Funded Projects

CURRENT PROJECTS

Development and Testing of a Novel Anchor-profiled FRP Jacket System for Effective Confinement of Rectangular Concrete Columns
- Collaborators: B. Zheng (USC).
- Funding Agency: California State Department of Transportation (Caltrans), Pacific Southwest Region University Transportation Center (PSR)
- Award Period: 3/1/2024 – 2/28/2025.
Super-Elastic Copper-Based and Iron-Based Shape Memory Alloys and Engineered Cementitious Composites for Extreme Events Resiliency
- Collaborators: M. S. Saiidi (Infrastructure Innovations).
- Funding Agency: Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)
- Award Period: 12/1/2022 – 5/31/2025.
Non-destructive Evaluation of Dry Storage Canisters Using Acoustic Sensing
- Collaborators: A. Oberai (USC); R. Meyer (PNNL).
- Funding Agency: Nuclear Energy University Program (NEUP), U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).
- Award Period: 10/1/2021 – 9/30/2024.
Development of Near Zero Permeability Cement Composites for Oil Well Applicationson
- Collaborators: -.
- Funding Agency: USC Ershaghi Center for Energy Transition (E-CET).
- Award Period: 1/15/2023 – 1/14/2024.

COMPLETED PROJECTS

Undergraduate Research in Civil Engineering Materials for Disaster Resilience
- Collaborators: -.
- Funding Agency: USC Provost’s Undergraduate Research Fellowships.
- Award Period: 7/1/2022 – 6/30/2023.
Acquisition of a CT Scanner for Engineering+ Applications
- Collaborators: -.
- Funding Agency: USC Dean’s CORES Research Funding.
- Award Period: 1/15/2022 – 1/14/2023.
Acquisition of Large-Scale 3D Printing Equipment for Structures and Materials Research Laboratory
- Collaborators: Y. Yortsos, L. Soibelman, B. Becerik-Gerber, D. Gerber (USC).
- Funding Agency: USC Dean’s CORES Research Funding.
- Award Period: 8/16/2020 – 8/15/2022.
Risk-informed Condition Assessment of Spent Nuclear Fuel Canisters Using Experimental Measurements and High-fidelity Computational Models
- Collaborators: R. Ghanem (USC).
- Funding Agency: Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).
- Award Period: 10/1/2020 – 9/30/2023.
Self-Healing Bio-concrete for Sustainable and Resilient Civil Infrastructure
- Collaborators: N. Alnuaimi, R. Kahraman (QU); D. Rodrigues (UH).
- Funding Agency: Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF).
- Award Period: 3/1/2019 – 2/28/2022.
Undergraduate Research Training in Civil Infrastructure Resiliency
- Collaborators: -.
- Funding Agency: USC Provost’s Undergraduate Research Fellowships.
- Award Period: 11/1/2019 – 6/30/2020.
Material Characteristics of Cu-Based Superelastic Alloys for Applications in Bridge Columns to Improve Seismic Performance
- Collaborators: -.
- Funding Agency: National Cooperative Highyway Research Program (NCHRP).
- Award Period: 10/26/2018 – 10/25/2020.
Cask Mis-Load Evaluation Techniques
- Collaborators: R. Ballarini, K. Willam (UH); T. Kozlowski, A. DiFulvio, L.-J. Meng, R. Uddin (UIUC); R. Ghanem (USC), B. Guzina (UMN); H. Adkins, R. Meyer (PNNL); R. Dunham, W. Lyon, Y. R. Rashid (ANATECH).
- Funding Agency: Nuclear Energy University Program (NEUP), U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).
- Award Period: 10/1/2016 – 9/30/2020.
CAREER: Increasing Resiliency and Sustainability of Reinforced Concrete against Aging and Seismic Hazards through Novel Materials
- Collaborators: n.a.
- Funding Agency: National Science Foundation (NSF).
- Award Period: 9/1/2015 – 8/31/2020.
Multiple Degradation Mechanisms in Reinforced Concrete Structures, Modeling and Risk Analysis
- Collaborators: K. Willam (UH); Y. Xi (CU-Boulder); B. Spencer, H. Huang (INL).
- Funding Agency: Nuclear Energy University Program (NEUP), U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).
- Award Period: 10/1/2015 – 9/30/2019.
Durability and Corrosion Behavior of High-Performance Concrete and Reinforcing Steels for Infrastructure Applications in Qatar
- Collaborators: R. Kahraman, N. Ozerkan (Qatar U.); M. Dawood, A. Belarbi (UH).
