Arya Ebrahimpour's Home Page

Arya Ebrahimpour, Ph.D., P.E.

Associate Professor of Engineering
Pennsylvania State University
Delaware County Campus
25 Yearsley Mill Road
Media, PA 19063-5596
Tel: (610) 892-1420; Fax: (610) 892-1357
Email: axe8@psu.edu

EDUCATION

Ph.D. Civil Engineering (Structures), University of Idaho, 1987; additional studies at the University of Delaware.

Dissertation: "Modeling Spectator Induced Dynamic Loads"
Research Advisor: Dr. Ronald L. Sack.
Classes included: Finite Element Analysis, Solid Mechanics, Advanced Vibrations, Structural Reliability, Engineering Mathematics, Probability Theory and Mathematical Statistics, and Reliability Theory.

M.S. Civil Engineering, University of Idaho, 1984.

Thesis: "Wind Load Factors for Structures in Idaho"
Research Advisor: Dr. Ronald L. Sack.
Classes included: Applied Numerical Methods, Matrix Structural Analysis, Advanced Mechanics of Materials, Mechanical Vibrations, Theory of Elasticity, and Advanced Steel Design.

B.S. Civil Engineering, University of Idaho, 1981.

Classes included: Structural Steel Design, Timber Design, and Reinforced Concrete Design.

ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE

1990-present

Associate Professor of Engineering (tenure and promotion July 1994) and College of Engineering Representative, Pennsylvania State University, Delaware County Campus, Media, Pennsylvania.
Teaching courses in engineering mechanics and engineering design and graphics; developing laboratory experiments and course material; and research and consulting in structural engineering.

1988-1990

Visiting Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno.
Taught undergraduate and graduate courses and was involved in research in structures and materials.

1987-1988

Visiting Assistant Professor, Mechanical and Civil Engineering Departments, University of Idaho.

1984-1987

Research Assistant, Department of Civil Engineering; Instructor, Department of Engineering Science, University of Idaho.

VISITING RESEARCH POSITIONS

December 1992; June 1993; June-July 1994

Visiting Research Assistant Professor, School of Civil Engineering and Environmental Science, University of Oklahoma. Conducted research on a joint NSF project with the University of Oklahoma (see section on Research Grants).

June-July 1991; June-July 1992

Visiting Research Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno. Continued research on grants obtained while teaching at the University of Nevada (see section on Research Grants).

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES AND AWARDS

Registered Professional Engineer in Pennsylvania (1995); License Number PE-048910-E.
Member of American Society of Civil Engineers (1982-present).

Philadelphia Local Section.
Dynamic Effects National Committee, Shock and Vibratory Effects.
Structural Safety and Reliability National Committee, Fatigue and Fracture Reliability.

Member of American Society for Engineering Education (1990-present).
Member of Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society (1987-present).
Member of the Editorial Advisory Board of the Journal of Structural Engineering Review, Pergamon Press (1996).

Penn State University

College of Engineering Dean's Representative (1992-present).
Technology Advisory Committee (August 1997-present).
Organizing Committee, Workshop on Reform of Undergraduate Mechanics Education (1998).
Search Committee for the Director of Academic Affairs (1997).
Research Opportunity for Undergraduates (ROU) Program (1992-present).
College of Engineering Curriculum Renovation Task Group (1995).
Chair of Search Committee for the Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty (1993).
Faculty Advisor for Engineering Club (1991-present).
College of Engineering Cooperative Education Representative (1990-present).
Minority Mentoring Program (1991-present).
Ethnic and Gender Diversity Committee (1990-1991).

Awards

Nominated for the Penn State Engineering Society (PSES) Outstanding Teaching Award, 1999.
Collaborative and Curricular Innovations Award, Penn State, 1998.
Penn State Engineering Society (PSES) Outstanding Advising Award, 1998.
Outstanding Teaching Award, Penn State, 1996.
Freshman Minority Mentoring Certificate of Appreciation, Penn State, 1995.
Recognized by high achieving students as an educator with positive influence, University of Nevada, 1990.
Travel scholarship to attend the Fifth U.S. National Wind Engineering Conference 1985.
University of Idaho College of Engineering poster paper contest award, 1985.
University of Idaho Virginia Mowry scholarship, 1983.

