Shanza Asif '27 earns second place at GeoCongress 2026
Lafayette civil engineering student Shanza Asif '27 placed second in the GeoCongress 2026 poster competition for research on how inclined, non-uniform soil layers affect shear strength and liquefaction risk.
Shanza Asif ’27 earned second place in the poster competition at GeoCongress 2026! Working with Nancy Ingabire Abayo, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering, her research explores how inclined and non-uniform soil layers affect the shear strength of soils. This study investigates how layer inclination, heterogeneity, and shear direction influence the shear strength of soils, which is particularly important in seismically active regions where liquefaction can occur. By better understanding these subsurface geometries, the goal is to contribute to more realistic liquefaction assessments and improved geotechnical design practices.
Submitted by: Susan Boerchers