- Funding Agency: Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF).
- Award Period: 5/1/2015 – 7/1/2018.
Rehabilitation of Deteriorated Concrete Infrastructure in Qatar Using Shape Memory Alloys for Active Confinement
- Collaborators: M. Alansari (Qatar U.); M. Dawood, A. Belarbi (UH).
- Funding Agency: Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF).
- Award Period: 5/10/2014 – 5/9/2017.
BRIGE: Damage Evaluation and Life-Cycle Assessment of Reinforced HPFRC Beam-Column Joints under Multi-Axial Loading
- Collaborators: n.a.
- Funding Agency: National Science Foundation (NSF).
- Award Period: 9/1/2013 – 8/31/2017.
GAANN Program for Doctoral Training in Civil Infrastructure Engineering
- Collaborators: A. Belarbi, M. Dawood, J. Freiberg, M. Li, Y. L. Mo, K. H. Wang (UH).
- Funding Agency: U.S. Department of Education (ED).
- Award Period: 8/16/2012 – 8/15/2017.
Guide Specifications for the Design of Concrete Bridge Beams Prestressed with CFRP Systems
- Collaborators: M. Dawood, A. Belarbi (UH).
- Funding Agency: National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP).
- Award Period: 7/22/2013 – 7/31/2017.
Probabilistic Multi-Hazard Assessment of Dry Cask Structures
- Collaborators: K. Willam (UH); J. Padgett (Rice U.); R. Uddin (U. Illinois).
- Funding Agency: Nuclear Energy University Program (NEUP), U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).
- Award Period: 9/24/2012 – 9/24/2016.
Fatigue Resistance and Reliability of High Mast Illumination Poles (HMIPs) with Pre-Existing Cracks
- Collaborators: M. Dawood (UH); D. Zuo (Texas Tech).
- Funding Agency: Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT).
- Award Period: 9/1/2014 – 8/31/2016.
Prestressing Concrete with Carbon Fibers
- Collaborators: M. Dawood, A. Belarbi (UH).
- Funding Agency: Precast Concrete Institute (PCI).
- Award Period: 8/1/2014 – 7/31/2016.
Column Base Plate Testing for Low-Rise Metal Buildings
- Collaborators: M. Dawood (UH).
- Funding Agency: Metal Building Manufacturers Association (MBMA).
- Award Period: 10/1/2014 – 3/31/2016.
Upgrade of Universal Element Tester for Nuclear Energy Infrastructure Research
- Collaborators: Y. L. Mo, A. Belarbi, M. Dawood, T. Hsu, M. Li, K. Nakshatrala, K. Willam (UH).
- Funding Agency: Nuclear Energy University Program (NEUP), U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).
- Award Period: 10/1/2014 – 9/30/2015.
Testing of Column Base Plate Connections for Serviceability and Ultimate Loads
- Collaborators: -.
- Funding Agency: NCI Building Systems.
- Award Period: 2/1/2013 – 1/31/2014.
Development of Multi-Axial Testing Control for Earthquake Engineering Research
- Collaborators: -.
- Funding Agency: New Faculty Research Program, University of Houston.
- Award Period: 2/1/2012 – 08/31/2012.

CURRENT PROJECTS

Development and Testing of a Novel Anchor-profiled FRP Jacket System for Effective Confinement of Rectangular Concrete Columns

Collaborators: B. Zheng (USC).

Funding Agency: California State Department of Transportation (Caltrans), Pacific Southwest Region University Transportation Center (PSR)

Award Period: 3/1/2024 – 2/28/2025.

Super-Elastic Copper-Based and Iron-Based Shape Memory Alloys and Engineered Cementitious Composites for Extreme Events Resiliency

Collaborators: M. S. Saiidi (Infrastructure Innovations).

Funding Agency: Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)

Award Period: 12/1/2022 – 5/31/2025.

Non-destructive Evaluation of Dry Storage Canisters Using Acoustic Sensing

Collaborators: A. Oberai (USC); R. Meyer (PNNL).

Funding Agency: Nuclear Energy University Program (NEUP), U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

Award Period: 10/1/2021 – 9/30/2024.

Development of Near Zero Permeability Cement Composites for Oil Well Applicationson

Collaborators: -.

Funding Agency: USC Ershaghi Center for Energy Transition (E-CET).

Award Period: 1/15/2023 – 1/14/2024.

