Good day, Dr. Selva Ganesa Moorthi A. I'm Arjun. I've had a look through your background and your professional record. I'm interested in hearing more about your work and how you see yourself fitting in here with our faculty. Ready to start?

Please start by introducing your professional journey in academia.

Yeah.

I'm Selvaganeshwarthi. I have completed my PhD from IT Madras Department of Structural Engineering.

Division, Department of Civil Engineering at IIT Madras.

Now currently I'm.

Doing post structural fellow at Tirupati in a. It is not a institute postdoc fellow. It is a project based postdoc fellow. It is sponsored sponsored by Government of India. It's like more project. So my PhD.

Titles seismic behavior of recast structural walls vertical connections so in this.

In my research I have proposed A ductile connection which is performing well in earthquake loading condition and currently here I'm walking in UHPFRC girder. So this is an advanced material and so there is no specific codal provision for this especially for earthquake loading condition.

And so we are trying to.

Like find a solution for this because these advanced materials are not behaving like normal and concrete so definite and these nowadays these materials are getting more attractive in the construction industries. So it is very important to study this material property and it is very important to bring the construction guidelines for this advanced concrete materials especially.

Para seismic loading condition and uh, my PhD topic is preca structural connection. Nowadays precast construction is very popular and it is performing very poor in terms of earthquake loading condition. So it is very important to study the behavior of connection in the precast building. So in this way, I was way like very fitted for this position. Uh, and.

Umm, especially I want to highlight that umm, uh, during my PhD I have published 2 ACA structural journals, plus 3.

International conference owners at Italy, another world conference, WCA world conference for the earthquake engineering, It happened at UH Italy and another conference is from coast. It's a fracture mechanics of concrete structures. It happened at IAC Bangalore and another conference is.

Another conferences for Bond in concrete that does conducted by University of Stuttgart, Germany. So and currently one of my papers under the process of review in IC structural journal which belongs to my PHGO and another paper is also in review process that is also based on my PhD work which is in structures journals. And in this post-dart fellow currently.

Three papers are in review. So one is at engineering structures, another one is in structural concrete and another one is another one is in construction and building materials. And here at IIT Tirupathi, we have proposed 1 framework for optimizing the material properties for UHPFRC girders and we have filed a patent on this actually. Uh, and we have completed our provisional filing.

This is my technical knowledge and, uh, my and, uh, my post-doc experience.

So.

Thank you for sharing your academic journey and contributions, Professor Selvaganeshwarthi. Your research on precast structural connections and advanced materials like UHPFRC under seismic conditions sounds highly impactful. Let's now move ahead.

Yeah, we can move forward.

Dr. Moorthi, let us now dive into assessing your technical and academic qualifications. Starting with "Earthquake Engineering," could you briefly explain how you approached the seismic behavior analysis of precast structural walls with welded plate connections in your past research?

Actually there are in like in case of connections like because the in like when we are coming to a.

Like we are having two options of building 1 is we came in. In terms of precast, we can go with monolithic like framed building, other owners framed building with the shear wall. Everybody knows that shear wall building will perform better in case of earthquake loading condition. But precast structural walls are very huge in size and it is very difficult to transport from.

Casting yard to the site so it has to be split into segments.

To be a ductile behaviour under the earthquake loading condition. So in our cases we have proposed 1 ductile connection. Actually it consists of suicide. It consists of a welded plate. So in the precast panel we will have an embedded plates in the panel and these panels will be assembled on the site and that embedded plates will be welded with the help of one hutch shape plates the. Why the hutch shaped plate is because it's having a flash.

So this segment has to connect on the site so far that we need vertical connection as well as horizontal connection. So we like the past eighth quick, uh, which, uh, like from based on the literatures and based on the case study, we came to know that these connections are always the weaker links. So these connection need to be designed.

More area and we are having a lesser web area. So under the loading condition, this flange will be welded on the embedded plate which will give enough shear strength and stiffness to the connection and the unconnected port. That web portion will yield prayer and it will fail prior to the panel so that we can achieve the ductility.

So.

We have proposed 1 dactyl connection and it has performed well then the monolithic connection. So in that way this connections uh, like another advantage with this connection is uh, we can.

