A paper published by a team of Lehigh structural engineering researchers has been selected as the "Featured Article" for the September 2024 issue (Volume 315) of the journal Engineering Structures.

The article, "Development of multi-directional real-time hybrid simulation for tall buildings subject to multi-natural hazards," was written by structural engineering alum and visiting research scholar Safwan Al-Subaihawi '23 PhD; James Ricles, the Bruce G. Johnston Professor of Structural Engineering; Spencer Quiel, an associate professor of structural engineering; and Thomas Marullo '01 '04G, a research scientist and the NHERI Lehigh Experimental Facility systems manager in Lehigh's Advanced Technology for Large Structural Systems (ATLSS) Center. Ricles is also the director of ATLSS and the NSF-sponsored Real-Time Multi-directional Natural Hazards Cyber-Physical Simulation Facility.

The paper presents a new real-time hybrid simulation (RTHS) framework that enables testing of tall building models subjected to multi-directional earthquakes and wind. Using a 40-story building as a case study, the study demonstrates that RTHS can accurately simulate complex responses to multiple hazards in real-time, providing insights for improving structural resilience.

Read the full article in Engineering Structures.