The Grainger College of Engineering
Civil & Environmental Engineering

Scott M. Olson

Scott M. Olson
Scott M. Olson
  • CEE Excellence Faculty Scholar
  • Professor
  • Associate Head and Director of Graduate Studies
(217) 265-7584
1110 Newmark Civil Engineering Bldg

Primary Research Area

  • Geotechnical Engineering

Research Areas

Biography

Scott M. Olson holds a B.S. (University of Illinois 1993), M.S. (University of Illinois 1995), and Ph.D. (University of Illinois 2001), all in civil engineering. From 1995 through 1997, Scott worked in private practice for Woodward-Clyde Consultants. After completing his Ph.D., Dr. Olson returned to private practice with URS Corporation and also taught geotechnical earthquake engineering courses at the University of Missouri-Rolla. He joined the faculty of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Illinois in August 2004, and holds a 0% appointment in the Department of Geology.

Dr. Olson teaches several courses in geotechnical engineering: an undergraduate introduction to geotechnical engineering course (CEE 380), a mixed undergraduate and graduate course in applied soil mechanics (CEE 484), and four graduate courses on excavations and support systems (CEE 580), rock mechanics (CEE 586), applied rock mechanics (CEE 587), and geotechnical field measurements (CEE 590).

Dr. Olson is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute, Canadian Geotechnical Society, the North American Geosynthetics Society, the International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, and the Seismological Society of America. Dr. Olson previously was a member of the governor-appointed Missouri Seismic Safety Commission, and has served on numerous review panels for the National Science Foundation, National Cooperative Highway Research Program, and the U.S. Geological Survey. He is a licensed professional engineer and continues to participate in consulting projects with industry.

Dr. Olson has received several honors and awards for his research, practice-related, and teaching accomplishments. In 2003, the Canadian Geotechnical Society awarded him the R.M. Quigley Award for the best paper in the 2002 Canadian Geotechnical Journal. In 2004, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) awarded him the Arthur Casagrande Award for his work on the residual strength of liquefied soils. The Casagrande Award was established to provide professional development opportunities for outstanding, young (under 35) practitioners, researchers, and teachers of geotechnical engineering. Dr. Olson was the first practitioner to receive this award. And, in 2012, Prof. Olson received the Walter L. Huber Civil Engineering Research Prize from ASCE.

Education

  • Doctor of Philosophy, Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2001
  • Master of Science, Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1995
  • Bachelor of Science, Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1993

Academic Positions

  • Professor, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Civil & Environmental Engineering, 2019 ~ present
  • Affiliate Faculty (0% appointment), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Geology, 2013 ~ present
  • Associate Professor, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Civil & Environmental Engineering, 2010 ~ 2019
  • Assistant Professor, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Civil & Environmental Engineering, 2004 ~ 2010
  • Adjunct Associate Professor, Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Missouri at Rolla, 2003 ~ 2004

Other Professional Employment

  • Project Engineer, URS Corporation (St. Louis, MO), 12/2000 ~ 12/2004
  • Senior Staff Engineer, Woodward-Clyde Consultants (St. Louis, MO), 5/1995 ~ 12/1997

Major Consulting Activities

  • Public Utility District No. 2, Grant Co., WA: technical input to seismic hazard and liquefaction analysis of Wanapum Dam (Grant Co., Washington) (2016)

Professional Registrations

  • Professional Engineer, Missouri, 1/2005~present

Journal Editorships

  • Associate Editor, ASCE Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, 2015~2020
  • Associate Editor, Canadian Geotechnical Journal, 2010~2015

Professional Societies

  • International Organization for Standardization (ISO): Technical Committee 98, Subcommittee 3, Working Group 10 Seismic Actions on Geotechnical Works (2008~present)
  • U.S. University Consortium for Geotechnical Engineering Research (USUCGER): Member (2005~present), Board of Directors (2015~present), Board Secretary (2016~2018), Board President (2018~2020), Past-president (2020~present)
  • Canadian Geotechnical Society: Member (2003~2018)
  • International Society of Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineers: Member (2001~present)
  • North American Geosynthetics Society (NAGS): Member (1997~present)
  • Transportation Research Board (TRB): Secretary, Subcommittee AFF50(1) Geoseismic Issues for bridge foundations (2005~present); Committee AFS30 Foundations of bridges and other structures (2008~present)
  • Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI): Member (2001~present); Student Activities Committee (2006~2012), Chair (2010~2012)
  • Geo-Institute of ASCE: Member (1997~present); Earthquake Engineering and Soil Dynamics Committee (2006~present); Embankments, Dams, and Slopes Committee (2006~present)
  • American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE): Member (1993~present); Student Transition Committee (2008~2015)

