Dr. Mohamed Alawady received his M.S.C.E. in structural engineering and his Ph.D. degree in fluid mechanics/hydraulics in 1968 from the University of Oklahoma. During his graduate study, he taught basic structural analysis courses and worked as a research assistant. After completing his education, he taught at Southern University for one year where he served as Chairman of the Department of Civil Engineering. He has been teaching at Louisiana State University for the last 32 years. His teaching experience ranges from such topics as Statics and Fluid Mechanics to Open Channel Flow, Optimization of Water Resources, and Engineering Computational Methods.

For almost 32 years, Dr. Mohamed Alawady has been teaching graduate and undergraduate students in American universities. He has been recognized in the Department, the College of Engineering, and the University as one of the outstanding teachers in the system. Dr. Alawady has consistently received some of the highest student evaluations given in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. He has been awarded several teaching awards from the students, faculty, and University. During the last 5 years, he has been selected by the students twice as the best teacher in the Department. In addition, the Department honored Dr. Alawady as the Teacher of the Year. The University has honored Dr. Alawady as the Teacher of the Year. The University has honored Dr. Alawady with the distinguished award for Excellence in Classroom Instruction. The Louisiana Engineering Foundation awarded Dr. Alawady the "Engineering Faculty Professionalism Award." As a gifted teacher he communicates well and explains his subject area in a unique manner that makes it easy to follow and understand.

Dr. Alawady has been actively involved in continuing education for many years. He is in charge of a number of training courses for practicing engineers and technicians. Typical examples are the Professional Engineer Review and the Fundamentals of Engineering Review courses. Of particular interest, a week long short course for underwater bridge inspection training for divers has been conducted at LSU by Dr. Alawady.

Dr. Alawady is currently authoring a textbook on Fluid Mechanics, Pumps and Pipeline Operations. He has also written a fluid mechanics laboratory manual.
 

Research:

The early thrust of Dr. Alawady's research was related to systems analysis, operations research, statistics, and modeling. His special interest in modeling led to the published report on a hydrological model for the Louisiana shore. His expertise in operations research and statistics were major factors in his report on the study of Mississippi delta simulation. Dr. Alawady recently completed a study and published a report on the "Water Level Statistics for Design of Transportation Facilities in Coastal Louisiana." The primary work was to establish a flood prediction capability and determine flood elevation. The model was an explicitly twodimensional spacestaggered, finite difference scheme to simulate overland flooding. His current research is titled "Hydrologic Modeling for the BaratariaTerrebonne Estuary." The computer model will evaluate the hydrological process occurring within the BaratariaTerrebonne estuary in Louisiana. The model will also assess the effect of water control structures.  In addition, the model will forecast the effects of proposed management strategies.

Dr. Alawady's research was also related to optimization technique and analysis. He studied the sediment transport in the Mississippi River from the control structure to the mouth of the river. His main interest was in physical modeling. His latest interest has been in statistical analysis. During the last five years, he participated in producing approximately 2,000 reports for underwater bridge inspections in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Washington, D.C. He is currently in charge of testing slag cement for determining the characteristics of slag cement by itself and/or as blended with other materials. His main interest is on studying the behavior of the cement under very low temperatures (below 40 F).
 

Consulting:

Dr. Alawady has occasionally served as a consultant in areas related to his research activities. He has conducted investigations of structural failure and scouring problems. He has conducted underwater evaluations of a variety of bridges in the United States.
 

Publications:

• Alawady, M., Naghavi, B., Suhayda, J.  "Water Level Statistics for Design of Transportation Facilities in Coastal Louisiana", Transportation Research Record, No. 1483, Transportation Research Board, Washington, D.C., pp. 64-71.
• Fugler, M., Avent, R., Alawady, M.  "Systematic Evaluation of Structural Deterioration in Underwater Bridge Substructures", Transportation Research Record, No. 1476, Transportation Research Board, Washington, D.D., pp. 139-146, 1995.
• Kura, B., Tittlebaum, M. and Alawady, M. "Design Criteria for Microbial Rock Plant Filter (MRPFs). Based on Influent Loading, Part 2", Water Environment Research,1994.
• Avent, R.R., Alawady, M., and Guthrie, L., "State of Underwater Bridge Inspections - The View Five Years Later," Proceedings, 13th International Bridge Conference, Pittsburgh, PA, pp.  438-449, 1996.
• Avent, R. R., Alawady, M., and Guthrie, L., "Underwater Bridge Deterioration and the Impact of Bridge Inspection in Mississippi," Transportation Research Board, Maintenance if Highway Pavements and Structures, No. 1595, Washington, D. C., pp. 52-60, 1997.
• Fugler, M. D., Avent, R. R., Alawady, M., "The Impact of Subjective Bias on the Appraisal of Structural Deterioration in Underwater Bridge Substructures," Transportation Research Record,   Transportation Research Board, Washington, D. C., 1998.
• Avent, R.R. and  Alawady, M., ed. Structural Engineering in the 21st Century:  Proceedings of the1999 New Orleans Structures Congress. ASCE, 1999.
• Avent, R.R., Alawady, M. and Heymsfield, E., "Inspecting Concrete Bridge Substructures - Part 1: Scour," Concrete International, Volume 23, No 1, pp. 41-45, 2001.

Awards:

1990    "The Excellence of Classroom Instruction" awarded by the Civil Engineering student body.
1990    "Outstanding Faculty Member" awarded by the student chapter of American Society of Civil Engineers.
1991    "Outstanding Faculty Member" awarded by the Civil Engineering student body.
1991    "Teacher of the Year" awarded by the Department of Civil Engineering.
1993    "Teacher of the Year" awarded by the student chapter of The American Society of Civil Engineers.
1994    "LSU Faculty Award" awarded by the Student Government Association.
1995    "Dean's Teaching Award" awarded by the College of Engineering.
1995    "Tiger Athletic Foundation Teaching Award" awarded by Louisiana State University.
1996    "Louisiana Engineering Foundation Engineering Faculty Professionalism" awarded by the Professional Engineering Society in Louisiana.
1998    "Educator of the Year" awarded by the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.
2000    Award in honor of dedicated years of service with ASCE, awarded by ASCE