3D Numerical Study on Geosynthetically Reinforced Stone Columns Hossein Bahmyari, Mohebollah Agahnav, Ali Noorzad, Mohammad Jammali Moghadam Geo Congress 2026 Geosynthetics Pavements and Soil Improvement Selected Papers from Geo Congress 2026, 2026 In regions where natural soils lack sufficient bearing capacity, ground improvement becomes a critical component of geotechnical design. Among various stabilization techniques, stone columns, both ordinary and geosynthetically reinforced, are widely utilized to enhance load-bearing performance and reduce settlement in weak soils. This study investigates the mechanical behavior of ordinary and reinforced stone columns using three-dimensional finite element modeling in ABAQUS. The analysis examines the influence of key parameters, including soil friction angle, reinforcement stiffness, and column geometry, on the performance of stone columns. The findings provide insights for optimizing stone column design under static loading conditions, while also identifying future directions for studying cyclic and seismic effects.
Fragility analyses and strong ground motion response of mechanically stabilized earth retaining walls with plate anchors Marzie Ansari Targhi, Mohammad Safi, Ali Noorzad Scientific Reports, 2025 Reliable and cost-effective design of mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) walls in earthquake-prone regions remains a fundamental challenge in geotechnical engineering. The present study evaluates the seismic performance and failure levels of MSE walls. To this end, the influence of ground motion frequency content with different amplitudes on wall response has been investigated to compute the displacements, and to develop fragility curves based on multiple intensity measures. Numerical simulations were performed using PLAXIS 2D, incorporating the hardening soil model with small-strain stiffness to accurately capture the nonlinear deformation behavior of the backfill. The analyses include walls with single, double, and triple plate anchors of varying dimensions subjected to real near-fault earthquake records. The results demonstrate that triple plate anchors are more effective than single plate anchors in reducing horizontal and vertical displacements, earth pressure, and acceleration amplification. However, the internal forces along the walls remained similar across anchor configurations. These findings confirm the effectiveness of increasing the number of plate anchors in mitigating seismic damages to MSE walls. Specifically, the probability of seismic-induced failure can be reduced by approximately 25% with double plate anchors and up to 43% with triple plate anchors, highlighting a viable and cost-efficient strategy for enhancing structural resilience in seismically active regions.
Seismic fragility analysis of hunchbacked gravity quay walls using a multi-intensity measure approach Ali Akbar Ehterami, Babak Ebrahimian, Ali Noorzad Results in Engineering, 2025 • Seismic resilience of hunchbacked block-type quay walls is investigated using FEM. • Three quay wall models (QW-I, QW-II, QW-III) with different geometries are analyzed. • Multi-valued fragility curves are generated for three wall configurations based on multiple IMs. • An increased hunch height of wall results in decreased horizontal displacements and increased stability. • Interpretation of seismic vulnerability and associated failure probabilities can vary depending on chosen IM. This study investigates the seismic resilience of hunchbacked block-type gravity quay walls with different back-face geometries using the finite element method (FEM). Three hunchbacked block-type quay wall models, identified as QW-I, QW-II, and QW-III, each with a distinct geometrical configuration, are analyzed. The QW-I model represents the quay wall already built at the Pars Petrochemical Port in Asalouyeh, Iran, and serves as the reference case. Initially, the seismic response of these quay walls is evaluated under a range of seismic loads with varying dynamic characteristics. Subsequently, fragility curves are generated for the three wall configurations based on multiple intensity measures (IMs) to assess their vulnerabilities to seismic events. For this purpose, acceleration time histories derived from real earthquake records are utilized, with fragility assessments conducted using the incremental dynamic analysis (IDA) approach. The generated fragility curves demonstrate that increasing the hunch height from 3 m in QW-I to 5 m in QW-II and 6 m in QW-III significantly reduces the probability of exceeding the repairable damage level and reaching near collapse for a peak ground acceleration (PGA) of 0.51 g, comparable to that of the 1990 Manjil earthquake. Specifically, this probability decreases from 69.49 % for QW-I to 55.99 % for QW-II and 49.51 % for QW-III. Correspondingly, based on the cumulative absolute velocity (CAV) indicator, the exceedance probability drops from 21.75 % for QW-I to 11.22 % for QW-II and 7.88 % for QW-III. Therefore, the interpretation of seismic vulnerability and associated failure probabilities can vary depending on the chosen IM for fragility analysis, emphasizing the necessity for developing multi-valued fragility curves.
