Dante Fratta, Ph.D., P.E.

Associate Professor
University of Wisconsin-Madison
2208 Engineering Hall
1415 Engineering Drive
Madison, WI 53706-1691

Tel: 608/265-5644
fratta@wisc.edu

Program Affiliations

- Civil and Environmental Engineering
- Geological Engineering
- Geoscience
- Limnology and Marine Science

Education

- 1999 PhD Georgia Institute of Technology
- 1995 MASc University of Waterloo, Canada
- 1993 Civil Engineering Diploma Universidad Nacional de Cordoba, Argentina

Fields of Interest

- Assessment of the near-surface underground using non-invasive tomographic studies (geotomography)
- On-shore and off-shore near surface geophysics
- Non-destructive detection of anomalies in civil engineering infrastructure
- Study of low strain stiffness in rock masses and soils with P- and S-waves
- Geomaterial process evaluation using elastic and and electromagnetic waves

Publications

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Co-authored and Edited Books
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5- Fratta, D., Puppala, A. J., and Muhunthan, B.; Editors (2010). Geo Florida 2010 Conference: Advances in Analysis, modeling & Design. Conference Proceedings and Geotechnical Special Publication 199. ASCE Press. Reston, VA.
4- Fratta, D., and Aguettant, J., Roussel-Smith, L. (2007). Introduction to Soil Mechanics Laboratory Testing. CRC Taylor and Francis. 217 pages.
3- Puppala, A. J., Fratta, D., Alshibli, K. A., and Pamukcu, S.; Editors (2006).Site and Geomaterial Characterization. ASCE Geotechnical Special Publication (GSP). ASCE Press. Reston, VA.
2- Santamarina, J.C. and Fratta, D. (2005). Discrete Signals and Inverse Problems: an Introduction for Engineers and Scientists. John Wiley and Sons. Chichester, UK. 350 pages.
1- Santamarina, J.C. and Fratta, D. (1998). Introduction to Signals and Inverse Problems in Civil Engineering. ASCE Press. Reston, VA. 327 pages.

