My research efforts focus on the development of intelligent systems that support comprehensive decision making in engineering processes related to the design, monitoring, and rehabilitation of structures. Recognizing that solving complex engineering problems is information and knowledge intensive, I am particularly interested in the development of intelligent tools to assist in effectively collecting and managing information and integrating information and problem-specific engineering knowledge. My research efforts have focused on the development of specialized genetic algorithms and neural networks to solve inverse problems in the design of structures, diagnosis of damage in structures, efficient structural control, and modeling and simulation of non-linear behavior of structural systems. These projects seek to advance the integration of soft-computing methods and increase the current knowledge of students and engineers.
Recent Write-up on Lafayette College Website
Recent Write-up on Jason Sheng ’15 Lafayette College Website
As part of the projects I have proposed, worked on, and completed, I have had the opportunity to mentor students, advance my research initiatives, and disseminate the results through publications and course development.
Funded Research
NEES-CR: Multi-Scale, Mechanistic Fracture Prediction and Optimal Panel Zone Participation in Steel Moment Frame Buildings, National Science Foundation, CMMI Division PIs: G. Fry, C. Stuessy, TAMU, J. Jin, TAMU-Galveston, M. Engelhardt, UT-Austin, A. Raich, Lafayette, Total amount of award (subcontract): $90,000, Period of award: 9/01/09 – 8/31/13
RUI: Pervious Concrete Piles – An Innovative Ground Improvement Alternative, National Science Foundation, CMMI Division
PIs: Muhannad Suleiman, Anne Raich, Steve Kurtz, Total amount of award: $289,613, Period of award: 9/01/09 – 8/31/12
MRI: Acquisition of State-of-the-Art Soil-Structure Interaction Facility, National Science Foundation, CMMI-Major Research Instrumentation
PIs: Muhannad Suleiman, Steve Kurtz, Anne Raich, Mary Roth, Total amount of award: $222,487, Period of award: 9/01/08 – 8/31/12
Write-up about MRI on Lafayette College Website
CAREER: Enhancing Conceptual Design Using Multi-Objective, Dynamically Encoded Genetic Algorithms to Optimize Structural Topology, Geometry, and Size, National Science Foundation, CAREER Award, CMS Division
PI: Anne Raich, Total amount of award: $475,000 Period of award: 8/15/03 – 7/31/08 (1 year extension granted thru 7/31/09)
Write-up on Lafayette College Website
Specifically, the NSF CAREER project had the stated goal of assisting designers in exploring and exploiting design alternatives. The objectives addressed in the project involve supporting the ability to computationally create, evaluate, and optimize a wide range of design alternatives; identify human-computer interactions that allow the designer to control the direction of the search process, and investigate how to adapt Pareto-based fitness selection operators to include subjective design preferences of professional engineers. As part of my research sabbatical during the Spring 2009 semester I was involved in finalizing research trials and in writing a journal paper that was submitted in the spring semester and two more journal papers that will be submitted by the end of the fall semester. Research results extending the method to include reliability measures that were obtained by the honors thesis students I worked with are included in one of the papers.
Current research efforts include optimizing sensor and excitation measurement locations and detecting the location and severity of damage using FRF information. Many researchers have developed damage detection methods that use vibration data (frequencies, mode shapes, FRFs), information derived from vibration data (strain energy, curvature), or static measurements (displacements). Different measured response data have different sensitivities based on the location and severity of damage. This drawback leads to the variety of existing SDIM in development. Most often, however, only one type of measurement in used by each SDIM and the available information may not be sufficient to uniquely identify damaged elements when the number of damaged elements is relatively large. Current research work is focused on developing a methodology to maximize the information used by the SDIM by leveraging the types and amount of response data collected to counteract the impact of working with limited amounts of data. The long-term goal is to develop a hybrid-data SDIM that is capable of effectively using multiple types of structural response data to aid in detecting damage and the development of efficient information measures for optimizing the placement of sensors on a structure in order to collect the highest-quality of information with the fewest measurements possible.
