11th International Conference on Geotechnical Research and Engineering (ICGRE 2026)

Prof. Hany El Naggar

Dalhousie University, Canada
Conference Chair

. Hany El Naggar, Ph.D., P.Eng., is a Professor of GeoStructural Engineering at Dalhousie University with more than 25 years of experience in civil construction, geotechnical and structural engineering and research in Canada and overseas. He has participated in several geotechnical and structural investigations and is experienced in the analysis and design of foundations and soil- structure interaction of buried infrastructure. Dr. El Naggar and his research team has investigated the soil-structure interaction (SSI) effects around buried infrastructure; explored innovative use of tire derived aggregate (TDA) as a buffer zone to create stress arching and reduce demand on rigid culverts, proposed an earth pressure reduction system using geogrid reinforced platform bridging system to reduce stresses on buried utilities, and developed innovative “cellular” precast concrete pipe system. Also, He has developed a simplified technique to account for the group Effect in pile dynamics; and closed form solutions for the moments and thrusts in jointed and un-jointed composite tunnel lining systems, designed several foundation systems ranging from machine foundations subjected to dynamic loads to raft foundations for underground structure, as well as several tunnels and underground structures in Canada, Europe, Middle East, and the United States. The findings from Dr. El Naggar’s research have been reported in more than 130 technical publications covering both experimental and numerical work in the fields of soil-structure interaction, buried infrastructure and concrete pipes. Dr. El Naggar’s research work on the seismic performance of corrugated steel plate culverts led to changing the seismic provisions of the new version of the Canadian Highway Bridge Design Code (CHBDC, 2019) to include rigorous dynamic analysis for flexible buried structures in zones of high seismicity. Besides, his work on the modelling of rigid pipes is featured in the CHBDC (2019) as an example of the best practice in the modelling of buried concrete structures. Dr. El Naggar is the recipient of the 2016-2017 Outstanding Teaching Award from the Faculty of Engineering, Dalhousie University. In addition, he received the 2005-2006 Outstanding Teaching Award from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Western. Dr. El Naggar won the 2006 L. G. Soderman Award, the 2005 R.M. Quigley Award, and the 2004 Milos Novak Memorial Award.Dr. El Naggar is the current chair of the Buried Structures Committee of the Canadian Society of Civil Engineers (CSCE); also, he is a member of the technical committee on buried structures of the Canadian Highway Bridge Design Code (CHBDC). In addition, he is a member of several professional associations including the Association of Professional Engineers of Nova Scotia; the Association of Professional Engineers of Ontario (PEO); the Canadian Society of Civil Engineering (CSCE), the Canadian Geotechnical Society (CGS); the International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (ISSMGE); and the Engineers Syndicate, Egypt. 

Dr. Joaquim Barros

Institute for Sustainability
and Innovation in Structural Engineering,
University of Minho, Portugal
Conference Co-Chair

Tassos Karayiannis studied at the City University London and the University of Western Ontario (Western). He started his career as a researcher at Southampton University and later as a British Technology Group Researcher at City University. Subsequently he worked at London South Bank University and joined Brunel University London in 2005 where he is now professor of Thermal Engineering and Leader of the Energy Efficient & Sustainable Technologies Theme. Professor Karayiannis has carried out fundamental and applied research in a number of heat transfer related topics including natural convection and renewable energy. He has been involved with two-phase flow and heat transfer for over 30 years. Initially he worked on the enhancement of pool boiling and condensation processes using high intensity electric fields (Electrohydrodynamic enhancement of Heat Transfer). In parallel, he carried out extensive experimental work in pool boiling heat transfer with plane and enhanced surfaces. Professor Karayiannis has also been very actively involved with research in flow boiling in small to micro tubes and micro-multi-channels. This work involves fundamental studies as well as research leading to the design of high heat flux integrated thermal management systems. His research has been funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, Innovate UK and Industry. He has published more than 230 papers, chapters in books and industrial reports. He chaired the following conferences/meetings: 49th European Two Phase Flow Group Meeting, 2010 the 9th UK-Japan Seminar on Multiphase flows 2013 and the 15th UK National Heat Transfer Conference, 2017. He also chairs the Int Conf on Micro and Nanoscale flows now in its 6th edition. He is a Fellow of the EI and the IMechE and the Chairman of the UK National Heat Transfer Committee.