Raj Siddharthan

Dr. Siddharthan joined the University of Nevada, Reno in 1984. He developed a two-dimensional effective stress based computational model (TARA) to study seismic response evaluation of soil structures. A revised version of this computational model is being widely used by the Waterways Experiment Station (WES) in its seismic evaluation of dams located around the country. 

Dr. Siddharthan has authored over 220 publications in journals, national and international conferences. His research contributions have been in many diversified disciplines, including geotechnical earthquake engineering, offshore engineering and transportation engineering. He was responsible for research projects totaling more than $10 million, either as an investigator or co-investigator. Sponsoring agencies include Engineering Foundation, National Science Foundation (NSF), NCHRP, Electrical Power Research Institute (EPRI), NOVOPHALT Inc., Nevada Department of Transportation, California Strong Motion Instrumentation Program, Department of Energy (DOE), Nevada Nuclear Waste Project Office (NWPO), US Army Research Office, Southern California Earthquake Center and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). He has been involved in two independent seismic soil response verification studies: NSF-VELACS study and EPRI study. In the VELACS study, his code was used in a “verification” exercise using extensive laboratory-centrifuge test results.

Dr. Siddharthan is devoted to continuing research in many areas of soil dynamics. His contribution spans a variety of topics including:

• Seismic behavior of soils and structures (liquefaction, site-specific soil response, permanent deformation behavior of flexible and rigid retaining wall and bridge abutment and piles)
• Wave-soil interaction
• Pavement material characterization and pavement response analysis
• Earthquake risk and nuclear transportation risk studies

His extensive list of publications, professional service and research grant activities exemplify his contribution. In recognition of his contribution, he was awarded the 1997 Shamsher Prakash Foundation Citation for work on Dynamic Soil Structure Interaction and Stability of Retaining Structures Under Earthquakes.

His work has been cited by over 3,190 publications with an H-index of 27 and i10 index of 73. He developed software: notable ones are TARA and 3D-Move. A modified version of TARA program is routinely used by WES in its seismic response analyses of dams. His 3D-Move Pavement Analysis software was developed with the funds from the federal government for pavement and other vehicle load applications. Worldwide, more than 750 users from 50 countries have downloaded this software. His research work conducted for NDOT on MSE walls was selected as a runner-up for “High Value Research” citation by the AASHTO Zone 4.

For complete list of professional and service activities, please see his complete resume. 

• Ph.D., University of British Columbia, 1984
• M.S., University of British Columbia, 1981
• B.Sc., University of Sri Lanka, 1977

• Presented five short courses in Nevada and California on Liquefaction, Seismic Bridge Abutment Design, and Seismic Response; Delivered as many as 90 presentations in conferences, meetings, and seminars.
• Presented two independent week-long short courses on Geotechnical Seismic Design and Software 3D-Move at the University of Costa Rica.
• Investigator (PI and Co. PI) of projects totaling more than $ 8.7 million from a wide variety of sources including, federal (NSF, ARO, DOE, NCHRP, Engineering Foundation), state (Nevada, California), and other sources (e.g. SCEC, EPRI, MCEER).
• Developed many software- notable ones are TARA and 3D-Move. A modified version of TARA program is routinely used by WES in their seismic response analyses of dams.  3D-Move software for Pavement Response Analysis has was recently released to public (http://www.arc.unr.edu/Software.html)
• Served as a Member of many ASCE Technical Committees (Soil Dynamics, Computer Applications, Shock and Vibratory Effects) and EERI and had been a reviewer of proposals and reports for the NSF, ASCE, and US Army.
• Member of the Editorial Board of ASCE Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering 2007 - 2017.