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Journal Publications
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1. Palomino, A., Kim, S., Summitt, A., and Fratta, D. (2011). Impact of Diatoms on Fabric and Chemical Stability of Diatom-Kaolin Clay Mixtures. Applied Clay Science (Accepted for publication: December 2010).
2. Kim, K.-S., Fratta, D., and Pincheira, J. A. (2011). Performance Evaluation of Fiberglass Wraps on Concrete Bridge Columns. Journal of Nondestructive Evaluation. Vol. 30, pp. 9-19.
3. Fratta, D., Hart, D., and Summitt, A. (2011). Evaluacion del Movimiento de Efluente Septico Mediante el Uso de Tecnicas Geofisicas. Rev. Int. de Desastres Naturales, Accidentes e Infraestructura Civil (In Spanish). In print.
4. Yun, T. S., Fratta, D., and Santamarina, J. C. (2010). Hydrate Bearing Sediments from the Krishna-Godavari Basin: Physical Characterization of Pressure Cores and Production Test . Energy & Fuels. Vol. 24, No. 11, pp. 5972-5983. DOI:10.1021/ef100821t.
5. Kim, K.-S. and Fratta, D. (2010). Travel-time Tomographic Imaging: Multi-Frequency Diffraction Evaluation of a Medium with a High-Contrast Inclusion. NDT&E International. Vol. 43. No. 8. Pp. 695-705. DOI:10.1016/j.ndteint.2010.08.001.
6. Schuettpelz, C. C., Fratta, D., and Edil, T. B. (2010). Mechanistic method for determining the resilient modulus of base course materials based on elastic wave measurements. Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering. Vol. 136, No. 8, pp. 1086-1094.
7. Lin, Y.-T., Wu, C.H., Fratta, D., Kung, K.-J. S. (2010). Integrated acoustic and electromagnetic wave-based technique to estimate subbottom sediment properties. Near Surface Geophysics. Vol. 8, No. 3, pp. 213-221.
8. Alramahi, B., Alshibli, K., and Fratta, D. (2010). Effect of Fine Particle Migration on the Small Strain Stiffness of Unsaturated Soils. Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering. Vol. 136, No. 4, pp. 620-628.
9. Lowry, C., Fratta, D., and Anderson, M. (2009). Using ground penetrating radar to identify processes controlling spring flow in a peat dominated wetland. Journal of Hydrology. Vol. 373, pp. 68-79.
10. Damasceno, V., Fratta, D., and Bosscher, P. J. (2009). Development and validation of a low-cost electrical resistivity tomographer for soil process monitoring. Canadian Geotechnical Journal. Vol. 46. No. 7. pp. 842-854.
11. Schuettpelz, C. C., Fratta, D., and Edil. T. B. (2009). Evaluation of the Influence of Geogrid Reinforcement on soil Rotation and Stiffness in Compacted Based Curse Soil. Journal of the Transportation Research Board. No. 2116. pp. 76-84.
12. Lin, Y.-T., Schuettpelz, C., Wu, C., and Fratta, D. (2009). A combined acoustic and electromagnetic wave-based technique for bathymetry and subbottom profiling in shallow waters. Journal of Applied Geophysics. Vol. 68, pp. 203-218. DOI: 10.1016/j.jappgeo.2008.11.010.
13. Schneider, J. M. and Fratta, D. (2009). Time Domain Reflectometry - Parametric Study for the Evaluation of Physical Properties in Soils . Canadian Geotechnical Journal. Vol. 46. No. 7. pp. 753-767.
14. Francisca, F. M., Fratta, D. and Wang, H. F. (2008). Electrowetting on mineral and rock surfaces . Geophys. Res. Lett., 35, L06402, DOI: 10.1029/2007GL032865.
15. Alramahi, B., Fratta, D, and Alshibli, K. A. (2008). Parameter Estimation to Evaluate In Situ Density and Moisture Content Using Elastic and Electromagnetic Waves. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, No. 2045, pp. 19-28. DOI: 10.3141/2045-03.
16. Alramahi, B., Alshibli, K., Fratta, D., and Trautwein, S. (2008). A Suction-Control Apparatus for the Measurement of P and S-wave Velocity in Soils. ASTM Geotechnical Testing Journal. Vol. 31, No. 1. pp. 1-12.
17. Attia, A. M., Fratta, D., Bassiounni, Z. (2008). Electrical Resistivity Measurements on Unsaturated Berea Sandstones Core Specimens . Oil & Gas Science and Technology - Rev. IFP. Vol. 63. No., 2, DOI: 10.2516/ogst:2007066. pp. 203-217.
18. Sawangsuriya, A., Fall, M., and Fratta, D. (2008). Wave-based Techniques for Evaluating Elastic Modulus and Poisson's Ratio of Laboratory Compacted Lateritic Soils. Geotechnical and Geological Engineering. Vol. 26, No. 5, pp. 567-578. DOI 10.1007/s20706-008-9190-7.
19. Sawangsuriya, A. and Fratta, D. (2006). Discussion to Correlations between P-wave velocity and Atterberg limits of cohesive soils by Fener, M., Kahraman, S., Bay, Y. and Gunaydin, O. Canadian Geotechnical Journal. Vol. 43. pp. 653-655.
20. Fratta, D. and Santamarina, J. C. (2006). Evaluacion de los Danos en Estructuras Causados por el Huracan Katrina en Biloxi, Mississippi. Revista Internacional de Desastres Naturales, Accidentes, e Infraestructura Civil. Vol. 6. No. 1. pp. 1-12 (In Spanish).
21. Fratta, D., Alshibli, K. A., Tanner, W. M., and Roussel, L. (2005). Combined TDR and P-wave Velocity Measurements for the Determination of In Situ Soil Density. ASTM Geotechnical Testing Journal. Vol. 28, No. 6. pp. 553-563.
22. Santamarina, J. C., Rinaldi, V. A., Fratta, D., Klein, K. A., Wang. Y.-H., Cho, G.-C., and Cascante, G. (2005). A Survey of Elastic and Electromagnetic Properties of Near-Surface Soils, in Near-Surface Geophysics, Ed. D. Buttler, SEG. Tulsa, OK. pp. 71-87.
23. Santamarina, J. C. and Fratta, D. (2003). Dynamic Electrical-Mechanical Energy Coupling In Electrolyte-Mineral Systems. Transport in Porous Media. Vol. 50, No. 1/2, pp. 153-178.
24. Fratta, D. and Santamarina, J. C. (2002). Shear Wave Propagation in Jointed Rock - State of Stress. Geotechnique. Vol. 52. No. 7. pp. 495-505.
25. Prada, J., Fratta, D., and Santamarina, J. C. (2000). Tomographic Detection of Anomalies with Limited Data Sets - Velocity and Attenuation. ASTM Geotechnical Testing Journal. Vol. 23. No. 4. pp. 472-486.
26. Fratta, D. and Santamarina, J. C. (1996). Waveguide Device for Multi-Mode, Wideband Testing Wave Propagation in Soils. ASTM Geotechnical Testing Journal. Vol. 19, No. 2, pp. 130-140.

