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Dr Christopher R McGann

Contact

Department: Civil and Natural Resources Engineering

Email: christopher.mcgann@canterbury.ac.nz

Direct Dial: +64 3 3692252

Office: Civil & Natural Resources Engineering Rm E445

Language: English

About
Research / Creative works
Methods & Equipment

Fields of Research

  • Structural and geotechnical earthquake engineering
  • Constitutive modeling
  • Numerical analysis methods

Researcher Summary

My research focuses primarily on seismic response analysis for geotechnical and structural systems and the computational tools necessary to perform such analyses. I am interested in the development and application of advanced numerical models towards understanding earthquake-related phenomena, such as liquefaction, how the built environment responds to earthquakes, and how best to design resilient infrastructure that meets performance expectations. On the computational side, my work includes the development and implementation of finite element formulations, constitutive models, and numerical solution techniques.

Subject Area: Disciplines

  • Engineering and Technology: Civil; Computational Mechanics; Earthquake Engineering; Geotechnical Engineering; Modelling; Structural
  • Resilience: Physical: Buildings; Infrastructure; Lifelines; Rockfall and Slope Stability

Research/Scholarly/Creative Works

Journal Articles
  • Zhou H., Wotherspoon LM., Hayden CP., Stolte AC. and McGann CR. (2023) Applicability of existing CPT-Vs correlations to shallow Holocene Christchurch soils based on direct Push crosshole testing. Engineering Geology 313 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2022.106927.
  • De La Torre C., Bradley B., Stewart J. and McGann C. (2022) Can modelling soil heterogeneity in 2D site response improve predictions at vertical array sites? Earthquake Spectra 38(4) http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/87552930221105107.
  • de la Torre CA., Bradley BA. and McGann CR. (2022) 2D Geotechnical site-response analysis including soil heterogeneity and wave scattering. Earthquake Spectra 38(2): 1124-1147. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/87552930211056667.
  • McGann CR., Bradley BA., Wotherspoon LM. and Lee RL. (2021) Basin effects and limitations of 1D site response analysis from 2D numerical models of the thorndon basin. Bulletin of the New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering 54(1): 21-30. http://dx.doi.org/10.5459/bnzsee.54.1.21-30.
  • Zhou H., Wotherspoon LM., Hayden CP., McGann CR., Stolte A. and Haycock I. (2021) Assessment of Existing SPT-CPT Correlations Using a New Zealand Database. Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering 147(11) http://dx.doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0002650.
  • McGann CR. (2020) Parametric Assessment of Equivalent Static Procedure Accounting for Foundation-Pinning Effects in Analysis of Piled Bridge Abutments Subject to Lateral Spreading. Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering 146(7) http://dx.doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0002295.
  • Meite R., Wotherspoon L., Kaklamanos J., McGann CR. and Hayden C. (2020) Sensitivity of 1-D ground motion predictions to analysis codes and material models using KiK-net vertical arrays. Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering 133 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.soildyn.2020.106113.
  • Meite R., Wotherspoon L., McGann CR., Green RA. and Hayden C. (2020) An iterative linear procedure using frequency-dependent soil parameters for site response analyses. Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering 130 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.soildyn.2019.105973.
  • Foster KM., Bradley BA., McGann CR. and Wotherspoon LM. (2019) A VS30 map for New Zealand based on geologic and terrain proxy variables and field measurements. Earthquake Spectra 35(4): 1865-1897. http://dx.doi.org/10.1193/121118EQS281M.
  • McGann CR., Bradley B. and Jeong S. (2018) Empirical correlation for estimating shear wave velocity form cone penetration test data for Banks Peninsula loess soils in Canterbury, New Zealand. Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering 144(9) 04018054: 11. http://dx.doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0001926.
  • Lee R., Bradley BA. and McGann CR. (2017) 3D models for the interbedded Quaternary stratigraphy in the Canterbury, New Zealand region. New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics : 320-340. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00288306.2017.1334671.
  • McGann CR., Bradley BA. and Cubrinovski M. (2017) Development of a regional V-s30 model and typical Vs profiles for Christchurch, New Zealand from CPT data and region-specific CPT-V-s correlation. Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering 95: 48-60. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.soildyn.2017.01.032.
  • McGann CR., Bradley BA. and Cubrinovski M. (2017) Investigation of shear wave velocity depth variability, site classification, and liquefaction vulnerability identification using near-surface Vs model of Christchurch, New Zealand. Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering 92: 692-705. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.soildyn.2016.10.025.
  • Palermo A., Liu R., Rais A., McHaffie B., Andesheh K., Pampanin S., Gentile R., Nuzzo I., Granerio M. and Loporcaro G. (2017) Performance of road bridges during the 14 November 2016 Kaikoura Earthquake. Bulletin of the New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering 50(2): 253-270.
  • Stringer ME., Bastin S., McGann C., Cappellaro C., El Kortbawi M., McMahon R., Wotherspoon L., Green R., Aricheta J. and Davis R. (2017) Geotechnical aspects of the 2016 Kaikōura earthquake on the South Island of New Zealand. Bulletin of the New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering 50(2): 117-141.
  • Ghofrani A., McGann CR. and Arduino P. (2016) Influence of modeling decisions on 3D finite element analysis of two existing highway bridges subjected to lateral spreading. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board 2592 http://dx.doi.org/10.3141/2592-16.
  • McGann CR. and Arduino P. (2015) Numerical assessment of the influence of foundation pinning, deck resistance, and 3D site geometry on the response of bridge foundations to demands of liquefaction-induced lateral soil deformation. Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering 79: 379-390. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.soildyn.2015.04.024.
