Dr. Faris specializes in the fields of geotechnical engineering, foundation engineering, and geotechnical earthquake engineering. Her experience includes design of foundation and retaining wall systems, evaluation of soil liquefaction using various in-situ testing methods, and estimation of static and dynamic slope stability using finite element analyses. Her doctoral research includes the probabilistic development of an empirical model of liquefaction-induced lateral spreading based on a case history database. In addition, she has laboratory soil testing experience, particularly in the cyclic simple shear testing of highly plastic clays. She has conducted numerous post-disaster inspections, including 2005 Southern California Landslides and Hurricane Katrina.
Prior to joining Exponent, Dr. Faris served as a graduate student researcher at the University of California, Berkeley. She also has taught an undergraduate geotechnical engineering lecture and laboratory course and assisted in undergraduate and graduate level soil mechanics and foundation engineering courses.
Faris A. Probabilistic models for engineering assessment of liquefaction-induced lateral spreading displacements. Ph.D. Dissertation, University of California, Berkeley, 2004.
Peer-Reviewed Conference Proceedings
Faris A, Seed R, Kayen R, Wu J. A semi-empirical model for the estimation of maximum horizontal displacement due to liquefaction-induced lateral spreading. Proceedings, 8th National Conference on Earthquake Engineering, San Francisco, CA, April 2006.
Wu J, Seed R, Faris A, Knudsen K. Re-evaluation of liquefaction-induced ground settlement case histories from the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. Proceedings, 8th National Conference on Earthquake Engineering, San Francisco, CA, April 2006.
Reports
Çetin KÖ, Seed RB, Moss RES, Kammerer AM, Wu J, Pestana JM, Riemer MF, Sancio RB, Bray JD, Kayen RE, Faris A. Recent advances in soil liquefaction engineering: A unified and consistent framework. UCB/EERC-2003/06, Earthquake Engineering Research Center, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 2003.
Presentations
Faris A. Improved assessment of liquefaction-induced lateral spread hazard. Presentation to: ASCE San Francisco Geotechnical Group, August 23, 2005.
Faris A. Probabilistic modeling for engineering assessment of liquefaction-induced lateral spreading. Presentation to PEER Lifelines Annual Meeting, April 30, 2005.
Faris A. Improved engineering assessment of liquefaction-induced lateral spread displacement. Presentation to GeoEngineering Group of the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA, November 4, 2004.
Poster Sessions
Faris A. Probabilistic model for liquefaction-induced lateral spread displacement. NSF/USGS 5th-Year Review Site Visit of the Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research Center, University California, Berkeley, CA, May 2004.