Refereed Journal Publications (* indicates student as co-author)
Suleiman, M.T., Ni, L. and Raich, A., “Development of Pervious Concrete Pile Ground-Improvement Alternative and Behavior under Vertical Loading”, Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, 140 (7), July 2014
Suleiman, M.T., Ni, L. Helm, J.D. and Raich, A., “Soil-Pile Interaction for a Small Diameter Pile Embedded in Granular Soil Subjected to Passive Loading “, Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, 140(5), May 2014
*Cha, Y.J., Kim, Y., Raich, A.M. and Agrawal, A.K., “Multi-objective optimization for actuator and sensor layouts of actively controlled 3D buildings”, Journal of Vibration and Control, 19 (6) , 942-960, April 2013
*Cha, Y.J, Raich, A.M., Barroso, L., and Agrawal, A.K., “Optimal placement of active control devices and sensors in frame structures using multi-objective genetic algorithms”, Structural Control & Health Monitoring, 20(1), 16-44, published in print Jan. 2013; published online in 2012
*Cha Y.J., Agrawal A., Kim Y., and Raich, A., “Multi-objective genetic algorithms for cost-effective distributions of actuators and sensors in large structures”, Expert Systems with Applications, 39(9), 7822-7833, June 2012.
*Bailey, B. and Raich, A.M., “Modeling of User Design Preferences in the Multi-Objective Optimization of Roof Trusses”, ASCE Journal of Computing in Civil Engineering, 26(5), 584-596, 2012.
Raich, A.M. and *Liszkai, T.R., “Multi-Objective Optimization of Sensor and Excitation Layouts for FRF-based Structural Damage Identification”, International Journal of Computer-Aided Civil and Infrastructure Engineering, 27(2), 2012.
Raich, A.M., and *Liszkai, T.R., “Improving the performance of structural damage detection methods using advanced genetic algorithms,” Journal of Structural Engineering, ASCE, 133(3), 449-461, 2007.
*Mathakari, S., Gardoni, P, *Agarwal, P, Raich, A. and Haukaas, T.R., “Reliability-Based Optimal Design of Electrical Transmission Towers Using Multi-Objective Genetic Algorithms”, International Journal of Computer-Aided Civil and Infrastructure Engineering, 22, 282-292, 2007.
*Agarwal, P. and Raich, A.M., “Design and Optimization of Steel Trusses using Genetic Algorithms, Parallel Computing, and Human-Computer Interaction”, International Journal of Structural Engineering and Mechanics, 23(4), 325-337, 2006.
Raich, A.M. and Ghaboussi, J., “Evolving the Topology and Geometry of Frame Structures during Optimization,” Structural Optimization, Vol. 20, No. 3, 222-231, 2001.
Raich, A.M. and Ghaboussi, J., “Implicit Redundant Representation in Genetic Algorithms,” Evolutionary Computation, Vol. 5, No. 3, 277-302, 1997.
Book Chapters
Raich, A.M. and Ghaboussi, J., Chapter 9: Applying the Implicit Redundant Representation Genetic Algorithm in an Unstructured Problem Domain. In Chambers, L. (ed.), Practical Handbook of Genetic Algorithms Vol I: Applications, 2nd ed., pp. 295-340, CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL., 2000.
Conference Papers and Presentations unless other presenter noted (* indicates student as co-author)
Ni, L., Suleiman, M. T., Raich, A. “Pervious Concrete Pile: An Innovative Ground Improvement Alternative.” Proceedings of Geo-Congress 2013, Stability and Performance of Slopes and Embankments, San Diego, California, USA, March 2013.
Suleiman, M.T., Raich, A.M., Ni, L., **Kingston, W., **Polson, T., and Helm, J., “Measured Soil-Pile Interaction for Small Diameter Piles Embedded in Granular Soil Subjected to Lateral Soil Movement”, Geo-Congress 2012 – State -of-the-Art and Practice in Geotechnical Engineering, Oakland, CA, March 2012.
Raich, A. and *Fritz, K. (2011), “Benefits of Implicit Redundant Representation Genetic Algorithms for Conceptual Design and Damage Identification”, Proceedings of the 2011 IEEE Congress on Evolutionary Computation, CD-ROM Paper C-0525, New Orleans, June 2011.
