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Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Mostafa Tazarv

Mostafa Tazarv

Title

Associate Professor

Office Building

Crothers Engineering Hall

Office

326

Mailing Address

Crothers Engineering Hall 326
Civil & Environ Engineering-Box 2219
University Station
Brookings, SD 57007

Biography

Dr. Mostafa Tazarv is an associate professor in the department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at South Dakota State University (SDSU). Prior to joining SDSU in 2015, Dr. Tazarv was a post-doctoral scholar at the University of Nevada, Reno, where he also received his Ph.D. His research interests include the behavior of concrete structures, advanced materials for civil infrastructure, accelerated bridge construction, computer vision in structural engineering and large-scale testing. Dr. Tazarv is currently working on multiple research projects as PI and Co-PI with a total funding exceeding $7.25 Million. His past research led to the development of a new generation of bridges that can be built faster, last longer, perform better in severe events and cost less in long term. The first shape memory alloy (SMA) bridge in the world was constructed in Seattle, in which design and construction guidelines were based on his study on advanced materials. The unique aspect of this bridge is its continuous functionality after severe events with minimal damage and repair needs. Furthermore, his large- and full-scale testing of bridges and buildings resulted in new design alternatives for the State of South Dakota and its local governments to save millions of dollars in bridge replacement, maintenance and performance. He also invented a new connection for concrete buildings and bridges to expedite their construction and to quickly repair them after a severe event such as earthquake. He is currently working with a team of expert from computer and mechanical engineering to utilize computer vision in the routine- or event-based damage assessment of civil infrastructure.

CV

Tazarv-CV-Academic-For Web.pdf(288.24 KB)

Education

  • Ph.D in structural engineering | University of Nevada Reno | 2014
  • M.S. in earthquake engineering | Sharif University of Technology, Iran | 2009
  • B.S. in civil engineering | University of Tabriz, Iran | 2006

Academic Interests

  • Structural engineering

Committees and Professional Memberships

Committees:

  • Member of the SEI ASCE Seismic Effect Committee (2015-present)
  • Young member of the TRB AFF50 Seismic Committee (2015-present)
  • Member of the ACI Committee 341, Earthquake-Resistant Concrete Bridges
  • Member of the ASCE 7-22 Main and Seismic Committees

Professional Memberships:

  • Registered Professional Engineer, Nevada
  • Engineer Intern Certification, Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors, Nevada
  • Member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (M.ASCE)
  • Member of American Concrete Institute (ACI)

Awards and Honors

  • The Dennis R. Mertz Bridge Research Fellowship, Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI), Oct. 14, 2020.
  • Member of the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, SDSU, April 26, 2018.
  • 2017 Young Investigator of the Year Award, Jerome J. Lohr College of Engineering, SDSU, Dec. 29, 2017.
  • 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022 Grantswinship Awards, Jerome J. Lohr College of Engineering, SDSU.