Other Outside Service

  • Worldwide Youth in Science and Engineering (WYSE). Lead CEE Program for Explore Your Options program. (2005~2013)

Research Interests

  • Soil/structure interaction of bridge foundations
  • Geotechnical instrumentation
  • Static and seismic slope stability
  • Ground response analysis
  • Paleoseismology and paleoliquefaction
  • Geohazard identification and assessment
  • Insitu/field testing
  • Laboratory, 1g model-scale, and centrifuge testing
  • Behavior of tailings materials
  • Liquefaction engineering and mitigation

Research Statement

Dr. Olson's research interests include: geohazard identification and assessment, liquefaction engineering and mitigation, laboratory testing, paleoseismology and paleoliquefaction, ground response analysis, static and seismic slope stability, insitu testing, instrumentation, behavior of tailings materials, soil/structure interaction of bridge foundations.

Primary Research Area

  • Geotechnical Engineering

Research Areas

Chapters in Books

  • Olson, S.M. "Residual strength of liquefied soil." in Beer, M., Kougioumtzoglou, I.A., Patelli, E., and Au, I.S.-K. (editors). Encyclopedia of Earthquake Engineering, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg Publishing, 2015.
  • Hashash, Y.M.A., Kim, B., Olson, S.M., and Moon, S. "Geotechnical issues and site response in the central U.S." Chapter 6 in Beavers, J. (editor). Seismic Hazard Design Issues, ASCE Press, Reston, VA, 2014.
  • Olson, S.M. "Field evaluation of liquefaction susceptibility of soils with high fines content" Appendix in McCalpin, J.P. (editor). Paleoseismology, 2nd Edition. Academic Press, San Diego, CA, 2009.

