Mohammed Altaee
@uobabylon.edu.iq
University of Babylon
Scopus Publications
- Effect of Geotextile Configuration on the Structural Performance of Mechanically Stabilized Earth Retaining Walls
Riza Suwondo, Andryan Suhendra, I Gede Mahardika Susila, Mohammed Altaee
Ssrg International Journal of Civil Engineering, 2026
Mechanically Stabilised Earth (MSE) walls reinforced with geotextiles are popular in geotechnical engineering because of their constructability, reliability, and cost-effectiveness. However, some geotextile characteristics, such as reinforcement length, layers, and tensile strength, remain to be addressed in design practices. This study explored these critical parameters and their effects on overall and internal stability through several comprehensive parametric analyses. One benchmark model with six geotextile layers, 5 m reinforcement length, and uniform vertical spacing was used to independently alter each parameter to evaluate sliding, overturning, bearing failure, rupture, and pullout. Lengthening the reinforcement from 3 to 5 m increased the global stability safety factor by approximately 15% and improved the pullout resistance by over 20%. Increasing the number of layers from 2 to 6 improved the rupture and pullout resistance by approximately 18%; however, the global stability changed slightly. The tensile strength variations (35–55 kN/m) affected only the rupture resistance, with no measurable impact on other failure modes. These results demonstrate that optimising the geotextile configuration based on site specific stability requirements can lead to more efficient performance-based MSE wall designs. - Performance-Based Selection of Concrete Strength Grades in Terms of Embodied Carbon and Economic Efficiency for Structural Elements
Riza Suwondo, Made Suangga, Militia Keintjem, Mohammed Altaee
Ssrg International Journal of Civil Engineering, 2026
The construction industry, particularly reinforced concrete structures, is one of the largest contributors to global carbon emissions. These high emissions are due to the high embodied carbon content of the primary materials, namely, cement and reinforcing steel. Therefore, in line with efforts to transition to low-carbon construction, improving the material efficiency of structural elements is a top priority that must be implemented immediately. This study focused on assessing the impact of concrete compressive strength on the embodied carbon and cost of RC beams and columns of various dimensions that achieved the same structural performance. Multiple beam and column configurations with four common concrete grades (25, 28, 32, and 35 MPa) were studied. In each case, the steel reinforcement concrete was designed to meet the specified flexural or axial moment capacities so that they could be compared on equal terms. Embodied carbon was calculated for each case using a cradle-to-gate methodology according to BS EN 15978:2011, while the cost analysis was based on direct material quantities. The findings indicated that, for RC beams, stronger grades of concrete increased the cost and embodied carbon without significantly increasing the structural capacity, particularly in larger sections. The most sustainable and cost-effective solution involves the use of low-strength concrete and more compact beam sections. However, the size and strength of RC columns have the advantage of reducing the amount of reinforcement, and consequently, the embodied carbon and cost. Sensitivity analysis confirmed the robustness of these trends, particularly the predominant impact of steel on columns and concrete for beams. The study concluded that choosing the optimal concrete strength should consider the element and geometry: lower grades should be assigned to beams, while higher grades should be reserved for compression-dominated columns. The results assist in the practical determination of sustainable materials for structural design while also defending performance-based, economically effective, and cost-efficient RC construction. - Influence of Web Opening Geometry on the Structural Performance of Castellated Composite Beams
Riza Suwondo, Adelia Nataadmadja, Mohammed Altaee
Ssrg International Journal of Civil Engineering, 2025
