Ayan Sadhu

I graduated from IIT-Kanpur with a Master’s in Structural Engineering, and from Jadavpur University with a Bachelor's in Civil Engineering. Prior to joining Waterloo, I performed dynamic analysis of Aircraft engines with GE at the John Welch Research Center in Bangalore. Currently, I am pursuing a PhD at UW. My present research focuses on developing statistical parameter estimation techniques to identify the time-varying parameters in biological and structural systems. This research on system identification will refine attempts to control time-varying systems at a more fundamental level and will help to address issues in identifying large-scale systems.

Aaron Roffel

Aaron Roffel received a BASc in civil engineering from the University of Waterloo in 2008 with a Certificate in Structural Engineering and the Management Sciences Option. He is currently studying for a PhD degree under the supervision of Dr. Narasimhan. His research includes real-time hybrid testing of dynamic structural systems to find new ways to incorporate adjustment mechanisms into in-service tuned mass dampers (TMDs) or future TMD designs. This research will advance the use of TMDs in structural design and also promote the use of hybrid testing in a variety of engineering applications.

Chad Van der Woude

I graduated from the University of Waterloo in 2009 with a BASc in Civil Engineering and a Certificate in Structural Engineering. My research under Dr. Narasimhan involves the modeling of wind turbine structures, incorporating the effects of time-varying wind loads and turbulence. This work will involve analytical modeling using both theory and finite element techniques, as well as model testing. The results will be compared to current design standards and used to ensure that structural loads and responses are being evaluated in a realistic and safe way in practical design.

Dritan Topuzi

Dritan Topuzi received a B.Sc. degree in Structural Engineering from the Polytechnic University of Tirana, Albania, in 2001 and a Masters degree in Civil Engineering from Norwich University, VT, USA, in 2007. He is currently pursuing a PhD degree under the co-supervision of Dr. Narasimhan, Dr. Polak and Dr. Grierson. His research is centered on the Seismic Retrofit of Concrete Structures using Smart Materials. These Materials have a great potential to dissipate seismic energy and this work will hopefully contribute to this relatively new research area.