Timothy D Stark

Timothy D Stark is a Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where he maintains an active research program focused on geotechnical engineering challenges related to infrastructure safety and environmental protection. His work bridges theoretical soil mechanics with practical applications in dam engineering, landfill design, and slope stability analysis.

Stark's research centers on shear strength characterization of soils and geosynthetic materials, particularly examining geomembrane interfaces, landfill liner systems, and failure mechanisms in earth structures. His fingerprint analysis reveals dominant expertise in Shear Strength (100%), Geomembranes (98%), and Stability Analysis (63%), with significant contributions to Landslide Analysis (43%) and Landfill Engineering (35%). Current investigations address liquid effects on interface behavior, flow failure assessment in embankments, and advanced soil parameter determination through cone penetration testing.

Recent publications demonstrate consistent innovation in predictive modeling for geotechnical failures, with 2024-2025 works focusing on landfill stability under liquid exposure, dam safety assessment methodologies, and three-dimensional strength characterization of compacted fills. These studies advance practical engineering solutions while contributing to fundamental understanding of soil-geosynthetic interaction mechanisms.

Honors recognizing his scholarly impact include:

• ASCE Distinguished Member (2024)
• Norman Medal (2019) for seminal technical contributions to civil engineering
• Walter L. Huber Civil Engineering Research Prize (1999)

While specific details about student advising and grant funding are not provided in the source material, his extensive publication record (268 research outputs) and fingerprint analysis indicate sustained leadership in advancing geotechnical engineering practice through rigorous experimental and analytical research.