Castellated composite beams comprise a steel-castellated section and a concrete slab. Modern floor systems increasingly employ these beams owing to their high strength-to-weight ratio and versatility in service accommodation through web openings. Despite their advantages, web openings lead to significant, intricate, and complex local and global behaviors pertaining to strength and serviceability. This study focuses on the geometrical configuration of web openings, specifically the height, width, and spacing, and how these attributes define the structural behaviour of castellated composite beams. ETABS was used to create the finite element models, and design checks were carried out according to the provisions delineated in the AISC Design Guide 31. In the parametric analysis, the opening height (220-280 mm), width (240-300 mm), and spacing (270-330 mm) were varied. An assessment was performed on the overall behaviour in terms of ultimate strength, deflection, and local failure modes. The results show that the opening height has the most significant impact on the overall performance; increasing the height enhances the top-tee strength and reduces deflection, improving both the load-carrying capacity and stiffness. In contrast, the opening width and spacing mainly affect the local web-post stability. Wider or closely spaced openings increase the susceptibility to web-post buckling, whereas larger spacing restores tee interaction as the governing failure mode. Deflection remained within the serviceability limits, except for the smallest opening height. These findings demonstrate that an optimised combination of opening geometries can enhance structural efficiency while maintaining serviceability. This study offers practical guidance for designing castellated composite beams and contributes to the development of safer, lighter, and more sustainable long-span floor systems. - Integrated Assessment of Cost and Embodied Carbon in Parking Lot Pavement Design
Ssrg International Journal of Civil Engineering, 2025 - Comparative Assessment of Embodied Carbon and Construction Cost in Concrete and Geotextile-Reinforced Retaining Walls
Ssrg International Journal of Civil Engineering, 2025 - Evaluating the Effectiveness of Shear Keys on Stability and Design Efficiency of Cantilever Retaining Walls
Ssrg International Journal of Civil Engineering, 2025 - Optimising Geotextile-Reinforced Earth Wall Design for Embodied Carbon Reduction
Ssrg International Journal of Civil Engineering, 2025 - A model for preliminary cost estimation in buildings construction projects
Hassanean S. H. Jassim, Musaab F. Hasan, Mohammed J. Altaee, Yaser Gamil
Frontiers in Built Environment, 2025
Despite recent rapid developments in computer programs used to improve buildings construction sector cost estimation techniques, costing models utilizable in a building construction project’s early planning stages remain scarce due to the lack of a simplified, integrated method that can operate with the limited data available. This research aimed to help buildings construction project stakeholders in Iraq to improve the accuracy of preliminary buildings project cost estimations based on the initial information available and historical buildings project data to evaluate a future project’s feasibility. A literature review of topics related to preliminary cost estimation, particularly buildings projects and factors affecting their cost, informed development of an integrated mathematical model based on a support vector machine to facilitate preliminary cost estimation during early buildings construction project planning utilizing relevant factors from both old and new projects (i.e., total floor area of buildings, construction duration, total number of floors, average floor height, location index, project quality standards, project complexity, and facilities provision). To enhance accuracy, the final cost forecasting model was modified using an inflation rate impact scenario to account for any future economic effects on anticipated building costs. This study concluded that the dominant factors behind cost variations between similar projects over different periods, and thus the primary factors for building cost estimation, are building area, average floor height, and number of floors. Thus, this study contributes to enhancing best practice in cost estimating for building construction projects in the pre-design, early planning phase, enabling decision makers to plan alternative options to enhance decisions on feasibility within the project’s constraints. Novelty arises from the features of the input factors used for the developed model to determine the preliminary budget required in the early planning stage taking into account construction sector inflation values for the following period. - The Influence of the Armor Stability Coefficient on the Hydraulic, Economic, and Environmental Performance of Rubble Mound Breakwaters
Riza Suwondo, Militia Keintjem, Made Suangga, Mohammed Altaee
Engineering Technology and Applied Science Research, 2025
