Mehdi Omidvar

Associate Professor, Civil & Environmental Engineering

Dr. Omidvar is an Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Manhattan College. His research interests include infrastructure risk assessment, numerical and analytical modeling with applications in soil-structure interaction, seismic analysis, high strain rate and extreme loading of soils, earth retaining structures, and support of excavation systems.

Dr. Omidvar has several years of experience in design of earth dams, deep foundations, and earth retaining structures. In addition, he has conducted research as principal investigator and co-investigator on close to $2M in externally-funded projects. He has received funding from the Department of Defense (through SERDP), the Department of Transportation (through UTRC), and the United States Universities Council on Geotechnical Education and Research (USUCGER).

Past and current projects on which Dr. Omidvar has collaborated include bridge scour monitoring and risk assessment using geographic information system (GIS) and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUV), prediction of depth of burial of unexploded ordnances (UxO) at formerly used defense sites (FUDs), shape optimization of 3D-printed discrete reinforcements in sand, micromechanical response of sand to pile driving and jacking, study of the fundamental physics of projectile penetration in soils, dynamic analysis of earth dams and reinforced soil slopes, torpedo anchors with offshore applications, and approximate analytical solutions to high order nonlinear partial differential equations.

Dr. Omidvar is a previous board member of the ASCE Met Section Geo-Institute, and is the faculty moderator for the Manhattan College Deep Foundations Institute Student Chapter. 

Education

  • Ph.D., New York University, USA
  • M.S., Mazandaran University, Iran
  • B.S., Mazandaran University, Iran
  • PHD, New York University

Courses Taught

  • CIVG 791: Advanced Topics: Earth Retaining Structures
  • CIVL 410: Geotechnical Applications
  • CIVL 310: Introductory Geomechanics
  • CIVL 311: Soil Mechanics Laboratory
  • ENGS 206: Statics

 

 

 

  • Research
    • High strain rate and extreme loading of soils
    • Application of imaging and non-contact diagnostics in geoengineering and infrastructure monitoring
    • Numerical and analytical simulation of impact and dynamic phenomena
    • Numerical modeling of soil-structure interaction problems
    • Micromechanics of soil response to deep foundation installation and load transfer
    • Risk assessment and probabilistic analysis
  • Publications and Scholarly Activities
     
    Books/Book Chapters:

    1. Omidvar, M., Bless, S., Iskander, M. (2019). Recent Insights into Penetration of Sand and Similar Granular Materials. Shock Phenomena in Granular and Porous Materials. Vogler, T., Ed. Springer. (Link)
    2. Iskander, M., Bless, S., Omidvar, M. (2015). Rapid penetration into granular media: visualizing the fundamental physics of rapid earth penetration. Elsevier, 442p. (Link)
    3. Omidvar, M., Iskander, M., Bless, S. (2015). Meso-scale observations of rapid penetration into sand using transparent soils. In: Rapid penetration into granular media: visualizing the fundamental physics of rapid earth penetration. Elsevier, 442p.
    4. Omidvar, M., Bless, S. Iskander, M. (2015). Global observations & post mortem analyses of penetration events in sand. In: Rapid penetration into granular media: visualizing the fundamental physics of rapid earth penetration. Elsevier, 442p.
    5. Iskander, M., Omidvar, M., Bless, S. 2015. Response of granular media to high strain rate loading. In: Rapid penetration into granular media: visualizing the fundamental physics of rapid earth penetration. Elsevier, 442p.
    6. Bless, S., Omidvar, M., Iskander, M. (2015). Rapid Penetration into Granular Media. In: Rapid penetration into granular media: visualizing the fundamental physics of rapid earth penetration. Elsevier, 442p.