Easily replace after the extreme events, because these are still connections only, so we can remove it and because after yielding it, it won't behave well so we have to replace the connection and it is easy to repair also. In that way this connection is very suitable for earthquake loading condition.

Thank you, Dr. Moorthi. You’ve given a comprehensive explanation of the connection behavior and its advantages under seismic loading. Could you elaborate on the experimental validation process you used to demonstrate the superior performance of your proposed ductile detailing over monolithic options?

Yeah, I can explain it.

Actually our panels were designed as per IS code. So in that way our panel will be stronger than the connection. So connections will be weaker than the panel. So like when the shear force is coming to the connection, the connection will fail clear as I said earlier. So actually we have conducted full scale testing. At Structural Engineering Laboratory IIT Madras with a height of 4m and.

Uh.

To me, sorry.

With a 1.84 meters so.

So through we have applied a quasi static loading condition with the reverse recyclic loading condition using the strong floor. We have fixed the wall panels using as like we're using as strong steel shoe. So it will ensure the fixed like fixed rent condition at the bottom and we have kept. One top loading shoot to transfer the vertical load which which is nothing.

But uh, we are simulating our sulfate as a constant axial load to the wall panels and we are applying lateral reverse recycling load, uh, in terms of uh, displacement cycle as per ASTM standard, so.

And we have developed the like, uh, throw playing this loading cycles, we could estimate the low load displacement response for the cyclic loading condition. In that way, we have, we have arrived our historic response. From the historic response, we could able to calculate the energy dissipation capacity as well as the historic damping ratio. Uh, these are the main parameters.

When it comes for the designing, uh.

We have the validation purpose we have proposed on analytical model. So with that we could able to match the experimental as well as the.

It's descending a connection into under the earthquake loading condition, so.

Umm, experimental, uh, with our analytical formulations and uh, uh, this study is bringing many things like how the connection, like in terms of connection, we can use mild steel plate as well as we can use high strength steel plate as well as. So we have performed for both plates and we could see that, uh, mild steel plate connection is performing well. Then the high strength plate because this high strength.

At uh, lower displacement cycle because due to the lower thickness as well as uh, due to the lack of the ductility also. So in another way, in terms of vertical connection, we can provide one number two number three number, but we don't know which number is optimum. So from based on the testing, we could uh able to achieve the optimum number of connection to get the Internet behavior. So in that way, we.

Plates are failing.

Avoid our over strengthening of the connection. From this we could able to achieve optimum number of connection as well as optimum material which will be suitable for earthquake loading condition.

Thank you, Dr. Moorthi. That was a detailed account of both the experimental setup and the analytical validation. Your explanation clearly demonstrates your depth in understanding earthquake-resistant design principles. Now moving on to "Structural Engineering," could you describe your methodology and key findings when performing the retrofitting analysis of a reinforced concrete (RC) building, particularly during the time history analysis you conducted?

Actually during.

During, umm, other 8, like, uh, during my PhD time, I didn't perform any retrofitting, but we are having evidence that these welded plate connection can be, uh, easily retrofitted and, uh, it can be easily replaceable. But I can say the methodology. So if like once our connection card yielded and our panel having a minor cracks, so it's very.

To remove the welded plate connection using gasket welding so the connector plate can be removed, so the new plate can be replaced on the same place. So in that way we can under the minor cracking in the panel can be removed using grouting or advanced concrete materials. There are many things available in markets so that can be used that can be used for. Retrofitting the.

Panels and in that way the connection can be replaced with the new plate, so it is easy also and. Because if we are going with the strong connection, in that case our panel will be weaker, so it will get more damage than the connection part. So in that case. The local crushing of the concrete will be higher in the panel and it is very difficult to retrofit because.

Yielding of the vertical reinforcement in the panel. So that vertical reinforcement, uh, retrofitting strategies are very difficult because we have to crush it and we have to, uh, eliminate the concrete after that, uh, with.

There is a chance of uh.

Epoxy coating and all we have to do. So it will take too much of time and it will take too much of energy and it will, uh, cause vibration and uh, it may induce again more damages. So in that way, if you're going with the ductile connection, our panel, the concrete portion will have a minimum.

