Dr. Dashti's research encompasses three themes: (1) performance-based evaluation and mitigation of ground failure under compound hydrologic-seismic stressors; (2) seismic performance of shallow underground structures; and (3) intersection of resilience, environmental sustainability, and justice. Each theme requires the development of state-of-the-art experimental and simulation models and probabilistic assessment techniques to quantify the risk of damage and propose reliable remediation strategies. It also requires transdisciplinary and trans-epistemic approaches to research that not only prioritize mechanistic engineering performance but also consider environmental impact and prioritize extreme-risk communities. Dr. Dashti's team distinguishes itself by its emphasis on fundamental research that has important practical implications for practicing engineers and policy makers globally. In her recent work and the interdisciplinary research theme (IRT) that she leads in the college of engineering (titled RISE), she also aims to highlight existing strengths within the college and campus and enable team formation and research opportunities that focus on complex problems facing our physical and social infrastructures facing isolated and compound hazards.
keywords
physical and numerical modeling, performance based design of soil-structure systems, resilience of geotechnical infrastructure, underground structures, seismic soil-structure-interaction, liquefaction mitigation in urban environments, earthquake reconnaissance, hazards engineering, resilience and sustainability of physical and social infrastructures.
