2. Abolhassan ASTANEH-ASL

Abolhassan ASTANEH-ASL

Slug
astaneh
Type
Emeritus
Photo
Astaneh headshot
Headshot
Abolhassan ASTANEH-ASL
First Name
Abolhassan
Last Name
ASTANEH-ASL
Email
astaneh@berkeley.edu
Programs
Structural Engineering, Mechanics and Materials
Titles
Professor Emeritus
Biography

Abolhassan Astaneh-Asl, Ph.D., P.E.


Dr. Abolhassan Astaneh is a professor emeritus of civil and environmental engineering at the University of California, Berkeley, and a 2013 Minner Faculty Fellow in Engineering Ethics and Social/Professional Responsibility in the College of Engineering. He is the winner of the 1998 T.R. Higgins Lectureship Award of the American Institute of Steel Construction, the most prestigious award in his field. He is a licensed civil engineering Professional Engineer (P.E.) in California. Dr. Astaneh is currently a structural engineering and bridge engineering consultant, an expert witness in several court cases, continues his research and publication and gives lectures and seminars in structural engineering, earthquake engineering, and engineering ethics.

       His research and expertise are in structural analysis, design, earthquake engineering of steel, steel-concrete, concrete and wood buildings and bridges, failure analysis of buildings, bridges and other structures, blast protection of structures, and protection of buildings, bridges, and other structures against terrorist attacks. He has designed, constructed, and done extensive research and studies of buildings and bridges for 52 years, including buildings of up to 73 stories and long-span bridges such as the Golden Gate Bridge and the Bay Bridge. Dr. Astaneh has conducted failure analysis of several collapsed structures, including the World Trade Center Towers. Dr. Astaneh has testified before the Committee on Science of the U.S. House of Representatives on engineering aspects of the collapse of the World Trade Center. He has also testified before the California Governor’s Board of Inquiry on the Loma Prieta Earthquake on the damage to steel bridges, including the damage to the San Francisco Oakland Bay Bridge. Dr. Astaneh has been an expert witness in the failure investigation of six major bridges, including the tragic collapse of the  I-35 Bridge (2007) and the Miami FL Pedestrian Bridge (2018).  

       He has published more than 300 journal papers, conference proceedings papers, technical reports, book chapters and has had hundreds of press interviews on technical aspects of subjects in his areas of interest. 

Education

Ph.D. - Structures, University of Michigan, 1982
M.S.E. - Structures, University of Michigan, 1979
M.S. - Civil Engineering, Tehran Polytechnic Institute, 1969

Research Overview

Design and behavior of steel and composite structures

Personal Website
http://faculty.ce.berkeley.edu/astaneh/
Awards

Minner Faculty Fellow on Engineering Ethics, 2013

T.R. Higgins Award, American Institute of Steel Construction, 1998

Teaching

CE24-Freshman Seminar- Ethical Problems in the Investigation of the Collapse of the World Trade Center​
CE24-Freshman Seminar-Ethical Issues in Design and Construction of the New SAS Bay Bridge
E36-Engineering Mechanics, 2 units, UG sophomore course
CE98-Undergraduate Research Seminar, 1 unit, freshman course for UROP students
CE120- Structural Engineering
CE122N- Design of Steel Structures, 3 units, UG jsenior/junior capstone design course 
CE122L-Steel Design Project, 1 unit, UG senior capstone design course 
CE190- Innovative Sustainable Residential Design, 3 units, UG senior/junior course 
CE247-Design of Steel and Composite Structures, 3 units, graduate course
CE248- Behavior and Plastic Design of Steel Structures, 3 units, graduate course

