Amanda Cox, Ph.D., P.E.
Associate Professor of Civil Engineering
Education
Ph.D. Civil Engineering, Hydraulics, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado
M.S. Civil Engineering, Hydraulics, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado
B.S. in Civil Engineering, University of Missouri-Columbia
Research Interests
Cox has been conducting hydraulic engineering research for more than ten years and
has completed over 45 research projects. Her experience includes physical hydraulic
modeling of river systems, channel rehabilitation structures, bridge pier scour, and
outlet works. Additionally, Cox has extensive research experience with erosion control
countermeasures including riprap revetment, articulated concrete block revetment systems,
rock-filled gabions mattresses, concrete-filled cellular systems, and vegetated and
non-vegetated turf reinforcement mats. Her dissertation was entitled 鈥淢oment stability
analysis method for determining safety factors for articulated concrete blocks鈥� and
provided a design method for articulated concrete block systems. Cox鈥檚 broad experience
relating to hydraulic modeling includes studies of in-stream rehabilitation structures
funded by the Bureau of Reclamation. Her Master鈥檚 thesis was on evaluating hydraulics
of cross-vane, w-weir, and bendway weir in-stream flow control structures including
energy losses, scour and structure stability in a mobile-bed channel. Additional river
engineering studies of interest by Dr. Cox include a physical modeling study funded
by the Army Corps of Engineers that evaluated artificial substrate for White Sturgeon
spawning habitat in the Kootenai River, a large-scale physical model study of sloped-rock
weirs to evaluate rock sizing, and two physical model studies to evaluate sedimentation
near a pump intake on the Sacramento River. In addition to river engineering studies,
Cox has researched stormwater hydraulic structures including curb and gutter drainage
inlets, highway median drainage inlets, and an ellipse-shaped detention-pond weir
outlet. She also evaluated hydraulics associated with stormwater roof-drain water-quality
treatment systems and permeable pavers, conducted water-quality tests of rolled sediment
retention devices for stormwater runoff, and collaborated with the U.S. Geological
Survey to conduct laboratory testing of a new stormwater sampling device.
- River Engineering Structures 鈥� Hybrid hydraulic modeling, which couples physical modeling with numerical simulations, is being used to evaluate the influence of varying design parameters for in-stream rock structures on flow velocity and turbulence fields where flow conditions are highly three-dimensional. Collaborating with the Bureau of Reclamation Albuquerque Area Office and Colorado State University, computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulations are being calibrated with large-scale physical modeling data. Once calibrated, the numerical models will be used to evaluate the influence of varying structure design parameters, such as structure height, length, and orientation.
- Urban Drainage Hydraulic Structures 鈥� An innovative detention-pond outlet structure was designed by the Urban Drainage and Flood Control District (UDFCD) to address discharge, pollution, and maintenance concerns. The elliptical sharp-crested weir was developed for the purpose of decreasing time and cost associated with clearing debris following storm events. This research is focused on developing a rating equation (relates the volume of flow through the structure as a function of the water-surface elevation at the structure) for the new structure and evaluating the behavior of varying types of urban debris as they pass through the structure.
- Erosion Control Technologies 鈥� Many human impacts disturb the natural protection of land from stormwater-induced erosion such as urbanization and farming. Several technologies are available to provide protection from this erosion. Geotextiles are commonly used for temporary protection at construction sites or permanent protection for stormwater ephemeral drainage ways. Articulated concrete block (ACB) revetment systems are used for lining channels and earthen dam spillways and levees. Research in this area focuses on evaluating flow hydraulics related to the level of erosion protection to ultimately be used for design purposes.
Publications and Media Placements
Printed Archival Peer-Reviewed Journals
Abt, S.R., Scurlock, S.M., Thornton, C.I., Cox, A.L., and Holste, N.J. (2016). 鈥淏endway
Weir Riprap Sizing Criteria.鈥� ASCE Journal of Hydraulic Engineering. DOI.org/10.1061/(ASCE)HY.1943-7900.0001209.
Andes, L.C. and Cox, A.L. (In Review). 鈥淩ectilinear Inverse Distance Weighting Methodology
for Bathymetric Cross-section Interpolation along the Mississippi River.鈥� Submitted
to the ASCE Journal of Hydrologic Engineering, submitted August 11, 2016.
