Research Interests
Dr. Frangopol is a leading international figure in life-cycle performance, maintenance, reliability and multi-criteria optimization of structural systems and networks, whose work has had a significant impact on structural engineering evidenced by an H-index of 42 and more than 7500 citations (Google Scholar, 2013).
According to ASCE (2010) "Dan M. Frangopol is a preeminent authority in bridge safety and maintenance management, structural systems reliability and life-cycle engineering. His contributions have defined much of the practice around design specifications, management methods, and optimization approaches. From the maintenance of deteriorated structures and the development of system redundancy factors to assessing the performance of long span structures, Dr. Frangopol's research has not only saved time and money, but very likely also saved lives."
Dr. Frangopol's research focuses on life-cycle performance, safety, reliability, risk and multi-criteria optimization of structural systems; bridge inspection, maintenance, and management based on life-cycle cost under uncertainty; reliability and risk oriented structural health monitoring; risk-based assessment and decision making in structural engineering; stochastic analysis and maintenance optimization of networks of damaged structures under extreme events; infrastructure sustainability and resilience to disasters. He is also interested in application of methods of probability and statistics to marine engineering, stochastic mechanics, and earthquake engineering.
Selected Research Projects (PI, Co-PI, or Consultant)
ARCELORMITTAL / FHWA: Life-Cycle Cost Analysis of Different Steels for Highway Bridge Construction, PI and Sole Award Recipient, 2008-09
ARDEC, Army Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center (through Pennsylvania Innovation and Advanced Technology Association (PIATA) by its Agent, Pennsylvania Innovation Enterprise (PIE)): Integrated Framework for the Application of Probabilistic Optimization Technology (POTECH) to Weapons with Emphasis on Modeling and Simulation, PI with P. Bocchini, Co-PI, 2012-13
AFOSR: Novel SiCN Ceramics for Health Monitoring of High Temperature Systems, Co-PI, 2001-04
ASCE: Three Special Projects Sponsored by Structural Engineering Institute of ASCE, PI and Sole Award Recipient, 1998-99, 2000-01, and 2002-03
ATC: Member of the Project Advisory Panel of the ATC-75 Project to Develop Industry Foundation Classes for Structural Components under contract to the Charles Pankow Foundation, Consultant, 2007-09
ATC: Chair of the Project Advisory Panel of the ATC-81 Project on Development of Industry Foundation Classess for Structural Concrete Members under contract to the ACI Foundation, Consultant, 2010
DoD: Reliability Algorithms for Corrosion Fatigue, Consultant, 2002
European Commission: SmartEN Marie Curie ITN Programme, EU Project, Smart Management for Sustainable Human Environment, Distinguished Scientist, 2009-13
FDOT: Long Term Monitoring on a Movable Bridge, Consultant, 2007-09
FHWA: Advancing Steel and Concrete Bridge Technology to Improve Infrastructure Performance, Co-PI; Task: System Reliability in Special Steel and Concrete Bridge Systems, PI, 2011-16
FHWA: Development and Demonstration of Systems-Based Monitoring Approaches for Improved Infrastructure Management under Uncertainty, PI with N. Catbas, 2007-12 (brief summary)
FHWA: Improved Corrosion Resistant Steel for Highway Bridge Construction, Senior Personnel, 2007-10
FHWA: Unified Quantitative Methodology for Integration of Nondestructive Bridge Evaluation and Bridge Management Systems, Co-PI, 1996-2000
FHWA: Load Prediction and Structural Response, Co-PI, 1988-92
FHWA / CDOT: Use of FRP Wraps for Bridge Retrofit and Strengthening, Innovative Bridge Research and Construction Program (IBRC), Co-PI, 2003-04
FHWA / CDOT : Utilizing FRP for Pedestrian Bridges, Innovative Bridge Research and Construction Program (IBRC), Co-PI, 2002-03
