Susan Faraji

Expertise

Integral abutment bridges, Finite element modeling of structures, and the study of the behavior of bridges through data collection and data analysis.

Research Interests

Study of the behavior of integral abutment bridges through Data collection and data analysis.

Education

• Ph.D: Mechanical Engineering, (2004), Old Dominion University
• Ph.D: Civil Engineering, (Structures and Applied Mechanics), University of Massachusetts - Amherst Massachusetts (1983)
  Dissertation/Thesis Title: Method of Initial Functions for Thick Shells. (1980 - 1983)
• M.S: Structural Engineering, (1979), Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts.
• B.S: Structural Engineering, (1979), Arya-Mehr University, Tehran, Iran
  Dissertation/Thesis Title: A Study of Steel Bridges.

Biosketch

Susan Faraji, Ph.D., has four decades of teaching, research, publication, and consulting experience in the field.

Over the past 40 years, she has taught a wide range of courses at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, from basic mechanics to advanced design and analysis courses, such as Concrete Design, Steel Design, Bridge Design, Seismic Design, Practice of Structural Engineering, Finite Elements, Structural Dynamics, Structural Analysis and Behavior of Structures. She has an extensive knowledge of a variety of design codes.

She also has extensive industrial experience, having worked with a variety of government agencies, such as the US DOT, the US Army Corps of Engineers, the Massachusetts DOT, the Rhode Island DOT, VTrans, and the NCHRP, and a variety of consulting firms, such as the Shaw Group, the Maguire Group, Purcell Associates, Bayside Engineering, YAS Ventures, and HNTB Corp on diverse projects such as office buildings, parking garages, an elevator, an aircraft prototype model, tentage framing, retaining walls, pontoons, culverts, ramps, retaining walls, and a variety of bridges.

Selected Awards and Honors

• Pahlavi Foundation Scholar - Northeastern University
• University Merit Award, Scholarship/Research - UMass Lowell
• University Merit Award, Teaching - UMass Lowell
• University Merit Award, Service - UMass Lowell
• University Scholar - Arya-Mehr University

Selected Publications

• Connor, J.J., Faraji, S. (2016) Fundamentals of Structural Engineering, 2nd Edition (Springer 2016).
• Connor, J.J., Faraji, S. (2013). Introduction to Structural Engineering. Fundamentals of Structural Engineering, 3-49.
• Connor, J.J., Faraji, S. (2012). Fundamentals of structural engineering.
• Faraji, S., Ting, J.M., Crovo, D.S., Ernst, H. (2001). Nonlinear analysis of integral bridges: Finite-element model. Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering,127(5) 454-461.
• Faraji, S., Ting, J., Crovo, D.S., Ernst, H. (2001). Nonlinear analysis of integral bridges: finite-element model. Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering,127(5) 454--461.
• Ting, J., Faraji, S. (1998). Streamlined analysis and design of integral abutment bridges. Report UMTC, 97--13.
• Faraji, S. (1998). “Streamlined Analysis and Design of Integral Abutment Bridges”. University of Massachusetts Transportation Center
• Faraji, S. (1997). “Behavior of Integral Abutment Bridges in Massachusetts. Year II”. University of Massachusetts Transportation Center
• Faraji, S. (1996). “Behavior of Integral Abutment Bridges in Massachusetts. Year I,”. University of Massachusetts Transportation Center
• Faraji, S. (1995). “Development of the Means of Performing Seismic Design and Analysis of Bridges”. University of Massachusetts Transportation Center
• Faraji, S. (1994). “Analytical Modeling of Tentage Frame Structures”. University of Massachusetts Lowell department of Civil Engineering
• Faraji, S. (1990). “Higher Order Theories for Thick Transversely Isotropic Plates”. Developments in Theoretical and Applied Mechanics,15 606 - 613.
• Faraji, S., Archer, R. (1989). “Method of Initial Functions for Thick Transversely Isotropic Cylindrical Shells”. Ingénieur-Archiv,60 1 - 9.
• Faraji, S. (1989). “Higher Order Theories for Thick Layers of Transversely Isotropic Materials with Loading Symmetric about the Middle Plane”. Proceedings of the Fourth International Conference on Civil and Structural Engineering Computing
• Faraji, S., Archer, R.R. (1988). Higher order theories for thick cylindrical shells. Acta Mechanica,74(1-4) 9-24.
• Faraji, S. (1988). “Higher Order Theories for Transversely Isotropic Thick Cylindrical Shells”. Developments in Theoretical and Applied Mechanics,14 9 - 24.
• Faraji, S., Archer, R. (1985). “Method of Initial Functions for Thick Shells”. International Journal of Solids and Structures,21(8) 851 - 863.
• Faraji, S., Archer, R. (1985). “Method of Initial Functions for Dynamic Thick Cylindrical Shell Theories”. Proceedings of the 3rd National Conference on Microcomputers

