Tewodros Yosef

Contact Information:

City Campus (Lincoln)
WHIT 330L
(402) 472-2019
tyosef2@unl.edu

Personal Links:

• Midwest Roadside Safety Facility

Professional Memberships:

• Engineering Mechanics Institute (EMI)
• ASCE American Society of Civil Engineers

Research Assistant Professor

Academic Degrees

  • Ph.D., Geotechnical and Materials Engineering, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
  • M.S., Geomechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, University of Mississippi
  • B.S., Civil Engineering, Addis Ababa University

Certifications

  • Ph.D.

Areas of Research and Professional Interest

  • Computational Geomechanics
  • Constitutive Modeling of Geomaterials under High Strain Rate Impact Loading
  • Mechanics of Compacted Granular Soils and its Application to Roadside Safety Engineering Problems
  • Geotechnics for Resilient and Sustainable Infrastructure
  • Blast and Impact Geotechnics
  • Structural Impact and Crashworthiness
  • Design, Analysis, and Evaluation of Roadside Safety Structures Using Full-Scale Crash Testing and Nonlinear, Large-Deformation, Dynamic Finite Element Analysis
  • Impact Testing, Force Protection, Physical Security, and Threat Mitigation

In the News: Powered by the Nebraska Engineering News

Honors and Awards

  • Recipient of the Outstanding Postdoc Award, Graduate Studies, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, 2023
  • Finalist for the Outstanding Postdoc Award, Graduate Studies, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, 2023
  • Professional Development Fellowship, Graduate Studies, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, 2022
  • TRB AKD20 Best Paper Award (with M.A. Pajouh, K. Lechtenberg, and R.K. Faller), 2021
  • Milton Mohr Graduate Fellowship, College of Engineering, University of Nebraska– Lincoln, 2018-2019
  • Peck/Benak Engineering Achievement Fellowship, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, 2017-2018
  • Engineering Mechanics Institute (EMI-2016) Conference Travel Grant, College of Engineering, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, 2016
  • Graduate Research Fellowship, School of Engineering, University of Mississippi, 2015

Funding

  • Guidance for MGS Installed Adjacent to Steep Slopes at Variable Offsets – Phase I, Wisconsin Department of Transportation, (October 2023 – October 2026, Total Award: $239,647, Co-PI)
  • MASH TL-3 Development and Evaluation of Crashworthy Approach Guardrail Transition with Increased Span Length Between Concrete Bridge Rail and First Transition Post – Phase I, Nebraska Department of Transportation, (July 1, 2023 – May 31, 2025, Total Award: $175,145, PI)
  • Crash Tested Bridge Railings and Transitions for Wood Bridges – Phase IIB (Continued Development, Crash Testing, and Evaluation of MASH Test Level 4 Timber Railing with Curb System Bridge Rail and MASH TL-3 Approach Guardrail Transitions), United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, (May 1, 2022 – December 31, 2024, Total Award: $600,000, Co-PI)

Selected Publications

  • T.Y. Yosef, C. Fang, R.K. Faller, S. Kim, R.W. Bielenberg, C.S., Stolle (2025) “Simulation of laterally impacted piles in dry gravel by adaptive FEM-SPH method,” ASCE Geotechnical Frontiers 2025.

  • T.Y. Yosef, C. Fang, J.S. Steelman, R.K., Faller, M.A Pajouh, (2025) “Optimizing luminaire pole foundation designs with hybrid FEM+ALE impact simulations,” ASCE Geotechnical Frontiers 2025.

  • T.Y. Yosef, C. Fang, S. Kim, R.K. Faller (2024) “Dynamic response of piles embedded in granular soil to lateral impacts,” Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, 180, 108593, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soildyn.2024.108593

  • T.Y. Yosef, C. Fang, R.K. Faller, S. Kim, C.S. Stolle (2024) “Simulating dynamic thin-walled structures-soil interaction under vehicular impacts using coupled FEM-ALE approach,” Journal of Engineering Structures, 136, 118588, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engstruct.2024.118588.

  • T.Y. Yosef, C. Fang, R.K. Faller, S. Kim, R.W. Bielenberg, C.S. Stolle, M.A. Pajouh (2024). “Adaptive coupling of FEM and SPH method for simulating dynamic post-soil interaction under impact loading,” Advances in Engineering Software, 195,103707, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.advengsoft.2024.103707.

  • T.Y. Yosef, C. Fang, R.K. Faller, S. Kim (2024) “Experimental and numerical investigations on the dynamic response of steel piles embedded in crushed limestone material under impact loading” Geotechnical and Geological Engineering, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-024-02881-7.