    Peer-reviewed Journal Articles:

    1. Qi, C., Iskander, M., Omidvar, M. (2017). Soil Deformations During Casing Jacking and Extraction of Expanded-Shoe Piles, Using Model Tests. Geotechnical and Geological Engineering. 35(2):809-826.
    2. Chen, Z., Omidvar, M., Li, K., Iskander, M. (2016). Particle Rotation of Granular Materials in Plane Strain. International Journal of Physical Modelling in Geotechnics. 17(1):23-40.
    3. Chen, Z., Li, K., Omidvar, M., Iskander, M. (2016). Guidelines for DIC in Geotechnical Engineering Research. International Journal of Physical Modelling in Geotechnics. 17(1):3-22.
    4. Chen, Z., Omidvar, M., Iskander, M. (2016). Observations of Multi-Scale Granular Kinematics Around Driven Piles in Plane Strain Condition. Geotechnical Testing Journal. 39(5): 1-11.
    5. Omidvar, M., Iskander, M., Bless, S. (2016). Soil-projectile interactions during low velocity penetration. International Journal of Impact Engineering. 93:211-221.
    6. Iskander, M., Bathurst, R., Omidvar, M. (2015). Past, present and future of transparent soils. Geotechnical Testing Journal. 38(5): 1-17. (ASTM)
    7. Omidvar, M., Malioche, J.D., Iskander, M., Bless, S. (2015). Phenomenology of rapid projectile penetration into granular soils. International Journal of Impact Engineering. 85: 146-160. (Elsevier)
    8. Suescun, E., Omidvar, M., Iskander, M., Bless, S. (2015). Review of high strain rate testing of granular soils. Geotechnical Testing Journal. ASTM, 38(4): 1-26. (Link)
    9. Carvalho, T., Suescun, E., Omidvar, M., Iskander, M. A non-viscous transparent soil for modeling geotechnical and geoenvironmental problems. (2014). Geotechnical Testing Journal, ASTM, 38(5): 1-8.
    10. Omidvar, M., Doreau Malioche, J., Iskander, M., Bless, S. (2015). Visualizing kinematics of dynamic penetration in granular media using transparent soils. Geotechnical Testing Journal, 38(5): 1-15. (Link)
    11. Omidvar, M., Chen, Z., Iskander, M. (2014). Image-based Lagrangian analysis of granular kinematics. Journal of Computing in Civil Engineering, DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)CP.1943-5487.0000433, 04014101. (Link)
    12. Chen, Z., Omidvar, M., Iskander, M., Bless, S. (2014). Modelling of projectile penetration using transparent soils. International Journal of Physical Modelling in Geotechnics, 14(3): 68-79. (Link)
    13. Peden, R., Omidvar, M., Iskander, M., Bless, S. (2014). Photonic Doppler velocimetry for study of rapid penetration into sand. Geotechnical Testing Journal, 37(1): 1-13. (Link)
    14. Omidvar, M., Iskander, M., Bless, S. (2014). Response of granular media to rapid penetration. International Journal of Impact Engineering; 66: 60-82. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijimpeng.2013.12.004 (Elsevier)
    15. Guzman, I., Iskander, M., Suescun-Florez, E., Omidvar, M. (2014). A transparent aqueous-saturated sand surrogate for use in physical modeling. Acta Geotechnica, 9(2): 187-206. (Springer)
    16. Iskander, M., Chen, Z., Omidvar, M., Guzman, I., Elsherif, O. (2014). Active static and seismic earth pressure for c-φ Soils and Foundations, 53(5): 639–652. (Elsevier)
    17. Iskander, M., Chen, C., Omidvar, M., Guzman, I. (2013). Rankine pseudo-static earth pressure for c- φ Mechanics Research Communications, 51: 51-55. (Elsevier)
    18. Iskander, M., Omidvar, M., Elsherif, O. (2012). Conjugate stress approach for Rankine seismic earth pressure in cohesionless soils. Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, ASCE, 139(7): 1205-1210. (ASCE)
    19. Omidvar, M., Iskander, M., Bless, S. (2012). Stress-strain behavior of sand at high strain rates. International Journal of Impact Engineering, 49: 192-213. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijimpeng.2012.03.004 (Elsevier)
    20. Ghotbi, A., Omidvar, M., Barari, A. (2011). Infiltration in unsaturated soils – an analytical approach. Computers and Geotechnics, 38(6): 777-782. (Elsevier)
    21. Sfahani, M. G., Barari, A., Omidvar, M., Ganji, S.S., Domairy, G. (2011). Dynamic response of inextensible beams by improved energy balance method. Journal of Multi-body Dynamics, 225(1): 66-73. (Sage Publications)
    22. Noorzad, R., Omidvar, M. (2010). Dynamic analysis of embankment dam with reinforced cohesive shell. Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, 30(11): 1149-1157. (Elsevier)
    23. Omidvar, M., Barari, A., Ghotbi, A.R., Ganji, D.D. (2010). New class of solutions for water infiltration problems in unsaturated soils. Geomechanics and Geoengineering: An International Journal, 5(2): 127-135. (Taylor and Francis)
    24. Barari, A., Omidvar, M., Ghotbi, A.R., Ganji, D.D. (2009). Assessment of water penetration problem in unsaturated soils. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences Discussions, 6: 3811-3833. (European Geosciences Union)
    25. Noorzad, R., Safari, S., Omidvar, M. (2009). Effect of structure on wave-induced liquefaction potential of seabed sand deposits. Applied Ocean Research, 31(1): 25-30. (Elsevier)
    26. Barari, A.,Omidvar, M., Ghotbi, A.R., Ganji, D.D. (2008). Application of homotopy perturbation method and variational iteration method to nonlinear oscillator differential equations.Acta Applicandae Mathematicae, 104(2): 161-171. (Springer)