COURSES TAUGHT

Engineering Mechanics - Statics
Engineering Mechanics - Dynamics
Strength of Materials
Engineering Design and Graphics
Probability and Statistics for Engineers
Construction Materials
Steel and Timber Laboratory
Concrete Laboratory
Structural Steel Design (Senior)
Pavement Design (Senior and Graduate)
Advanced Structural Steel Design (Graduate)

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Experimental measurements and modeling of occupant-induced dynamic loads on structures.
Statistical modeling of bridge traffic loads.
Probabilistic fatigue evaluation of steel bridges.

CONSULTING EXPERIENCE

Structural analysis, design, and retrofit of historical buildings and other structures for a consulting firm in Media, PA. Work examples included:

Computer modeling and retrofit of main force-resisting frames of a historical building in Philadelphia, PA.
General, seismic, and wind load design of a three-story addition to a historical building in Princeton, N.J.
Structural analysis of a twenty-story building for increase in live loads in Harrisburg, PA.
Electronic monitoring, data acquisition, and statistical analyses of conditions of several state buildings in Pennsylvania.

Analysis of ski lift structures and foundations for a consulting firm in Reno, NV.
Remedial actions to prevent excessive office floor vibrations for a consulting firm in Reno, NV.
Laboratory testing of gabions and connections for a company in Reno, NV.

PUBLICATIONS

Journal Publications

Ebrahimpour, A., A. Hamam, R. L. Sack, and W. N. Patten "Measuring and Modeling Dynamic Loads Imposed by Moving Crowds," Journal of Structural Engineering, 122(12), December 1996, pp. 1468-1474.

Ebrahimpour, A., and L. L. Fitts, "Measuring Coherency of Human-Induced Rhythmic Loads Using Force Plates," Journal of Structural Engineering, ASCE, Vol. 122, No. 7, July 1996, pp. 829-831.

Ebrahimpour, A, E. A. Maragakis, and S. Ismail, "Probabilistic Fatigue Evaluation of Railway Bridges," Structural Engineering Review, Pergamon Press, Vol. 5, No. 1, February 1993, pp. 23-30.

Ebrahimpour, A., and R. L. Sack, "Design Live Loads for Coherent Crowd Harmonic Movements," Journal of Structural Engineering, ASCE, Vol. 118, No. 4, April 1992, pp. 1121-1136.

Ebrahimpour A., R. L. Sack, and P. D. VanKleek, "Computing Crowd Loads Using a Nonlinear Equation of Motion," Computers and Structures, Pergamon Press, Vol. 41, No. 6, December 1991, pp. 1525-1531.

Ebrahimpour, A., E. A. Maragakis, and D. N. O'Connor, "A Modified Computer Code for Rating Truss Railroad Bridges", Journal of Computing in Civil Engineering, ASCE, Vol. 4, No. 4, Oct. 1990, pp. 313-326.

Ebrahimpour, A., and R. L. Sack, "Modeling Dynamic Occupant Loads," Journal of Structural Engineering, ASCE, Vol. 115, No. 6, June 1989, pp. 1476-1496.

Sack, R. L., and A. Ebrahimpour, "Simulating Dynamic Spectator Loads," Structural Engineering Review, Chapman and Hall, Vol. 1, No. 1, 1988, pp. 41-48.

Refereed Conference Proceedings

Ebrahimpour, A., W. N. Patten, R. L. Sack, A. Hamam, and H. J. Shui, "Semiactive Control of Floor Systems," Proceedings, The Fifth International Conference on Civil and Structural Engineering Computing, Civil-Comp Press, Edinburgh, U.K., August 17-19, 1993, pp. 329-337.

Patten, W. N., H. C. Wu, W. Yen, C. Mo, R. L. Sack, and A. Ebrahimpour, "Mitigating Structural Vibrations With Semiactive Control," Proceedings, The Second European Conference on Structural Dynamics: EURODYN '93, Trondheim, Norway, June 21-23, 1993, pp. 861-868.

