About

Pedro Arduino is the Henry Roy Berg Endowed Professor in Civil & Environmental Engineering at the University of Washington. His research areas include Geotechnical Engineering, Constitutive Modeling of Soils, Computational Geomechanics, Finite Elements, and Meshless Techniques. His work focuses on understanding and modeling the behavior of soils and geotechnical materials, contributing to the advancement of geotechnical engineering through innovative computational methods and modeling approaches.

Research topics

• Engineering
• Computer Science
• Optics
• Geotechnical engineering
• Mechanics
• Materials science
• Mechanical engineering
• Geology
• Structural engineering
• Physics
• Multimedia
• Composite material
• Seismology
• Mathematics
• Simulation
• Software engineering
• Human–computer interaction

Selected publications

• On the integration of an ACST-based bounding surface model

  Computers and Geotechnics · 2026-01-27

  articleSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• Mitigation of Liquefaction Risk in Layered Soils via Stone Column Drains: Numerical Study and Novel Uncoupled Approach

  Computers and Geotechnics · 2026-01-03

  articleOpen access

  This paper investigates the effectiveness of vertical gravel drains for liquefaction mitigation in stratified soil deposits, emphasising the overlooked hydro-mechanical interaction with adjacent non-liquefiable layers. A comprehensive series of fully coupled 3D finite element analyses was first conducted in the OpenSees framework, modelling a unit cell within an indefinite drain system. Different spacing ratios, soil types, and seismic inputs were examined to provide generality and robustness to the study. The main outcome from the numerical analyses is that gravel drains significantly reduce both the peak excess pore water pressure and the duration of high pore pressures, with the hydraulic conditions imposed by the overlying non-liquefiable layers proving critical, particularly near layer interfaces. To quantify mitigation effectiveness, a new integral, dimensionless parameter was proposed, which conveys both the magnitude and dissipation time of the excess pore water pressures. As a further outcome, this study extends to axisymmetric conditions a 1D uncoupled approach recently proposed for assessing free-field liquefaction, incorporating improvements to capture non-uniform cyclic loading and frequency variations induced by pore pressure build-up. The methodology couples a nonlinear total stress seismic response analysis with an iterative excess pore pressure computation using the Stockwell transform, implemented via a Finite Difference scheme in Matlab. Successful validation against the benchmark fully coupled 3D analyses proves that the uncoupled approach can be effectively adopted with low computational cost.

  PublisherDOI

• Validating High‐Performance Multi‐GPU MPM for Debris‐Fluid‐Structure Interaction

  International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering · 2025-12-11 · 1 citations

  article

  ABSTRACT The study of debris‐fluid‐structure interaction (DFSI) poses challenges for engineers and animators alike due to its complex nature involving multiple materials, multiple phases, constitutive nonlinearity, and large deformations across varying scales. Current numerical methods frequently overlook critical aspects of DFSI, can be overly complicated to implement, and require excessive computational resources for practical applications. To alleviate this problem, this paper introduces a flexible and explicit Material Point Method (MPM) that achieves a 100‐fold improvement over traditional MPM formulations in terms of CPU‐based computation. The key improvement results from the implementation of computer graphics techniques (MLS‐MPM, APIC, ASFLIP, Simple F‐Bar) and hardware (Multiple Graphics Processing Units). However, while computer graphics prioritizes qualitative realism, engineering needs quantitative accuracy. Therefore, this paper concentrates on a series of DFSI validation benchmarks using an enhanced graphics tool for engineering applications. Carefully chosen examples highlight critical aspects of DFSI. To show stability and favorability for next‐generation scales, we simulate 100,000 to 1,000,000,000 particles within hours for all benchmarks. Accuracy relative to experiments, analytical equations, and alternative numerical models is demonstrated.