    Conference Papers:

    1. Li, L., Iskander, M., Omidvar, M. (2018). Visualisation of inter-granular pore fluid flow. Physical Modelling in Geotechnics, Volume 2: Proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Physical Modelling in Geotechnics (ICPMG 2018), July 17-20, 2018, London, United Kingdom.
    2. Bless, S., Omidvar, M., Iskander, M. Poncelet coefficients for dry sand. AIP Conference Proceedings1979, 110001 (2018); doi: 10.1063/1.5044920.
    3. Machairas, N.P., Iskander, M., Omidvar, M.(2018). Interactive web application for computing seismic earth pressure. Geotechnical Special Publication (GSP) 292, pp. 398-406.
    4. Omidvar, M., Baksh, M., De, A. (2018). Hydrocode modeling of torpedo anchor installation in soils. In Proceedings of: International Foundations Congress and Exhibition Expo, Accepted.
    5. Li, L., Iskander, M., Omidvar, M. (2018). Visualization of inter-granular pore fluid flow. In Proceedings of: International Conference on Physical Modelling in Geotechnics, Accepted.
    6. Bless, S., Omidvar, M., Iskander, M. (2017). Engineering formulas for penetration of sand by high speed projectiles, Bulletin of the American Physical Society, American Physical Society, Accepted.
    7. Omidvar, M., Iskander, M. (2017). Modeling of Projectile Penetration using Transparent Soils. Proceedings of the 19th International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, Seoul 2017, pp. 959-962.
    8. Omidvar, M., Iskander, M. (2017). Soil Deformation during Finless Torpedo Installation. In: Proceedings of Geotechnical Frontiers, ASCE Geotechnical Special Publication 280, March 12-15, Orlando Florida, pp. 389-397.
    9. Omidvar, M., Iskander, M., Bless, S. (2015). Deceleration characteristics of projectile penetration in granular media. Society of Engineering Mechanics, Annual Conference & Exposition on Experimental and Applied Mechanics, In Press.
    10. Chen, Z., Omidvar, M., Iskander, M. (2015). Visualizing the fundamental physics of rapid penetration in soils. International Foundations Congress and Equipment Exposition, IFCEE2015, March 17-21, San Antonio, TX, In Press.
    11. Boccalini, F., Omidvar, M., Chen, Z., Iskander, M. (2015). Comparison of soil structure interaction during pile jacking and pile driving in granular media. International Foundations Congress and Equipment Exposition, IFCEE2015, March 17-21, San Antonio, TX, In Press.
    12. Omidvar, M., Chen, Z., Bless, S., Iskander, M. (2014). Scale bridging of interactions during penetration of granular media. Proceedings of the Society of Engineering Mechanics, Annual Conference & Exposition on Experimental and Applied Mechanics, B. Song et al. (eds), June 2-5, 2014, Springer, PP. 335-340.
    13. Omidvar, M., Bless, S., Guzman, I., Iskander, M. (2014). Velocity regimes for sphere penetration of granular materials. Bulletin of the American Physical Society, American Physical Society. ID: BAPS.2014.MAR.J17.6.
    14. Bless, S., Peden, R., Guzman, I., Omidvar, M., Iskander, M. (2014). Poncelet coefficients of granular media. Dynamic Behavior of Materials, Vol. 1, Conference Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Mechanics, Series 2014, pp. 373-380.
  • Professional Experience and Memberships
     