FHWA / CDOT : Evaluation of FRP Reinforced Bridge Decks, Innovative Bridge Research and Construction Program (IBRC), Co-PI, 2000-01
FHWA / CDOT: High Performance Concrete Prestressed Precast Girder Bridge, Co-PI, 1996-98
FHWA / CDOT: Bridge Management Systems, Co-PI, 1992-97
FHWA / GATECH: Acceptance Test Specifications and Guidelines for Fiber Reinforced Polymeric Bridge Decks, Consultant, 2000-01
FHWA / RUTGERS: Advance Understanding of Bridge Life-Cycle Performance for the FHWA LTBP Program, Consultant, 2009-12
HA (Highways Agency, UK): Bridge Reliability and Optimum Maintenance Strategies, Consultant, 1996-2002; Optimum Maintenance Strategies for Different Bridge Types, PI, 1998-2000; Preventative Maintenance Strategies for Bridge Groups: Analysis, PI, 2001-03
Henry Luce Foundation: Bridging Disciplines and Cultures: The Chinese Bridge Project at Lehigh University, Co-PI, 2009-13
MOCT/KICT/Hanyang University (Korea): Development of LCC Analysis System for Design and Rehabilitation of Steel Bridges, Technical Advisor, 2003-06
NASA: Advanced Materials Partnership - Technology for Aerospace and Defense, PI and Sole Award Recipient, 2010-12 (brief summary)
NATO: Life-Cycle Reliability Based System Management of Structures and Networks, PI, 1996-2000
NCHRP: Bridge System Safety and Redundancy, NCHRP Project 12-86, Consultant, 2010-12
NCHRP: Developing a National Database System for Maintenance Actions on Highway Bridges, NCHRP Project 14-15, Co-PI, 2005-07
NCHRP/TRB: Development of a Comprehensive Bridge Specification and Commentary (AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications, First Edition, 1994), NCHRP Project 12-33, Consultant, 1989-92
NRC/TRB: Member of the NRC Committee for Review of the Oregon Department of Transportation Study on Bridge Shear, Report, 2005
NRC/TRB: Member of the TRB Expert Task Group for LTBP Bridge Traffic and Truck Weights, 2012-15
NSF: Integrated Maintenance-Monitoring-Management Framework for Optimal Decision Making in Bridge Life-Cycle Performance, PI and Sole Award Recipient, 2005-11 (brief summary)
NSF: Life-Cycle Reliability Analysis and Optimization of Micro-Systems , Co-PI, 2003-07
NSF: A Problem-Focused Research Agenda for the Highway Transportation Infrastructure: A Holistic Systems Identification and Integration by Using Field Test-Sites , Co-PI, 2003-04
NSF: A Feasibility Study of Estimation of Structural Systems Reliability under Hurricane Hazard, Co-PI, 2003-04
NSF: Life-Cycle Cost Model Simulator for Decision Making in Bridge Network Management, PI and Sole Award Recipient, 2002-07
NSF: Optimum Life-Cycle Bridge Maintenance Planning Based on System Reliability, PI and Sole Award Recipient, 2000-04
NSF: Accelerated Testing and Reliable Prediction of Durability of Concrete, Co-PI, 1998-2002
NSF: System Reliability for Evaluation and Design of Highway Bridges, PI, 1996-2001
NSF: Life-Cycle Reliability-Based Evaluation and Design of Deteriorating Structures, PI and Sole Award Recipient, 1995-2000
NSF: Modeling of RC/SRC Systems with Flexibility-Based Models, Co-PI, 1995-99
NSF: Design of Bridge Inspection Programs for Structural Reliability, Co-PI, 1994-97
NSF: Development of Adaptive Hybrid Control Techniques for Building Structures, Co-PI, 1992-96
NSF: Multiobjective Reliability-Based Optimization of Structural Systems, PI and Sole Award Recipient, 1990-94
NSF: Multilevel Reliability-Based Optimization of Structural Systems, PI and Sole Award Recipient, 1987-90
NSF: Seismic Hazard Prediction Using Fuzzy Sets, PI and Sole Award Recipient, 1986-88
NSF: Safety Evaluation of Existing Steel Bridges, PI, 1986-89
ONR: Integrating SHM and Time Variant System Performance of Naval Ship Structures for Near Real-Time Decision Making Under Uncertainty: A Comprehensive Framework, PI and Sole Award Recipient, 2011-15 (brief summary)
