2024 What's New in Research

Registration Closed

What's New in Research- free for USSD Members

This webinar will highlight exciting dam-related research projects from around the world.

1) Macro Erosion Processes in Overflowed Noncohesive Coarse-Grained Embankment Dams and Levees - The OVERCOME Project- Dr. Ricardo Alves

2) Dynamic response of gravity dams using a multi-fidelity approach Rodrigo José De Almeida Torres Filho

3) Seismic analysis of intake towers using modified ground acceleration method Ramtin Kouhdasti

4) A data-driven ground motion synthesis framework with broadband physics-informed time-series and nonlinear site response Feiruo (Flora) Xia

Dr. Ricardo Monteiro Alves

Dam Safety Research Group (SERPA)

Dr. Ricardo Alves is a Civil and Geotechnical Engineer, holding his degree from NOVA University of Lisbon and a Ph.D. from the Technical University of Madrid. As a Research Engineer in the Dam Safety Research Group (SERPA) since 2012, he specializes in investigating the failure mechanisms of rockfill and earthen embankment dams and levees due to overtopping.

Rodrigo José De Almeida Torres Filho

Engedelta Engineering

Have a master’s degree in Finite elements in structural fire safety and a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. Worked as a structural engineer at Engedelta Engineering and as a civil engineering professor and coordinator of the civil engineering course at FATECPR, and participated as a volunteer researcher in the design of a low-cost climate chamber at the Technological University of Parana (UTFPR). Is currently a PhD student at Université de Sherbrooke, focused on numerical modeling, data analysis, and risk assessment. More specifically the application of multi-fidelity surrogate modeling for dam safety assessment.

Ramtin Kouhdasti

Polytechnique Montreal

Ramtin is a Ph.D. candidate in Structural Engineering at Polytechnique Montréal, Canada, with a master’s degree in marine Structures from Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran. His research focuses on numerical modeling and experimental simulation of the seismic response of water-structure systems, particularly dams and appurtenant structures. Ramtin is a member of several professional organizations including the United States Society on Dams (USSD), the Canadian Dam Association (CDA), the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI), and the Canadian Association for Earthquake Engineering (CAEE).

Flora Xia

California Institute of Technology

Currently pursuing her MS/PhD in Mechanical Engineering at California Institute of Technology.

She was accepted into Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society in 2019 and received the Die Pietro Fellowship in 2017.

After completing her M.S./Ph.D. program, she plans to secure employment in a post-doctorate research lab. In 2022, she successfully passed my candidacy exams, and is currently working on research that will be a part of my thesis.

Student intern for the Seismology group at Lawrence Livermore National Labs (LLNL).