27. Kim, K.-S. and Fratta, D. (2011). Wave-based Imaging of Geosystems: Heterogeneity Size, Travel-length, Wavelength and Stress Distribution. Journal of Environmental and Engineering Geophysics (Revisions required - yet to be resubmitted).
28. Summitt, A., Schuettpelz, C., Hart, D. J., and Fratta, D. (2011). Monitoring septic effluent transport using borehole ground penetrating radar, electrical resistivity, and self-potential geophysical techniques. Journal of Environmental and Engineering Geophysics (Revisions required - yet to be resubmitted).
29. Summitt, A., Selbig, W., Hart, D., and Fratta, D. (2011). Characterization of Subsurface Soil Properties and Water Content of Turf Grass and Prairie Vegetated Rain Gardens Using Geophysical Methods (Under internal USGS review - Submitted April 2010). To be submitted to the Journal of Environmental and Engineering Geophysics.
30. Seabury, L. E., Wu, C. H., Liao, Q., and Fratta (2011). Mapping of Invasive Dreissenid Mussels in a Turbid Lake Michigan Estuary Using a Combined Geophysical and Optical Approach. Great Lakes Reseach (Submitted for Publication).
31. Kim, K.-S., Tanner, W., and Fratta, D. (2011) Sensing and Imaging the State of Effective Stress in a 1-g Shallow Foundation Model. Geotechnical Testing Journal (Submitted for Publication).
32. Volk, J., Hansen, S., Johnson, T., Jostlein, H., Kiper, T., Shiltsev, V., Chupyra, A., Kondaurov, M., Medvedko, A., Parkhomchuk, V., Singatulin, S., Stetler, L., Van Beek, Fratta, D., Roberts, J., Wang, H. (2011). Hydrostatic Level Sensors as High Precision Ground Motion Instrumentation for Tevatron and Other Energy Frontier Accelerators. Journal of Instrumentation (Submitted for publication).

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Monographs
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2- Fratta, D., Schuettpelz, C. C., and Santamarina, J. C. (2007). Hurricane Katrina: Geotechnical Observations in Biloxi, Mississippi. GeoStrata (Magazine article edited by Editor). January/February 2007.
1- Fratta, D., Tanner, W. M., and Damasceno, V. M. (2005). Using Elastic Waves for the Tomographic Imaging of Stresses in Soils. Technical Article in FastTimes. Vol. 9. No. 4. pp. 37-45.

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Geotechnical Special Publications
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7- Palomino, A.M., Kim, S., Summitt, A. and Fratta, D. (2010). Influence of Ionic Concentration and Internal Porosity on the Behavior of Diatom-Clay Mixtures. Geo Florida 2010 Conference. Geotechnical Special Publication 199. ASCE Press. Reston, VA.
6- Schuettpelz, C., Lin, Y.-T. Fratta, D., and Wu, C. (2008). Elastic and Electromagnetic Wave-Based Techniques for Bottom and Subbottom Profiling in Shallow Waters. ASCE Geotechnical Special Publication 179. GeoCongress 2008: Characterization, Monitoring, and Modeling of GeoSystems. pp. 261-268 (refereed).
5- Sawangsuriya, A., Biringen, E., Fratta, D., Bosscher, P. J. and Edil, T. B. (2006). Dimensionless Limits for the Collection and Interpretation of Wave Propagation Data in Soils. ASCE Geotechnical Special Publication (GSP) 149: Site and Geomaterial Characterization. 2006 GeoShanghai International Conference. Shanghai, China. Pp. 160-166.
4- Damasceno, V. M. and Fratta, D. (2006). Chemical diffusion detection in a porous media using electrical resistance tomography. ASCE Geotechnical Special Publication (GSP) 149: Site and Geomaterial Characterization. 2006 GeoShanghai International Conference. Shanghai, China. Pp. 174-181.
3- Alramahi, B., Alshibli, K, and Fratta, D. (2005). Use of Elastic and Electromagnetic Waves to Evaluate the Water Content and Mass Density of Soils: Potential and Limitations. 13th Great Lakes Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Conference: Geotechnical Applications for Transportation Infrastructure (ASCE Geotechnical Practice Publication No. 3). Milwaukee, WI. May 13, 2005. pp. 134-145.
2- Daigle, M., Fratta, D., and Wang, L. B. (2005). Ultrasonic and X-ray Tomographic Imaging of Highly Contrasting Inclusions in Concrete Specimens. GeoFrontier 2005 Conference. Austin, TX (Refereed).
1- Fratta, D. and deHay, J. (2004). Near-Surface Travel-Time Tomographic Application to Foundation Soils: A Physical Model Study. GEO2004 Advances in Geotechnical Engineering with Emphasis on Dam Engineering. July 12-15, 2004. Irbid, Jordan.

