Structure and Mechanics
(850) 487-6386
abdullah@eng.fsu.edu
Dr. Abdullah’s current research is in the areas of structural dynamics and structural control of civil structures. He also has interests in computational wind engineering (CWE) and hurricane hazard mitigation. He is a recipient of the prestigious NSF Career Award. Funded research projects have been sponsored by NSF, NASA, State of Florida and the Multidisciplinary Center for Earthquake Engineering Research (MCEER). Dr. Abdullah is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers and the National Society of Black Engineers.
Research Interests
structural dynamics
active control
earthquake and wind engineering
Abdullah, M. “Optimal Placement of Output Feedback Sensor/Actuator Systems at Discrete Locations,” AIAA Journal, November 1998, 2109-2116.
Abdullah, M. “Optimal Placement of DVFC Controllers on Buildings Subjected to Earthquake Loading,” Journal of Earthquake Engineering and Structural Dynamics, 1999, Vol. 28, 127-141.
Abdullah, M., Richardson, A., and Hanif, J. “Use of Genetic Algorithms for Placement of Civil Engineering Control Devices,” 2000, Journal of Earthquake Engineering and Structural Dynamics (accepted for publication).
Abdullah, M., Hanif, J., Sobanjo, J. and Richardson, A. “Use of Shared Tuned Mass Damper (STMD) for the Mitigation of Earthquake Vibrations,” 2000, Journal of Earthquake Engineering and Structural Dynamics (accepted for publication).
2. Primus V. Mtenga, Associate Professor , Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison; P.E.
(850) 410-6130
mtenga@eng.fsu.edu
Dr. Mtenga is a Structural Engineer with field experience in both classical structural engineering methods and the utilization of emerging technologies to solve global structural engineering needs. Lately, Dr Mtenga has been at the forefront in the quality control and utilization of new lightweight composite materials in the retrofit and upgrade of structural components and systems. He is a member of several professional societies and technical committees where he is active in drafting codes and specifications. This Structural Engineer, has over 14 years of university teaching in which he taught classes in structural mechanics, structural analysis, design of wood structures, design of steel structures, plastic and limit state design concepts and wind and earthquake engineering. Dr Mtenga was named the Outstanding Professor in Civil Engineering by Tau Beta Pi at the College in 1993. He continues to explore ways of increasing the effectiveness of teaching engineering in light of emerging technologies.
Research Interests
application of Non-Destructive Evaluation (NDE) in structural condition assessments
structural systems performance and reliability
wood structures and bio-composites
forensic engineering
engineering mechanics
decision support systems
Selected Publications
Tawfiq, K.; Mtenga, P. V. and Issa, M. 2001 “Effect of Grouting Pressure on Post Tensioned Bulb Tee Girders,” ASCE Journal of Bridge Engineering (May 2001).
Parzych J. G. and Mtenga P. V. 2000. “Strengthening of Concrete Structures With Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer and Results from Nondestructive Evaluation.” ACI International Special Publication, SP-193, pp 999-1026.
Mtenga, P. V. and Spainhour, L. K. 2000. “Applications of Mathematical Software Packages in Structural Engineering Education and Practice.” ASCE Journal of Computing in Civil Engineering, Vol.14, No. 4. pp 273-278.
Spainhour, L. K, Mtenga, P.V. and Sobanjo J. O. 1999. “Architecture of a Multi-Criteria Decision Support System with Historical Crash Database for Attenuator Selection.” ASCE Journal of Computing in Civil Engineering, Vol.13, No.3, pp187-197.
(850) 410-6123
spainhou@eng.fsu.edu
Dr. Spainhour teaches engineering mechanics and structural analysis and design courses. Her research interests and activities are two-fold. With respect to computing, her interests include representing, managing, and integrating engineering data, including materials data and transportation safety data; using geographical information systems to model linear and spatial data; fuzzy expert systems and decision support; and case-based reasoning. With respect to structural analysis and materials, her interests include corrosion of steel-reinforced concrete, accelerated testing and non-destructive evaluation techniques, and the use of composite materials for infrastructure repair and retrofit. She has been a faculty advisor to the FAMU-FSU chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers since 1994.
Research Interests
composite materials
infrastructure rehabilitation
engineering data management
Selected Publications
Shen, Y.C. and Spainhour, L.K. “Information Technology for Life Cycle Infrastructure Management,” Special Issue, Journal of Computing in Civil Engineering, American Society of Civil Engineers (To appear, January 2001).