Ebrahimpour, A., W. N. Patten, R. L. Sack, K. Hancock, and A. Hamam, "Defining Occupant Loads and Mitigating Associated Vibrations," Proceedings, International Colloquium on Structural Serviceability of Buildings, Goteborg, Sweden, June 9-11, 1993, pp. 157-164.

Ebrahimpour, A., R. L. Sack, and A. Hamam, "Loads Imposed by Crowds," Proceedings, International Conference on Engineering for Crowd Safety, London, United Kingdom, Elsevier Science Publishers, March 17-18, 1993.

Ebrahimpour, A., E. A. Maragakis, and D. N. O'Connor, "On Fatigue Evaluation of Riveted Connections in Railway Truss Bridges", Proceedings, Forth Rail Bridge Centenary Conference, Vol. 1, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, U.K., Aug. 1990, pp. 366-378.

Ebrahimpour, A., and R. L. Sack, "Crowd-Induced Dynamic Loads," Proceedings, Symposium/Workshop on Serviceability of Buildings, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada, May 1988, pp. 451-464.

Ebrahimpour, A., and R. L. Sack, "Simulating Dynamic Spectator Loads," Proceedings, Third Intl. Conf. on Civil and Structural Engrg. Computing, Vol. 1, Civil-Comp Press, Edinburgh, 1987, pp. 215-222.

Conference Proceedings Refereed by Abstract

Ebrahimpour, A. and R. L. Sack, "Live Loads for Crowds in Motion," Proceedings, Structures Congress '96, ASCE, Chicago, Illinois, April 1996, pp. 420-427.

Ebrahimpour, A., R. L. Sack, W. N. Patten, and A. Hamam, "Experimental Measurements of Dynamic Loads Imposed by Moving Crowds," Proceedings, Structures Congress '94, ASCE, Atlanta, Georgia, April 1994, pp. 1385-1390.

Kuo, C. C., H. Wu, L. Liu, R. L. Sack, A. Ebrahimpour, and W. N. Patten, "Semiactive Structural Control: A Low Cost Fix For An Infrastructure at Risk," Proceedings, Structures Congress '94, ASCE, Atlanta, Georgia, April 1994, pp. 387-392.

Ebrahimpour, A., E. A. Maragakis, and S. Ismail, "A Fatigue Reliability Model for Railway Bridges," Proceedings, ASCE Specialty Conf. on Probabilistic Mechanics and Structural Engrg. and Geot. Reliability, Denver, Colorado, July 1992, pp. 320-323.

Ebrahimpour, A., and E. A. Maragakis, "Rating of Steel Railway Bridges," Proceedings, Second Workshop on Bridge Engineering Research in Progress, Reno, Nevada, October 29-30, 1990, pp. 63-66.

Ebrahimpour, A., E. A. Maragakis, and D. N. O'Connor, "Safety Evaluation of Steel Truss Railway Bridges", Proceedings, 6th U.S.-Japan Bridge Engineering Workshop: Analysis, Design, Performance and Strengthening, Lake Tahoe, Nevada, May 7-8, 1990, pp. 301-314.

Ebrahimpour, A., and R. L. Sack, "Experimental Measurements of Occupant Dynamic Loads," Proceedings, ASCE Engineering Mechanics Division Specialty Conference, Blacksburg, Virginia, May 1988, p. 170.

Ebrahimpour, A., and R. L. Sack, "Statistical Analysis of Occupant Dynamic Loads," Proceedings, ASCE Specialty Conference on Probabilistic Mechanics and Structural and Geotechnical Safety, Blacksburg, Virginia, May 1988, pp. 364-367.

Sack, R. L., W. E. Saul, A. Ebrahimpour, and G. L. Thinnes, "A Microcomputer-Based System for Measuring Dynamic Occupant Loads," Proceedings, ASCE Ninth Conference on Electronic Computation, Birmingham, AL, Feb. 1986, pp. 328-338.

Burke, G. G., A. Ebrahimpour, J. S. Haldeman, J. J. Pinkard, R. L. Sack, W. E. Saul, and G. L. Thinnes, "Automated Data Acquisition: CAE for the Experimentalist," Proceedings, UPCAEDM '85, July 1985, pp. 116-120.