Selected Articles in Journals

  • Chen, J. and Olson, S.M. (2022). Effect of overconsolidation on cyclic resistance of soils. ASCE Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, 148(11), 15p.
  • Gamez, J. and Olson, S.M. (2022). Compressibility-based interpretation of cone penetration calibration chamber tests and corresponding boundary effects. ASTM Geotechnical Testing Journal, 45(4), 778-796.
  • Chen, J., Olson, S.M., Banerjee, S., Dewoolkar, M., and Dubief, Y. (2022). Water content of moist tamped nonplastic specimens for constant-volume direct simple shear testing. ASTM Geotechnical Testing Journal, 45(2), 10p.
  • Chen, J. and Olson, S.M. (2021). SHANSEP-based interpretation of overconsolidation effect on monotonic shearing resistance of non-plastic soils. ASCE Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, 147(12), 14p.
  • Kim, J.H. and Olson, S.M. (2021). Compressibility and vertical strain of saturated sands during earthquake shaking. ASTM Geotechnical Testing Journal, 44(6), 1863-1885.
  • Olson, S.M., Muszynski, M.R., Hashash, Y.M.A., and Phillips, C. (2021). Mitigating lateral spreading forces on large foundations using ground deflection walls. ASCE Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, 147(11), 16p.
  • Franke, K.W. and Olson, S.M. (2021). Practical considerations regarding the probability of liquefaction in engineering design. Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, 147(8), 8p.
  • Saye, S.R., Olson, S.M., and Franke, K. (2021). A common-origin approach to assess level-ground liquefaction susceptibility and triggering in CPT-compatible soils using deltaQ. ASCE Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, 147(7), 14p.
  • Cerna-Diaz, A., Olson, S.M., Hashash, Y.M.A., Numanoglu, O.A., Rutherford, C.J., Bhaumik, L., and Weaver, T. (2020). Response of dense sands to multidirectional cyclic loading in centrifuge tests. ASCE Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, 146(10), 16p.
  • Bhaumik, L., Rutherford, C.J., Olson, S.M., Hashash, Y.M.A., Cerna-Diaz, A., Numanoglu, O.A., and Weaver, T. (2020). Effect of specimen preparation on volumetric behavior of sands under cyclic multidirectional shear. ASTM Geotechnical Testing Journal, 43(5), 1101-1119.
  • Mei, X., Olson, S.M. and Hashash, Y.M.A. (2020). Evaluation of a simplified soil constitutive model considering implied strength and porewater pressure generation for one-dimensional (1D) seismic site response. Canadian Geotechnical Journal, 57, 974-991.
  • Olson, S.M., Mei, X., and Hashash, Y.M.A. (2020). Nonlinear site response analysis with porewater pressure generation for liquefaction triggering evaluation. ASCE Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, 146(2), 17p.
  • Mei, X., Olson, S.M., and Hashash, Y.M.A. (2018). Empirical porewater pressure generation model parameters in 1-D seismic site response analysis. Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, 114, 563-567.
  • Oka, L.G., Dewoolkar, M., and Olson, S.M. (2018). Comparing laboratory-based liquefaction resistance of a sand with nonplastic fines with shear wave velocity-based field case histories. Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, 113(10), 162-173.
  • Kozak, D.L., Luo, J., Olson, S.M., LaFave, J.M., and Fahnestock, L.A. (2017). Modification of ground motions for use in central North America. Journal of Earthquake Engineering, 22, https://doi.org/10.1080/13632469.2017.1387190.
  • Saye, S.R., Santos, J., Olson, S.M., and Leigh, R. (2017). Linear trendlines to assess soil classification from cone penetration test data. ASCE Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, 143(9), 15p.
  • Olson, S.M., Hashash, Y.M.A., Muszynski, M.R., and Phillips, C. (2017). Passive wedge formation and limiting lateral loads on large foundations during lateral spreading. ASCE Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, 143(7), 13p.
  • Muszynski, M.R., Olson, S.M., Hashash, Y.M.A., and Phillips, C. (2016). Earth pressure measurements using tactile pressure sensors in a saturated sand during static and dynamic centrifuge testing. ASTM Geotechnical Testing Journal, 39(3), 20p.
  • Dewoolkar, M., Hargy, J., Anderson, I., de Alba, P., and Olson, S.M. (2016) Residual and post-liquefaction strength of a liquefiable sand. ASCE Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, 142(2), 11p.
  • Hashash, Y.M.A., Abrahamson, N.A., Olson, S.M., Hague, S., and Kim, B. (2015) "Conditional mean spectra in site-specific seismic hazard evaluation for a major river crossing in the central U.S." Earthquake Spectra, 32(1), 47-69.
  • Muszynski, M.R., Olson, S.M., Hashash, Y.M.A., and Phillips, C. (2014). Repeatability of centrifuge tests containing a large, rigid foundation subjected to lateral spreading. ASTM Geotechnical Testing Journal, 37(6), 15p.
  • Sadrekarimi, A. and Olson, S.M. (2014). Residual state of sands. Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, 140(4), 10p.
  • Phillips, C., Hashash, Y.M.A., Olson, S.M., and Muszynski, M.R. (2012). Significance of small strain damping and dilation parameters in numerical modeling of free-field lateral spreading centrifuge tests. Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, 42, 161-176.
  • Sadrekarimi, A. and Olson, S.M. (2012). Effect of sample preparation method on critical state behavior of sands. ASTM Geotechnical Testing Journal, 35(4),15 p.
  • Oka, L.G., Delwoolkar, M. and Olson, S.M. (2012). Uncertainties in evaluating liquefaction potential of cohesionless soils in the vicinity of large embankments. Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, 43, 33-44.
  • Ledezma, C., Ashford, S., Hutchinson, T., Moss, R., Arduino, P., Kayen, R., and Olson, S. (2012). Effects of liquefaction-induced ground failure on bridges, roads, and railroads. Special Issue on 2010 Chile Earthquake, Earthquake Spectra, 28(S1), S119-143.
  • Bray, J., Rollins, K., Hutchinson, T., Verdugo, R., Ledezma, C., Assimaki, D., Mylonakis, G., Montalya, G., Arduino, P., Olson, S., Kayen, R., Hashash, Y., and Candia, G. (2012). Effects of ground failure on buildings, ports, and industrial facilities. Special Issue on 2010 Chile Earthquake, Earthquake Spectra, 28(S1), S97-S118.
  • Verdugo, R., Sitar, N., Frost, D., Bray, J.D., Candia, G., Eldridge, T., Hashash, Y., Olson, S.M., and Urzua, A. (2012). Seismic performance of earth structures: dams, levees, tailings dams and retaining walls. Special Issue on 2010 Chile Earthquake, Earthquake Spectra, 28(S1), S75-S96.
  • Hashash, Y.M.A., Kim, B., Olson, S.M., and Ahmad, I. (2012). Seismic hazard analysis using discrete faults in Northwestern Pakistan: Part II - results of seismic hazard analysis. Journal of Earthquake Engineering, 16(8), 1161-1183.
  • Hashash, Y.M.A., Kim, B., Olson, S.M., and Ahmad, I. (2012). Seismic hazard analysis using discrete faults in Northwestern Pakistan: Part I - methodology and evaluation. Journal of Earthquake Engineering, 16(7), 963-994.
  • Seo, M.-W., Olson, S.M., Sun, C.-G., and Oh, M.-H. (2012). Evaluation of liquefaction potential index along western coast of South Korea using SPT and CPT. Marine Georesources and Geotechnology, 30, 234-260.