Stochastic Analysis of Reverse Fault Rupture Hazards in Tunnels Considering Soil Parameter Uncertainties S. Mousavi, A. Noorzad, B. Ebrahimian, S. Foti International Journal of Engineering Transactions A Basics, 2025 In an era where underground transportation infrastructure is increasingly vital, the construction of tunnels across fault lines has become a necessary challenge. This study addresses the critical issue of assessing the impact of fault ruptures on shallow tunnels, with a particular emphasis on the variability of soil parameters. We employ the Stochastic Finite Element Method (SFEM), providing a robust framework for simulating the unpredictable nature of soil properties in shallow tunnels under the impacts of surface fault rupture hazards. Our approach highlights the significant influence of soil parameter variations in the analysis of tunnel vulnerability during fault ruptures. The findings offer valuable insights for the design and safety assessment of tunnels in seismically active regions, contributing to the advancement of geotechnical engineering practices in the context of fault rupture hazards. Specifically, the maximum stress values demonstrated substantial increases of 77 and 100% when compared to the 0.5-meter case for the 1.0-meter and 2.0-meter scenarios, respectively.
Examining Bridge Pile Damage Probability in Liquefiable and Non-liquefiable Ground Fib Symposium, 2025
Risk associated with different foundation modeling of concrete arch dam subjected to earthquake ground motion 26th International Congress on Large Dams 2018, 2018
A smart increment technique and its application to a bounding surface model Numerical Methods in Geotechnical Engineering Proceedings of the 8th European Conference on Numerical Methods in Geotechnical Engineering Numge 2014, 2014
Slope stability of soft soils using pile foundations considering the creep effects Numerical Methods in Geotechnical Engineering Proceedings of the 8th European Conference on Numerical Methods in Geotechnical Engineering Numge 2014, 2014
Numerical analysis of thermo-mechanical behavior of energy pile foundations Numerical Methods in Geotechnical Engineering Proceedings of the 8th European Conference on Numerical Methods in Geotechnical Engineering Numge 2014, 2014
Seepage investigation of embankment dams using numerical modelling of temperature field Indian Journal of Science and Technology, 2013
Numerical investigations of shear strain localization in an elasto-plastic Cosserat material 18th International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering Challenges and Innovations in Geotechnics Icsmge 2013, 2013
An innovative method to determine the indirect deformation modulus of rock masses in Asmari formation of Iran Harmonising Rock Engineering and the Environment Proceedings of the 12th ISRM International Congress on Rock Mechanics, 2012
Analysis of soil-pile interaction during pile driving 14th Asian Regional Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, 2011
DEM simulation of Geomembrane-Soil interface 14th Asian Regional Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, 2011
Three dimensional numerical analysis of failure in stone columns Computer Methods for Geomechanics Frontiers and New Applications, 2011
An innovative method to determine the indirect deformation modulus of rock masses in Asmari formation of Iran Harmonising Rock Engineering and the Environment, 2011
Reliability analysis of piping in embankment dam Numerical Methods in Geotechnical Engineering Proceedings of the 7th European Conference on Numerical Methods in Geotechnical Engineering, 2010
Fine-grained soil improvement by electrokinetic injection Noorzad Ali, Falamaki Amin, Shariatmadari Nader Proceedings of the 17th International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering the Academia and Practice of Geotechnical Engineering, 2009
Numerical modeling of smooth geomembrane - Soil interaction 12th International Conference on Computer Methods and Advances in Geomechanics 2008, 2008
Conventional and advanced numerical methods of rock slope stability analysis, a comparison study, gotvand dam right abutment (Iran) case study 12th International Conference on Computer Methods and Advances in Geomechanics 2008, 2008
Performance of partially penetrating stone columns during an earthquake Proceedings of the 10th International Symposium on Numerical Models in Geomechanics NUMOG 10 Numerical Models in Geomechanics NUMOG 10, 2007
Dynamic analysis of piles embedded in transversely isotropic soils using hybrid elements Proceedings of the 6th European Conference on Numerical Methods in Geotechnical Engineering Numerical Methods in Geotechnical Engineering, 2006
