Structural Engineering
Civil and Construction Engineering Faculty Research Area
The structural engineering program at Oregon State University performs research on a variety of topics influencing structural and community design as it pertains to the serviceability of a structure (structural mechanics, vibration behavior) or under extreme loading demands (e.g., earthquake, tsunami, fire).
The structural engineering faculty have active research through experimental testing and numerical simulations. We are home to state-of-the-art facilities through the O.H. Hinsdale Wave Research Laboratory and the A.A Red Emmerson Advanced Wood Products Laboratory. Research is funded through federal agencies such as the National Science Foundation, Federal Highway Administration, Oregon Department of Transportation, Department of Energy, US Department of Agriculture, US Forest Service; through foundation support through foundations such as the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation; and through research collaborations such as the Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research (PEER) Center.
Key Focus Areas
- Seismic fragility and resilience of structures
- Predictive, data-driven modeling of probabilistic seismic demands
- Explainable and interpretable machine learning models for structural response and risk
- Multi-hazard effects (earthquake–tsunami, temperature/aging, post-earthquake fires) and decision tools
- Structural mechanics
- Computational methods
- Fluid loads on structures
- Nonlinear stochastic wave-structure interaction
- Experimental testing and numerical modelling of innovative structural systems (timber, steel, concrete) under multi-hazard loading (earthquake, tsunami, hurricanes)
- Performance‐based engineering and reliability/risk assessment of structures and infrastructure facing multiple hazards
- High‐performance solutions and sustainable materials (e.g., low-carbon UHPC and mass timber)
- Structural/coastal engineering: coupling tsunami + earthquake effects, storm surge overland loading, resilience of coastal infrastructure and communities
- Steel building systems and components
- Seismic and disproportionate collapse resistance
- Structural connections
- Structural fire engineering
- Community resilience for hazards (earthquake, wildfire, tsunami)
- Post-hazard evaluations of communities (e.g. earthquakes, wildfires)
Facilities and Centers
O.H. Hinsdale Wave Research Laboratory
The laboratory provides outstanding research and testing at the largest nearshore experimental facility at an academic institution in the U.S. The research performed via the directional wave basin, large wave flume and strong floor develop innovative solutions to the design of coastal and ocean infrastructure.
TallWood Design Institute (TDI)
TDI is one of the nation’s first interdisciplinary research collaboratives focused exclusively on the advancement of mass timber and other wood products building solutions. TDI oversees a wide range of testing and applied research and provides unique educational opportunities for a growing mass timber workforce.
A.A “Red” Emmerson Advanced Wood Products Laboratory
Featuring world-class testing and fabrication capabilities, this timber engineering facility is dedicated to applied research in advanced timber fabrication and structural performance of large timber buildings.
Faculty
Andre R. Barbosa
Professor | Cecil and Sally Drinkward Professor in Structural Engineering
Research Groups
Structural Research
Erica Fischer
Associate Professor | Glenn Willis Holcomb Professor in Structural Engineering
Research Groups
Structural Research
Christopher Higgins
Professor
Research Groups
Structural Research
Judy Liu
Professor
Research Groups
Structural Research | Engineering Education
Kenny G. Martin
Senior Instructor II
Research Groups
Structural Research
Thomas Miller
Associate Professor Emeritus
Research Groups
Structural Engineering
Farahnaz Soleimani
Assistant Professor
farahnaz.soleimani@oregonstate.edu
Research Groups
Structural Research
Solomon Yim
Professor
Research Groups
Coastal and Ocean Research | Structural Research