Cox, A.L., Thornton, C.I., and Abt, S.R. (2014). 鈥淎rticulated Concrete Block Stability
Analysis for Embankment Overtopping Conditions.鈥� ASCE Journal of Hydraulic Engineering,
140(5). DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)HY.1943-7900.0000844
Cox, A.L., Kullberg, E.G., MacKenzie, K.A., and Thornton, C.I. (2014). 鈥淪tage-discharge
Rating Equation for an Elliptical Sharp-crested Weir.鈥� ASCE Journal of Irrigation
and Drainage Engineering, 140(6). DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)IR.1943-4774.0000730
Cox, A.L., Saadat, S., MacKenzie, K.A., and Thornton, C.I. (2015). 鈥淓ffect of Urban
Debris on Hydraulic Efficiency of an Elliptical Sharp-Crested Weir.鈥� ASCE Journal
of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering. DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)IR.1943-4774.0000837.
Cox, A.L., C.I. Thornton, and S.R. Abt (February 2013). 鈥淪upercritical flow measurement
using large Parshall flumes.鈥� ASCE Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering,
139(8):655-662. DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)IR.1943-4774.0000605
Selbig, W.R., Cox, A.L., and Bannerman, R.T. (2012). 鈥淰erification of a Depth-Integrated
Sample Arm as a Means to Reduce Solids Stratification Bias in Urban Stormwater Sampling.鈥�
Journal of Environmental Monitoring. Vol. 14(4): 1137-1143. DOI: 10.1039/c2em10999a
Conference Papers
Andes, L.C. and Cox, A.L. (2016). 鈥淟ong-term morphologic analysis of the Mississippi
River-Big Muddy River Confluence.鈥� Eighth International Conference on Fluvial Hydraulics,
River Flow 2016, July 12-15, St. Louis, MO.
Mustafa, M.T., Cox, A.L., Davinroy, R.D., Krischel, B.J., and Nguyen, I.H. (2016).
鈥淔orm- and grain-roughness components of Shields-parameter similitude for an HSR physical
model.鈥� Eighth International Conference on Fluvial Hydraulics, River Flow 2016, July
12-15, St. Louis, MO.
Scurlock, S.M., Cox, A.L., Baird, D.C., Thornton, C.I., and Abt, S.R. (2015). 鈥淗ybrid
Hydraulic Modeling of River-training Structures in Sinuous Channels.鈥� 3rd Joint Federal
Interagency Conference on Sedimentation and Hydrologic Modeling (SEDHYD), April 19-23,
Reno, NV.
Healy, K.M., Cox, A.L., Hanes, D.M., and Chambers, L.G. (2015). 鈥淪tate of the Practice
of Sediment Management in Reservoirs: Minimizing Sedimentation and Removing Deposits.鈥�
3rd Joint Federal Interagency Conference on Sedimentation and Hydrologic Modeling
(SEDHYD), April 19-23, Reno, NV.
Cox, A.L., Biedenharn, D.S., Watson, C.C., and Martin, M. (2015). 鈥淧OTAMOD 鈥� Mobile-bed
Sediment-transport Modeling Application for Use with SIAM and HEC-RAS.鈥� 3rd Joint
Federal Interagency Conference on Sedimentation and Hydrologic Modeling (SEDHYD),
April 19-23, Reno, NV.
Andes, L.C., and Cox, A.L. (2015). 鈥淢iddle Mississippi River Sedimentation Analysis
at Tributary Junctions.鈥� 3rd Joint Federal Interagency Conference on Sedimentation
and Hydrologic Modeling (SEDHYD), April 19-23, Reno, NV.
Cox, A.L., Thornton, C.I., Woidt, J.L., MacKenzie, K.A., and Mommandi, A. (2012).
鈥淧hysical Modeling and Evaluation of Hydraulic Efficiencies for Colorado Department
of Transportation Type C and D Median Inlets.鈥� Presented at the North American Surface
Water Quality Conference and Exposition StormCon 2012, August 20-22, Denver, CO.
Selbig, W.R. and Cox, A.L. (2012). 鈥淚mproving Sediment Measurements in Stormwater
through an Automated Depth-Integrated Sample Arm.鈥� Presented at the ASCE EWRI Hydraulic
Measurement & Experimental Methods Conference, August 12-15, Snowbird, UT.
