Rakesh Goel

Rakesh Goel is the Dean of the School of Engineering at the University of California, Merced. His research focuses on seismic design standards for marine structures, nonlinear systems analysis, and infrastructure resilience. Key areas include seismic force provisions for nonstructural systems in marine terminals, fault-rupture bridge response, and dynamic interaction modeling between primary and secondary systems.

Research emphasizes validation of methodologies like the Substitute Structure Method for MOTEMS and ASCE/COPRI codes. His work addresses challenges such as nonlinear soil-pile interactions, code compliance for harbor infrastructure, and accurate displacement demand estimation. Notable contributions include comparative studies of seismic displacement procedures for concrete piers and wharves.

Publications span 20 years, demonstrating sustained expertise in earthquake engineering, structural dynamics, and geotechnical analysis. His interdisciplinary approach bridges civil engineering with geophysics, particularly in low-frequency seismic data applications for hydrocarbon exploration.