Publications

Recent Publications

Journal Papers

  1. Qian, X., and Astaneh-Asl, A. (2016.) “Development of a high-performance steel plate shear wall system,” Int. J. of Earthquake and Impact Engineering, Inderscience, Vol. 1, Nos.1/2, pp. 57-80.
  2. Kilic, S.A., Raatschen, H.J., Körfgen, B. Apaydin, N.M., and Astaneh-Asl, A. (2017.) “ FE Model of the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Suspension Bridge Using Thin Shell Finite Elements, Arabian Journal for Science and Engineering, March, Vol. 42, Issue 3, pp. 1103-1116.
  3. Astaneh-Asl, A., and Qian, X. (2016.) “PUSHOVER ANALYSIS OF THE NEW SELF-ANCHORED SUSPENSION BAY BRIDGE TOWER,” International Journal of Engineering Research & Innovation, Vol. 8, No. 2, Fall/Winter 2016, pp 62-73.
  4. Astaneh-Asl, A., Tabbakhha, M., and Qian, X., (2016.) “THE EFFECTS OF ANCHOR ROD FAILURE ON THE PERFORMANCE OF THE NEW BAY BRIDGE TOWER,” International Journal of Modern Engineering, Vol. 17, No. 1, Fall/Winter 2016, pp. 37-44.
  5. Astaneh-Asl, A., and Black, R.G., (2016.) “NEW CAPSTONE DESIGN COURSE COMBINING ARCHITECTURAL AND ENGINEERING ASPECTS OF BUILDING DESIGN,” The Technology Interface International Journal, Vol. 17, No. 1, Fall/Winter, 2016, pp. 72-82.
  6. Qian, X. and Astaneh-Asl, A. (2016.) “Development of a High-Performance Steel Plate Shear Wall,” Int. Journal of Earthquake and Impact Engineering, Inderscience Publishers, Vol. 1. No. 1/2, October, pp 57-80.
  7. D’Amore, E., Amaddeo, C., and Astaneh-Asl, A. (2013.) “Health Monitoring of an Instrumented SRMF Building Using Earthquake Data,” Journal of the Structural Design of Tall and Special Buildings, Sept., Vol. 23, Issue 13, pp980-994.
  8. Son, J., and Astaneh-Asl, A. (2011.) "Blast Resistance of Steel Orthotropic Bridge Decks,” Journal of Bridge Engineering, ASCE, July, Vol. 17, No. 4, pp. 589-598.
  9. Zhao, Q. and A. Astaneh-Asl, A. (2007.) "Seismic Behavior of Composite Shear Wall Systems and Application of Smart Structures Technology," International Journal of Steel Structures, (IJOSS.org.), March, Vol. 7, No. 1, pp. 69-75.
  10. Zhao, Q. and Astaneh-Asl, A. (2007.) "Seismic Behavior of Steel Shear Wall Systems and Application of Smart Structures Technology," International Journal of Steel Structures, (IJOSS.org.), March, Vol. 7, No. 1, pp. 61-67.
  11. Liu, J., and Astaneh-Asl, A. (2004.) "Moment-Rotation Parameters for Composite Shear Tab Connections," Journal of Structural Engineering, September, Vol. 130, No. 9.