Grants

  1. Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities, $300,000, “AI Tools for Rapid Post-Earthquake Damage Assessment of Bridges with Standard and Substandard Columns”, PI: Tazarv, Co-PI: Won, Jan. 2024 to Jan. 2026.
  2. Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities, $250,000, “Computer Vision Measurements for Bridge Field Testing”, PI: Tazarv, Co-PI: Won, Jan. 2024 to Jan. 2026.
  3. Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities, and National Center for Transportation Infrastructure Durability and Life-Extension (TriDurLE) – University Transportation Center (UTC), $294,217, “Computer Vision for Bridge Inspection and Reporting”, Project No. TriDurLE 2022-SDSU-01, PI: Tazarv, Co-PI: Won, Aug. 2022 to Dec. 2025.
  4. U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) – University Transportation Center (UTC), $1,708,104 ($580,392 unobligated when assumed the PI responsibilities in July 2021), “Region 8 – Mountain-Plains Consortium (MPC)”, SDSU PI: Tazarv, Consortium of 8 universities, North Dakota State University as the lead, Center Grant: $2.167 million per year, Nov. 2016 to Sept. 2023 (website).
  5. National Center for Transportation Infrastructure Durability and Life-Extension (TriDurLE) – University Transportation Center (UTC), Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI), and South Dakota State University, $134,444, “Repairable Precast Bridge Bents for Extreme Events”, Project No. TriDurLE 2021-SDSU-02, PI: Tazarv, Jan. 2021 to May 2022.
  6. National Center for Transportation Infrastructure Durability and Life-Extension (TriDurLE) – University Transportation Center (UTC) and South Dakota State University, $151,714, “Drone-Based Measurements for Bridge Field Testing – Development Phase”, Project No. TriDurLE 2021-SDSU-01, PI: Tazarv, Co-PI: Ciarcia, and Won, May 2021 to May 2022.
  7. National Center for Transportation Infrastructure Durability and Life-Extension (TriDurLE) – University Transportation Center (UTC) and South Dakota State University, $114,104, “Post-Earthquake Serviceability of RC Bridge Bents Using Visual Inspection”, Project No. TriDurLE 2020-SDSU-01, PI: Tazarv, Co-PI: Won, May 2020 to June 2021.
  8. U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) – University Transportation Center (UTC), $304,353, “National Center for Transportation Infrastructure Durability and Life-Extension”, SDSU PI: Tazarv, Consortium of 11 universities, Washington State University as the lead, Center Grant: $2.5 million per year, Oct. 2019 to July 2022 (website).
  9. Mountain-Plains Consortium (MPC) – University Transportation Center (UTC) and South Dakota State University, $465,535, “Mechanically Spliced Precast Bridge Columns”, Project No. MPC 595, PI: Tazarv, Co-PI: Wehbe, April 2019 to April 2021.
  10. South Dakota Department of Transportation (SDDOT) and Mountain-Plains Consortium (MPC) – University Transportation Center (UTC), $164,125, “Methodology for Load Rating Double-Tee Bridges”, Project No. SDDOT 2016-01, PI: Tazarv, Co-PI: Seo and Wehbe, Jan. 2017 to Dec. 2018.
  11. Mountain-Plains Consortium (MPC) – University Transportation Center (UTC) and South Dakota State University, $285,145, “Mechanical Bar Splices for Accelerated Bridge Construction of Columns”, PI: Tazarv, Co-PI: Wehbe, May 2016 to May 2018.
  12. South Dakota Department of Transportation (SDDOT) and Mountain-Plains Consortium (MPC) – University Transportation Center (UTC), $160,000, “Rehabilitation of Longitudinal Joints in Double-Tee Bridge Girders”, Project No. SDDOT 2014-20, PI: Wehbe, Co-PI: Tazarv, Sept. 2015 to Sept. 2017.
  13. South Dakota Department of Transportation (SDDOT) and Mountain-Plains Consortium (MPC) – University Transportation Center (UTC), $160,000, “Development of an Alternative to the Double-Tee Bridge System”, Project No. SDDOT 2014-14, PI: Wehbe, Co-PI: Tazarv, Sept. 2015 to Sept. 2017.
  14. National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP), $450,000, “Proposed AASHTO Seismic Specifications for ABC Column Connections”, Project No. NCHRP 12-105, PI: Saiidi, Co-PIs: Itani, Sanders, Tazarv, Murphy and Reno, Sept. 2015 to Sept. 2019.

Patents

  1. Tazarv, M. and Boudaqa, A. “Repairable Precast Moment-Resisting Buildings”, US Patent No. 10781582.
  2. Tazarv, M. and Khaloo, A.R. “Self-centering Concrete Columns”, Patent No: IR61998.

Work Experience

  • 2021-present: associate professor, South Dakota State University
  • 2021-present: founder and director of Sustainable and Resilient Civil Infrastructure (SARCI)
  • 2021-present: site director, Regional Center, Mountain-Plains Consortium (MPC)
  • 2019-present: site director, National Center, Transportation Infrastructure Durability and Life-Ext (TriDurLE)
  • 2015-2021: assistant professor, South Dakota State University
  • 2014-2016: research associate, Infrastructure Innovation, LLC, Reno
  • 2014-2015: post-doctoral scholar, University of Nevada, Reno
  • 2011-2014: research assistant, University of Nevada, Reno
  • 2010-2011: research and teaching assistant, Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada
  • 2009-2010: structural engineer (Designer), Mahbad Consulting Engineers, Tehran, Iran
  • 2008-2009: structural engineer (Designer), BASA, Tehran, Iran
  • 2007-2010: teaching assistant, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran

Areas of Research

  • Resiliency of civil infrastructure against natural hazards
  • Post-event emergency response using AI and engineering analyses at regional scale
  • Computer vision and digital image correlation for structural inspections and testing
  • Advanced and sustainable materials (e.g., SMA, ECC, UHPC, Polyurea, Timber) for structures
  • Large- and full-scale structural component and system testing
  • Accelerated bridge and building construction
  • Seismic behavior of reinforced concrete structures

