Contact Information

Sezer Atamturktur, Ph.D.

Civil Engineering Department
Clemson University
110 Lowry Hall
Clemson, SC 29634
Phone: 864-656-3000
Fax: 864-656-2670

sez@clemson.edu
http://www.clemson.edu/ce/
http://www.atamturktur.com

Education

• The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
  Ph.D. in Civil Engineering (Structural Option), August 2009
  Dissertation Title: Predictive Maturity of Finite Element Models of Masonry Vaults
  Thesis Advisor: Dr. Thomas E. Boothby
  Academic Advisor: Dr. Jeffrey Laman
  Committee Members: Dr. Andrew Scanlon, Dr. Martin W. Trethewey, Dr. François Hemez
• The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
  M.S. in Architectural Engineering (Structural Option), May 2006
  Thesis Title: Structural Assessment of Guastavino Domes
  Advisor: Dr. Thomas E. Boothby
• Orta Dogu Teknik Universitesi
  B.S. in Architecture with Honors, June 2002
  Minor in Civil Engineering (Structural Option), June 2002

Research Experience

Assessment of Historic Masonry and Concrete Structures by Broadband Vibration Testing

Research Assistant, Dr. Thomas E. Boothby
The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
January 2009 – Present

• Objective: The project intends to complete the initial prototyping and a trial application of a novel instrumentation scheme to simultaneously accomplish multiple objectives in the assessment of historic masonry and concrete structures. The research program is funded by United States Department of Defense, Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program.
• Responsibilities: Designing the prototype laboratory specimens for experimental modal analysis and impact echo testing. Executing and managing the experiments on both laboratory specimens and selected concrete frame buildings. Developing novel strategies for combining the tools of experimental modal analysis with impact echo measurements.

Defining Predictive Maturity in Multi-Scale Physics-Based Numerical Models

Research Assistant, Dr. François Hemez
Los Alamos National Laboratory, Applied Physics (X) Division, Los Alamos, NM
February 2008 – August 2008

• Objective: To define the concept of predictive maturity on the basis of stabilization of the accuracy of the model when predicting at untested settings as the number of available calibration experiments increases. Project funding by the Global Nuclear Energy Program.
• Responsibilities: Integrated the Preston-Tonks-Wallace (PTW) material model of plasticity for metals with the statistical calibration software. Calibrated the material properties of the PTW model for various metals under different strains, strain rates, and temperatures. Development of a concept for predictive maturity, which is the regime where numerical models’ predictive abilities reach an asymptotic regime. Investigated the extrapolation of numerical model output at untested settings.

Assessment of Historic Monuments

Visiting Research Assistant, Vibration Engineering Research Section
The University of Sheffield, Department of Civil and Structural Engineering, Sheffield, U.K.
January 2007 – July 2007

• Objective: To understand the structural behavior of Beverley Minster, a 12th century church suffering severe separations and cracks due to the settlement of buttresses. The project involved in situ vibration measurements & development and calibration of computer models under the supervision of Dr. Alexander Pavic and Dr. Paul Reynolds. The project was funded through The Pennsylvania State University World Universities Network and the Raymond A. Bowers Programfor Excellence in Design and Construction of the Built Environment.
• Responsibilities: Developed computer models of Beverley Minster. Designed the test setup for experimental modal analysis on the nave vaults of the Beverley Minster. Managed all aspects the test while supervising a crew of 7. Processed the time domain measurements. Calibrated the finite element model according to the measurements. Conducted impact echo measurements on the back of the vaults of the Minster to investigate the variability of the material properties.

Assessment of Load Bearing Unreinforced Masonry Structures

Research Assistant, Dr. Thomas E. Boothby
The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
December 2004 – December 2005

• Objective: To develop a manual to introduce a structural engineer to some of the principles of unreinforced masonry and to provide some basic instructions in preparing a model of such a structure for analysis using modern available tools for structural analysis. The project was funded by National Center for Preservation Technology and Training of the US Department of the Interior.
• Responsibilities: Designed, executed, and managed in situ tests on the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine in New York City, the National Cathedral in Washington D.C., the State Education Building in Albany, NY, the City County Building in Pittsburg, and the Santa Maria Novella in Florence, Italy. Developed computer models of the vaulted naves of these structures in ANSYS Structural software along with previously tested vaults of the Cathedral of St. Julien in Couleuvre, France and of the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, in Crema, Italy. Analyzed the raw data from the vibration measurements via system identification techniques. Visited Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering to conduct vibration measurements on a Guastavino style domical laboratory specimen. Correlated the numerical models with experimental measurements and reported the results of these integrated experimental and numerical studies.

