Research Overview
Dr. Youngguk Seo specializes in advanced studies of multi-phased transportation materials, with a focus on asphalt concrete and cement concrete mixtures. His research delves into the complex behaviors of these materials under various mechanical and environmental stresses, encompassing elastic, plastic, viscoelastic, and viscoplastic properties. Dr. Seo's work is pivotal in establishing critical performance benchmarks for road infrastructure, guiding the development of models, standards, and pavement management systems. Since 2004, Dr. Seo has led extensive full-scale field experiments and overseen multiple national projects at the Korea Expressway Corporation Test Road (KECTR), a prominent 7.7-kilometer highway testing facility in South Korea. These field studies are integral to refining and validating mechanistic-empirical pavement design methodologies. From 2013 to 2014, Dr. Seo served as a pavement engineer at the Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center (TFHRC) of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). During his tenure, he conducted influential studies on recycled materials, including Recycled Asphalt Pavement (RAP) and Recycled Asphalt Shingles (RAS), utilizing Accelerated Loading Facilities (ALF) to evaluate their performance under rigorous conditions. Dr. Seo's research interests extend to sustainable infrastructure design, with a particular focus on quantifying greenhouse gas emissions associated with highway construction and operation. He is also exploring innovative technologies for snow-melting that harness renewable energy sources. For more detailed information on Dr. Seo's research activities, please click on this link.
Key Research Interests
- Full-scale performance evaluation of transportation materials
- Laboratory material characterization of multi-phased pavement materials
- Sustainable infrastructure and renewable energy
Selected Publications
- Baek, M. and Seo, Y. Hybrid Forecasting of University Electricity Demand Using Time Series and Deep Learning. Energy and Buildings 347 Part B. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2025.116400 (09.2025) (IF: 6.6)
- Seo, Y. and Kim, J.H. Synergistic Impact of Entrained Air and Fly Ash on Chloride Ingress in Concrete Pavement: An Electrical Resistivity Model Approach. Buildings 2025, 15, 1215. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15081215 (04.2025) (IF: 3.1)
- Kim, J.H., Kwon, O.S., Cho, W.Y., Kim, K., and Seo, Y. Introducing the rubber plate impact method: A versatile alternative to close proximity test for tire-pavement noise characterization on highways, Discover Civil Engineering http://doi.org/10.1007/s44290-024-00074-y, ISSN 2948-1546 (09.2024) (New Journal)
- Kwon, J., Seo, Y., Kaplan, A. Assessment of full-depth reclamation (FDR) pavement performance: A case study in Georgia, Case Studies in Construction Materials, Volume 20, e02910, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cscm.2024.e02910., ISSN 2214-5095 (07.2024) (IF:6.6)
- Seo, Y. and U.J. Seo. Ground source heat pump (GSHP) systems for horticulture greenhouses adjacent to highway interchanges: A case study in South Korea, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2020.110194 (01.2021) (IF: 16.3)
Selected Research Grants
- Assessment of Durability and Functionality of Highway Porous Pavements, PI, KEC/KCL, 2024-2026
- Optimizing Winter Roadway Treatment for Georgia Pavements, PI, GDOT RP 18-28 (subcontract to Georgia Southern University), 2019 - 2020
- Best Policies and Regulations for the Performance Enhancement of Highway Pavement in Korea, PI, Korea Expressway Corporation, Korea, 2016 - 2017
- Development of Materials and Construction Technology for Cool and Porous Pavement, PI, Seoul Metropolitan Government, Korea, 2015 - 2016
- Energy Harvesting Technologies for Road Pavement, PI (Brain Pool Scholar at KICT), Korean Federation of Science and Technology Societies, 05.2015 - 08.2015
