Dr. Suleiman’s area of expertise is geotechnical and foundation engineering. His research focuses on sustainable and resilient civil infrastructure and renewable energy systems including soil-structure interaction, ground improvement, thermoactive geotechnical systems, and bio-modification of soils and soil-pile systems.
Dr. Suleiman is the Lead PI of the Department of Energy-Funded Project to establish a National Offshore Wind Energy Testing and Hybrid Simulation Facility at Lehigh. He is a developer of a patented new ground-improvement alternative technology. He also investigates the soil-structure interaction of vertically- and laterally-loaded deep foundations that support offshore wind turbines, bridges, building, and other structures. In collaboration with his colleagues, Dr. Suleiman also explores the use of materials and geo-materials for energy storage and usage, and load and resistance factor design of vertically-loaded deep foundations supporting bridges. He also developed a new deep-foundation system that uses advanced concrete materials and a new wireless-sensing technology for subsurface applications. In addition, Dr. Suleiman researches the behavior of new geo-materials and issues related to underground pipes and trenchless technology.
Much of his laboratory work takes place at the soil-structure interaction facility located at the ATLSS Engineering Research Center. The facility includes large-scale soil boxes, advanced sensors and instrumentation, and control systems. Dr. Suleiman’s research has been funded through the National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Energy, the Qatar National Research Fund, Departments of Transportation, and the foundation industry.
Dr. Suleiman has published more than 75 peer-reviewed journal and conference papers in the field. He is the author or co-author of papers published in several journals including the Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering; Canadian Geotechnical Journal; Soil and Foundations Journal; Geotechnical Testing Journal (Japan), the International Journal of Geomechanics; the Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering; the Journal of Structural Engineering: the Transportation Research Record; Earthquake Spectra; and ASCE’s Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities. In 2012, Dr. Suleiman was selected as a P.C. Rossin Assistant Professor by Lehigh’s College of Engineering and Applied Science. He was also named first runner-up by for the Best Young Professor Paper by the Deep Foundation Institute.
Teaching and Service
Dr. Suleiman teaches Soil Mechanics, Geotechnical Engineering, Foundation Engineering, Ground Improvement and Site Development, Behavior of Soils as Engineering Materials, Advanced Foundation Engineering, and Soil-Structure Interaction classes. He is the recipient of the Shamsher Prakash 2014 Prize for Excellence in Teaching of Geotechnical Engineering. He currently serves as Chair for the ASCE Geo-Institute's Deep Foundations Committee and as an editorial board member of the Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering and the Geotechnical Testing Journal. Dr. Suleiman is currently serving as the Chair of the Program Committee for the International Foundation Congress and Equipment Exposition (IFCEE 2021). He also served as a Co-Editor of the 2015 and 2018 Geo-Institute Conference and Proceedings, International Foundation Congress and Equipment Exposition (IFCEE). At Lehigh, Dr. Suleiman has served as a member of different department and university committees, including department search committees, the department graduate and undergraduate committees, the University Graduate and Research Committee, University Faculty Committee on Global Affairs, and Senate Subcommittee on Academic and Student Affairs.
He is a member of the International Association for Bridge Maintenance and Safety; the TRB Committee on Foundations of Bridges and Other Structures; the Geo-Institute Soil Improvement Committee; and the Geo-Institute Deep Foundations Committee and serves as the chair of its subcommittee on energy piles. Dr. Suleiman is a member of the Marine Foundations; Energy Foundations, and Seismic and Lateral Loads Committees of the Deep Foundation Institute. Dr. Suleiman also serves as a reviewer for several national and international journals in geotechnical and foundation engineering and has chaired or co-chaired several foundation engineering sessions at geotechnical engineering conferences.
Links
https://icpie.lehigh.edu/i-cpie-team-led-muhannad-suleiman-receives-funding-doe
Selected Publications
Lin, H., Ni, L., Suleiman, M.T., and Raich, A. (2014). “Interaction Between Laterally Loaded Pile and Surrounding Soil.” Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering-ASCE, Accepted.