Condition Review and Investigation of Moisture Intrusion of the Exterior Bastion Walls at Historic Ft. Pitt Museum

Research Assistant, Dr. Thomas E. Boothby
The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
September 2004 – December 2004

• Objective: The project involved collecting a series of site measurements on Ft. Pitt Museum, Pittsburg, PA to investigate moisture intrusion in the exterior brick walls of the structure. Funding was provided by The Pennsylvania Historic and Museum Commission.
• Responsibilities: Participated in site measurements of moisture intrusion. Returned on regular trips to the building to monitor the time and temperature dependent behavior of moisture in the brick bastion walls. Correlated the data and prepared reports of the results.

Teaching Experience

The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA

• AE 308 – Introduction to Structural Analysis
  Developed the course material, lectured, and assessed the students’ understanding of the material. This consisted of 9 hours/week classroom teaching with an additional 4 hours of student contact during office hours. Provided weekly homework assignments and quizzes. The Student Rating and Teaching Effectiveness (SRTE) scores for the overall quality of the course was 5.45/7.0 and for the overall quality of the instructor was 5.29/7.0.

• AE 210 – Introduction to Architectural Structural Systems
• AE 308 – Introduction to Structural Analysis
• AE 422 – Architectural Structural Systems II

• Schreyer Institute, Excellence in Teaching Workshop, Summer 2006

Talks & Presentations

• Structural Engineering Seminar Series, Damage Detection in Masonry Vaults by Time Domain Vibration Measurements, The Pennsylvania State University, January 2009
• Graduate Student Seminar Series, A Discussion on the Concept of Predictive Maturity of Computer Models, The Pennsylvania State University, January 2009
• Los Alamos National Laboratory Student Symposium, Predictive Maturity of Computer Models using Functional and Multivariate Output, Los Alamos National Laboratory, August 2008
• Graduate Student Seminar Series, Nonlinear Finite Element Validation with Nonlinear Dynamics: When can a Historic Masonry Monument be Left without Repair?, The Pennsylvania State University, January 2007
• Structural Engineering Seminar Series, The Structural Assessment of Guastavino Domes, The Pennsylvania State University, January 2006

Awards & Grants

Awards

• World University Network Fellowship, Visiting Researcher at University of Sheffield, UK, January 2007
• Dominick J. Demichele Scholarship Award, Society of Experimental Mechanics, February 2007
• James L. Noland Student Fellowship, The Masonry Society, June 2007
• Best Paper Award, College of Engineering Research Symposium, Pennsylvania State University, March 2009

Travel Grants

• Pennsylvania Concrete Masonry Association Sponsorship & Northeast Cement Shippers Association
  Sponsorship, Travel to participate at the University Professor's Masonry Workshop, March 2008
• Women in Engineering Program, Travel grant to participate at the 24th, 25th, & 26th International Modal Analysis Conferences, February 2006, 2007, & 2008
• Women in Engineering Program, Travel grant to participate in a laboratory experiment at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, November 2005

Professional Membership & Services

• 27th International Modal Analysis Conference, February, Orlando, FL, February 2009
  Session Chair: Model Validation & Uncertainty Quantification
• Society of Experimental Mechanics: Member
  Model Validation & Uncertainty Quantification - Technical Division: Member
  Civil Structures Testing - Technical Division: Member
• The Masonry Society
  Existing Masonry – Technical Division: Committee Member
• Architectural Engineering Institute: Member
• American Society of Civil Engineers: Member
• Women in Engineering Program at the Pennsylvania State University: Member
• Architectural Engineering Graduate Student Association: Member President 2004 – 2005
• Reviewer for professional journals: Experimental Techniques, Engineering Structures