COMPLETED PROJECTS

Undergraduate Research in Civil Engineering Materials for Disaster Resilience

Collaborators: -.

Funding Agency: USC Provost’s Undergraduate Research Fellowships.

Award Period: 7/1/2022 – 6/30/2023.

Acquisition of a CT Scanner for Engineering+ Applications

Collaborators: -.

Funding Agency: USC Dean’s CORES Research Funding.

Award Period: 1/15/2022 – 1/14/2023.

Acquisition of Large-Scale 3D Printing Equipment for Structures and Materials Research Laboratory

Collaborators: Y. Yortsos, L. Soibelman, B. Becerik-Gerber, D. Gerber (USC).

Funding Agency: USC Dean’s CORES Research Funding.

Award Period: 8/16/2020 – 8/15/2022.

Risk-informed Condition Assessment of Spent Nuclear Fuel Canisters Using Experimental Measurements and High-fidelity Computational Models

Collaborators: R. Ghanem (USC).

Funding Agency: Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).

Award Period: 10/1/2020 – 9/30/2023.

Self-Healing Bio-concrete for Sustainable and Resilient Civil Infrastructure

Collaborators: N. Alnuaimi, R. Kahraman (QU); D. Rodrigues (UH).

Funding Agency: Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF).

Award Period: 3/1/2019 – 2/28/2022.

Undergraduate Research Training in Civil Infrastructure Resiliency

Collaborators: -.

Funding Agency: USC Provost’s Undergraduate Research Fellowships.

Award Period: 11/1/2019 – 6/30/2020.

Material Characteristics of Cu-Based Superelastic Alloys for Applications in Bridge Columns to Improve Seismic Performance

Collaborators: -.

Funding Agency: National Cooperative Highyway Research Program (NCHRP).

Award Period: 10/26/2018 – 10/25/2020.

Cask Mis-Load Evaluation Techniques

Collaborators: R. Ballarini, K. Willam (UH); T. Kozlowski, A. DiFulvio, L.-J. Meng, R. Uddin (UIUC); R. Ghanem (USC), B. Guzina (UMN); H. Adkins, R. Meyer (PNNL); R. Dunham, W. Lyon, Y. R. Rashid (ANATECH).

Funding Agency: Nuclear Energy University Program (NEUP), U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

Award Period: 10/1/2016 – 9/30/2020.

CAREER: Increasing Resiliency and Sustainability of Reinforced Concrete against Aging and Seismic Hazards through Novel Materials

Collaborators: n.a.

Funding Agency: National Science Foundation (NSF).

Award Period: 9/1/2015 – 8/31/2020.

Multiple Degradation Mechanisms in Reinforced Concrete Structures, Modeling and Risk Analysis

Collaborators: K. Willam (UH); Y. Xi (CU-Boulder); B. Spencer, H. Huang (INL).

Funding Agency: Nuclear Energy University Program (NEUP), U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

Award Period: 10/1/2015 – 9/30/2019.

Durability and Corrosion Behavior of High-Performance Concrete and Reinforcing Steels for Infrastructure Applications in Qatar

Collaborators: R. Kahraman, N. Ozerkan (Qatar U.); M. Dawood, A. Belarbi (UH).

Funding Agency: Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF).

Award Period: 5/1/2015 – 7/1/2018.

Rehabilitation of Deteriorated Concrete Infrastructure in Qatar Using Shape Memory Alloys for Active Confinement

Collaborators: M. Alansari (Qatar U.); M. Dawood, A. Belarbi (UH).

Funding Agency: Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF).

Award Period: 5/10/2014 – 5/9/2017.

BRIGE: Damage Evaluation and Life-Cycle Assessment of Reinforced HPFRC Beam-Column Joints under Multi-Axial Loading

Collaborators: n.a.

Funding Agency: National Science Foundation (NSF).

Award Period: 9/1/2013 – 8/31/2017.

GAANN Program for Doctoral Training in Civil Infrastructure Engineering

Collaborators: A. Belarbi, M. Dawood, J. Freiberg, M. Li, Y. L. Mo, K. H. Wang (UH).

Funding Agency: U.S. Department of Education (ED).

Award Period: 8/16/2012 – 8/15/2017.

Guide Specifications for the Design of Concrete Bridge Beams Prestressed with CFRP Systems

Collaborators: M. Dawood, A. Belarbi (UH).

Funding Agency: National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP).

Award Period: 7/22/2013 – 7/31/2017.

Probabilistic Multi-Hazard Assessment of Dry Cask Structures