Minimum damage. So in that way the steel connection can be easily replaced so that the retrofitting also will be easier as well as it is, it can perform again well like.

Yeah, that's.

I see. You’ve articulated a thoughtful and practical reasoning for prioritizing ductile connections to simplify retrofitting and minimize overall panel damage. It’s clear you’ve thought deeply about the implications of these strategies. Next, let's focus on "Teaching & Academic Skills." In your experience, how do you approach explaining complex structural engineering concepts, like time history analysis, to undergraduate students who may not have advanced mathematical backgrounds?

Actually the teaching is very easier for me because during my B.Tech also during my M Tech also I have taught more more students and after my M tech I have one year teaching experience in a private pramed IAS Academy. There I have taught civil engineering courses. In each class there are several students more than 350 students so I could able to. Able to.

Teach 350 students in a class and I could able to get very good output and now my many students are in uh, very good government positions. So in that way, teaching is not going to be a big task and during my.

PhD also I have taught many tutorials and I have conducted many experimental lab as often and I got a PMR of Prime Minister Research fellowship for my PhD. For that I have done external TA duty also in that I have taken 3 semesters gate coaching class for Allaya Pachetia Government College of Engineering Technology students.

Especially civil engineering students.

So.

And I, I have like extended my work towards school student as well. So I have interacted students from school level to PhD level. And here in during my post doc also, I am guiding Mtech students, I'm guiding Btech students, I'm guiding Phi students also. So with them I could able to like, uh, convey like whatever, like. Like convey the fundamentals to the students.

So I'm believing that I'm a very good professor and I could able to deliver the subject to the student easily because I have interacted with as I said earlier, I have interacted with the school level students to the PhD level students. So it is not going to be a big task to me. And one more thing also I have collaborated with many foreign professors also during. ICCMS 2025 conference at IIT Tirupathi and I have.

Uh, conference and, uh, that, uh, in interaction videos also, it is available in YouTube also. So in that way, it is not going to be a big task for me because it is very easy a task for me and I'm very dedicated for that and, uh.

Interviewed many subjects during the.

I'm very good teacher, so it's not going to be a big, big task for me.

Thank you for sharing your extensive teaching experience, Dr. Moorthi. Your background shows a strong commitment to education across diverse academic levels. Next, regarding your ability to guide student projects and research, can you outline how you typically mentor students working on structural engineering research or design projects? What is your approach to ensuring their academic and professional growth?

Actually, instead of giving a big, big task to them, I am like the entire methodology, I will split into a smaller, smaller segment and I will ensure that like I will make them to take a baby step. Because if if I'm giving overall methodology and if I'm saying this is your methodology and this is your the problem and these are the things you have to solve, they will definitely they will hesitate and.

They will get fear and they won't solve it so far that I will.

Cut into a smaller, smaller minor task and I will before, uh, starting them, I will teach them like, uh, these are the basics, fundamentals begin this and this is the way you have to approach the problem like that. I will give them clarity before they are starting the single, like minor steps. So.

I could be able to see that because here I am guiding, I here at, I'm guiding 2M tech students and I was very happy with. Their work because. The feedback, whatever I got from them, it was very.

Good positive. So, uh, uh, uh, this is the main thing like, uh, while guiding, shouldn't we should not, uh, fear them? We have to be make them comfortable and we have to spend lots of time with them and we have to explain them clearly what they have to do. Uh, once they got experience, they will explore it. So during the initial stage, we should not force them much. We have to give.

Very.

Compatible and we have to make them confident so that.

It is, uh, once the confidence got built, they will solve the problem easily. So in that way, instead of giving the whole methodology to the student and uh, uh.

Fear, uh, instead of making fear, fear of them. So, uh, as I said earlier, I will make them to take baby steps. So I will split the big problem into minor, minor steps and I will.

Make them to solve 1 by 1 and if they're having any doubts and clarification I have to clarify them on time and I will.

Assign some task and I will give some deadline and on the deadline I will check whether they are in the correct way or not. Otherwise this way is working or not so that I can improve that way. So in that way I'm working here and I was happy with the output. So the same way I I will be extending there also if I got opportunity there.