Publications

Peer-Reviewed Journal Publications

• Atamturktur, S., Bornn, L., and Boothby T., (in review), "Can Vibration Measurements be used to Detect Damage due to Support Settlements in Historic Masonry Monuments?,” to appear in the Journal of Engineering Structures.
• Hemez, F., Atamturktur, S., and Unal, C., (in review), "Defining Predictive Maturity for Validated Numerical Simulations," to appear in the Journal of Reliability Engineering and System Safety.
• Atamturktur, S., Pavic, A., Reynolds, P. and Boothby, T., (accepted, July 2008), “Full-Scale Modal Testing of Vaulted Gothic Churches: Lessons Learned,” submitted to the Journal of Experimental Techniques.
• Atamturktur, S. and Boothby, T., (2007), “Finite Element Modeling of Guastavino Domes,” Bulletin of Association for Preservation Technology, Vol. 28, No. 4, pp. 21- 29.

Peer-Reviewed Conference Proceedings

• Atamturktur, S., (in review), “Validation of Nonlinear Finite Element Models with Dynamic Tests: an Overview,” to appear in the Proceedings of College of Engineering Research Symposium, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA.
• Boothby, T., Atamturktur, S., Ochsendorf, J., Tallon, A., Murray, S., (2007), “Structural Modeling of the Vaults of St. Julien in Couleuvre, France,” Proceedings of 10th North American Masonry Conference, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
• Boothby, T., Atamturktur, S., (2007), “A Guide for the Finite Element Analysis of Historic Load Bearing Masonry Structures,” Proceedings of 10th North American Masonry Conference, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.

Conference Proceeding & Reports

• Atamturktur, S. and Soysal, O., (in preparation), ''Online Model Calibration using Mobile Sensor Networks," to be submitted to the 7th International Workshop on Structural Health Monitoring, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
• Atamturktur, S., (2009), "Validation and Verification under Uncertainty applied to Finite Element Models of Historic Masonry Monuments," Proceedings of 27th Society of Experimental Mechanics (SEM) International Modal Analysis Conference (IMAC-XXVII), Orlando, Florida, USA.
• Atamturktur, S., Hemez, F., Williams, B., and Unal, C., (2009), "A discussion on Predictive Maturity using Multivariate and Functional Output," Proceedings of 27th Society of Experimental Mechanics (SEM) International Modal Analysis Conference (IMAC-XXVII), Orlando, Florida, USA.
• Hemez, F., Atamturktur, S., and Unal, C., (2009), "Defining Predictive Maturity for Validated Numerical Simulations," Proceedings of 27th Society of Experimental Mechanics (SEM) International Modal Analysis Conference (IMAC-XXVII), Orlando, Florida, USA.
• Atamturktur, S., Pavic, A., Reynolds, P., (2008), “Sensitivity of Modal Parameters of Historic Monuments to Geometric Distortion,” Proceedings of 26th Society of Experimental Mechanics (SEM) International Modal Analysis Conference (IMAC-XXVI), Orlando, Florida, USA.
Atamturktur, S., Fanning, P., Boothby, T., (2007), “Traditional & Operational Modal Testing of the Washington National Cathedral,” submitted to the International Operational Modal Analysis Conference, Copenhagen, Denmark.
• Atamturktur, S., Hanagan L., Boothby, T., (2007), “Extension of Large Scale Modal Analysis Techniques to Historic Masonry Vaults,” Proceedings of 25th Society of Experimental Mechanics (SEM) International Modal Analysis Conference (IMAC-XXV), Orlando, Florida, USA.
• Boothby, T., Atamturktur, S., Hanagan L., (2006), “Modal Analysis Methods for Validation of Vaulted Stone Masonry Models,” Proceedings of 2006 Architectural Engineering Conference, Omaha, Nebraska, USA.
• Boothby, T., Atamturktur, S., Erdogmus, E., (2006), “Manual for the Assessment of Load Bearing Unreinforced Masonry Structures,” prepared for the US Department of the Interior, National Park Service, National Center for Preservation Technology and Training (http://www.arche.psu.edu/masonry-assessment).
• Boothby, T., Parfitt, K., Atamturktur, S., (2005), “Condition Review and Investigation of Moisture Intrusion of the Exterior Bastion Walls at Historic Ft. Pitt Museum,” prepared for The Pennsylvania Historic and Museum Commission.