The climate change and sea level rise are increasing the need for resilient and sustainable coastal protection. Breakwaters are essential for mitigating the erosion and flooding, and the stability coefficient (KD) of armor units plays a critical role in determining the hydraulic performance, material quantities, and sustainability. However, limited research has explored how varying KD affects the armor unit weight, embodied carbon, and construction costs. This study investigated the relationship between rubble and mound breakwaters designed under severe storm conditions. Hudson’s formula was applied across a KD range of 2–24 to represent natural rock and engineered concrete armor types. The required armor unit weights were calculated, and quantities were used to estimate the embodied carbon using a cradle-to-gate assessment and the total costs based on the Indonesian market prices. The results show that increasing KD reduces the required armor weight from ~4.7 t to 0.4 t, embodied carbon per meter from 28 tCO2e to 11 tCO2e, and construction cost from 215 million to 85 million IDR per meter. However, the reductions plateaued beyond KD values of 12–16, suggesting an optimal range for balancing the stability, sustainability, and cost. These findings highlight that selecting an armor with a higher stability coefficient can significantly improve the environmental and economic performance of breakwaters, supporting a more sustainable coastal infrastructure that is resilient to extreme wave conditions. - Comparative Analysis of Space Truss and Conventional Truss Systems in Long-span Structures: Performance and Material Efficiency
Ruma Utami, Militia Keintjem, Riza Suwondo, Mohammed Altaee
Iop Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science, 2025
This study presents a comparative analysis of space truss and conventional truss systems for long-span warehouse structures, focusing on their structural behaviour, material efficiency, and suitability for large-scale applications. Both systems were modelled using STAAD Pro software and subjected to dead and live loads according to Indonesian standards (SNI 1727-2020), wind loads with a velocity of 40 m/s, and seismic loads in compliance with SNI 1726-2019. The study also used JIS G3444 STK-400 steel for pipe sections. The analysis revealed that while the space truss experienced higher vertical and horizontal deflections (62 mm and 32 mm, respectively) than the conventional truss (23 mm and 9 mm), both remained within the allowable limits. However, the space truss demonstrated significant material efficiency, utilising 35% less material than a conventional truss (57 tons vs. 88 tons). This highlights the potential of space truss systems to reduce the material costs and environmental impacts, thereby offering a more sustainable option for long-span structures. These findings suggest that the choice between space and conventional truss systems should be guided by project-specific requirements, with space trusses being preferable for material-efficient and cost-effective designs, whereas conventional trusses offer greater stiffness. Future research could further optimise space truss designs by integrating advanced materials and exploring their dynamic performance under various loading conditions. - Strength and Serviceability in Steel Beam Design: A Comparative Study of ASD and LRFD
Militia Keintjem, Riza Suwondo, Habibie Razak, Mohammed Altaee
Iop Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science, 2025 - EXPERIMENTAL-BASED ASSESSMENT OF PHYSICAL, MECHANICAL AND CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF ANCIENT AND NEW CLAY BRICKS OF BABYLON CITY: A COMPARATIVE STUDY
Huda S. Alhasan, Mohammed J. Altaee, Hassanean S. H. Jassim, Randa A. Althobiti, Mohamed S. Sheteiwy, et al.
Bulletin of the Chemical Society of Ethiopia, 2025 - Parametric investigation of continuous beams strengthened with near surface mounted FRP bars
Majid M. A. Kadhim, Akram Jawdhari, Mohammed M. Altaee, Ali Majdi, Amir Fam
Engineering Structures, 2023 - Numerical investigation on strengthening steel beams with web openings using GFRP
Frattura Ed Integrita Strutturale, 2022 - Nonlinear Finite Element Modeling of Continuous RC Beams Strengthened with Near Surface Mounted FRP Bars
American Concrete Institute ACI Special Publication, 2022 - Evaluation of Existing Bond-Slip Relations for CFRP-Steel Joints and New Model for Linear and Nonlinear Adhesives
Mohammed J. Altaee, Sarmed A. S. Altayee, Majid M. A. Kadhim, Akram Jawdhari, Ali Majdi, et al.
Advances in Civil Engineering, 2022 - Review on NSM CFRP Strengthened RC Concrete Beams in Shear
Majid M. A. Kadhim, Mohammed J. Altaee, Ali Hadi Adheem, Ali Chabuk, Nadhir Al-Ansari
Advances in Civil Engineering, 2021 - Finite element modelling and parametric analysis of FRP strengthened RC beams under impact load
Majid M.A. Kadhim, Akram R. Jawdhari, Mohammed J. Altaee, Ali Hadi Adheem
Journal of Building Engineering, 2020 - Practical Application of CFRP Strengthening to Steel Floor Beams with Web Openings: A numerical Investigation
Mohammed Altaee, Lee S. Cunningham, Martin Gillie
Journal of Constructional Steel Research, 2019 - Experimental investigation of CFRP-strengthened steel beams with web openings
Mohammed J. Altaee, Lee S. Cunningham, Martin Gillie
Journal of Constructional Steel Research, 2017