  • T.Y. Yosef, R.K. Faller, C. Fang, S. Kim (2024). “A state-of-the-art review on modeling of dynamic pile-soil interaction in crash test simulations,” Geotechnics 2024, 4, 127-157. https://doi.org/10.3390/geotechnics4010007.
  • T.Y. Yosef, R.K. Faller, C. Fang, S. Kim (2023). “Modeling dynamics of laterally impacted piles in gravel using erosion method,” Geotechnics 2023, 3(4), 1251-1278; https://doi.org/10.3390/geotechnics3040068.
  • T.Y. Yosef, C. Fang, R.K. Faller, S. Kim (2023) “A multi-material ALE model for investigating impact dynamics of pile-soil systems,” Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, 164(2023): 107648. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soildyn.2022.107648.
  • C. Fang, T.Y. Yosef, D.G. Linzell, (2023). “Multi-hazard resistant behavior of CFRP and polyurea retrofitted reinforced concrete dual-column piers under combined collision-blast loading,” Materials 2023, 16, 3784. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16103784.
  • C. Fang, D.G. Linzell, T.Y. Yosef (2023) “Experimental and Numerical Investigation of High-Rise, Reinforced Concrete Building Resistance to Progressive Collapse,” 7th International Conference on Protective Structures (ICPS7), May 14–17, Auburn University, AL, USA.
  • M.A Pajouh, T.Y. Yosef, R.W. Bielenberg, R.K., Faller (2023) “Soil-Embedded Guardrail Post Modeling Under Vehicle Impacts,” Geo-Congress, https://ascelibrary.org/doi/10.1061/9780784484692.016.
  • C. Fang, D.G. Linzell, T.Y. Yosef, J.D. Rasmussen (2022) “Performance evaluation of highway bridge piers under medium truck collision combined with air blast,” ASCE, Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities, 36(1): 04021107. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CF.1943-5509.0001683.
  • C. Fang, D.G. Linzell, T.Y. Yosef, J.D. Rasmussen (2022) “Numerical modeling and performance assessment of bridge column strengthened by FRP and polyurea under combined collision and blast loading,” ASCE, Journal of Composites for structures, 26(2):04022002. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CC.1943-5614.0001188.
  • C. Fang, T.Y. Yosef, D.G. Linzell, J.D. Rasmussen (2021) “Residual axial capacity estimates for bridge columns subjected to vehicle collision and air blast,” ASCE, Journal of Bridge Engineering, 26(7): 04021035. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)BE.1943-5592.0001735.
  • C. Fang, T.Y. Yosef, D.G. Linzell, J.D. Rasmussen (2021) “Computational modeling and simulation of isolated highway bridge columns subjected to vehicle collision and air blast,” Journal of Engineering Failure Analysis, 125 (2021) 105389. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engfailanal.2021.105389.
  • M.A. Pajouh, K. Lechtenberg, R.K. Faller, T.Y. Yosef (2021), “Development, crash testing, and evaluation of steel-post, trailing-end, guardrail anchorage system,” Journal of the Transportation Research Board: Transportation Research Record, 2675(12), 952-966. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/03611981211031901.

Recent Presentations

  • T.Y. Yosef, R.W. Bielenberg, M.A Pajouh, R.K. Faller, (2024) “Impact performance evaluation of W-beam guardrail systems for low-fill culverts application,” IRF R2T Conference and Exhibition, December 10–13, Orlando, FL, USA.

  • T.Y. Yosef, R.K. Faller, R.W. Bielenberg, S.K. Rosenbaugh, J.S. Steelman, A.E. Loken, S. Sritharan, B. Shafi, B. Phares, A. Vakili, D. Saini (2024) “Investigation, crash testing, and evaluation of a MASH TL-4 precast concrete bridge rail,” 2nd International Conference and Peer Exchange on Roadside Safety, June 23-26, Orlando, FL, USA.

  • T.Y. Yosef (2024) “Impact Geotechnics: Modeling Dynamic Impact Soil-Structure Interaction for Advances in Roadside Safety, Physical Security, and Threat Mitigation” Transportation Research Board, 2nd International Conference and Peer Exchange on Roadside Safety, Only the Yong – Insights from Young Professionals, Orlando, FL, June 26.

  • W. Kelley, C.S. Stolle, R.K. Faller, J.S. Steelman, T.Y. Yosef, (2024) “Entry Control Threat Delay and Containment – New Non-Proprietary M50 P2/P3 Barrier Development” Poster No. P24-21282, Annual meeting of the Transportation Research Board, Transportation Research Board, 7-11 January, Washington D.C., USA.

  • T.Y. Yosef, R.K. Faller, R.M. Masterson, J.S. Steelman, R.W. Bielenberg, S.K. Rosenbaugh (2023) “Two MASH TL-1 bridge railings for alternative decks on low-volume roads,” IRF R2T Conference and Exhibition, November 14–17, Phoenix, AZ, USA.
  • T.Y. Yosef (2023) “Soil Modeling Using Adaptive Coupling of Finite Element Method and Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics” Modeling and Simulation for Design and Evaluation of Roadside Safety Hardware, Workshop 5007: AKD20 Roadside Safety Design Simulation Workshop, Transportation Research Board, Washington D.C., January 12.
  • T.Y. Yosef, C. Fang, S. Kim, R.K. Faller, R.W. Bielenberg, C.S. Stolle, M. A. Pajouh (2023) “Adaptive Coupling of Finite Element Method and Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics for Simulating Impact Dynamics of Post-Soil Systems,” Annual meeting of the Transportation Research Board, AKD20 Committee on Roadside Safety Design, Transportation Research Board, 8-12 January, Washington D.C., USA.
  • M.A Pajouh, T.Y. Yosef, R.W. Bielenberg, R.K., Faller (2023) “Soil-Embedded Guardrail Post Modeling Under Vehicle Impacts,” Geo-Congress, 26–29 March 2023, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
  • C. Fang, D.G. Linzell, J.D. Rasmussen, T.Y. Yosef (2021) “Resiliency of Reinforced Concrete Bridge Frame Piers Subjected to Vehicle Collision and Air Blast,” 6th International Conference on Protective Structures (ICPS6), May 10-13, Auburn University, AL, USA.