Articles in Conference Proceedings

  • Thomason, J.F., Kim, J.H., Anderson, A.C., and Olson, S.M. (2021). Geotechnical properties of glacial sediments using cone-penetrometer testing. Proc., Geological Society of America Connects 2021, Portland, OR.
  • Macedo, J., Bray, J., Olson, S., and Bareither, C. (2020). TAILENG mine tailings database. Proc., Tailings and Mine Waste '20, November.
  • Chen, J., Olson, S.M., Banerjee, S., and Dewoolkar, M.M. (2020). Effect of shear strain rate on undrained shearing resistance of a clean silica sand measured in direct simple shear tests. Proc., Tailings and Mine Waste '20, November.
  • Taukoor, V., Rutherford, C.J., and Olson, S.M. (2020). Characterization of a Gulf of Mexico clay from the Walker Ridge area. Proc., 6th International Conference on Geotechnical and Geophysical Site Characterization, Budapest, Hungary.
  • Taukoor, V., Rutherford, C.J., and Olson, S.M. (2019). Cyclic behavior of a reconstituted Gulf of Mexico clay. Proc., Geo-Congress 2019 8th Int'l Conf on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering, Philadelphia, PA.
  • Taukoor, V., Rutherford, C.J., and Olson, S.M. (2019). A semi-empirical relationship for the small-strain shear modulus of soft clays. Proc., 7th International Symposium on Deformation Characteristics of Geomaterials, Glasgow, UK.
  • Numanoglu, O.A., Cerna-Diaz, A., Bhaumik, L., Olson, S.M., Rutherford, C.J., Hashash, Y.M.A., and Weaver, T. (2019). Numerical simulation of dense sand behavior under multi-directional seismic loading using a 3-D constitutive model. Proc., 7th International Conference on Earthquake Geotechnical Engineering, Rome, Italy.
  • Bhaumik, L., Cerna-Diaz, A., Numanoglu, O.A., Olson, S.M., Rutherford, C.J., Hashash, Y.M.A., and Weaver, T. (2019). Effect of shaking history on volumetric response of sands from bidirectional direct simple shear and centrifuge tests. Proc., 7th International Conference on Earthquake Geotechnical Engineering, Rome, Italy.
  • Banerjee, S., Chen, J., Hitt, D.L., Dewoolkar, M., and Olson, S.M. (2019). Computational fluid dynamics-based modeling of liquefied soils. Proc., 7th International Conference on Earthquake Geotechnical Engineering, Rome, Italy.
  • Taukoor, V., Rutherford, C.J., and Olson, S.M. (2019). Behavior of a Gulf of Mexico clay under variable-strain cyclic loads. Proc., 7th International Conference on Earthquake Geotechnical Engineering, Rome, Italy.
  • Bhaumik, L., Cerna-Diaz, A., Numanoglu, O.A., Olson, S.M., Rutherford, C.J., Hashash, Y.M.A., and Weaver, T. (2018). Comparing shear response of dense sands from centrifuge and direct simple shear tests with published correlations. Proc., Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering and Soil Dynamics V, Austin, TX.
  • Taukoor, V., Rutherford, C.J., and Olson, S.M. (2018). Post-cyclic behavior of a Gulf of Mexico clay. Proc., Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering and Soil Dynamics V, Austin, TX.
  • Numanoglu, O.A., Hashash, Y.M.A., Cerna-Diaz, A., Olson, S.M., Bhaumik, L., Rutherford, C.J., and Weaver, T. (2017). Nonlinear 3-D modeling of dense sand and simulation of soil-structure system under multi-directional loading. Proc., 2017 GeoCongress, Orlando, FL.
  • Mei, X., Olson, S.M., and Hashash, Y.M.A. (2017). Evaluation of a simplified soil constitutive model considering the implied strength and porewater pressure generation for 1-D seismic site response. Proc., 2017 GeoCongress, Orlando, FL.
  • Bhaumik, L., Rutherford, C.J., Cerna-Diaz, A., Olson, S.M., Numanoglu, O.A., Hashash, Y.M.A., and Weaver, T. (2017). Volumetric strain in non-plastic silty sand subject to multi-directional cyclic loading. Proc., 2017 GeoCongress, Orlando, FL.
  • Kim, J.H. and Olson, S.M. (2017). Evaluation of earthquake-induced free-field settlement under partially drained conditions from dynamic centrifuge tests. Proc., 2017 GeoCongress, Orlando, FL.
  • Sibley, E.L.D., Olson, S.M., and Polito, C.P. (2017). A framework for evaluating the effects of drained cyclic preshearing on the liquefaction resistance of Ottawa sand. Proc., 2017 GeoCongress, Orlando, FL.
  • Cerna-Diaz, A., Olson, S.M., Numanoglu, O.A., Hashash, Y.M.A., Bhaumik, L., Rutherford, C.J., and Weaver, T. (2017). Free-field cyclic response of dense sands in dynamic centrifuge tests with 1D and 2D shaking. Proc., 2017 GeoCongress, Orlando, FL.
  • Kim, J.H. and Olson, S.M. (2016). Compressibility of saturated coarse-grained soils from dynamic centrifuge and 1g shaking table tests. Proc., Geotechnical & Structural Engineering Congress, Phoenix, AZ.
  • Numanoglu, O., Hashash, Y., Cerna-Diaz, A., Olson, S., Bhaumik, L., Rutherford, C., and Weaver, T. (2016). Seismic performance evaluation of nonlinear soil-structure system under multidirectional shaking. Proc., Geotechnical & Structural Engineering Congress, Phoenix, AZ.
  • Green, R.A. and Olson, S.M. (2015). Interpretation of liquefaction case histories for use in developing liquefaction triggering curves. Proc., 6th International Conference on Earthquake Geotechnical Engineering, Christchurch, New Zealand.
  • Mei, X., Olson, S.M., and Hashash, Y. (2015). Empirical curve-fitting parameters for a porewater pressure generation model for use in 1-D effective stress-based site response analysis. Proc., 6th International Conference on Earthquake Geotechnical Engineering, Christchurch, New Zealand.
  • Cerna-Diaz, A., Bhaumik, L., Numanoglu, O., Olson, S.M., Rutherford, C., and Hashash, Y. (2015). Experimental and numerical investigation of cyclic response of dense sand under multi-directional shaking. Proc., 6th International Conference on Earthquake Geotechnical Engineering, Christchurch, New Zealand.