Ebrahimpour, A. and R. L. Sack, "Wind Load Factors for Structures in Idaho," Proceedings, Fifth U.S. National Conference on Wind Engineering, Lubbock, TX, Nov. 1985, pp. B17-B24.

Research Reports

Maragakis E. A., A. Ebrahimpour, and S. Ismail, "Experimental Fatigue of a Double-angle Connection in a Plate Girder Railway Bridge," Center for Infrastructure Studies, Report No. CIS-92-2, University of Nevada, Reno, July 1992.

Ebrahimpour, A., and Jon A. Epps, "Statistical Comparison of Cement Kiln Dust and Lime as Antistripping Additives in Asphalt Concrete Mixtures", Report to Dolo-Chem Lime Company, Hollister, CA, May 1990.

Ebrahimpour, A., R. L. Sack, and W. E. Saul, "Dynamic Loads Produced by Occupants of Public Assembly Structures," NSF Final Project Report, Grant MSM-8614962, Directorate for Engineering, Jan. 1990.

Ebrahimpour, A., and Puttana, J., "Statistical Modeling of Bridge Traffic Loads - A Case Study", Civil Engineering Department, Report No. CCEER-89-3, University of Nevada, Reno, Dec. 1989.

Ebrahimpour, A., E. A., Maragakis, and D. N. O'Connor, "Survey and Evaluation of Nevada's Transportation Infrastructure, Task 7.4: Railway Bridges," Report for the State of Nevada Nuclear Waste Project Office, Carson City, NV, Aug. 1989.

Sack, R. L., W. E. Saul, and A. Ebrahimpour, "Loads Due to Human Movements on Assembly Structures," Final Project Report, Grant CEE-8213966, Directorate for Engineering, NSF Rept. No. NSF/ENG-86032, Jan. 1986, NTIS No. PB87- 160529/A05.

Book Review

Ebrahimpour, A., Proceedings of the International Conference on the Design and Construction of Non-Conventional Structures '87, Vols 1 and 2, Structural Engineering Review, Vol. 1, No. 3, Sept. 1988, pp. 181-182.

PEDAGOGICAL PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS

Ebrahimpour, A., Horwitz. A., and Azemi, A., "Engineering Projects in Differential and Integral Calculus," paper presented at the ASEE Annual Conference, Charlotte, N.C., June 20-23, 1999.

Ebrahimpour, A., Horwitz, A., and Azemi, A., "Enhancement of Math 140 and Math 141 Using Applied Engineering Projects", 1998-1999 Progress Report submitted to the GE Project, September 1998. (Also in Pathway to Effective Learning in Engineering using Information Technology, GE Progress Report, with Dhushy Sathianathan, et al., September 1998).

Ebrahimpour, A., "Design of a Railway Bridge in Mechanics of Materials", Proceedings, Workshop on Reform of Undergraduate Mechanics Education, State College, PA, August 16-18, 1998.

Ebrahimpour, A., "Simulation Team Projects in Dynamics", Proceedings, Workshop on Reform of Undergraduate Mechanics Education, State College, PA, August 16-18, 1998.

Azemi, A., Ebrahimpour, A., and Horwitz, A., "Enhancement of Math 140 and Math 141 Using Applied Engineering Projects", 1997-1998 Progress Report submitted to the GE Project, September 1997. (Also in Pathway to Effective Learning in Engineering using Information Technology, GE Progress Report, with Dhushy Sathianathan, et al., September 1997).

GRANT APPLICATIONS AND AWARDS

Research Grants

U.S. Department of Agriculture, NRI-CGP, $173,833 (not funded), "Vibration Response of Wood Floors," 1996 (Submitted by: Fridley and Cofer, Washington State University; Ebrahimpour, Pennsylvania State University; and Rosowsky, Clemson University).

National Science Foundation, $206,371 NSF, $104,741 Univ. of Oklahoma (funded and completed), "Structural Control for Phase-Related Inputs," August 1992 - July 1995 (Co-PIs: Sack and Patten, University of Oklahoma; and Ebrahimpour, Pennsylvania State University). This project involved: (1) experimental measurement and modeling of dynamic loads imposed by moving subjects using a set of instrumented force platforms, and (2) semiactive control of the corresponding vibrations on a scale floor system. I was primarily involved with the first part of the project.

