FHWA Resource Center
Dr. NASER ABU-HEJLEH, P.E.
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEER SPECIALIST
19900 Governors Drive, Suite 301
Olympia Fields, IL 60461
Ph: (708) 283-3550; FAX: (708) 283-3501
naser.abu-hejleh@fhwa.dot.gov
Experience:
Began working in field in 1995
Joined FHWA in 2005
Education:
Ph.D., Geotechnical Engineering, University of Colorado at Bolder, 1993.
M.S., Geotechnical Engineering, M.E.T. University, Ankara Turkey, 1988.
B.S., Civil Engineering, Yarmouk University, Irbid, Jordan, 1986.
Licenses and Registrations:
• P.E., Colorado
Areas of Expertise:
• LRFD
• Analysis and Design of Deep Foundations (Drilled shafts and driven piles).
• MSE Walls and Abutments.
• Load Testing of Deep Foundation.
• Bridge Approaches.
• Settlement of Foundations.
• Testing of soils and rocks.
Professional Highlights:
• Manager and lead investigator of Colorado DOT geotechnical research projects (1997-2005).
• Authored and published numerous professional journal papers and research reports.
• A member of three TRB Committees and a panel member of four NCHRP projects.
Examples of recent projects
Bridge Approaches.
o Evaluated the performance of MSE and flow fill approaches of more than 120 bridges.
o Conducted comprehensive investigations to determine reasons for bridge bump problems.
o Provided recommendations to improve Colorado DOT practice for design and construction of bridge approaches.
Drilled Shafts.
o Axial load tests on Drilled shafts embedded in weak rocks and lateral load tests on drilled shafts embedded in soils were conducted in five major Colorado DOT construction projects, and an extensive program of simple geotechnical tests was performed at the load test site.
o Information on the construction and materials of the test shafts were documented followed by thorough analysis of all the test results.
o CDOT and AASHTO/FHWA axial and lateral design methods for drilled shafts were evaluated. Provided recommendations to improve design and construction of drilled shafts, and developed a plan to transfer CDOT to the accurate LRFD method.
MSE Abutments and Walls.
o In the new Founders/Meadows bridge structure, the bridge abutments are placed on a spread foundation placed directly on top of GRS walls (called GRS abutment). In the ramp walls connecting NB I-25 to I-70 in Denver, MSE wall with independent full-height facing (IFF), was constructed (called MSE/IFF wall).
o The two structures were instrumented and performance data on the soil stresses, strains, temperatures, moisture contents, and movements of the walls were collected during construction and while the structures were in service for almost four years followed by thorough data analysis.
o Published reports and papers summarized the features, limitations, and design and construction guidelines for the use of GRS bridge abutments and MSE/IFF walls in CDOT future construction projects.
o CDOT Staff Bridge office agreed to incorporate the recommendations for GRS abutment in a subsection of CDOT Bridge Design Memo and the recommendations for MSE/IFF wall in a new CDOT Structural Worksheet.
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