Emad Tochaei, PhD

Experience

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  Engineering Optimization Research Group

  Jan 2006 - Jan 2007

  Research Assistant

  Optimization of Construction Time-Cost in Civil Projects by Using of the Appropriate Construction Machinery in Collaboration with Prof. Y. Gholipour.

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  Construction Materials Institute

  Jan 2007 - Jan 2008

  Research Assistant

  • Studied behavior of lightweight concrete• Designed concrete mix of self-compacting concrete of “Holy Shrine of Hazrate Maasoome”

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  Sodreh Saze Pars Consulting Engineers

  Oct 2010 - Aug 2011

  Structural Engineer

  • Seismic Rehabilitation of “Anahita” Oil Refinery• Seismic Rehabilitation of Kerman, Urumia, Saghez, Malayer and Mahshar Oil Transfer Centers (Phase 1)• Seismic Rehabilitation of “Farashband” Gas Refinery, Located at Fars, Iran (Phase 1)

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  Research and Development of Seismic Control Systems Engineering Company (Miragar Tajheez)

  Jan 2013 - Oct 2015

  Structural Engineer

  • 24-story (688,000 sq. ft.) commercial building (Tehran, Iran)(1) Created 3-D structural model using SAP2000 and applied load combinations based on ASCE 7(2) Analyzed and designed special reinforced concrete frames and coupled shear walls based on ACI318 (3) Identified, interpreted, and applied seismic design requirements and detailings based on ACI 318(4) Designed foundation system using SAFE(5) Prepared analyzes report and revised construction drafts• Seismic rehabilitation of existing buildings building (Iran)(1) Assessed structural condition of several masonry buildings based on field inspections and NDT techniques(2) Evaluated structural performance of buildings under gravity and seismic loads using SAP2000(3) Checked global strength, stiffness and load path of buildings based on FEMA 356(4) Recommended plans to add structural elements or enhance performance of existing elements based on FEMA 547(5) Prepared calculation report • 4-story (16,000 sq. ft.) commercial building (Bojnord, Iran)(1) Analyzed and designed intermediate reinforced concrete frames and shear walls, based on ACI 318 using SAP2000(2) Prepared construction drafts, and calculation report• Designed the “Link Tunnel” in “Holy Shrine of Hazrate Maasoome” Using "Winkler Springs" for Modelling of Passive Soil, Located at Qum, Iran.• Evaluated seismic performance of "Galeh Dar" School with Masonry Walls.• Assessed post-fire performance of a Reinforced Concrete Building, Using Non-Destructive (NDT) Methods. Show less

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  University of Tehran

  Aug 2013 - Oct 2015

  • Developed of a modeling methodology for assessment of nonlinear behavior of steel coupling beams using experimental results and numerical methods.This research was focused on developing a database of steel coupling beam test results and employing of this experimental database to propose relationships that represent the nonlinear cyclic behavior of steel coupling beams. (1) Instructor, Exams & Assignments, Fluid Mechanics & Hydraulic Lab, Four semesters.(2) Instructor, Exams & Assignments, Design of Steel Structures I, II.

  • Graduate Research Assistant

    Sept 2010 - Oct 2015

  • Graduate Teaching Assistant

    Aug 2013 - Jun 2015
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  Kayson Inc.

  Oct 2015 - Aug 2016

  Structural Field Engineer

  • As a key structural engineer of the Design-Build contractor in “Iran Mall” Project (one of the world’s top 5 malls: https://www.iranmall.com/en):(1) Led and directed a crew of 15 during an onsite construction of a 970,000 Sq. ft(2) Participated in technical meetings and strategized solutions to complex or unique technical problems(3) Collaborated and interacted with other multi-disciplinary design and construction teams (4) Planned and managed meetings to review Autodesk’s Revit shop drawings Show less

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  University of Illinois at Chicago

  Aug 2016 - Dec 2020

  • Manhattan Bridge (New York City, NY)(1) Inspected the bridge for detection of distortion-induced fatigue cracks(2) Developed instrumentation plan for a strain-based fiber optic structural health monitoring system(3) Installed 32 strain sensors on the bridge to capture structural responses under service loads(4) Calculated stress ranges due to train and vehicular traffic, based on AASHTO LRFD standard (5) Provided baseline data to quantify the efficiency of retrofit strategies(6) Estimated remaining fatigue life of the critical welded details, based on field measured data(7) Drafted a final technical report for the U.S. DOT• Dongshuimen Bridge (Chongqing, China)(1) Developed a 3-D finite element model in SAP2000 for time-history analyses(2) Evaluated displacement and force demands under Far- and Near-field ground motions (3) Innovated an experimental setup to model soil-structure interaction(4) Assessed the effects of soil-pile-structure interaction on dynamic response of the bridge(5) Proposed design guideline for bridges located at soft soils and seismically active zones• Kishwaukee Bridge (Rockford, IL)(1) Inspected the bridge for surface crack detection(2) Installed distributed optical fiber sensors for real-time measurement of strains along the bridge deck• Ten-story residential building (Riverside, CA, Course project)(1) Developed the 3-D model of a dual structural system (steel moment frame+ steel concentrically braced frame) in ETABS(2) Calculated and applied gravity and seismic loads based on ASCE 7 standard(3) Designed steel frames and connections and applied seismic design requirements based on AISC(4) Developed a “Hybrid Simulation” framework for advanced seismic analysis(5) Drafted technical design calculation report Show less

  • Graduate Research Assistant

    Aug 2016 - Dec 2020

  • Graduate Teaching Assistant

    Aug 2016 - Jan 2020
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  Patrick Engineering

  Jan 2021 - May 2022

  Staff Bridge Engineer

  • Jefferson-7 Highway Bridge (Jefferson County, OH)Responsible for developing rehabilitation plan for replacement of vertical load carrying system:(1) Reviewed original documentation and structural drawings(2) Developed a 3D Finite Element model in SAP2000(3) Assessed the capacity and performance of existing steel box pier cap under jacking forces (4) Controlled possibility of local buckling, overstressing and shear failure of members(5) Proposed structural solutions to prevent local failure of the existing structure during the rehabilitation process.(6) Designed rehabilitation plan and structural detailing for bearings replacement(7) Drafted technical design calculation report for ODOT• Olympic Boulevard Bridge (Will County, IL)Responsible for steel superstructure design of 508 ft.-long highway bridge:(1) Finalized the geometry and elevations of the bridge(2) Designed continuous steel girders and under various dead and live loads(3) Designed cross-frames for lateral loads(4) Checked the design of lateral bracing system• Judson Avenue Bridge (Highland Park, IL)Responsible for field inspection and condition assessment of reinforced concrete members:(1) Reviewed original documentation and structural drawings(2) Inspected the bridge to detect the structural deficiencies such as cracks, reinforcement exposure and concrete spalling(3) Documented the inspection report Show less

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  Klein & Hoffman

  May 2022 - now

  • Associate IV

    Jan 2025 - now

  • Associate III

    Oct 2022 - Dec 2024

  • Associate II

    May 2022 - Oct 2022
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  NCSEA

  Mar 2024 - now

  NCSEA Seismic Subcommittee Member

  Member of the seismic subcommittee of the National Council of Structural Engineering Associations (NCSEA).From http://www.ncsea.com/committees/seismicprovisions/ :"The Seismic Subcommittee is responsible for monitoring and influencing building codes, standards and research projects focused on the design, materials and construction requirements associated with seismic resistance of new construction. The Seismic Subcommittee also provides national input into the development of code provisions through the Code Resource Support Committee, a division of the National Institute of Building Standards, Building Seismic Safety Council." Show less