Mohammad AlHamaydeh, Ph.D., P.E., F.SEI, F.ASCE, professor of structural/earthquake engineering at the American University of Sharjah, Sharjah Emirate, United Arab Emirates, has been named a fellow by the ASCE Board of Direction.
AlHamaydeh is internationally recognized for his expertise in structural/earthquake engineering. His research experience spans 2005 to present. He has been actively publishing in the area as well as supervising graduate students to successful completion of their masters’ theses.
His area of research and expertise include nonlinear structural dynamic response analysis and modeling, passive control and supplemental damping devices, computer-aided design and simulation, nonlinear finite element methods, soil-structure interaction, and machine learning applications in structural/earthquake engineering. When he is not teaching structural steel design, structural dynamics and earthquake engineering, or design of tall buildings, he is actively engaged in the area of structural health monitoring research.
AlHamaydeh currently serves on several technical committees and subcommittees responsible for writing design codes and standards (e.g., ASCE7-22, ASCE41-23, ACI369). Prior to his academic career, he was a consultant engineer in Los Angeles. There, he was actively engaged in the SEAOC/SEAOSC through their seismology committees.
Other specialties include experimental analysis of full-scale structures as well as components and materials, and development of new materials in seismic design and retrofit.
Throughout his career, he has dedicated himself to advancing structural and earthquake engineering through innovative research, impactful professional practice, and a steadfast commitment to mentoring the next generation of engineers. Some of his most significant achievements are in the areas of integrating artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) into structural and earthquake engineering, contributing to seismic risk assessment methodologies, advancing nonlinear finite element modeling, participating in key ASCE technical committees, and inspiring future structural engineers.
Another of AlHamaydeh’s notable contributions is the development of INSPECT-PBEE, a performance-based earthquake engineering graphical user interface (GUI) for IDARC-2D. This tool has revolutionized how engineers conduct probabilistic seismic risk assessments by simplifying complex analyses and making them accessible to practitioners.
Equally important is his dedication to mentoring and inspiring the next generation of structural engineers. Over the years, he has supervised over 25 graduate students, guiding them through groundbreaking research topics ranging from geopolymer concrete and ultra-high-performance engineered cementitious composites (UHP-ECC) to advanced reinforcement materials.
AlHamaydeh’s contributions to seismic risk assessment are underscored by his involvement in creating GIS-based regional seismic risk maps for Dubai using the NHERI SimCenter R2D application. This project quantified seismic risks at an unprecedented scale, providing critical data for urban planning and disaster preparedness in the UAE. Also, his research on fragility curves and vulnerability models has been instrumental in shaping modern approaches to assessing seismic hazards, influencing standards such as ASCE 41 and FEMA guidelines.