Mtenga, P.V. and Spainhour, L.K., “Applications of Mathematical Software Packages in Structural Engineering Education and Practice,” Technical Note, Journal of Computing in Civil Engineering, American Society of Civil Engineers, Pages 273-278 (October 2000).
Spainhour, L.K., Richardson, A., Sobanjo, J., Mtenga, P., “Quantification and Evaluation of Crash Data Involving Attenuator Impacts,” Accident Analysis and Prevention, Springer-Verlag (Submitted, June 2000).
Wooton, I.A., Spainhour, L.K., and Yazdani, N. “Corrosion of Steel Reinforcement in FRP Wrapped Concrete Cylinders,” ACI Materials Journal, American Concrete Institute (Submitted, June 2000).
Spainhour, L.K., Mtenga, P.V., and Sobanjo, J.O., “Multi-Criteria DSS with a Historical Database for Attenuator Selection, Journal of Computing in Civil Engineering, American Society of Civil Engineers, Pages 187-197 (July 1999).
(850) 410-6143
wekezer@eng.fsu.edu
Dr. Wekezer’s interests are focused on structural engineering and structural mechanics. He is particularly interested in computer and finite element method applications. He spent his sabbatical leave (1991-92) working as a Research Highway Engineer at the Federal Highway Administration in McLean, VA. Since then he became involved in applying his computer background in modeling and simulation of impacts between vehicles and highway roadside safety structures. The primary goal of Dr. Wekezer’s research is to improve structural and kinematic performances of roadside safety structures through high-performance computer analyses. Dr. Wekezer was awarded a Senior Research Fellowship by Fulbright Foundation in 2000 to promote and conduct crashworthiness research at Warsaw University of Technology.
structural mechanics
transportation applications
nonlinear finite elements
crashworthiness and impact analysis
Selected Publications
“Performance Problems and Structural Retrofit Analysis of Existing BCT Terminals,” Jerry W. Wekezer, Rafal Wuttrich and Matthew Ramaley. ASCE Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities, August, Vol 14. Issue 3, pp. 118-125, (2000).
“Finite Element Modeling in Analysis and Retrofit of Bridge Fender Systems,” Rafal Wuttrich, Jerry W. Wekezer and Nur Yazdani. Second International ICrash 2000 Conference, London, England, Conference Proceedings, pp. 236-243, September 6 – 8, (2000).
“A Study on a Retrofit of the Breakaway Cable Terminal,” Jerry W. Wekezer, Rafal Wuttrich, and Matthew Ramaley. International Journal of Crashworthiness, February (2001).
“Performance Evaluation of Existing Bridge Fenders for a Ship Impact,” Rafal Wuttrich, Jerry W. Wekezer, Nur Yazdani, Claudia Wilson. ASCE Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities, February (2001).
“Retrofit Analysis of Bridge Fender Systems,” Rafal Wuttrich, Jerry W. Wekezer, Jack Toth, Nur Yazdani. Submitted to ASCE Journal of Waterway, Port, Coastal and Ocean Engineering, (2001).
5. Nur Yazdani, Professor, Ph.D.,University of Maryland; P.E.
(850) 410-6125
Dr. Yazdani has several important areas of active research interests, with the primary research interest in highway bridge rehabilitation and design. His research is aimed at inventing innovative methods for the design and long-term performance of highway concrete bridges. Dr. Yazdani is conducting research on adapting modern timber bridges for rural highways. He also has explored ways to improve Florida concrete for bridge and building applications. He has investigated improvement of coastal construction and building codes in Florida.
Research Interests
Bridge design, performance and rehabilitation
Concrete and timber design
Coastal construction and hurricane effects
Selected Publications
Yazdani, N., Eddy, S. and Cai, C., “Effect of Bearing Pads on Precast Prestressed Bridge Girders,” ASCE Journal of Bridge Engineering, Vol. 5, No. 3, pp. 224-232, August 2000.
Yazdani, N., Bergin, M. and Mujtaba, G., “Durability Considerations in Bridge Concrete with Pumping Placement,” Journal of the Transportation Research Record (TRR), July 2000.
Yazdani, N., Kainz, J., Kadnar, J. and Ritter M., “Effect of Treatment Process and Anchorage on Bar Forces in Stress-Laminated Southern Pine Bridge Decks,” Journal of the Transportation Research Record (TRR), July 2000.
Yazdani, N., Woodruff, P. and Gates, E., “Storm Damaged Florida Coastal Foundations: Repair or Rebuild?” ASCE Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities, Vol. 15, No. 1, pp. 2-10, February 2001.