Scurlock, M.S., Cox, A.L., Thornton, C.I., and Baird, D.C. (2012). 鈥淢aximum Velocity
Effects from Vane-Dike Installations in Channel Bends.鈥� Presented at the ASCE World
Environmental & Water Resources Congress 2012, May 20-24, Albuquerque, NM.
Scurlock, M.S., Cox, A.L., Thornton, C.I., and Baird, D.C. (2011). 鈥淢aximum Outer-bank
Velocity Reduction for Vane-dike Fields Installed in Channel Bends.鈥� Presented at
AGU Hydrology Days 2011, March 21-23, Fort Collins, CO.
Turner, M.D., Cox, A.L., and Thornton, C.I. (2011). 鈥淒evelopment of Transition Mat
Scour Protection Design Methodology and Comparison to the State-of-the-practice.鈥�
Presented at AGU Hydrology Days 2011, March 21-23, Fort Collins, CO.
Woidt, J.L., Cox, A.L., and Thornton, C.I. (2011). 鈥淓valuation of Sedimentation and
Erosion Trends in the Sacramento River near the M&T/Llano Seco Pump Station.鈥� Presented
at AGU Hydrology Days 2011, March 21-23, Fort Collins, CO.
Cox, A.L., Turner, M.D., and Thornton, C.I. (2011). 鈥淣ew Scour Protection Technology
鈥� How does it Stack Up?鈥� Presented at International Erosion Control Association Environmental
Connection 2011 Conference, February 22-24, Orlando, FL.
Cox, A.L., Thornton, C.I., and Eriksen, K.W. (2008). 鈥淓ffectiveness of Artificial
Substrate in Capturing and Retaining Sturgeon Eggs.鈥� Presented at the ASCE World Environmental
& Water Resources Congress 2008, May 12-16, Honolulu, HI.
Eriksen, K.W., Coburn, A.A., Cox, A.L., and Thornton, C.I. (2008). 鈥淭he Use of Physical
Modeling to Design Kootenai River White Sturgeon Spawning Habitat.鈥� Presented at the
ASCE World Environmental & Water Resources Congress 2008, May 12-16, Honolulu, HI.
Cox, A.L., and Carpenter, T. (2008). 鈥淧erformance of Scourstop Transition Mat庐 for
Channelized Hydraulic Conditions.鈥� Presented at International Erosion Control Association
Environmental Connection 2008 Conference, February 19-21, Orlando, FL.
Cox, A.L., and Thornton, C.I. (2006). 鈥淥vertopping Analysis 鈥� The State of the Practice.鈥�
Proc. of the 2006 Association of State Dam Safety Officials Annual Conference, September
11-14, Boston, MA.
Lui, H., Kosugi, S., Foster, A., and Lee, A.J. (2002). 鈥淐ost Analysis of Freight Transport
by a LIM-Driven Pneumatic Capsule Pipeline.鈥� ISUFT-2002, September 19-20, Bochum,
Germany.
Other Peer-reviewed Papers
Komiskey, M.J., Stuntebeck, T.D., Cox, A.L., and Frame, D.R, 2013, Implications of
flume slope on discharge estimates from 0.762-meter H flumes used in edge-of-field
monitoring: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2013鈥�1082, 11 p.
Conference Posters
Cox, A.L., Biedenharn, D.S., Watson, C.C., and Martin, M. (2015). 鈥淧OTAMOD 鈥� Mobile-bed
Sediment-transport Modeling Application for Use with SIAM and HEC-RAS.鈥� 3rd Joint
Federal Interagency Conference on Sedimentation and Hydrologic Modeling (SEDHYD),
April 19-23, Reno, NV.
Professional Organizations and Associations
- Professional Engineer, State of Missouri (No. 2014007263)
- Professional Engineer, State of Colorado (No. 42663)
- Member, Missouri Water Resources Research Center Advisory (MWRRC)
- Board Member, Subcommittee on Sedimentation (SOS) of the Advisory Committee on Water Information (ACWI)
- Chair for 2014 and 2015, Vice Chair for 2012 and 2013 Member, Transportation Research Board (TRB) Committee on Hydrology, Hydraulics and Water Quality (AFB60)
- Member, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
- Member, American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)
- Member, Environmental and Water Resources Institute (EWRI) Member
- Technical Committee on Hydraulic Measurements and Experimentation of EWRI