Selected Presentations

• “The impact of the abutment wall height, the bridge span length range, and the roadway profile grade on the moment profile and lateral displacement profile of HP or W piles under thermal expansion in integral abutment bridges,”. VTrans innovation and research symposium, September 2022 - Barre, Vermont
• “Higher Order Theories for Thick Transversely Isotropic Plates” - Southeastern Conference for Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, (SECTAM XV), March 1990 - Atlanta Georgia
• “Higher Order Theories for Thick Layers of Transversely Isotropic Materials with Loading Symmetric about the Middle Plane” - Fourth International Conference on Civil and Structural Engineering Computing, September 1989 - London, England
• “Higher Order Theories for Transversely Isotropic Thick Cylindrical Shells” - Southeastern Conference for Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, April 1988 - Biloxi, Mississippi
• “Method of Initial Functions for Dynamic Thick Cylindrical Shell Theories” - 3rd National Conference on Microcomputers, November 1985 - Orlando, Florida

Selected Artistic and Professional Performances and Exhibits

Selected Contracts, Fellowships, Grants and Sponsored Research

• Faraji, S. 2025 - 2029 Monitoring of Bridge #7, Hartford, Vermont, Phase 2: Data collection and data analysis,”. HNTB Corporation. Principal investigator.
• Multi-modal Remote Sensing System (MRSS) for Transportation Infrastructure Inspection and Monitoring (2011), Sponsored Research - Massachusetts Highway Department
  
• Streamlined Analysis and Design of Integral Abutment Bridges (1999), - Massachusetts Highway Department
  Faraji, S. (Co-Principal), Ting, J. (Co-Principal)
• Forced Displacement Testing for Integral Abutment Bridges (1996), - Massachusetts Highway Department
  Faraji, S. (Co-Principal), Ting, J. (Co-Principal)
• Behavior of Integral Abutment (Jointless) Bridges in Massachusetts (1995), - Massachusetts Highway Department
  Faraji, S.
• Behavior of Integral Abutment (Jointless) Bridges in Massachusetts (1994), - Massachusetts Highway Department
  Faraji, S.
• Finite Element Modeling of Structures (1994), - United States Army
  Faraji, S.
• Structural Design (1994), - United States Army
  Faraji, S. (Principal)
• (1993), - Massachusetts Highway Department
  Faraji, S. (Principal)
• (1993), - United States Army
  Faraji, S. (Principal)
• Beyond the Industrial Revolution in the Middle School. Teacher Enhancement in Science, Mathematics and Technology (1990), - National Science Foundation
  Faraji, S.
• Investigation of Bridge No. L-15-49, Lowell, Massachusetts (1991), - Tenaska, Inc.
  Faraji, S.
• Investigation of the University Avenue Bridge for Expected Deformation (1991), - Tenaska, Inc
  Faraji, S., Alberti, F.
• Investigation of the Western Canal Bridge, Lowell, Massachusetts (1991), - Tenaska, Inc.
  Faraji, S., Alberti, F.
• Dynamic Stress Analysis of a Six-story Concrete Parking Garage (1989), - Arthur Choo Associates, Inc.
  Faraji, S. (Principal)
• Static and Dynamic Stress Analysis of a Bicycle Pathway (1989), - Arthur Choo Associates, Inc.
  Faraji, S. (Principal)
• Stress Analysis of Structures under Time-Varying Loads (1987), - Maguire Group
  Faraji, S. (Principal)

Research Currently in Progress

• “The Monitoring of Bridge #7, Hartford, Vermont, Phase 1: Construction”. HNTB Corporation. Principal investigator.
  

• 2018 - 2025. “Development of general guidelines related to the effects of factors such as the bridge span range, range of pile length, roadway profile grade, and skew angle range on integral abutment bridges,”. U.S. Department of Transportation-UTC Program, Principal investigator