Doctor of Philosophy, University of California, Los Angeles, 2007, Major Field: Civil Engineering with emphasis in Geotechnical Engineering

Master of Science, University of California, Los Angeles, 2003, Major Field: Civil Engineering with emphasis in Geotechnical Engineering

Bachelor of Science, University of California, Los Angeles, 2002, Major Field: Civil Engineering (with summa cum laude honor)

State of California Registered Civil Engineer (R.C.E. 74054)

Post-Disaster Safety Assessment Program (SAP) Evaluator, State of California (#65163), California Emergency Management Agency (Cal EMA)

Chinese American Construction Professional 2003 Scholarship

California Geotechnical Engineers Association 2002 Scholarship

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Outstanding Bachelor of Science Student of the Year 2002

Member, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)

Member, Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI)

Member, Seismological Society of America (SSA)

2007 to Present: Praad Geotechnical, Inc., Project Engineer

2007: UCLA Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering , Research Associate

Dr. Kwok has performed numerous geotechnical earthquake engineering investigations which include assessment of dynamic soil properties, development of site specific ground motions, time history matching, liquefaction and probabilistic seismic hazard analyses. She has evaluated the seismic response of soil deposits using equivalent-linear (SHAKE2000) and nonlinear ground response analysis programs (FLAC, DEEPSOIL, D-MOD_2, OpenSees, SUMDES, TESS.) Projects in which she has performed seismic studies include the Silicon Valley Rapid Transit in San Jose, CA, Turkey Flat site effects test area near Parkfield, CA and KiK-net strong motion stations in Japan. 

Dr. Kwok has also performed numerical modeling using FLAC for seepage, settlement, retaining wall and excavation analyses. She is involved in the modeling of cut-and-cover stations and portals of the Silicon Valley Rapid Transit in San Jose, CA.

In addition, Dr. Kwok has performed geotechnical engineering analyses including slope stability and retaining wall stability analyses. She has been involved in geotechnical site investigations, conducting manometer surveys and vibration measurements.

PUBLICATIONS

Report:

Stewart, J.P., Kwok A.O.L., Hashash Y.M.A., Matasovic N., Pyke R., Wang Z., Yang Z. (2008).  “Benchmarking of Nonlinear Geotechnical Ground Response Analysis Procedures,” Rpt No. PEER-2008/04, Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research Center, University of California, Berkeley

Journal Articles:

Kwok, A.O., Stewart, J.P., Hashash, Y.M.A. (2008). “Nonlinear ground response analysis of Turkey Flat shallow stiff soil site to strong ground motion,” Bull. Seism. Soc. Am., 98 (1), 331-343

Kwok, A.O., Stewart, J.P., Hashash, Y.M.A., Matasovic, N., Pyke, R., Wang, Z., and Yang, Z. (2007). “Use of exact solutions of wave propagation problems to guide implementation of nonlinear seismic ground response analysis procedures,” J. Geotech. & Geoenvir. Engr., ASCE, 133 (11), 1385-1398

Kwok, A.O. and Stewart, J.P. (2006). “Application of theoretical 1D amplification factors for evaluation of seismic site effects,” Bull. Seism. Soc. Am., 96 (4a), 1422-1436.

Conference Papers:

Stewart, J.P. and Kwok, A.O. (2008). “Nonlinear seismic ground response analysis: code usage protocols and verification against vertical array data,” in Geotechnical Engineering and Soil Dynamics IV, May 18-22, 2008, Sacramento, CA, ASCE Geotechnical Special Publication No. 181, D. Zeng, M.T. Manzari, and D.R. Hiltunen (eds), 24 pages (electronic file)

Chiu, P., Pradel, D.E., Kwok, A.O., Stewart, J.P. (2008). “Seismic response analyses for the Silicon Valley Rapid Transit project,” in Geotechnical Engineering and Soil Dynamics IV, May 18-22, 2008, Sacramento, CA, ASCE Geotechnical Special Publication No. 181, D. Zeng, M.T. Manzari, and D.R. Hiltunen (eds), 10 pages (electronic file)

Stewart, J.P., Kwok, A.O., Hashash, Y.M.A., Matasovic, N., Pyke, R., Wang, Z., and Yang, Z. (2006). “Overcoming hurdles that limit the application of nonlinear seismic ground response analysis in engineering practice,” 5^th National Seismic Conference on Bridges and Highways, San Francisco, CA

Kwok, A.O., Stewart, J.P., Hashash, Y.M.A., Matasovic, N., Pyke, R., Wang, Z., and Yang, Z. (2006). “Utilizing nonlinear seismic ground response analysis for Turkey Flat blind predictions,” 3rd Int. Sym. on the Effects of Surface Geology on Seismic Motion, Grenoble, France, Paper No. 50.

Kwok, A.O., Stewart, J.P., Hashash, Y.M.A., Matasovic, N., Pyke, R., Wang, Z., and Yang, Z. (2006). “Practical implementation of analysis routines for nonlinear seismic ground response analysis,” Proc. 8th U.S. National Conference on Earthquake Engineering, April 18-22, San Francisco, CA, Paper 546.

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