Oguzhan “Ozzie” Bayrak, PhD., P.E., FACI, FPCI

Oguzhan Bayrak is a distinguished teaching professor in the Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin and holder of the Cockrell Family Chair in Engineering #20.  His research and teaching interests are related to the behavior, analysis and design of reinforced and prestressed concrete structures, bridge engineering, evaluation of structures in distress, structural repair, and evaluation of aging effects.

Bayrak is an internationally recognized expert on reinforced and prestressed concrete behavior and design. Bayrak serves on several high-level, “by invitation only” committees under the auspices of the International Federation for Structural Concrete (Fédération Internationale du Béton, fib), including the committee that has recently prepared Model Code 2020 (MC2020).  With aging infrastructure around the world, guidance on the evaluation of concrete structures is a grand challenge facing the world. To address this need, the International Federation for Structural Concrete has recently prepared the Model Code 2020 that uniformly applies to new construction and the structural evaluation of aging infrastructure. Bayrak’s research is a primary source for the design/structural evaluation provisions on the structural implications of Alkali-Silica Reaction (ASR), a common degradation mechanism plaguing concrete structures all around the world.

Bayrak’s research on concrete bridges has been widely referenced in many design specifications around the world.  Many sections of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials’ Bridge Design Specifications utilize Bayrak’s research group’s findings and recommendations.  Notably, the Strut-and-Tie Modeling (STM) design provisions of this document is entirely based on the findings developed by Bayrak’s research group.  All of the concrete bridge substructures that support steel or concrete superstructures in the USA are being designed by using the STM provisions developed by Bayrak’s research group at Ferguson Laboratory. Central and South American countries also use these provisions. 

Bayrak was elected a Fellow of the American Concrete Institute in 2010. ACI Fellows must be a member of the institute for at least ten years and have made outstanding contributions to the production or use of concrete materials, products, and structures.  In 2011 Bayrak’s research group received the George D. Nasser Award of the Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute for their paper published in the institute’s journal. Bayrak received ACI’s Chester Paul Siess Award for Excellence in Structural Engineering Research in 2015. In 2016, Bayrak was recognized by the Robert J. Lyman Award of PCI for one of his papers published in the institute’s journal. In 2021 Bayrak was recognized for significant contributions in furthering the profession of engineering when he received the Joe J. King professional Achievement Award. In 2022, Bayrak was elected a Fellow of the Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI).  PCI fellow status is intended to recognize an individual who has provided continuous, outstanding contributions to the precast concrete industry, and who has demonstrated exceptional service to PCI. 

Bayrak was previously recognized by the American Concrete Institute when he received the ACI Young Member Award for Professional Achievement for “his commitment to understanding the behavior of reinforced concrete structures through experimental and analytical research, for his service to ACI technical committees and for inspiring his students to do the same.”  Bayrak’s commitment to excellence in engineering education was also recognized by the Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering at the University of Texas through the Hudson Matlock Centennial Teaching Award and by the Cockrell School of Engineering at the University of Texas through the Outstanding Engineering Teaching by an Assistant Professor Award. In addition, Bayrak received an award from the University of California San Diego. This award was given to Bayrak by the University of California San Diego to honor his “exceptional ability to inspire young people to achieve academic and personal excellence.” Bayrak’s commitment to excellence in engineering education was recognized in 2012 with the University of Texas System Board of Regents’ outstanding teaching award. In 2014, Bayrak was inducted into the University’s Academy of Distinguished Teachers.  In recognition of his outstanding research, prolific scholarly activity, outstanding teaching, and broad-ranging service contributions Bayrak was named as the holder of the Cockrell Family Chair in Engineering #20 at the University of Texas in 2022, one of the highest distinctions awarded by the University of Texas.