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Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Events for September
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Load & Resistance Factor Design and its Application in Highway Bridges Foundation Design
Wed, Sep 15, 2010 @ 02:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Sonny Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Sharid Amiri, Ph.D. , P.E., California Department of Transportation (CALTRANS) Irvine, CA
Talk Title: Load & Resistance Factor Design and its Application in Highway Bridge Foundation Design
Abstract: The design of highway bridge foundation has been evolving and has gone through major changes especially in the recent years. All new highway bridges in California are being designed using the Load & Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) methodology. An overview of the methodology is presented where advantages and disadvantages are also discussed. The geotechnical and structural aspects of deep foundation design along with its seismic response using the LRFD approach are presented.
Biography: Dr. Amiri is a senior transportation engineer with expertise in highway bridge foundation design and analysis. He has received his PhD in Civil Engineering from University of Southern California. His area of research was in earthquake response of bridge pile foundations.
Dr. Amiri has over 20 years of experience in transportation engineering with emphasis in design of highway bridge foundations. He has been involved with mega projects throughout Southern California in design and construction of major highway projects.
Dr. Amiri is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers and a registered civil engineer with State of California. He is also a member of Caltrans Deep Foundation Committee, an affiliate of Caltrans General Earthquake Committee and Caltrans Post Earthquake Investigation Team. He is also active with the Transportation Research Board (TRB) committees on Bridge Seismic Design and Bridge Foundation.
Host: Sonny Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Location: Kaprielian Hall (KAP) - 209
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Evangeline Reyes
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The Effect of Soil-Structure Interaction on Seismic Response of Buildings
Wed, Sep 22, 2010 @ 02:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Sonny Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Dr. Mohammad Ali Ghannad, Associate Professor, Dept. of Cvil Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
Talk Title: The Effect of Soil-Structure Interaction on Seismic Response of Buildings
Abstract: Abstract:
It is well known that the flexibility of soil beneath the structure affects its seismic response due to SoilâStructure Interaction (SSI). SSI not only affects the elastic response of structures, but also their inelastic behavior during earthquakes. This subject has been studied by numerous researchers and a wealth of knowledge is currently available in the literature.
In this presentation, a brief summary of recent research done on the subject at Department of Civil Engineering of Sharif University of Technology is presented. The main focus is the parametric study on SSI effect on global inelastic response of structures. This is done by employing a rather simple model for the soil and structure to study the effect on structural strength and ductility demands. Some aspects of current US provisions for introducing SSI in practical design of structures are also discussed.
Location: Kaprielian Hall (KAP) - 209
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Evangeline Reyes
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Oral Defense Dissertation
Thu, Sep 23, 2010 @ 02:00 PM - 04:00 PM
Sonny Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Yuan-Hung "Paul" Tan, Ph.D. Candidate
Talk Title: Oscillations of Semi-Enclosed Water Body Induced by Hurricanes
Abstract:
A numerical study is conducted to simulate the oscillations (storm surges) of semi-enclosed water body induced by hurricanes. For application using the numerical model developed in the present study, Lake Pontchartrain (located in southeastern Louisiana) is chosen as the semi-enclosed water body and Hurricane Katrina (the costliest hurricane in the history of the United States) is chosen as the hurricane. There are three (3) reasons to choose Lake Pontcharrain and Hurricane Katrina: 1. Storm surge built up in Lake Pontchartrain during Hurricane Katrina, 2. Wind drove water into Lake Pontchartrain as Hurricane Katrina approached from the Gulf of Mexico, and 3. The extensive field data, gathered by the Interagency Performance Evaluation Task Force (IPET), is available to provide the needed comparison of numerical result and prototype data on the oscillations at Lake Pontchartrain induced by Hurricane Katrina.
The depth-average, non-linear shallow-water equations (NLSW) are use as the governing equations. The finite-volume method (FVM) is employed to solve the governing shallow-water equations. In order to validate the present model, the hydrographs due to Hurricane Katrina obtained from the present model are compared with the field data reported by IPET at eight (8) sites along the shores and the center of Lake Pontchartrain. These eight (8) sites are: the 17th street Canal, the Orleans Avenue Canal, the London Avenue Canal, the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal (IHNC)-Lakefront Airport, Midlake, Bayou Labranch, Pass Manchac, and Little Irish Bayou.
The time at which the maximum water surface elevation (WSE) occurs as predicted by the present model is almost identical to the time at which the maximum water level is observed at the 17th Street Canal, the Orleans Avenue Canal, the London Avenue Canal, and the IHNC-Lakefront Airport sites. Furthermore, the present model accurately predicts the general trend of the water level when the hydrographs due to Hurricane Katrina are compared with the observed hydrographs at the 17th Street Canal, the Orleans Avenue Canal, the London Avenue Canal, the IHNC-Lakefront Airport, and the Midlake sites. However, the present model only reasonably predicts the general trend of the water level when the hydrographs due to Hurricane Katrina are compared with the observed hydrographs at the Bayou La Branche (named Bayou Labranch by IPET), the Pass Manchac, and the Little Irish Bayou sites.
The present model is further applied to investigate the oscillations at Lake Pontchartrain induced by four (4) synthetic hurricanes within the time-span of 00:00 UTC August 29, 2005 to 00:00 UTC August 30, 2005: Case 1. Hurricane Katrina tracks on its original route, Case 2. Hurricane Katrina tracks 36 km west of its original route, Case 3. Hurricane Katrina tracks 72 km west of its original route, and Case 4. Hurricane Katrina tracks on its original route with forward speeds reduced by 16% ~ 45% (or altered from 15 km/h ~ 36 km/h to 15 km/h ~ 22 km/h). These are done to assess the impact of hurricanes under different risk conditions. It is found that much more severe catastrophes in metro New Orleans and neighboring parishes can be expected under the scenarios of: Case 2. Hurricane Katrina passes through the east part of New Orleans, Louisiana and both the east and central parts of Lake Pontchartrain and Case 4. Hurricane Katrina passes through the regions nearby the east shore of Lake Pontchartrain with reduced forward speeds.
Location: Kaprielian Hall (KAP) -
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Evangeline Reyes
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Air Quality Issues and General Aviation Airports
Wed, Sep 29, 2010 @ 02:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Sonny Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Dr. Rod Merl, Airport Administrator, Santa Monica Airport, CA
Talk Title: Air Qualilty Issues and General Aviation Airports
Abstract:
Aviation and Emissions:
Types of emissions and environmental concerns associated
with airports and adjacent community
Character of General Aviation Airports
Differences of general aviation airports from commercial
ones and the associated changes in the context of emissions
and environmental issues
Regulatory/Jurisdictional Environment
A description of how aviation and general airports in
particular are regulated regarding environmental matters.
What are the relationships of the various levels of
governmental from international to local? The key âplayersâ,
the essential legislation, court cases and how the system
operates. Including:
ICAO
FAA/EPA
State/Regional/Local
Clean Air Act
Conformity
ANCA
MASS. V. EPA
Local and Global Air Quality Aviation Concerns â impacts and concerns above and below the 3,000 ft mixing height
A discussion of two recent governmental studies at Santa Monica Airport
AQMD General Aviation Study
EPA Lead Study
Airport/Aviation Responses/Programs
Sustainability Plans
Air and Water Quality efforts
Noise Management
Alternative fuels
Airport layout plans, traffic mgmt,
Air Navigation (NEXTGEN)
Aircraft/engine design (NAASA)- Challenge of
tradeoffs bts noise, Nox and other pollutants,
Source Apportionment studies
Host: Dr. Ronald C. Henry
Location: Kaprielian Hall (KAP) - 209
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Evangeline Reyes