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Conference Publications
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25- Ebrahimi, A., Fratta, D., and Tinjum, J. (2010). Fouling Detection of Ballast by Electromagnetic Surveying. American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-way Association. AREMA 2010 Annual Conference & Exposition. Orlando, FL (Submitted for publication).
24- Martinez-Chaluisant, V., Schneider, J.A., Fratta, D. (2010). Physical modeling of the dynamic response of offshore wind turbines founded on monopoles. 12th Int. Conf. Eng. Sci. Construction & Operation in Challenging Env., ASCE, Honolulu, HI. March 14-17 2010.
23- Biringen, E., Fratta, D., and Edil, T. B. (2009). Monitoring soil stiffness gain due to lateral preloading. Proceedings of the 17th International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering. M. Hamza et al. (Eds.), 5-9 October 2009, Alexandria, Egypt. pp. 459-462.
22- Schuettpelz, C., Edil, T. B., and Fratta, D. (2009). Evaluation of the zone of influence of geogrid reinforcement in compacted base course using rotation measurements. Geosynthetics 2009 Conference. Salt Lake City, UT.
21- Wang, H. F., MacLaughlin, M. M., Noni, Turner, A., Murdoch, L., and Fratta, D. (2008) Fiber-Optic Strain Monitoring System for DUSEL (Abstract and presentation) AGU Meeting, San Francisco, CA.
20- Ojo, J. O., Fratta, D., Bahia, H. U., Daranga, C., and Marasteanu, M. (2008). Thermo-Volumetric Properties of Asphalt Binders and Mixtures. 6th RILEM International Conference on Cracking in Pavements.
19- Kim, K.-S., Fratta, D., and Pincheira, J. A. (2008). Performance Evaluation of Fiberglass Wrapped Concrete Bridge Columns. Poster presentation. MidContinent Transportation Symposium. August 14 - 15, 2008 - Madison, WI.
18- Schuettpelz, C. C., Fratta, D., and Edil, T. B. (2008). Stiffness evaluation of geogrid-reinforced granular material using elastic waves. 2008 GeoAmericas Conference. Cancun, Mexico.
17- Sawangsuriya, A., Fratta, D., Edil, T. B., and Bosscher, P. J. (2007). Small-Strain Shear Modulus Anisotropy OF Compacted Soils using bender elements. 2007 Geotechnical Engineering Conference. Ottawa, ONT.
16- Sawangsuriya, A., Fratta, D., Bosscher, P. J, and Edil, T. B. (2007). S-wave Velocity-Stress Power Relationship: Packing and Contact Behavior of Sand Specimens. 2007 GeoDenver Congress.
15- Schuettpelz, C. C., Hart, D. J., and Fratta, D. (2007). The Use Multiple Geophysical Techniques for the Evaluation of Location and Formation of Sinkholes in a Retention Pond. SAGEEP Conference. Denver, CO.
14- Vaziri, P., Anagnos, T., Fratta, D., and Roblee, C. J. (2006). Implementation of the Education, Outreach, and Training Goals for the Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation (NEES) Consortium. 8th National Conference in Earthquake Engineering. San Francisco, CA).
13- Hoffman, K. Varuso, R. and Fratta, D. (2006). The Use of Low-Cost MEMS Accelerometers in Near-Surface Travel-Time Tomography. GeoCongress 2006 Conference. Atlanta, GA.
12- Fratta, D. and Santamarina J. C. (2005), Strains Due to Coupled Phenomena: Particle-level Analyses. Poromechanics III Biot Centennial. Norman, OK. A.A. Balkema Publishers. Lieden. pp. 752-747.
11- Fratta, D. and Alshibli, K. (2005). Implications of Process Monitoring of Lunar/Martian Regolith by Means of Wave Propagation: Experience in Geotechnical Engineering. (Abstract) Workshop on Granular Materials in Lunar and Martian Exploration. NASA-Kennedy Space Center, Florida, February 2-3, 2005.
10- Anagnos, T. and Fratta, D. (2004). Development of the Education Outreach and Training Program for the NEES Collaboratory. 13th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering. Vancouver, B.C., Canada. August 1-6, 2004. Paper No. 1038.
9- Macari, E. J. and Fratta, D. (2003). Mechanics of Porous Media at LSU. 5th North American Workshop on Applications of the Physics of Porous Media. Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. November 7-11.
8- Fratta, D. (2003). Process Monitoring of Stiffness and Phase Phenomena of Porous Media by Means of Wave Propagation: Engineering Interpretation and Implications. 5th North American Workshop on Applications of the Physics of Porous Media. Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. November 7-11, 2003.
7- Silva, C. H. C., Porras-Ortiz, O. F., Macari, E. J., and Fratta, D. (2002). Mechanical response of unsaturated particulate materials: A Stiffness assessment study under controlled Matric Suction. Proceedings of the ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress & Exposition. New Orleans, LA, November 17-22, 2002.
6- Fratta, D., Fernandez, A. L., and Santamarina, J. C. (2001). Geo-materials: Non-destructive Evaluation in Geosystems. Review of Progress in QNDE, D. O. Thompson and D. E. Chimenti Eds. American Institute of Physics, vol. 20. pp. 1048-1055.
5- Santamarina, J. C., Fratta, D., and Fernandez, A. L. (1998). Geofisica de Superficie. Encuentro de Geotecnicos Argentinos (Proceedings of the Argentinean Geotechnical Conference). Universidad Nacional de Cordoba. Cerdoba, Argentina. October 7-8, pp. IV.1-IV.22 (in Spanish).
4- Santamarina, J. C., Fam, M., Fratta, D., and Cascante, G. (1998). Solid-Fluid Coupling Phenomena in Particulate Media. 1st Biot Conference in Poromechanics. Louvain-laNeuve, Belgium. September 14-16, 1998. pp. 615-620.
3- Santamarina, J. C. and Fratta, D. (1996). Image Processing in Blast Fragmentation: Transfer Function and Invertibility. Fragmentation Measurement. Edited by Franklin, J, Rustan, A., and Katsabanis, T. AA Balkena. pp. 121-125.
2- Santamarina, J. C. and Fratta, D. (1995). Electromagnetic Emissions in Geomaterials (abstract). Symposium on Recent Developments in Electromagneto-Mechanics. 10th ASCE Engineering Mechanics Specialty Conference. University of Colorado at Boulder. May 21-24, 1995.
1- Rinaldi, V., Fratta. D., and Redolfi, E. (1993). Aplicacion de Ondas Electromagneticas en el Campo de la Ingenieria Estructural. Congreso Internacional de la Ingenieria Estructural. Cordoba, Argentina. July 12-16 (in Spanish).

