eltawil@umich.edu

I graduated with honors from Cairo University in 1989 with a BS in Civil Engineering. I subsequently joined the Civil Engineering Department at the University as a teaching assistant in the Reinforced Concrete Division. After receiving a MS in Structural Engineering in 1991, also from Cairo University, I attended Cornell University to pursue a PhD in Civil/Structural Engineering. There I conducted research with Greg Deierlein, Richard White and Peter Gergely on a variety of topics. In late 1995, I visited the Nippon Steel Corporation as a research scientist in their Steel Structure Development Center, where I developed new computational models for reinforced concrete-steel (RCS) composite connections. After receiving my PhD degree from Cornell in May 1996, I  joined the faculty of the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at the University of Central Florida. At UCF, I pursued computational simulation research on steel and composite steel-concrete structures, focusing in particular on seismic hazard mitigation. I also explored a number of other research areas, including the use of fiber reinforced polymers for strengthening steel and concrete structures as well applications of shape memory alloys for prestressing concrete. In fall 2002, I joined the faculty at the University of Michigan, where I have since been.   

Current Research Interests

I am currently interested in how buildings and bridges behave under the extreme loading conditions generated by manmade and natural hazards such as seismic excitation, collision by heavy objects, and blast. I am actively investigating how to utilize new materials and technologies to create innovative structural systems that mitigate the potentially catastrophic effects of extreme loading. Much of my research is focused on the computational and theoretical aspects of structural engineering, with particular emphasis on computational simulation, grid computing technology, finite element analysis, constitutive modeling, macro-plasticity formulations, nonlinear solution strategies and visualization techniques. My research is sponsored by NSF, FDOT, FEMA, SAC, CSMIP, UCF, CATSS, UM, and the Nippon Steel Corporation.

Research Awards

Research Highlights

	Enter an imploding steel building (6 MB) or examine from the outside how the collapse process progresses (19 MB). Visit CSSL for more information about visualizing finite element results in virtual reality.
	When a critical column is damaged as a result of an extreme loading event (picture), catenary action allows gravity load that was previously supported by the damaged element to span adjacent structural members. The 2 animations below the results of a simulation conducted to investigate the role of catenary action as a steel subassemblage responds to column loss. The simulations shows ductile fracture occurring in a RBS beam-column moment connection as it undergoes very large deformations in catenary mode. Top View (Large file: 13 MB), 3-D View (Large file; 16 MB)
	Some interesting animations showing higher mode effects (i.e. whiplash effects) in tall structures subjected to earthquakes. The buildings are reduced-beam-section steel moment frames and are designed according to the latest design specifications. The blue colors indicate initiation of yielding in the members, while the blue triangles indicate plastification of the reduced beam section. 4-story frame (198 KB), 8-story frame (266 KB), 16-story frame (437 KB)
	Picture showing overview of crash simulation conducted to investigate bridge vulnerability to extreme events. The pier, piles, pile cap, surrounding soil, elastomeric bearings, and superstructure are all modeled in this simulation. Animation showing 18,000-lb truck colliding with bridge Pier (609 KB). Closeup of animation (Large file, 2 MB).