ONR: Integrated Life-Cycle Framework for Maintenance, Monitoring, and Reliability of Naval Ship Structures, PI and Sole Award Recipient, 2008-12 (brief summary)
Parsons Transportation Group, Denver Office, Consultant, 2000
PennDOT: Simple Load Capacity Tests for Bridges, Co-PI, 1987-90
PITA: Life-Cycle Performance and Cost Analysis of Steel Bridges, PI and Sole Award Recipient, 2013-14
PITA: Integrated Framework using Monitoring and Reliability for Improved infrastructure Management under Uncertainty: Phase 3 - Performance Prediction and Optimum Monitoring Planning, PI and Sole Award Recipient, 2009-11 (brief summary)
PITA: Development of a Corrosion Test Based on Electrochemical Surface Potential, Co-PI, 2008-10
PITA: Integrated Framework using Monitoring and Reliability for Improved Infrastructure Management under Uncertainty: Phase 2 - Implementation Study, PI and Sole Award Recipient, 2008-10
PITA: Integrated Framework using Monitoring and Reliability for Improved Infrastructure Management under Uncertainty: Phase 1 - Feasibility Study, PI and Sole Award Recipient, 2007-09
PITA: Structural Performance Assessment Based on Monitoring: Phase 2 - Implementation Study, PI and Sole Award Recipient, 2007-09
PITA: Structural Performance Assessment Based on Monitoring: Phase 1 - Feasibility Study, PI and Sole Award Recipient, 2007-08
RAE: Integration of Structural Health Monitoring with Risk-Based Performance; Fatigue and Fracture Behavior of Metallic Highway Bridges, Sole Award Recipient, 2008-09
RIJKSWATERSTAAT (Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment): Development of Methods for Optimal Bridge and Asset Management based on Condition, Safety, and Cost, Consultant, 2004-06
SHRP 2/ TRB: Member of the Second Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP 2) Renewal Technical Expert Task Group (T-ETG) on Bridges for Service Life beyond 100 years: Service Limit State Design (R19-B), 2009-12
TEPCO/Japan Institute of Systems Research: Civil Infrastructures, Consultant, 2000-01
U.S.-Spain Joint Committee for Scientific and Technological Cooperation: Service Life Prediction and Reliability Management of Deteriorating Concrete Bridges under Environmental Attack, PI, 2000-02
USACE /WES: Time-Dependent Reliability of Navigation Structures, PI, 1992-94
Research Associates Sponsored and Supervised
Dr. Giorgio Barone, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy, 2012 - 2013
Dr. Sunyong Kim, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USA, 2011
Dr. Hao Tian, Tongji University, Shanghai, China, 2010 - 2011
Dr. Paolo Bocchini, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy, 2009 - 2011
Dr. Andrè Orcesi, French Public Works Research Laboratory, Paris, France, 2008 - 2009
Dr. Ming Liu, MWH, Denver, Colorado, USA, 2007 - 2008
Dr. Alfred Strauss, University of Natural Resources and Applied Sciences, Vienna, Austria, 2006 - 2007
Dr. Min Liu, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Champaign, Illinois, USA, 2003 - 2005
Dr. Jung Sik Kong, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, USA, 2001- 2003
Dr. Emhaidy Gharaibeh, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, USA, 2000
Dr. Michael Enright, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, USA, 1999
Prof. Mircea Cohn, University of Waterloo, Canada, 1989 and 1990
Dr. Rachid Nakib, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, USA, 1988 - 1989
Dr. Gongkang Fu, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA, 1987- 1988
Dr. Marek Klisinski, Institute of Fundamental Technological Research, Warsaw, Poland, 1987 - 1988
Visiting Scholars Hosted
Prof. Jie Wu, Tongji University, Shanghai, China, 2013 - 2014
Ms. Valeria Di Silvestri, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy, 2012
Dr. Andrea Titi, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy, 2012
Dr. Banfu Yan, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan, China, 2012 - 2013
Ms. Caroline Trimble, Research Intern, Bethlehem, PA, USA, 2012
