NHERI SimCenter co-PI recognized by the International Assocation for Bridge Structural Engineering (IABSE)

Notre Dame, Ind, Jan. 22, 2020 — Ahsan Kareem, the Robert Moran Professor of Engineering, has received the 2020 International Award of Merit in Structural Engineering from the International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering (IABSE).

The award recognizes outstanding contributions in the field of structural engineering and their impact upon society.

Kareem was honored for “fundamental contributions to quantification, modeling, and analysis of wind load effects in structural design through research, teaching, service, and practice.”

He has been a major contributor to better understanding wind effects on structures through the characterization and formulation of wind load effect, including pioneering procedures for wind loads on tall buildings, long span bridges, wind turbines, and floating deep water offshore platforms.

In addition to his academic duties at Notre Dame, Kareem serves as co-principal investigator and senior researcher for the National Science Foundation SimCenter research center under the Natural Hazards Engineering Research Infrastructure program, dealing with cyberspace infrastructure and simulation and modeling for natural hazards.

Kareem spearheaded re-development of building codes for wind sensitive structures, led the advancement of e-technologies for the analysis and design of structures, and directed full-scale monitoring efforts of tall buildings around the world to improve design procedures.

He and his team also conducted research to develop optimal structural standards for super tall buildings and long span bridges. His work through sensing, computational intelligence, and control and actuation technologies is leading to the development of autonomously morphing structures like long span bridge decks and tall buildings.

Kareem is a distinguished member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and an elected member of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering. He is also an elected foreign fellow of the Indian National Academy of Engineering, the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and the Engineering Academy of Japan.

Media Contact:

Nina Welding
College of Engineering
University of Notre Dame
welding.2@nd.edu

Among his other honors are the ASCE’s Earnest Howard Medal, Masanobu Shinozuka Medal, Theodore Von Karman Medal, Croes Medal, Alan G. Davenport Medal, Robert H. Scanlan Medal, Jack E. Cermak Medal, Alfred Noble Prize, and State-of-the-Art Award for his contributions to the study of wind effects on structures, structural engineering, and mechanics. He also has received the Distinguished Research Award from the International Association for Structural Safety and Reliability. He was inducted into the Offshore Technology Conference Hall of Fame in 2012 for his contributions to offshore engineering.