Suleiman, M.T., Ni, L., and Raich, A. (2014). “Development of Pervious Concrete Pile Ground-Improvement Alternative and Behavior Under Vertical Loading.” Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering-ASCE, Vol. 140, No. 7, DOI: 04014035.
AbdelSalam, S.S., Suleiman, M.T., and Sritharan, S. (2014). “A Load Transfer Analysis for Axially Loaded Piles Based on Laboratory Test Measurements.” Geotechnical Testing Journal, Vol. 37, No. 4, pp. 1-15.
Yoon, S., Cheng, L., Ghazanfari, E., Pamukcu, S., and Suleiman, M.T. (2014). “A Theoretical and Empirical Analysis of Underground-to-Underground Communication for Wireless Sensor Networks.” Ad Hoc and Sensor Wireless Networks, Accepted.
Suleiman, M.T., Ni, L., Helm, J.D., and Raich, A. (2014). “Soil-Pile Interaction of Passive Piles Embedded in Granular Soil.” Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering-ASCE, Vol. 140, No. 5, DOI: 04014002.
Ng, K.W., Roling, M., AbdelSalam, S.S., Suleiman, M.T., and Sritharan, S. (2013). “Pile Setup in Cohesive Soil: An Experimental Investigation.” Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering-ASCE, Vol. 139, No. 2, pp. 199-209.
Ng, K.W., Suleiman, M.T., and Sritharan, S. (2013). “Pile Setup in Cohesive Soil: Analytical Quantifications and Design Recommendations.” Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering-ASCE, Vol. 139, No. 2, pp. 210-222.
Xiao, S., Suleiman, M.T., Naito, C., and Neti, S. (2013). “Use of Geothermal Deep Foundations for Bridge Deicing.” Transportation Research Record, Transportation Research Board (TRB), No. 2363, pp. 56-65.
Ghazanfari, E., Pamukcu, S., Yoon, S., Suleiman, M.T., and Cheng, L., (2013). “Geotechnical Sensing Using Electromagnetic Attenuation Between Radio Transceivers.” Journal of Smart Materials and Structures, Accepted.
Yoon, S., Ghazanfari, E., Cheng, L., Pamukcu, S., and Suleiman, M.T. (2013). “Subsurface Event Detection and Classification Using Wireless Signal Networks.” Journal of Sensors; Special Issue: Ubiquitous Sensing, Accepted.
AbdelSalam, S.S., Suleiman, M.T., and Sritharan, S. (2012) “A Load Transfer Analysis for Axially Loaded Piles Using a Modified Borehole Shear Test.” Geotechnical Testing Journal, Vol. 35, No. 6. DOI: 10.1520/GTJ20120071.
Suleiman, M.T., Gopalakrisnan, K., and Kevern, J. (2011). “Structural Behavior of Pervious Pavement Systems.” Journal of Transportation Engineering-ASCE, Vol. 137, No. 12, pp. 907-917.
Roling, M., Sritharan, S., and Suleiman, M.T. (2011). “Introduction to PILOT Database and Establishment of LRFD Resistance Factors for the Construction Control of Driven Steel H-Piles.” Journal of Bridge Engineering, Vol. 16, No. 6, pp. 728-738.
AbdelSalam, S.S., Sritharan, S., and Suleiman, M.T. (2011). “LRFD Resistance Factors for Design of Driven H-Piles in Layered Soils.” Journal of Bridge Engineering, Vol. 16, No. 6, pp. 739-748.
Mekkawy, M. M., White, D.J., Suleiman, M.T., and Jahren, C.T.(2011). “Mechanically Reinforced Granular Shoulders on Soft Subgrade: Laboratory and Full Scale Studies.” Geotextiles and Geomembranes, 29, pp. 149-160.
Roling, M., AbdelSalam, S. S., Sritharan, S., and Suleiman, M.T. (2011). “An Investigation of Design and Construction Practices for Bridge Pile Foundations in Iowa County Jurisdictions for LRFD Calibration.” Transportation Research Record 2204, Vol. 2, p 233-241.