Investigation of rigid embedded structure interaction with saturated soil under seismic excitation Proceedings of the International Offshore and Polar Engineering Conference, 2005
Elasto-plastic behaviour of sandy seabed to standing wave loading Proceedings of the 1999 Ninth International Offshore and Polar Engineering Conference Volume 1 Brest France 30 May 4 June 1999, 1999
Elasto-plastic behaviour of sandy seabed to standing wave loading Proceedings of the International Offshore and Polar Engineering Conference, 1999
Advanced GEP-probabilistic-based modeling for predicting tunneling-induced groundwater drawdown: A case study of the Uma Oya Multipurpose development project S Mousavi, A Noorzad, MM Niazmandi, F Majidi, A Ciancimino Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology 168, 107176 , 2026 2026 Citations: 5
Fragility analyses and strong ground motion response of mechanically stabilized earth retaining walls with plate anchors M Ansari Targhi, M Safi, A Noorzad Scientific Reports 15 (1), 36574 , 2025 2025 Citations: 1
Investigating the effects of slope changes of asphaltic concrete core of rockfill dam on the fragility curves A Ayati Ahmadi, A Noorzad Discover Civil Engineering 2 (1), 153 , 2025 2025 Citations: 1
Seismic fragility analysis of hunchbacked gravity quay walls using a multi-intensity measure approach AA Ehterami, B Ebrahimian, A Noorzad Results in Engineering 26, 104691 , 2025 2025 Citations: 8
Influence of corner radius on the axial compressive behavior of FRP-confined rectangular reinforced concrete columns AJ Noorzad, H Dilmaç Journal of Ceramics and Composites 1 (1), 26-39 , 2025 2025
Dyraaba RCC dam slope stability-A case study: Dyraaba dam of Uma Oya Multipurpose Development Project, Sri Lanka AR Farshbar, A Noorzad, W Wijesundara Water and Energy International 68 (4), 77-77 , 2025 2025
Thermo-Hydro-Mechanical Analysis of Geothermal Piles: Implications for Shaft Bearing Capacity S Tourchi, A Noorzad, A Lavasan 2025
Seismic performance of inclined discontinuous broken-back block-type gravity quay walls: Numerical investigation and GEP-based modeling B Ebrahimian, AA Ehterami, A Noorzad Ocean Engineering 315, 119735 , 2025 2025 Citations: 7
Numerical investigation of the influence of seismic excitation characteristics on the response of hunchbacked block-type quay walls with varying geometries AA Ehterami, B Ebrahimian, A Noorzad Journal of Seismology and Earthquake Engineering 27 (1), 1-21 , 2025 2025 Citations: 5
Stochastic analysis of reverse fault rupture hazards in tunnels considering soil parameter uncertainties S Mousavi, A Noorzad, B Ebrahimian, S Foti International Journal of Engineering 38 (4), 744-757 , 2025 2025 Citations: 1
Developing Failure Envelopes for Suction Caisson Foundations of Offshore Wind Turbines in Sand Using a Numerical Approach H Alimoradi, A Noorzad, B Ebrahimian Journal of Structural and Construction Engineering 11 (10), 157-183 , 2024 2024
AN INVESTIGATION ON THE EFFECTIVE PARAMETERS OF LOOSE SANDS LIQUEFACTION POTENTIAL USING IMPROVED HYPERCUBE SAMPLING METHOD S Golmoghani Ebrahimi, A Noorzad, H Javaheri Koupaei Sharif Journal of Civil Engineering 40 (3), 93-104 , 2024 2024
Fragility curves evaluation of cemented material dam (CMD) utilizing incremental dynamic analysis A Ayati Ahmadi, A Noorzad, H Mohammadnezhad, AA Mirghasemi Innovative Infrastructure Solutions 9 (11), 422 , 2024 2024 Citations: 4
A coupled effect of eccentric loading and upward seepage on collapse settlement of strip footings on reinforced sand E Badakhshan, A Noorzad, J Vaunat, G Veylon International Journal of Geomechanics 24 (8), 04024160 , 2024 2024 Citations: 7
Soil improvement by electrokinetic sodium silicate injection into a sand formation containing fine grains A Falamaki, A Noorzad, M Homaee, AH Vakili Geotechnical and Geological Engineering 42 (6), 4913-4929 , 2024 2024 Citations: 7
Liquefaction mitigation using stone columns with non-Darcy flow theory R Taslimian, A Noorzad Geotechnical and Geological Engineering 42 (6), 4375-4399 , 2024 2024 Citations: 11
Effect of root age on the slope stability using vetiver grass R Maadi, A Noorzad Arabian Journal of Geosciences 17 (7), 217 , 2024 2024 Citations: 1
Explicit FE analysis of 3D failure envelopes of suction caisson foundations supporting offshore wind turbines in sand subjected to combined loading H Alimoradi, A Noorzad, B Ebrahimian Ocean Engineering 301, 116831 , 2024 2024 Citations: 12
Reliability analysis of soil liquefaction using improved hypercube sampling (IHS) method S Golmoghani Ebrahimi, A Noorzad, HJ Kupaei International Journal of Civil Engineering 22 (2), 195-207 , 2024 2024 Citations: 5
Structural behavior of RC columns retrofitted with FRP under axial load AJ Noorzad, H Dilmaç Journal of Structural Engineering & Applied Mechanics 7 (4), 315-342 , 2024 2024 Citations: 2
MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS
Strain energy based evaluation of liquefaction and residual pore water pressure in sands using cyclic torsional shear experiments Y Jafarian, I Towhata, MH Baziar, A Noorzad, A Bahmanpour Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering 35, 13-28 , 2012 2012 Citations: 180
Modeling time-dependent behavior of gas caverns in rock salt considering creep, dilatancy and failure SN Moghadam, H Mirzabozorg, A Noorzad Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology 33, 171-185 , 2013 2013 Citations: 132
A new approach to particle shape classification of granular materials MA Maroof, A Mahboubi, A Noorzad, Y Safi Transportation Geotechnics 22, 100296 , 2020 2020 Citations: 125
A laboratory study on the MSW mechanical behavior in triaxial apparatus M Karimpour-Fard, SL Machado, N Shariatmadari, A Noorzad Waste management 31 (8), 1807-1819 , 2011 2011 Citations: 100
Subsidence estimation utilizing various approaches–A case study: Tehran No. 3 subway line A Darabi, K Ahangari, A Noorzad, A Arab Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology 31, 117-127 , 2012 2012 Citations: 87
Load eccentricity effects on behavior of circular footings reinforced with geogrid sheets E Badakhshan, A Noorzad Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering 7 (6), 691-699 , 2015 2015 Citations: 84
Development of high-strength rammed earth walls with alkali-activated ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) and waste tire textile fiber (WTTF) as a step towards low … M Zamanian, M Salimi, M Payan, A Noorzad, M Hassanvandian Construction and Building Materials 394, 132180 , 2023 2023 Citations: 83
A worldwide SPT-based soil liquefaction triggering analysis utilizing gene expression programming and Bayesian probabilistic method M Goharzay, A Noorzad, AM Ardakani, M Jalal Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering 9 (4), 683-693 , 2017 2017 Citations: 75
Municipal solid waste effective stress analysis N Shariatmadari, SL Machado, A Noorzad, M Karimpour-Fard Waste Management 29 (12), 2918-2930 , 2009 2009 Citations: 75
Effect of footing shape and load eccentricity on behavior of geosynthetic reinforced sand bed E Badakhshan, A Noorzad Geotextiles and Geomembranes 45 (2), 58-67 , 2017 2017 Citations: 72
Stabilization and solidification of arsenic contaminated silty sand using alkaline activated slag A Komaei, A Noorzad, P Ghadir Journal of Environmental Management 344, 118395 , 2023 2023 Citations: 69
Seismic analysis of dam-foundation-reservoir system including the effects of foundation mass and radiation damping H Mohammadnezhad, M Ghaemian, A Noorzad Earthquake engineering and engineering vibration 18 (1), 203-218 , 2019 2019 Citations: 58
Effects of particle morphology on the minimum and maximum void ratios of granular materials MA Maroof, A Mahboubi, E Vincens, A Noorzad Granular Matter 24 (1), 41 , 2022 2022 Citations: 56
On the efficiency and predictability of strain energy for the evaluation of liquefaction potential: A numerical study Y Jafarian, AS Abdollahi, R Vakili, MH Baziar, A Noorzad Computers and Geotechnics 38 (6), 800-808 , 2011 2011 Citations: 55
Experimental investigation on the performance of multi-tiered geogrid mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) walls with wrap-around facing subjected to earthquake loading AM Safaee, A Mahboubi, A Noorzad Geotextiles and Geomembranes 49 (1), 130-145 , 2021 2021 Citations: 54
Strengthening of dune sand with sodium alginate biopolymer H Fatehi, M Bahmani, A Noorzad Eighth international conference on case histories in geotechnical … , 2019 2019 Citations: 54
A 3D-DEM investigation of the mechanism of arching within geosynthetic-reinforced piled embankment E Badakhshan, A Noorzad, A Bouazza, S Zameni, L King International Journal of Solids and Structures 187, 58-74 , 2020 2020 Citations: 49
Predicting crest settlement in concrete face rockfill dams using adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system and gene expression programming intelligent methods D Behnia, K Ahangari, A Noorzad, SR Moeinossadat Journal of Zhejiang University SCIENCE A 14 (8), 589-602 , 2013 2013 Citations: 48
A new method to determine specific surface area and shape coefficient of a cohesionless granular medium MA Maroof, A Mahboubi, A Noorzad Advanced Powder Technology 31 (7), 3038-3049 , 2020 2020 Citations: 47
Hydro-mechanical interaction analysis of reinforced concrete lining in pressure tunnels E Dadashi, A Noorzad, K Shahriar, K Goshtasbi Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology 69, 125-132 , 2017 2017 Citations: 47