Asst. Prof. Dr. Özgür KURÇ

Research Experience

Assistant Professor: Structural Engineering Division, METU 2005-Present
Research Fellow at Department of Civil Engineering, McGill University Summer 2011
  • Conducted a study on comparison of linear assessment methods of ASCE / SEI 41, Supplement 1 and EN 1998-3
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    Research Fellow at European Laboratories of Structural Assessment (ELSA), JRC Fall 2006
  • Three month joint research program on pseudo dynamic testing with participation in ongoing projects (PRECAST, SEISRACKS)
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    Doctoral Research: CASE Center, Georgia Institute of Technology
    Sponsored by GTSTRUDL, Case Center    		 1999-2005
  • Developed a parallel finite element program that was able to solve large linear structural problems on arbitrary number of computers belonging to a Windows based PC cluster simultaneously.
  • Developed a technique to balance the workloads of computers for condensation with active column direct solvers on homogeneous clusters
  • Developed a self-adaptation technique for the parallel solver that automatically distributes the workload among the computers according to the computational properties of the cluster.
  • Developed an out-of-core linear solution algorithm for shared memory computers.
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    Master Research: Structural Mechanics Lab, METU 1997-1999
  • Developed an object-oriented finite element program with macro elements
  • Developed a CAD-based graphical interface for space truss systems (XUzay). The program is being used by various companies in Turkey.
  • Developed a graphical pre- and post-processor for the analysis of plate structures
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    Industrial Experience

    Structural Engineer at Browder & LeGuizamon Associates, Atlanta, GA, USA 2000-2005
  • Responsible from the overall design of various high-rise and mid-rise residential and office buildings in Atlanta, Florida, Missouri, and Knoxville, USA. The work involved preliminary decision making, detailed 3D modeling, design of structural elements, detailing, and on-site inspections.
  • Performed geometric non-linear analysis to check various built-up steel columns against buckling and dynamic analysis of high-rise buildings for wind-tunnel tests.
  • Controlled the performance of the shear walls of a high-rise building subjected to ultimate wind and earthquake loadings with 3D push-over analysis.
  • Gained extended experience on finite element modeling, dynamic, seismic, push-over and non-linear analyses, concrete, post-tension, and steel design with ACI-318, LRFD, ASD and IBC specifications.
  • Developed a finite element based shear wall design technique to determine the required amount of reinforcement for arbitrary-shaped walls.
  • Involved in the design of more than thirty buildings involving Atlanta International Terminal which is a 900 million dollar project.
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