Dr. Ling Liu, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China, 2011 - 2012
Dr. Lucrezia Cascini, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy, 2011
Dr. Alfred Strauss, University of Natural Resources and Applied Sciences, Vienna, Austria, 2011, 2012
Mr. Tim Zinke, Karlsruhe University, Karlsruhe, Germany, 2011
Prof. Jinzong Zhu, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China, 2009 - 2010
Dr. Paola Limonta, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy, 2009
Prof. Mitsuyoshi Akiyama, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan, 2008 - 2009
Dr. Ruan Xin, Tongji University, Shanghai, China, 2008 - 2009
Mr. Victor Voiry, French Institute of Advanced Mechanics, Clermont-Ferrand, France, 2009
Dr. Wenliang Lu, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing, China, 2007 - 2008
Mr. Nils Marquart, Technical University Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany, 2007
Prof. Fabio Biondini, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy, 2001 - 2009 (annual short visits)
Mr. Hiroshi Hattori, Kansai University, Osaka, Japan, 2006 - 2007
Mr. Till Wachholz, Technical University Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany, 2006
Dr. Kei Kawamura, Yamaguchi University, Ube, Japan, 2006
Prof. Joan Casas, Technical University of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain, 2005
Mr. Alberto Deco, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy, 2005
Mr. Koichiro Nakatsu, Kansai University, Osaka, Japan, 2005 - 2006
Ms. Saeri Fukuhara, Kansai University, Osaka, Japan, 2005 - 2006
Mr. Takahiro Kameda, Kansai University, Osaka, Japan, 2004 - 2005
Ms. Masae Erami, Kansai University, Osaka, Japan, 2004 - 2005
Prof. Hitoshi Furuta, Kansai University, Osaka, Japan, 2003 - 2004
Mr. Christian Koenig, Technical University Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany, 2004 - 2005
Mr. Jacques Peugeot, French Institute of Advanced Mechanics, Clermont-Ferrand, France, 2004 - 2005
Prof. Christian Bucher, Bauhaus-University Weimar, Weimar, Germany, 2004
Mr. Sebastian Wolff, Bauhaus-University Weimar, Weimar, Germany, 2003 - 2004
Dr. Kei Kawamura, Yamaguchi University, Ube, Japan, 2002 - 2004
Mr. Luca Sgambi, University of Rome "La Sapienza", Rome, Italy, 2003
Mr. Luciano Catallo, University of Rome "La Sapienza", Rome, Italy, 2003
Dr. Xiaoming Wang, CSIRO, Melbourne, Australia, 2002
Ms. Francesca Bortot, University of Trento, Trento, Italy, 2002
Mr. David Guillot, French Institute of Advanced Mechanics, Clermont-Ferrand, France, 2002
Mr. Luis Neves, University of Minho, Guimaraes, Portugal, 2001 - 2004
Dr. Han Kim, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea, 2001 - 2002
Prof. Hideaki Nakamura, Yamaguchi University, Ube, Japan, 2001
Mr. Sebastien Recek, French Institute of Advanced Mechanics, Clermont-Ferrand, France, 2001
Prof. Mark Stewart, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia, 2000
Prof. Matsuho Shigeyuki, Anan National College of Technology, Tokushima, Japan, 1999
Prof. Tsuyoshi Takada, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan, 1999
Mr. Christian Frier, University of Aalborg, Aalborg, Denmark, 1997
Prof. Joergen Amdahl, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway, 1996 -1997
Dr. Matsuho Shigeyuki, Tottori University, Tottori City, Japan, 1996 – 1997
Prof. Marcello Ciampoli, University of Rome "La Sapienza," Rome, Italy, 1999
Mr. Fulvio Tonon, University of Padova, Padova, Italy, 1996
Mr. Cesar Minguillon, Technical University of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain, 1994
Dr. Satoshi Katsuki, National Defense Academy, Yokosuka, Japan, 1991 - 1993
Dr. Ebrahim Sanaei, Iran University of Science and Technology, Tehran, Iran, 1991 - 1992
Dr. Petr Hajek, Czech Technical University, Prague, Czech Republic, 1989
Dr. Mark Marley, University of Trondheim, Trondheim, Norway, 1989
Mr. Kenji Ikejima, Osaka Gas Corporation, Osaka, Japan, 1986 - 1987