Sam Helwany

Sam Helwany is a Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM), within the College of Engineering & Applied Science. With over 20 years of experience, he specializes in geotechnical engineering, soil-structure interaction, and finite element analysis. He has authored Applied Soil Mechanics with Abaqus Applications, a textbook integrating computational methods into geotechnical problem-solving. His research focuses on energy piles, geothermal energy storage, and geosynthetic-reinforced soil (GRS) structures, often collaborating with interdisciplinary teams and institutions like EPFL-Switzerland and Virginia Tech.

Education: PhD (Geotechnical Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, 1993), MS (Geotechnical Engineering, University of Colorado, Denver, 1987), BS (Civil Engineering, University of Colorado, Denver, 1985).

Research interests include experimental and analytical geotechnical engineering, soil-structure interaction under static/dynamic loads, finite element analysis, flexible pavement design, and geothermal energy applications. He has led NSF-funded projects on energy piles' thermal effects and geothermal storage systems, emphasizing sustainable energy solutions.

Teaching spans courses in soil mechanics, foundation engineering, and structural analysis. His work bridges academia and industry, addressing challenges in bridge construction, CLSM (controlled low strength materials), and seismic resilience.

Grants and Collaborations: Principal Investigator for NSF-funded research on energy piles' thermal impacts and UWM's Research Growth Initiative project on wind/solar energy storage via energy piles. Collaborations include mechanical and electrical engineering departments at UWM, as well as international partners.