Suleiman, M.T., Vande Voort, T., and Sritharan, S. (2010). “Behavior of UHPC Driven Piles Subjected to Vertical and Lateral Loads.” Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, Vol. 136, No. 10, pp. 1403-1413.
Abdel-Salam, S., Sritharan, S., and Suleiman, M.T. (2010). “Current Design and Construction Practices of Bridge Pile Foundations with Emphasis on Implementation of LRFD.” Journal of Bridge Engineering, ASCE, Vol. 15, No. 6, pp. 749-758.
Mekkawy, M.M., White, D.J., Jahren, C.T. and Suleiman, M.T. (2010). “Performance Problems and Stabilization Techniques for Granular Shoulders.” Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities, Vol. 24, No. 2, pp. 159-169.
White, D.J., Thompson, M.J., Suleiman, M.T., and Schaefer, V.R. (2008). “Experimental Load Transfer of Piles Subjected to Lateral Soil Movement.” Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, Vol. 134, No. 4, pp. 428-436.
Kevern, J., Schaefer, V.R., Wang, K., and Suleiman, M.T. (2008). “Pervious Concrete Mixture Proportions for Improved Freeze-Thaw Durability.” Journal of ASTM International, Vol. 5, No. 2.
Suleiman, M.T. and White, D.J. (2008). “Closure to Load Transfer in Short Aggregate Piers.” ASCE International Journal of Geomechanics, Vol. 8, No. 5, pp. 324.
Sritharan, S., Suleiman, M.T., and White, D.J. (2007). “Effects of Seasonal Freezing on Bridge Column-Foundation-Soil Interaction and Seismic Design Implications.” Earthquake Spectra, Vol. 23, No. 1, pp. 199-222.
White, D.J., Mekkawy, M.M., Suleiman, M.T., and Sritharan, S. (2007). “Performance of Collapse Bridge Approach Backfill with Geosynthetic Drainage and Reinforcement.” Geosynthetics International, Vol. 14, No. 2, pp. 76-88.
White, D.J., Vennapusa, P., Suleiman, M.T., and Jahren, C.T. (2007). “An in-situ Device for Rapid Determination of Permeability for Granular Bases.” Geotechnical Testing Journal, July 2007, Vol. 30, No. 4, pp. 282-291.
White, D.J., Mekkawy, M.M., Sritharan, S., and Suleiman, M.T. (2007). “‘Underlying’ Causes for Settlement of Bridge Approach Pavement Systems.” Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities, Vol. 21, No. 4, pp. 273-282.
Suleiman, M.T. and D.J. White. (2006). “Load Transfer in Short Aggregate Piers.” ASCE International Journal of Geomechanics, Vol. 6, No. 6, pp. 389-398.
Suleiman, M.T., Sritharan, S. and White, D.J. (2006). “Cyclic Lateral Load Response of Bridge Column-Foundation Systems in Freezing Conditions.” ASCE Journal of Structural Engineering, Vol. 132, No. 11, pp. 1745-1754.
Suleiman, M.T. and Coree, B. (2004). “Constitutive Model for High Density Polyethylene Material: A Systematic Approach.” ASCE Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, Vol. 16 (6), pp. 511-515.
White, D.J. and Suleiman, M.T. (2004). “Design of Short Aggregate Piers to Support Highway Embankments.” Transportation Research Record 1868, pp. 124-134.
Suleiman, M.T., Lohnes, R., Wipf, T., and Klaiber, W. (2003) “Analysis of Deeply Buried Flexible Pipes.” Transportation Research Record 1849, pp. 103-112.
Ghazanfari, E., Pamukcu, S., Yoon, S., Suleiman, M.T., and Cheng, L., “Geotechnical Sensing Using Electromagnetic Attenuation Between Radio Transceivers.” Journal of Smart Materials and Structures, Accepted.
Yoon, S., Ghazanfari, E., Cheng, L., Pamukcu, S., and Suleiman, M.T. (2012). “Subsurface Event Detection and Classification Using Wireless Signal Networks.” Journal of Sensors; Special Issue: Ubiquitous Sensing, Accepted.
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