Publications

  1. Tazarv, M., LaVoy, M., Sjurseth, T., Greeneway, E. and Wehbe, N. (2023). “Analysis and Design of Mechanically Spliced Precast Bridge Columns,” Engineering Structures, Vol. 280, 115726, 16 pp.
  2. Tazarv, M., Won, K., Jang, Y., Hart, K. and Greeneway, E. (2022). “Post-Earthquake Serviceability Assessment of Standard RC Bridge Columns Using Computer Vision and Seismic Analyses,” Engineering Structures, Vol. 272, 115002, 17 pp.
  3. Tazarv, M., Sjurseth, T., Greeneway, E., Hart, K., LaVoy, M. and Wehbe, N. (2022). “Experimental Studies on Seismic Performance of Mechanically Spliced Precast Bridge Columns,” Journal of Bridge Engineering, ASCE, Vol. 27, No. 11, 11 pp.
  4. Kidd, B., Rimal, S., Seo, J., Tazarv, M. and Wehbe, N. (2022). “Field Distribution Factors and Dynamic Load Allowance for Simply Supported Double-Tee Girder Bridges,” Structural Engineering and Mechanics, Vol. 82, No. 1, pp. 69-79.
  5. Tazarv, M., Shrestha, G. and Saiidi, M.S. (2021). “State-of-the-Art Review and Design of Grouted Duct Connections for Precast Bridge Columns,” Structures, Vol. 30, pp. 895-909.
  6. Rimal, S., Kidd, B., Tazarv, M., Seo, J. and Wehbe, N. (2021). “Methodology for Load Rating Damaged Double-Tee Girder Bridges,” Journal of Bridge Engineering, ASCE, Vol. 26, No. 1, 13 pp.
  7. Tazarv, M., Boudaqa, A. and Tuhin, I.A. (2020). “Repairable Precast Moment-Resisting Buildings: Part I – Experimental Investigations,” ACI Structural Journal, Vol. 117, No. 6, 147-160 pp.
  8. Tazarv, M. and Boudaqa, A. (2020). “Repairable Precast Moment-Resisting Buildings: Part II – Analytical Investigations,” ACI Structural Journal, Vol. 117, No. 6, 161-170 pp.
  9. Dahal, P.K. and Tazarv, M. (2020). “Mechanical Bar Splices for Incorporation in Plastic Hinge Regions of RC Members,” Construction and Building Materials, Vol. 258, 120308, 17 pp.
  10. Tuhin, I.A. and Tazarv, M. (2020). “Stress-Strain Relationship for Polyurea Confined Circular Concrete Columns under Static Loads,” ACI Materials Journal, Vol. 117, No. 4, pp. 81-94
  11. Tazarv, M. and Saiidi, M.S. (2020). “Analysis and Design of NiTi Superelastic SMA-Reinforced ECC Bridge Columns,” ACI Structural Journal, Special Issue, SP-341-6, pp. 105-130.
  12. Tazarv, M., Carnahan, Z., Wehbe, N. (2019). “Glulam Timber Bridges for Local Roads,” Engineering Structures, DOI: 10.1016/j.engstruct.2019.03.012, Vol. 188, pp. 11-23.
  13. Tazarv, M., Mingo, M., Wehbe, N. (2019). “System Performance of a Precast Bridge Incorporating Full-Depth Deck Panels and Prestressed Inverted Bulb-Tee Girders,” Journal of Bridge Engineering, ASCE, DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)BE.1943-5592.0001426, Vol. 24, No. 6, 13 pp.
  14. Tazarv, M., Bohn, L., Wehbe, N. (2019). “Rehabilitation of Longitudinal Joints in Double-Tee Bridges,” Journal of Bridge Engineering, ASCE, DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)BE.1943-5592.0001412, Vol. 24, No. 6, 14 pp.
  15. Boudaqa, A., Tazarv, M., and Tuhin, I. (2017). “Ductility without Confinement - A New Design and Construction Approach for RC Bridge Columns,” International Journal of Bridge Engineering, Special Issue, pp. 53-77.
  16. Tazarv, M. and Saiidi, M.S. (2016). “Seismic Design of Bridge Columns Incorporating Mechanical Bar Splices in Plastic Hinge Regions,” Engineering Structures, DOI:10.1016/j.engstruct.2016.06.041, Vol. 124, pp. 507-520.
  17. Tazarv, M. and Saiidi, M.S. (2016). “Design and Construction of UHPC-Filled Duct Connections for Precast Bridge Columns in High Seismic Zones,” Structure and Infrastructure Engineering, DOI:10.1080/15732479.2016.1188969, 11 pp.
  18. Saiidi, M.S., Tazarv, M., Nakashoji, B., Varela, S. and Kavianipour, F. (2015) “Resilient and Sustainable Bridges of the Future”, International Journal of Bridge Engineering, Vol. 3, No. 2, pp. 37-48.
  19. Tazarv, M. and Saiidi, M.S. (2015). “UHPC-Filled Duct Connections for Accelerated Bridge Construction of RC Columns in High Seismic Zones,” Engineering Structures, DOI:10.1016/j.engstruct.2015.05.018, Vol. 99, pp. 413-422.
  20. Tazarv, M. and Saiidi, M.S. (2015). “Low-Damage Precast Columns for Accelerated Bridge Construction in High Seismic Zones”, Journal of Bridge Engineering, ASCE, DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)BE.1943-5592.0000806, Vol. 21, No. 3, 13 pp.
  21. Tazarv, M. and Saiidi, M.S. (2014). “Reinforcing NiTi Superelastic SMA for Concrete Structures,” Journal of Structural Engineering, ASCE, DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)ST.1943-541X.0001176, 10 pp.
  22. Tazarv, M. and Saiidi, M.S. (2013). “Analytical Studies of the Seismic Performance of a Full-Scale SMA-Reinforced Bridge Column,” (Invited Paper), International Journal of Bridge Engineering, Vol. 1, No. 1, pp. 37-50.
  23. Tazarv, M. and Saiidi, M.S. (2013). Discussion on “Simulating Maximum and Residual Displacements of RC Structures: I. Accuracy,” by Yazgan, U. and Dazio, A., Earthquake Spectra, EERI, Vol. 29, No. 2, pp. 675-677.

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