    Professional Experience:
     
    Geotechnical Consultant, Industry and Management Consultant Co., Iran (2005-2008) 

    Geotechnical Consultant, Noorzad Consulting Office, Iran (2007-2009)

    • Design of Zarem Rood Embankment Dam (H: 78 m, Volume: 5.5 Million m3)
    • Reanalysis of Hozian Embankment Dam (H: 73 m, Volume: 3 Million m3)
    • Barandooz Embankment Dam (H: 63 m, Volume: 2.8 Million m3)

    Memberships:

    • Board member, ASCE Met Section G-I
    • Member, New York Academy of Sciences (NYAS)
    • Member, International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotehcnical Engineering (ISSMGE), Young Member Presidential Group (YMPG) - Board level committee
    • Member, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
    • Member, Geo-Institute
    • Member, American Association for Testing and Materials (ASTM)
    • Technical Affiliate, The International Association of Foundation Drilling (ADSC)
    • Member, Deep Foundation Institute (DFI)
    • Member, American Physical Society (APS)
  • Honors, Awards, and Grants

    Grants: 

    • Robust Prediction of Ordnance Depth of Burial Soils using Field Calibrated Phenomenological Model & Probabilistic Simulations. Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP). Grant Amount: $1,888,500. Co-I; PI: Dr. Stephan Bless.
    • Portable Bridge Scour Monitoring using Autonomous Underwater Vehicles: Technology Development and Risk Assessment-based Platform for Deployment Prioritization. University Transportation Research Center. Grant Amount: $75,000. PI; Co-I: Dr. Brent Horine.
    • Visualization-Based, Multi-Disciplinary Approach to Educational Projects for Geotechnical Engineering Courses. United States University Council on Geotechnical Education and Research. Grant Amount: $5,000. PI.

    • Kinematic analysis of offshore torpedo anchors during installation and pullout. Manhattan College Summer Grant. Grant Amount: $3,000. PI.

    Awards and Honors: 

    • Recipient of New York University Global Research Initiative Fellowship, 2015.
    • Recipient of ASCE Geo-Institute IFCEE 2015 Travel Grant, 2015.
    • North America region representative to ISSMGE Young Member Presidential Group.  Also elected as chair of its Motivation Mechanisms Task Force, 2013.
    • Selected as New York Academy of Sciences Education Fellow, 2012.
    • Recipient of United States Universities Council on Geotechnical Education and Research (USUCGER) travel grant, 2012.
    • Recipient of Ph.D. Fellowship, New York University, 2010-2015.
    • Presidential Award for Outstanding Research Achievements, Golestan University, Iran, 2009.