Areas of interest: Probabilistic methods in civil engineering, risk analysis, structural reliability, random vibrations and earthquake engineering.
Current Research Projects:
Computational framework for reliability assessment
Computational modules for assessment of structural reliability are being developed and implemented in the object-oriented platform OpenSees.
The combined software is capable of reliability analysis of structural systems, accounting for nonlinear and hysteretic behavior under
earthquake loading. The modules include: (1) algorithms to compute finite element response sensitivities (with respect to both loading
and system parameters) for linear and nonlinear structures under static and dynamic conditions, (2) optimization algorithm to find
the "most likely" loading conditions (e.g., realizations of ground motion) and structural properties that give rise to
specified limit-states, (3) algorithms to compute "failure" probabilities and mean crossing rates for specified limit-states,
(4) algorithms to compute sensitivities of the failure probabilities and importance measures for uncertain variables, and
(5) probabilistic representations of component behavior and seismic loading.
This project ties together two important parts in the PEER framework; the work on the analysis platform OpenSees for demand simulation,
and the work on experimental capacity assessment where uncertainties in results are observed and characterized.
Graduate Student Researcher: Kazuya Fujimura
Funding Source: National Science Foundation (through PEER).
Stochastic model for nonstationary ground motion
Graduate Student Researcher: Sanaz Rezaeian
Funding Source: National Science Foundation (through PEER).