Thank you, Dr. Moorthi, for your detailed explanation. Your method of breaking tasks into smaller, manageable steps and fostering a supportive environment demonstrates a strong mentoring philosophy that encourages confidence and learning. Let's move further. Can you provide an overview of your contributions to research publications in reputed journals, emphasizing the impact or recognition some of your work has achieved?

A well known journal and.

So that they have the top journals especially for structural engineering. So in that way 2. AC structural journal as well as I have bubbly to 1.

Provisional SANAT published, I have filed provisional patent for uh framework, which is uh, optimizing the material constitutional law for the UHPFRC goddess. And these are the bubblest things. And I have bubblest conference proceeding, international conference proceedings. Umm, I'm having a six international conference proceeding, as I said earlier, awareness WCE 2025.

Another one is, uh, from course. Another one is, uh, bond in concrete. And uh, another 2 conference, uh, it is international conference happened uh, at India. So, uh, these are the reputed conferences, so.

And and it is showing. These are the evidence for the my research contributions. And currently there are four papers as I said earlier, 2 papers from my PhD works, they are under review process. 1 is in the AC structural journal, another one is in Structures journal, LCR publication so.

And as I said earlier, this.

Post doc uh, work UH-1 paper is uh under review in Engineering Structures journal. Another one is UH at Structural Concrete. Another one is in UH construction and building materials journals, UH, and currently there are two papers in the manuscript form. Also, I didn't restrict my uh research area only.

Towards the structural engineering because nowadays, uh, artificial intelligence is getting more popular, so currently, uh.

Our abstract pay on uh conference, uh abstract has been accepted in a international conference conducted by uh, like uh it is going to held at Libsen Lisbon.

2026 the title of the paper is a optimization for, uh PC members. So in that way, the current technology thing like uh, uh, the artificial intelligence thing, especially in terms of uh uh, design as well as in terms of performance of uh uh.

Advanced concrete materials. Also, I'm looking so I'm not restricting like, uh, I'm exploring many things and uh, these are the evidence for my, uh, research, uh, outputs.

Thank you, Dr. Moorthi. Your research contributions, spanning publications in reputed journals and your engagement with evolving technologies like artificial intelligence, are commendable. It's clear you are committed to advancing structural engineering and interdisciplinary innovations. Moving forward, could you share your experience with any industry projects or consultancy work and how these experiences complement your academic pursuits?

In terms of industry, currently I don't have direct link, but I'm having uh, like here during my postdoctoral fellowship I'm working on especially UHPFRC Goddess for that we have conducted A consultation, Aksha for that. We like, uh, it is a consultation workshop, uh, which is, uh, the participants. Uh, I'm the organizer for the workshop and the partic.

Are from top industries, especially for you HPC in India. So in that way, I'm having connection with them and uh, in terms of through checking design checking, I'm having a connection with them because whatever the design troop checking it is coming from the industry. We've, uh, for certification and fruit checking. We were checking the designs as well as, uh, we were checking the.

Numbs. So in that way I'm having a indirect connection with the industry. It is not direct connection and I don't have uh, direct industry experience, but.

I'm having a industry, uh, collaboration in that way.

Understood, Dr. Moorthi. While your direct involvement in industry may be limited, your collaborations, particularly through workshops and design certifications, illustrate meaningful engagement with the practical side of structural engineering. Finally, on the topic of your academic credentials, can you summarize how your Ph.D. at IIT Madras has equipped you with the advanced expertise necessary for guiding students and contributing to the academic community?

Can you repeat the question again?

Certainly, Dr. Moorthi. How has your Ph.D. experience at IIT Madras prepared you to provide advanced guidance to students and make meaningful contributions to the academic community?

As I said, actually in India, we don't have much experience like ex uh, in terms of structural engineering laboratory, full scale testing facilities are very limited. But I at IIT Multi Structural Engineering Laboratory, it is having a big, uh, uh, like, uh, lab establishment for, uh, full-scale testing. In that way, I, I, I had a very good opportunity to work on the experimental. I think we, uh, like nowadays, uh, many people don't have that. I'm believing that this experimental testing is having, it is giving the realistic experience and, uh, it is very essential to understand the behavior because the numerical modeling, uh, it is also essential, but to get a practical experience and, uh, practical application point of view. This experimental.