Selected Awards, Honors and Societies

- Associate Editor. ASTM Geotechnical Testing Journal
- Associate Editor. Environmental Earth Sciences (formerly Environmental Geology)
- 2008 Chi Epsilon Excellence in Teaching Award (North Central District). Chi Epsilon National Civil Engineering Honor Society.
- Best Paper Award - Sensing Methods and Devices Track. GeoCongress 2006 Conference. ASCE - GeoInstitute. Atlanta, GA.
- Interim Member - Board of Directors (2003). George E. Brown, Jr. Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation (NEES) Consortium. Richmond, CA
- College of Engineering Outstanding Faculty Teaching Award (2003). Louisiana State University. Baton Rouge, LA.
- Tiger Athletic Foundation Undergraduate Teaching Award (2002). Louisiana State University. Baton Rouge, LA.
- Georgia Tech Regional Engineering Program Teacher of the Year (2000). Engineering Society (Student Society). Armstrong Atlantic State University. Savannah, GA.
- George F. Sowers Distinguish Graduate Student Award (1997). Geosystems Program. School of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Georgia Institute of Technology. Atlanta, GA.
- Nominee for the Sandford Fleming Foundation Teaching Assistantship Excellence Award (1995). University of Waterloo, Canada.
- University of Waterloo Graduate Scholarship (1994). University of Waterloo, Canada.
- Faculty of Engineering Graduate Scholarship (1994). University of Waterloo, Canada.
- Beca de Investigacion (Research Scholarship - 1992). Instituto Superior de Ingenieria del Transporte ISIT. Cordoba, Argentina.