologies.

The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center develops and maintains a world-class data analytics capability comprised of high-performance computing hardware and software platforms for large-scale analytics, as well as a team of highly trained data scientists. Researchers with the Program for Advanced Materials and Substances of Emerging Environmental Concern – or AMSEEC – also use advanced artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques to automate labor-intensive and error-prone data management tasks. Some of the processes include collection and analysis of large data sets required for development and application of computational models to predict effects of contaminants, tracking the movement of chemicals through complex environmental matrices, and evaluating possible pathways to develop new treatment technologies.

With a long history of accurately modeling vessel maneuverability in American ports and harbors, the Ship Simulator at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) can be used by the military to plan, rehearse and train for amphibious operations around the world. Benefitting from ERDC’s deep expertise and understanding of the physical environment – including tide, current, wind and terrain – the simulator can also help leaders assess whether a planned mission can be executed within the parameters that have been defined. ERDC demonstrated these military capabilities of its Portable Ship Simulator during the Maneuver Support, Sustainment & Protection Integrating Experiments (MSSPIX 23), allowing it to reach a much larger audience than visiting an individual unit.

One of ERDC’s key research areas is focused on improving the performance of conventional concrete and asphalt-type materials by incorporating advanced two-dimensional, or 2D, materials such as graphene. These 2D materials offer superior mechanical, chemical, thermal and electrical properties. Concrete, asphalt, and fiber-reinforced polymer composites modified with graphene and 2D nano materials have shown promising results for increased strength and durability. ERDC researchers are also leveraging advanced composites to strengthen layered materials, like modular panels – making them more blast resistant without sacrificing logistical advantages. This material systems research will expand pathways to more sustainable and resilient solutions for numerous military and civil works challenges.

One of ERDC’s key research areas is focused on improving the performance of conventional concrete and asphalt-type materials by incorporating advanced two-dimensional, or 2D, materials such as graphene. These 2D materials offer superior mechanical, chemical, thermal and electrical properties. Concrete, asphalt, and fiber-reinforced polymer composites modified with graphene and 2D nano materials have shown promising results for increased strength and durability. ERDC researchers are also leveraging advanced composites to strengthen layered materials, like modular panels – making them more blast resistant without sacrificing logistical advantages. This material systems research will expand pathways to more sustainable and resilient solutions for numerous military and civil works challenges.

With a long history of accurately modeling vessel maneuverability in American ports and harbors, the Ship Simulator at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) can be used by the military to plan, rehearse and train for amphibious operations around the world. Benefitting from ERDC’s deep expertise and understanding of the physical environment – including tide, current, wind and terrain – the simulator can also help leaders assess whether a planned mission can be executed within the parameters that have been defined. ERDC demonstrated these military capabilities of its Portable Ship Simulator during the Maneuver Support, Sustainment & Protection Integrating Experiments (MSSPIX 23), allowing it to reach a much larger audience than visiting an individual unit.

Samantha Lucker from the U.S. Army Engineer Research and...

As advanced manufacturing technology continues to evolve, researchers at ERDC’s Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory are working to leverage this technology’s full potential for the development of new material systems. They are expanding 3D printing solutions to create material properties for military engineering and civil works applications that couldn’t otherwise be created -- broadening the protection of both our troops and our nation’s infrastructure.

As advanced manufacturing technology continues to evolve, researchers at ERDC’s Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory are working to leverage this technology’s full potential for the development of new material systems. They are expanding 3D printing solutions to create material properties for military engineering and civil works applications that couldn’t otherwise be created -- broadening the protection of both our troops and our nation’s infrastructure.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the Maryland Department of Transportation’s Maryland Port Administration have invested heavily in dredging to maintain Baltimore’s navigation channel depth and width. However, while the current configuration works well for legacy ships that can easily exit the terminal via a loop channel, those with drafts greater than 42 feet, such as Ultra Large Container Vessels, can only back out through the loop channel’s turning basin, a maneuver that presents safety concerns and vessel traffic inefficiencies. As a result, the USACE Baltimore District and the Maryland Port Administration initiated a study to identify safe, technically feasible, economically justifiable, and environmentally acceptable modifications to the existing Seagirt Loop Channel. The study included engineering improvements, such as deepening and widening the western half of the Seagirt Loop Channel, to meet future demand capacity and provide large vessels an alternative path to exit the terminal. The study also tapped the rich expertise of the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center’s Ship Simulator facility and a team of licensed pilots from the Association of Maryland Pilots, who ran multiple simulations of proposed design improvements to the Seagirt Loop Channel, providing valuable feedback on vessel navigation safety.