ZEHONG
YUAN, Ph.D., P.E.
Geotechnical/Geosynthetic Engineering,
Soil and Geosynthetic Testing
Design and Analysis
Dr.
Yuan has been active in geotechnical engineering since 1982 after graduating
from Hehai University, China. His
experience in China spans from subsurface geotechnical exploration to design of
earth dams. After three years of
geotechnical engineering practice in China, Dr. Yuan came to US to pursue his
Doctor degree in the civil/geotechnical engineering. While he was a research assistant at the University of New
Mexico, he worked on several research projects ranging from testing and
evaluation of geogrid properties to design and construction monitoring of
reinforced bridge abutments. Dr. Yuan
also gained significant experience in numerical simulation through development
of a finite element program for analyzing reinforced soil structures during his
graduate study.
After
graduating from the University of New Mexico, Dr. Yuan joined GeoSyntec
Consultants where he progressively held positions of senior staff engineer,
assistant project engineer, and project engineer. He was a program manager of GeoSyntec-SGIÒ, responsible for managing the soil-geosynthetic interaction
testing program (interface direct shear, pullout, geosynthetic-SRW block
connection, block shear). With his
strong geotechnical background, significant experience in geosynthetic material
properties, and in-depth knowledge of the NCMA Design Manual for Segmental
Retaining Walls and FHWA Design and Construction Guidelines for Mechanical
Stabilized Earth Walls and Reinforced Slopes, Dr. Yuan not only can provide
quality testing services to his clients but can also provided invaluable
recommendations to his clients for product development and/or improvement.
Dr. Yuan has been active in
conducting research for manufacturers and government agencies. He was actively involved in the 3-year study
entitled “Dynamic Response of Reinforced Soil Systems”, conducted for the US
Air Force. He managed the confined extension and creep testing program, a major
portion of the 3-year study entitled “Durability of Geosynthetics for Highway
Applications”, conducted for the FHWA.
He was also involved in various studies ranging from development of the
testing device to determine the long-term internal shear strength of GCL for
manufacturers to laboratory simulation of geogrid abrasion damage around SRW block
corners due to backfill settlement for engineering firms.
Dr. Yuan and his partner Mr.
Robert H. Swan, Jr. purchased GeoSyntec–SGI® from GeoSyntec Consultants on 1 June
2001. Dr. Yuan is
the Chief Technical Officer of SGI® Testing Services, LLC, The Interaction
Specialists®.
COMPLETE RESUME LIST OF PUBLICATIONS
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Ó2001 SGI® Testing Services, LLC. All Rights
Reserved
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