  PublisherDOI

• MITIGATION OF LIQUEFACTION RISK IN LAYERED SOILS VIA STONE COLUMN DRAINS: NUMERICAL STUDY AND NOVEL UNCOUPLED APPROACH

  SSRN Electronic Journal · 2025-01-01

  preprintOpen access
  PublisherDOI

• An open-source simulation platform to support and foster research collaboration in natural hazards engineering

  Frontiers in Built Environment · 2025-08-05 · 6 citations

  articleOpen access

  Computational simulation is a critical tool for assessing the impacts of natural hazards and informing risk mitigation and resilience strategies. The NHERI SimCenter has developed an open-source, modular framework that integrates performance-based engineering methodologies with regional-scale assessments to enable multi-hazard, multi-scale simulations. This paper presents the conceptual foundation and current capabilities of the SimCenter platform, covering hazard characterization, structural response analysis, damage and loss estimation, and recovery modeling. By leveraging high-performance computing, standardized data schemas, and open-source tools, the platform facilitates transparent, reproducible research while bridging local and regional analyses. Key contributions include improved inventory generation, damage simulation, and recovery analysis, with applications extending across multiple hazard domains. The paper also discusses challenges in implementing high-resolution, high-fidelity simulations, advancing multi-hazard assessments, and enhancing accessibility for a broad user base. Looking ahead, expanding hazard models, refining regional-to-local modeling techniques, and fostering community collaboration will be essential for advancing computational simulation in natural hazards engineering. Through continued development, the SimCenter aims to provide researchers and practitioners with scalable, adaptable tools to enhance disaster risk assessment and resilience planning.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• On the Integration of an Acst-Based Bounding Surface Model

  SSRN Electronic Journal · 2025-01-01

  preprintOpen accessSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• Effects of Soil Nonlinearity on Physics‐Based Ground Motion Simulation and Their Implications on 1D Site Response Analysis: An Application to Istanbul

  Earthquake Engineering & Structural Dynamics · 2025-04-15

  article

  ABSTRACT Previously, we have conducted a suite of 57 broadband physics‐based ground motion simulations (GMSs) for a region in Istanbul, Turkey, in which soils were modeled as linear elastic materials. However, from a geotechnical earthquake engineering point of view, soil can indeed exhibit nonlinear behavior, especially in shallow crust with soft soil layers and when subjected to strong ground shaking induced by seismic waves, and hence affect the wave propagation and ground motions. To quantitatively investigate the effects of soil nonlinearity on ground motions, in this study, we select four representative earthquake scenarios and perform fully nonlinear broadband (0–8 Hz) GMSs using a 3D bounding surface plasticity model. In addition, utilizing the motions at the bedrock level from 3D simulations, we conduct 1D nonlinear site response analyses (SRAs) for 2912 sites with different bedrock depths and profiles. Results indicate that compared to 3D nonlinear simulations, the 3D linear cases can both amplify and de‐amplify ground motion intensities, depending on the ground shaking levels, while the 1D nonlinear SRAs are inclined to yield over‐estimations, especially for vertical motions. Twelve stations are also selected to further evaluate the applicability of 1D SRA when soil nonlinearity is considered. Some features in 1D soil profiles, such as reversal and deep bedrock depth, are shown to yield unreliably under‐ and over‐estimations, and therefore dramatically influence the accuracy of SRA predictions.

  PublisherDOI

• Workflow for High-Fidelity Dynamic Analysis of Structures with Pile Foundation

  ArXiv.org · 2025-09-06

  preprintOpen access

  The demand for high-fidelity numerical simulations in soil-structure interaction analysis is on the rise, yet a standardized workflow to guide the creation of such simulations remains elusive. This paper aims to bridge this gap by presenting a step-by-step guideline proposing a workflow for dynamic analysis of structures with pile foundations. The proposed workflow encompasses instructions on how to use Domain Reduction Method for loading, Perfectly Matched Layer elements for wave absorption, soil-structure interaction modeling using Embedded interface elements, and domain decomposition for efficient use of processing units. Through a series of numerical simulations, we showcase the practical application of this workflow. Our results reveal the efficacy of the Domain Reduction Method in reducing simulation size without compromising model fidelity, show the precision of Perfectly Matched Layer elements in modeling infinite domains, highlight the efficiency of Embedded Interface elements in establishing connections between structures and the soil domain, and demonstrate the overall effectiveness of the proposed workflow in conducting high-fidelity simulations. While our study focuses on simplified geometries and loading scenarios, it serves as a foundational framework for future research endeavors aimed at exploring more intricate structural configurations and dynamic loading conditions