National Science Foundation, $313,740 (not funded), "Mitigating Dynamic and Fatigue Damage to Highway Bridges Using Semiactive Actuators," 1992 (Submitted by: Sack, Patten, and White, University of Oklahoma; Ebrahimpour, Pennsylvania State University).

Pennsylvania State University Fund for Undergraduate Research, $5,000 (funded), 1993. This fund was distributed among five faculty to partially support their ongoing research projects.

Pennsylvania State University Research Development Grant, $1,550 (completed), "Experimental Measurements of Occupant Dynamic Loads", August 1992 - July 1993 (PI: Ebrahimpour).

Pennsylvania Department of Commerce/Ben Franklin Partnership Office, $15,000 (funded), "Data Acquisition System for Measuring Structural Dynamic Forces", August 1991 (PI: Ebrahimpour).

Pennsylvania State University Research Development Grant, $1,000 (completed), "Computer Evaluation of Fatigue in Riveted Steel Railway Bridges", Jan. 1991 - Dec. 1991 (PI: Ebrahimpour).

Nevada Nuclear Waste Project Office, $30,495 (completed), "A Study on Fatigue Analysis of Steel Railway Bridges," May 1990 - Sept. 1991 (PI: Maragakis; Co-PI: Ebrahimpour).

Nevada Nuclear Waste Project Office, $8,740 (completed), "Continuation of Task 7.4: Evaluation of Railway Bridges," May 1990 - Aug. 1990 (PI: Ebrahimpour; Co-PI: Maragakis).

NOVOPHALT, Inc., $298,621 (remained at Univ. of Nevada), "Physical Properties of Novophalt Asphalt Concrete and Pavement Performance," April 1990 - April 1993 (PI: Epps; Co-PIs: Ebrahimpour, Siddharthan, and Stroup- Gardiner).

CHEMSTAR, Inc., $36,602 (remained at Univ. of Nevada), "Comparison of Aging in Untreated and Lime-treated Asphalt Concrete Mixtures," Oct. 1989 - Jan. 1993 (PI: Ebrahimpour).

Dolo-Chem Company, $4,921 (completed), "Comparison of Cement Kiln Dust and Lime as Antistripping Additives in Asphalt Concrete Mixtures," Oct. 1989 - Jan. 1990 (PI: Ebrahimpour).

American Railway Engineering Association, $4,000 (completed), "A Computer Method for Fatigue Evaluation of Connections in Riveted Railway Truss Bridges," Jan. 1990 - July 1990 (PI: Ebrahimpour).

Nevada Nuclear Waste Project Office, $28,000 (completed), "Survey and Evaluation of Nevada's Transportation Infrastructure - Task 7.4: Structural Capacity of Railway Bridges," Feb. 1989 - Aug. 1989, (PI: Ebrahimpour, Co-PI: Maragakis).

National Science Foundation, $78,402 (not funded), "Measuring Train Loads Using Smart Railway Bridges," 1989 (Submitted by: Ebrahimpour).

University of Nevada Advisory Board, $7,000 (completed), "Statistical Modeling of Bridge Traffic Loads - A Case Study," Sept. 1988 - Dec. 1989 (PI: Ebrahimpour).

Pedagogical and Laboratory Equipment Grants

Pennsylvania State University, College of Engineering Enhancement Funding, $26,000 (funded and in progress), "Applications of Engineering in Mathematics," 1997-98 (PI: Azemi, Co-PI: Ebrahimpour, and Horwitz).

Pennsylvania State University Engineering Equipment, $10,000 (funded), "Laboratory Equipment for Engineering Design," 1997.

Pennsylvania State University Engineering Equipment, $2,000 (funded and completed),"An Interactive Multimedia Tool in Engineering Mechanics," 1996 (PI: Ebrahimpour).

Pennsylvania State University, College of Engineering Enhancement Funding, $5,000 (not funded), "Learning Enhancement in Strength of Materials by Designing and Testing a Model Space Truss," 1995 (Submitted by: Ebrahimpour).

Pennsylvania State University Matching Program for Engineering Equipment, $27,000 (funded), "Laboratory Equipment for Engineering Mechanics," 1994.