Suleiman, M. T., Raich, A., *Polson, T., *Kingston, W. II, and Roth, M. (2010). “Measured Soil-Pile Interaction Pressures for Small-Diameter Laterally Loaded Pile in Loose Sand.” GeoFlorida 2010 – Advances in Analysis, Modeling and Design, Florida, Febuary 2010.
Raich, A.M. and *Tjioe, M. (2010). “Reliability Based Design Optimization Methodology for the Conceptual Design of Roof Trusses”, Proceedings of ENGOPT2010, 2nd International Conference on Engineering Optimization, CD-ROM Paper 1279, Lisbon, Portugal, September 2010.
*Cha, Y., Raich, A.M., and Barroso, L., ”Near-Optimal Structural Control Architectures of Active Devices and Sensors Using Gene Manipulation Genetic Algorithms,” Proceedings of the 8th World Congress on Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization, CD-ROM paper 1681, June 2009.
Suleiman, M.T., Kurtz, S., Raich, A.M., and Roth, M., “Soil-Structure Interaction Facility”, Proceedings of the NSF Engineering Research and Innovation Conference, CMMI-NSF Grantee Conference, Honolulu, Hawaii, July 2009.
Raich, A.M., “Benefits of Implicit Redundant Representation Genetic Algorithms in Solving Conceptual Design, Damage Identification, and Sensor Layout Inverse Problems”, Proceedings of EngOpt 2008 – International Conference on Engineering Optimization, June 2008.
Raich, A.M. and *Paik, S., “Multi-objective Design of Long-Span Trusses in Unstructured Domains,” Proceedings of the 7th World Conference on Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization, CD-ROM paper A0472, May 2007.
*Bailey, B.W. and Raich, A.M., “Interactive Multi-objective Design of Long-Span Roof Trusses, Proceedings of the 7th World Conference on Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization, CD-ROM paper A0430, May 2007.
*Bailey, B.W. and Raich, A.M., “Interactive Multi-objective Design of Long-Span Trusses,” Poster Session, In Thierens, D., et al. (eds.), Genetic and Evolutionary Computation Conference – GECCO 2007, pp. 902-903, July 2007.
*Paik, S. and Raich, A.M., “Development of a Computational Method for Simultaneous Optimization in an Unstructured Design Domain“, International Conference on Computing and Decision Making in Civil and Building Engineering, CD-ROM paper IC-254, Montreal, Canada, June 2006.
*Bailey, B.W. and Raich, A.M., “Capturing User Aesthetic Design Preferences for Multi-Objective Roof Truss Optimization“, International Conference on Computing and Decision Making in Civil and Building Engineering, CD-ROM paper IC-521, Montreal, Canada, June 2006.
*Dincal, S. and Raich, A.M., “Structural Damage Detection Using Frequency Response Functions – Robustness to Uncertainty in Measurement Information”, In Chang, F-K (ed), Fifth International Workshop on Structural Health Monitoring, pp. 905-912, September 2005.
*Agarwal, P. and Raich, A.M., “Optimal Design of Bridge and Roof Truss Systems using Multi-Objective Genetic Algorithms”, In Soibelman, L. and Pena-Mora, F. (eds), Proceedings of the 2005 International Conference in Computing in Civil Engineering Conference, CD-ROM, July 2005.
*Agarwal, P. and Raich, A.M., “Evaluating Heuristic Methods for Conceptual Design of Steel Roof Trusses”, In Proceedings of the 6th World Conference on Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization, CD-ROM paper 4271, May 2005.
Raich, A.M. and *Liszkai, T.R., “Solving Inverse Problems in Structural Damage Identification using Advanced Genetic Algorithm Representations”, In Proceedings of the 6th World Conference on Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization, CD-ROM 5271, May 2005.
*Agarwal, P. and Raich, A.M., “Design and Optimization of Steel Trusses using Genetic Algorithms, Parallel Computing, and Human-Computer Interaction”, In Choi, C.K., et al. (eds.), Proceedings of the Third International Conference on Advances in Structural Engineering and Mechanics (ASEM’04), pp. 131 (abstract), CD-ROM paper, September 2004 (Agarwal presented).
