Biography

When not at work I enjoy hiking, biking, and boating. I play hockey recreationally and any other sport I can find a group to play with. I also like to do carpentry, building furniture and toys, mostly for family and friends. I have a young daughter that I spend a lot of my time with, chasing around playgrounds and trails.

Education

Civil and Environmental Engineering Ph.D. - 2011
Clarkson University
Civil and Environmental Engineering M.S. - 2011
Clarkson University
Civil and Environmental Engineering B.S. - 2005
Clarkson University

Areas of Expertise

River ice processes
sediment transport in river subject to freezing
River ice breakup
two-dimensional modeling of river processes
accumulation of woody debris in channels

Teaching Interests

River hydraulics, stream dynamics, sediment transport, cold regions hydraulics.

 

Courses Taught

CE 212 – Introduction to Engineering Design – Structural Engineering (Fall 2012)
CE 301 – Geophysical Applications and Analysis (Fall 2008 and 2009)
CE 330 – Water Resources Engineering 1 (Falls 2014 to 2016)
CE 491 – Senior Design (Springs 2013 to 2017)
CE 470/570 – Stream Dynamics and Riparian Systems (Fall 2013, Spring 2016)
ES 220 – Statics (Summer 2009, 2010)
ES 222 – Strength of Materials (Spring 2011, 2012)
ES 330 – Fluid Mechanics (Spring 2017)

Research Interests

River ice processes including: sediment transport in rivers subject to freezing, river ice breakup dynamics, interaction of suspended sediment and frazil ice, effect of surface ice on channel stability, and fish habitat and ecology. Stream dynamics and riparian systems processes including: channel stability analysis, woody debris jams, effect of in-stream structures on channel stability and flood potential, thermal effects on bank stability, and stream water quality modeling.

Awards

HONORS AND AWARDS

• Best Student Paper Prize, IAHR 21st International Symposium on Ice, Dalian, China, June 2012
• Teaching Excellence Recognition, Coulter School of Engineering, Clarkson University, Spring 2011 and 2012, Fall 2013 and 2014
• George A. Grey Award, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Clarkson University, 2005
• EIT/FE Certificate, New York, 2005

Publications

PUBLICATIONS

Peer reviewed journal manuscripts

I.M. Knack and H.T. Shen, 2015. “Sediment Transport in Ice-Covered Channels,” International Journal of Sediment Research, 30(1): 63-67, DOI: 10.1016/S1001-6279(15)60006-3.

I.M. Knack and H.T. Shen, 2015 “A Numerical Model Study on Ice Impact on Lake Superior Outflow Limit,” Canadian Journal of Civil Engineering, 42:1-9, DOI: 10.1139/cjce-2014-0276.

I.M. Knack and H.T. Shen, 2013. “Sediment and Ice Dynamics in Channels with Vanes and Cross Vanes,” Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, ASCE, To be submitted.

I.M. Knack and H.T. Shen, 2013. “A Numerical Model for Sediment Transport in Ice Affected Channels,” In preparation.

Peer Reviewed Conference Papers
Teetsel, B., I.M. Knack, H.T. Shen, 2016, “A Laboratory Study on Wood Jams” Proceedings, 11th IAHR International Symposium on Ecohydraulics, Melbourne, February, 2016.

L. Wazney, S. Clark, J. Malenchak, H.T. Shen, I.M. Knack, 2015, “Two-Dimensional Modeling of River Ice Cover Formation During Freeze-up,” Proceedings, 18th Workshop on the Hydraulics of Ice Covered Rivers, CGU HS Committee on River Ice Processes and the Environment, Quebec City, Quebec, August, 2015.

F. Huang, I.M. Knack, H.T. Shen, 2014, “Ice Effects on Bed Changes in Alluvial Channels,” Proceedings, 22nd IAHR Ice Symposium, Singapore, August, 2014.

F. Huang, H.T. Shen, I.M. Knack, 2014, “Ice Transport in the Grasse Island Pool Area of the Niagara Power Project,” Proceedings, 22nd IAHR Ice Symposium, Singapore, August, 2014.

I.M. Knack*, H.T. Shen, 2014, “Sediment Transport Under Ice Cover,” Proceedings, 22nd IAHR Ice Symposium, Singapore, August, 2014.

I.M. Knack*, H.T. Shen, 2014, “Spring Breakup and Ice Jam Dynamics on the Saint John River,” Proceedings, 22nd IAHR Ice Symposium, Singapore, August, 2014.

I.M. Knack and H.T. Shen, 2013. “A Numerical Model for Sediment Transport and Bed Change in Rivers with Ice,” Proceedings, 12th International Symposium on River Sedimentation, Kyoto, September 2-5, 2013.

I.M. Knack and H.T. Shen, 2012. “River Ice Modeling for Fish Habitat Analysis,” Proceedings, 21th IAHR Ice Symposium, Dalia, 202 – 211, June 11-15, 2012.

I.M. Knack, F. Huang, H.T. Shen, 2012. “A Numerical Model Study on St. Marys River Ice Conditions,” Proceedings, 21th IAHR Ice Symposium, Dalian, 270-281, June 11-15, 2012.

F. Huang, H.T. Shen, I.M. Knack 2012. “Modeling Border Ice Formation and Cover Progression in Rivers,” Proceedings, 21th IAHR Ice Symposium, Dalian, 139-149, June 11-15, 2012.

I.M. Knack, H.T. Shen, A.M. Tuthill, 2010. “Ice and Sediment Transport in Channels with In-Stream Channel Restoration Structures,” Proceedings, 20th IAHR Ice Symposium, Lahti, paper no. 83, June 14-17, 2010.

T. Kolerski, H.T. Shen, and I.M. Knack, 2010. “A Nested Model for River Ice Dynamics,” Proceedings, 20th IAHR Ice Symposium, Lahti, paper no. 85, June 14-17, 2010.

A.M. Tuthill, C.M. Vuyovich, I.M. Knack, H.T. Shen, 2009. “Ice Considerations in the Design of Modern In-Stream Structures,” Proceedings, 15th CRIPE Workshop on River Ice, St. John’s Newfoundland and Labrador, 345-352, June 15-17, 2009.

Technical Reports
I.M. Knack, F. Huang, and H.T. Shen, 2011. “A Numerical Model Study on St. Marys River Ice Conditions for Winter Flow Regulations,” Final Report Submitted to International Great Lakes Study, International Joint Commission.

I.M. Knack, T. Kolerski, and H.T. Shen, 2011. “Open Water Simulation for HIPs in the Upper Niagara River,” Final Report Submitted to Gomez and Sullivan Engineers, P.C.

T. Kolerski, I.M. Knack, and H.T. Shen, 2011. “Ice Effects on HIPs in the Upper Niagara River,” Final Report Submitted to Gomez and Sullivan Engineers, P.C.

L. Cheng, F. Huang, I.M. Knack, and H.T. Shen, 2011. “A Study on the Need of Ice Sluice Gates for St. Lawrence/FDR Power Project,” Report Submitted to New York Power Authority.

I.M. Knack and H.T. Shen, 2010. “Numerical Simulations of Ice Dynamics in Channels with Vanes and Cross Vanes,” ERDC/CRREL Report CR-10-1. Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL), U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), Hanover, New Hampshire.