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Tsunami Debris Motion and Loads in a Scaled Port Setting: Comparative Analysis of Three State-of-The-Art Numerical Methods Against Experiments

  SSRN Electronic Journal · 2024-01-01

  preprintOpen access
  PublisherDOI

• LEAP-ASIA-2019 Simulation Exercise: Calibration of Constitutive Models and Simulations of the Element Tests

  2024-01-01 · 3 citations

  book-chapterOpen access

  Abstract This chapter presents a summary of the calibration exercises (i.e., element test simulations) submitted by nine numerical simulation teams that participated in the LEAP-ASIA-2019 prediction campaign. The standard sand selected for the campaign is Ottawa F-65, and researchers have developed several efforts to increase the database of laboratory tests to characterize the physical and mechanical properties of this sand (Carey TJ, Stone N, Kutter BL, Grain Size Analysis and Maximum and Minimum Dry Density of Ottawa F-65 Sand for LEAP-UCD-2017. Model tests and numerical simulations of liquefaction and lateral spreading: LEAP-UCD-2017. Springer, 2019; El Ghoraiby MA, Park H, Manzari MT. Physical and mechanical properties of Ottawa F65 sand. In: Model tests and numerical simulations of liquefaction and lateral spreading: LEAP-UCD-2017, Springer, 2019; Ueda K, Vargas RR, Uemura K, LEAP-Asia-2018: Stress-strain response of Ottawa sand in Cyclic Torsional Shear Tests, DesignSafe-CI [publisher], Dataset, https://doi.org/10.17603/DS2D40H , 2018; Vargas RR, Ueda K, Uemura K, Soil Dyn Earthq Eng 133:106111, 2020; Vargas RR, Ueda K, Uemura K, Dynamic torsional shear tests of Ottawa F-65 Sand for LEAP-ASIA-2019. Model tests and numerical simulations of liquefaction and lateral spreading: LEAP-ASIA-2019, Springer, 2023). The objective of this element test simulation exercise is to assess the performance of the constitutive models used by the simulation teams for simulating the experimental results of a series of undrained stress-controlled cyclic torsional shear tests on Ottawa F-65 sand for two different relative densities (Dr = 50% and 60%) (Ueda K, Vargas RR, Uemura K, LEAP-Asia-2018: Stress-strain response of Ottawa sand in Cyclic Torsional Shear Tests, DesignSafe-CI [publisher], Dataset, https://doi.org/10.17603/DS2D40H , 2018; Vargas RR, Ueda K, Uemura K, Soil Dyn Earthq Eng 133:106111, 2020; Vargas RR, Ueda K, Uemura K, Dynamic torsional shear tests of Ottawa F-65 sand for LEAP-ASIA-2019. Model tests and numerical simulations of liquefaction and lateral spreading: LEAP-ASIA-2019, Springer, 2023). The simulated liquefaction strength curves demonstrate that majority of the constitutive models are capable of reasonably capturing the measured liquefaction strength curves both for Dr = 50% and 60%. However, the simulated stress paths and stress-strain relationships show some differences from the corresponding laboratory tests in some cases.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Emir José Macari

  Georgia Institute of Technology

  31 shared

• Alborz Ghofrani

  24 shared

• Peter Mackenzie‐Helnwein

  23 shared

• Gregory R. Miller

  University of Minnesota System

  16 shared

• Christopher R. McGann

  University of Canterbury

  12 shared

• Steven L. Kramer

  10 shared

• Michael R. Motley

  10 shared

• Marc O. Eberhard

  University of Washington

  10 shared

Labs

• Pedro Arduino LabPI

Awards & honors

• Ray Bowen Professorship for Innovation in Engineering Educat…
• Outstanding Teaching Award from the UW Department of Civil &…
• 2023 Academic Engineer of the Year Award by the Puget Sound…