Conference Papers

  1. Astaneh-Asl, A.,  Tabbakhha, M., and Qian, X., (2018.) “THE NEW SAS BAY BRIDGE - ANALYSIS OF CURRENT PROBLEMS WITH SUGGESTIONS FOR SEISMIC RETROFIT”  Proceedings, Eleventh U.S. National Conference on Earthquake Engineering, EERI, June 25-29, 2018, Los Angeles, California. (Posted on ResearchGate)
  2. Astaneh-Asl, A. (2018.) “Preservation of a Historical Timber Bridge in California,” Proceeding, ASCE/SEI Structures Congress, Am. Society of Civil Engineers, April 19–21, 2018,  Fort Worth, Texas. (Posted on ResearchGate)
  3. Astaneh-Asl, A., Qian, X., and Tabbakhha, M. (2017.) “Realistic Seismic Behavior of the Main Tower of the New SAS Bay Bridge and Its Base Anchors,” Proceeding, SEAOC Convention, Structural Engineers Association of California, Sept 13-15, 2017, San Diego, California. (Posted on ResearchGate)
  4. Astaneh-Asl, A. (2017.) “PRESERVATION OF HISTORICAL BRIDGES IN USA: THE GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE AND THE ALBION RIVER BRIDGE CASES,” Proceeding, 3rd International Conference on Protection of Historical Construction,  July 12 – 15, 2017,  Lisbon, Portugal. (Posted on ResearchGate)
  5. Astaneh-Asl, A., and Black, R.G. (2016.) “New Capstone Design Course Combining Architectural and Engineering Aspects of Building Design,” Proceedings, 5th IAJC/ISAM Joint International Conf., Nov. 6-8, 2016, Orlando, Florida. (Posted on ResearchGate)
  6. Astaneh-Asl, A., and Qian, X.  (2016.) “Pushover Analysis of the Tower of the New Self-Anchored Suspension Bay Bridge, “Proceedings, 5th IAJC/ISAM Joint International Conf., Nov. 6-8, 2016, Orlando, Florida. (Posted on ResearchGate)
  7. Astaneh-Asl, A., Tabbakhha, M., and Qian, X., (2016.) “Performance of Anchor Rods of the Single Tower of the New Self-Anchored Suspension Bay Bridge,” Proceedings, 5th IAJC/ISAM Joint International Conf., Nov. 6-8, 2016, Orlando, Florida.
  8. Qian, X., and Astaneh-Asl, A. (2016.) “Introducing a New Ductile and Economical Steel Moment Connection,” Proceedings, SEAOC Convention, Structural Engineers Association of California, Sept 13-15, 2017, San Diego, California.
  9. Qian, X. and Astaneh-Asl, A. (2016.)“Development of a New Steel Moment Connection”, Proceedings, of the World Congress on Civil, Structural, and Environmental Engineering (CSEE’16), March 30 – 31, 2016, Prague, Czech Republic. (This paper won one of the seven “Best Paper Awards of the Conference.)
  10. Qian, X. and Astaneh-Asl, A. (2016.) “Behavior and Seismic Design of Stiffeners for Steel Bridge Tower Legs and Piers,” Proceedings, of the World Congress on Civil, Structural, and Environmental Engineering (CSEE’16) March 30 – 31, 2016, Prague, Czech Republic. (This paper won one of the seven “Best Paper Awards of the Conference.)
  11. Tabbakhha, M., Astaneh-Asl, A., and Setioso, D.C., (2016.) “Failure Analysis of Flood Collapse of the Tex Wash Bridge” Proceedings of the World Congress on Civil, Structural, and Environmental Engineering (CSEE’16) March 30 – 31, 2016, Prague, Czech Republic. (This paper won one of the seven “Best Paper Awards of the Conference.)
  12. Tabbakhha, M., Astaneh-Asl, A., and Setioso, D.C., (2016.) “Analysis of Tex-Wash Bridge under the Combined Effects of Earthquakes and Flood” Proceedings, EERI 68th Annual Meeting, Earthquake Engineering Research Institute, April 5-8, 2016, San Francisco, California,
  13. Astaneh-Asl, A. (2015.) "New Developments in Design of Skyscrapers Including Seismic Considerations,” Keynote Speech, at the 2nd International Conference on Civil and Architecture Engineering, and Urban Earthquake Engineering (CAUEE ), held in Tabriz-Iran. September.
  14. Son, J. and A. Astaneh-Asl, "Blast Protection of Cable-Stayed and Suspension Bridges," Proceedings, TCLEE Conference on Lifeline Earthquake Engineering in a Multihazard Environment, Oakland, CA, June 28-July 1, 2009, 12 pp.
  15. McCallen, D.B., A. Astaneh-Asl, S.C. Larsen and L.J. Hutchings, "The Response of Long-Span Bridges to Low Frequency, Near-Fault Earthquake Ground Motions," Proceedings, TCLEE Conference on Lifeline Earthquake Engineering in a Multihazard Environment, Oakland, CA, June 28-July 1, 2009, 10 pp.
  16. Astaneh-Asl, A., C.R. Noble, J. Son, A.P. Wemhoff, M.P. Thomas and L.D. McMichael, "Fire Protection of Steel Bridges and the Case of the MacArthur Maze Fire Collapse," Proceedings, TCLEE Conference on Lifeline Earthquake Engineering in a Multihazard Environment, Oakland, CA, June 28-July 1, 2009, 12 pp.
  17. Astaneh-Asl, A., "Steel Shear Walls, Behavior, Modeling and Design," Proceedings, 2008 Seismic Engineering International Conference Commemorating the 1908 Messina and Reggio Calabria Earthquake, Reggio Calabria, Italy, July 8-11, 2008, 14 pp.
  18. D'Amore, E. and A. Astaneh-Asl, "Case Study of Expected Seismic Performance of an Instrumented Steel Moment Frame Building," Proceedings, 2008 Seismic Engineering International Conference Commemorating the 1908 Messina and Reggio Calabria Earthquake, Reggio Calabria, Italy, July 8-11, 2008, pp. 1827-1836.
  19. D'Amore, E., A. Astaneh-Asl and C. Amaddeo, "System Identification of Burbank Using Six-Story Building Earthquake Data," Proceedings, 2008 Seismic Engineering International Conference Commemorating the 1908 Messina and Reggio Calabria Earthquake, Reggio Calabria, Italy, July 8-11, 2008, pp. 1819-1826.
  20. Astaneh-Asl, A., "Progressive Collapse of Steel Truss Bridges, The Case of I-35W Collapse," Proceedings, 7th International Conference on Steel Bridges, Guimaraes, Portugal, June 4-6, 2008, pp. 1-10.
  21. Astaneh-Asl, A., "Fire Protection of Steel Bridges - the Case of the MacArthur Maze Bridge," Proceedings, 3rd International Conference on Bridges, Tehran, Iran, May 27-29, 2008, 8 pp.
  22. Shi, Y. and A. Astaneh-Asl, "Lateral Stiffness of Steel Shear Wall Systems," Proceedings, Structures Congress, ASCE, Vancouver, Canada, April 2008, 10 pp.
  23. Zhao, Q. and A. Astaneh-Asl, "Experimental and Analytical Studies of a Steel Plate Shear Wall System," Proceedings, Structures Congress, ASCE, Vancouver, Canada, April 2008, 10 pp.
  24. Rutner, M., A. Astaneh-Asl and J. Son, "Blast Resistant Performance of Steel and Composite Bridge Piers," Proceedings, IABSE 2006-Annual Meetings and Symposium of the International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering, Budapest, Hungary, September 2006, 8 pp.
  25. Zhao, Q. and A. Astaneh-Asl, "Cyclic Behavior of Steel and Composite Shear Walls," Proceedings, 100th Anniversary Earthquake Conference Commemorating the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake, San Francisco, CA, April 2006.
  26. McCallen, D., A. Astaneh-Asl, S. Larsen and L. Hutchings, "Dynamic Response of the Suspension Spans of the San Francisco Oakland Bay Bridge," Proceedings, 100th Anniversary Earthquake Conference Commemorating the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake, San Francisco, CA, April 2006, 10 pp.

  27. Astaneh-Asl, A., M., Saeedikia, M.H. Havaii, M. Fat'hi, S.M. Fatemi-Aghda, S.R. Mir Ghaderi and G. Heidarinejad, "Reconstruction of Housing Destroyed in the 2003 Bam-Iran Earthquake," Proceedings, 100th Anniversary Earthquake Conference Commemorating the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake, San Francisco, CA, April 2006, 11 pp.