Dr. Mohsen Alae is an assistant professor in the Department of Road and Airport Engineering at Tongji University. His research interests include sustainability and multi-scale characterization of pavement materials, Fracture mechanics, and pavement structure design. He has served as the principal investigator (PI) for two projects that funded by the "National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)", and "Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China". Within the last five years, he has published more than 12 academic papers in prestigious peer-reviewed journals, including 8 papers as the first/corresponding author. He has been honored with best paper awards at 2nd world transport convention (WTC) and 9th international conference on road and airfield pavement technology (ICPT) conferences in China. He serves as an expert reviewer for reputable journals, including Journal of Cleaner Production, ASCE Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, Construction and Building Materials, International Journals of Pavement Engineering, Fuel, Engineering Fracture Mechanic, etc.
Education
·Ph.D. in Civil Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Department of Transportation Engineering, China
·M.Sc. in Civil Engineering, Azad University, Department of Road and Transportation Engineering, Iran
·B.Sc., in Civil Engineering, Azad University, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Iran
Experience
2024.04-present, Assistant Professor, Department of Road and Airport Engineering, Tongji University
2021.09-2023.04, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Department of Road and Airport Engineering, TongjiUniversity
Research interests
1. Multi-scale characterization of pavement materials
2. Top-Down crack initiation and propagation in pavement materials and structures
3. Rejuvenation/Modification of reclaimed asphalt binders/mixtures
4. Mechanistic analysis and design of pavements
Key research findings
1.The improvements in storage stability and viscoelasticity of modified binder were identified through the surface treatment of crumb rubber with bio-oil. Furthermore, the beneficial effects of this compound rejuvenator on high reclaimed asphalt binder performance were significant in terms of low-temperature resilience, fatigue resistance, and mitigation of crack initiation and propagation.
2.An innovative theoretical model was developed to precisely identify the critical location of Top-Down crack (TDC) initiation. This new model revealed that the MEPDG fails in predicting top-down crack initiation accurately. This model helps pavement designers, engineers, and researchers to reduce computation time compared to finite element method (FEM).
Honors & Awards
1.Excellent Paper Award, 2nd World Transport Convention (WTC), Beijing, China, 2018
2.Outstanding Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Transportation Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, China, 2018
3.Chinese Government Full Scholarship Award, Dalian University of Technology, 2014-2019
4.Outstanding Paper Award, 9th International Conference on Road and Airfield Pavement Technology (ICPT), China, 2015
Journal Publications
1.Alae, M., Xu, L., Cao, Z., Xu, X., & Xiao, F. (2023). Fatigue and intermediate temperature cracking performance of rejuvenated recycled asphalt binders and mixtures: A review.Journal of Cleaner Production, 384, 135587.
2.Alae, M., Zarei, S., Ouyang, J., & Xiao, F. (2023). Prediction of top-down crack resistance in semi-flexible pavements under coupling effect of rutted surface and temperature gradient.International Journal of Pavement Engineering, 24(2), 2152024.
3.Alae, M., Leng, Z., Zhao, Y., & Fu, G. (2022). Viscoelastic analysis of surface responses in flexible pavements under different loading conditions.Road Materials and Pavement Design,23(10), 2227-2249.
4.Alae, M., Zhao, Y., & Leng, Z. (2021). Effects of ageing, temperature and frequency-dependent properties of asphalt concrete on top-down cracking.Road Materials and Pavement Design, 22(10), 2289-2309.
5.Alae, M., Ling, M., Haghshenas, H. F., & Zhao, Y. (2021). Three-dimensional finite element analysis of top-down crack propagation in asphalt pavements.Engineering Fracture Mechanics, 248, 107736.
6.Alae, M., Zhao, Y., Zarei, S., Fu, G., & Cao, D. (2020). Effects of layer interface conditions on top-down fatigue cracking of asphalt pavements.International Journal of Pavement Engineering, 21(3), 280-288.
7.Alae, M., Haghshenas, H. F., & Zhao, Y. (2019). Evaluation of top-down crack propagation in asphalt pavement under dual tire loading.Canadian Journal of Civil Engineering,46(8), 704-711.
8. Shahsamandy, A. S.,Alae, M.*, Zhang, Z., Xu, L., & Xiao, F. (2024). Enhancing accuracy of predictive fatigue life model in rejuvenated RAP binders through LAS test and complex modulus test at multiple temperatures.Journal of Cleaner Production, 448, 141654. (Corresponding author*).
9. Zarei, S.,Alae, M., Ouyang, J., & Zhao, Y. (2023). Rutting and surface-initiated cracking mechanisms of semi-flexible pavements with cement asphalt emulsion pastes.International Journal of Pavement Engineering, 24(2), 2024187.
10. Zhao, Y.,Alae, M., & Fu, G. (2018). Investigation of mechanisms of top-down fatigue cracking of asphalt pavement.Road Materials and Pavement Design, 19(6), 1436-1447.