Magazine Articles

  • Stark, T.D. and Olson, S.M. (1998). Workshop: Shear strength of liquefied soil. Geotechnical News, 16(2), 20-21.

Teaching Honors

  • CEE Excellence Award in Undergraduate Advising and Mentoring (2017)
  • College of Engineering Outstanding Advisors List (2014)
  • CEE Undergraduate Advising and Mentoring Award (2011)
  • Frontiers of Engineering Education Participant (2010)
  • ASCE Outstanding Instructor Award (2009)
  • Collins Award for Innovative Teaching (2009)
  • Incomplete List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent by their Students (Spring 2005, Fall 2005, Spring 2006, Fall 2006, Spring 2007, Fall 2007, Spring 2008, Spring 2009, Fall 2009, Spring 2010, Spring 2011, Fall 2011, Spring 2012, Fall 2012, Spring 2013, Fall 2013, Spring 2014, Fall 2014, Spring 2015, Fall 2015, Spring 2016, Fall 2017, Spring 2018, Fall 2018, Spring 2019, Fall 2019, Spring 2020, Fall 2020, Spring 2021, Fall 2021, Spring 2022, Fall 2022, Spring 2023, Fall 2023, Spring 2024)
  • Outstanding Teaching Commendation Award (2005)

Research Honors

  • 2024 Hogentogler Award (2024)
  • Walter L. Huber Research Prize (2012)
  • National Science Foundation Early Career (CAREER) Award (2009)
  • Arthur Casagrande Professional Development Award (2004)
  • R.M. Quigley Award (2003)

Public Service Honors

  • Geo-Engineering Extreme Event Reconnaissance (GEER) Association (2010)
  • Geo-Engineering Extreme Event Reconnaissance (GEER) Association (2010)
  • Missouri Seismic Safety Commission (2003~2004)