Raich, A.M. and *Liszkai, T.R., “Multi-Objective Genetic Algorithms for Sensor Layout Optimization in Structural Damage Detection,” In Dagli, D.H., et al. (eds.), Proceedings of the Artificial Neural Networks in Engineering Conference, Intelligent Engineering Systems through Artificial Neural Networks, pp. 889-894, November 2003.
Raich, A.M. and *Liszkai, T.R., “Multi-Objective Genetic Algorithm Methodology for Optimizing Sensor Layouts to Enhance Structural Damage Identification”, In Chang, F-K (ed), Fourth International Workshop on Structural Health Monitoring, pp. 650-657, September 2003.
Raich, A.M. and *Liszkai, T.R., “Benefits of Applying an Implicit Redundant Representation Genetic Algorithm for Structural Damage Detection in Noisy Environments,” In Cantu-Paz, E., et al. (eds.), Genetic and Evolutionary Computation Conference – GECCO 2003, pp. 2418-2419, July 2003.
Raich, A.M. and *Liszkai, T.R., “A Model Parameter Updating Damage Detection Technique using Genetic Algorithm,” In Jarmai, K. & Farkas, J. (eds.), Metal Structures – Design, Fabrication, and Economy, pp. 293 – 300, April 2003 (Liszkai presented).
Raich, A.M. and Ghaboussi, J., “Evolving Structural Design Solutions Using an Implicit Redundant Genetic Algorithm,” In Banzhaf, W., et al. (eds.), GECCO-99: Proc. of the Genetic and Evolutionary Computation Conf., pp. 1691-1698, July, 1999.
Raich, A.M. and Ghaboussi, J., “Evolving Design Solutions by Transforming the Design Environment,” In Dagli, D.H., et al. (eds.), Proceedings of the Artificial Neural Networks in Engineering Conference, Intelligent Engineering Systems Through Artificial Neural Networks, Vol. 8, pp. 285-290, Nov., 1998.
Raich, A.M. and Ghaboussi, J., “Autogenesis and Redundancy in Genetic Algorithm Representation. In Dagli, D.H., et al. (eds.), Proceedings of the Artificial Neural Networks in Engineering Conference, Intelligent Engineering Systems Through Artificial Neural Networks, Vol. 7, pp. 377-382, Nov., 1997.
Wilkison, A.M. and GangaRao, H.V., “Fiber Reinforced Polymer Matrix Composites in Construction,” Proceedings of the 38th International SAMPE Symposium, 1993.
Workshop Papers
Raich, A.M., “Advances in Automated Conceptual Design of Trusses”, Presented at the SEI Structural Optimization Committee Meeting, ASCE Structures Congress, Austin, TX, April 2009.
*Hasegan, D. and Raich, A.M., “Multi-Objective Optimization for Sensor Networks using Genetic Algorithms”, Presented at the 22nd National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR), April, 2008
*Hasegan, D., Raich, A.M., and Veshosky, D., “The Green Reeder House Project: A Sustainable Living and Learning Community”, First Patriot League Academic Conference – Exploring Topics of Mutual Interest in STEM Disciplines, Nov, 2008
*Bailey, B. and Raich, A.M., “Effects of User Preference on Multi-Objective Roof Truss Optimization”, Workshop on User-Centric Evolutionary Computation, Proceedings of the 2006 Genetic and Evolutionary Computation Conference (GECCO-06), Seattle, WA, 2006.
Raich, A.M., “Evolving Structural Design Solutions for Unstructured Problem Domains,” Workshop on Optimal Structural Design Using Genetic Algorithms and Evolutionary Computation, Genetic and Evolutionary Computation Conf. (GECCO-01), pp. 68-72, July, 2001.
Raich, A.M., “Optimizing Design Solutions by Changing the Design Environment during Evolution,” Workshop on Real-life Evolutionary Design Optimization, Genetic and Evolutionary Computation Conf. (GECCO-01), pp. 295-300, July, 2001.
Raich, A.M., “Benefits of Implicit Redundant Representation,” Workshop on Variable String Length, 7th International Conference on Genetic Algorithms, July, 1997.
Invited Presentations (expenses paid) – does not include presentations given during academic job searches
“Multi-Objective Design of Trusses Using Evolutionary Algorithms and User Design Preferences”, Johns Hopkins University, Department of Civil Engineering, November 6, 2007