  • McGann CR., Arduino P. and Mackenzie-Helnwein P. (2015) A stabilized single-point finite element formulation for three-dimensional dynamic analysis of saturated soils. Computers and Geotechnics 66: 126-141. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.compgeo.2015.01.002.
  • McGann CR., Bradley BA., Taylor ML., Wotherspoon LM. and Cubrinovski M. (2015) Applicability of existing shear wave velocity correlations to seismic cone penetration test data in Christchurch New Zealand. Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering 75: 76-86. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.soildyn.2015.03.021.
  • McGann CR., Bradley BA., Taylor ML., Wotherspoon LM. and Cubrinovski M. (2015) Development of an empirical correlation for predicting shear wave velocity of Christchurch soils from cone penetration test data. Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering 75: 66-75. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.soildyn.2015.03.023.
  • McGann CR., Bradley BA., Wotherspoon LM., Cox BR. and Green RA. (2015) Comparison of a Christchurch-specific CPT-Vs Correlation and Vs Derived from Surface Wave Analysis for Strong Motion Station Velocity Characterisation. Bulletin of the New Zealand Society of Earthquake Engineering 48(2): 81-91.
  • McGann CR. and Arduino P. (2014) Numerical assessment of three-dimensional foundation pinning effects during lateral spreading at the mataquito river bridge. Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering 140(8) http://dx.doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0001134.
  • McGann CR., Arduino P. and Mackenzie-Helnwein P. (2012) Simplified procedure to account for a weaker soil layer in lateral load analysis of single piles. Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering 138(9): 1129-1137. http://dx.doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0000684.
  • McGann CR., Arduino P. and Mackenzie-Helnwein P. (2012) Stabilized single-point 4-node quadrilateral element for dynamic analysis of fluid saturated porous media. Acta Geotechnica 7(4): 297-311. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11440-012-0168-5.
  • McGann CR., Arduino P. and Mackenzie-Helnwein P. (2011) Applicability of conventional p-y relations to the analysis of piles in laterally spreading soil. Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering 137(6): 557-567. http://dx.doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0000468.
Conference Contributions - Published
  • Cary J., Stuedlein A., McGann C., Bradley B. and Maurer B. (2022) Effect of refinements to CPT-based liquefaction triggering analysis on liquefaction severity indices at the Avondale playground site, Christchurch, NZ. In Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Performance-Based Design in Earthqake Geotechnical Engineering (PBD-IV) 15-17 July, Beijing, China.
  • De La Torre C., Bradley B. and McGann C. (2021) Assessment of boundary conditions for 2D geotechnical site-response analysis with soil heterogeneity. In Proceedings of the New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering (NZSEE) Annual Conference 14-16 April, Christchurch, New Zealand.
  • Eskandarighadi M., McGann C., Hyde C., Trow L. and Wang S. (2021) Parallel scalability of OpenSees on NeSI HPC for 2D/3D site response analysis. In Proceedings of the New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering (NZSEE) Annual Conference 14-16 April, Christchurch, New Zealand.
  • Hnat T., McGann C. and Wotherspoon L. (2021) The state of practice in SSI modelling in New Zealand: Insights from an engineering profession survey. In Proceedings of the New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering (NZSEE) Annual Conference 14-16 April, Christchurch, New Zealand.
  • Lin Y., Hogan G., MacRae GA., Sloeimankhani H. and McGann C. (2021) Building Drift Measures. In Proceedings of the New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering (NZSEE) Annual Conference 14-16 April, Christchurch, New Zealand.
  • Loghman V., Bradley B., Chandramohan R., Lee R. and McGann C. (2021) Validation of NZ small-magnitude ground-motion simulations using complex structural systems. In Proceedings of the New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering (NZSEE) Annual Conference 14-16 April, Christchurch, New Zealand: 8.
  • MacRae G., Ahmadzadah S., Ashdown J., Soleimankhani H. and McGann C. (2021) Moment frame column seismic demands. In Proceedings of the New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering (NZSEE) Annual Conference 14-16 April, Christchurch, New Zealand.
  • Zhou H., Wotherspoon L., Hayden C., McGann C. and Stolte A. (2021) Applicability of existing empirical CPT-Vs correlations for Christchurch Holocene soils. In Proceedings of the New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering (NZSEE) Annual Conference 14-16 April, Christchurch, New Zealand.
  • McGann C., Bradley B. and Jeong S. (2020) Effects of spatial soil variability in 2D ground response models of Wellington. In Proceedings of the New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering (NZSEE) Annual Conference(Paper No. 13).
  • McGann C., Bradley B. and Jeong S. (2020) Effects of spatial soil variability in 2D ground response models of Wellington. In Proceedings of the New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering (NZSEE) Annual Conference.
  • Balachandra A., Hayden C., Wotherspoon L. and McGann C. (2019) Validating 1D numerical simulation of the free field using centrifuge tests. In Proceedings of the 2019 Pacific Conference on Earthquake Engineering 4-6 April, Auckland, New Zealand.
  • de al Torre C., McGann C., Bradley B. and Pletzer A. (2019) 3D seismic response with soil heterogeneity and wave scattering in OpenSees. In Proceedings of the First Eurasian Conference on OpenSees 20-21 July, Hong Kong.
  • Loghman V., Tarbali K., Bradley B., Chandramohan R., McGann C. and Pettinga D. (2019) Comparison of recorded and simulated ground motions for NZS1170.5-based 3D building response analysis. In Proceedings of the 2019 Pacific Conference on Earthquake Engineering 4-6 April, Auckland, New Zealand.
  • McGann C., de la Torre C., Bradley B. and Wotherspoon L. (2019) Plane strain modeling of basin-edge effects: Exploratory study in Wellington, New Zealand. In Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Earthquake Geotechnical Engineering (7ICEGE) 17-20 Jun, Rome, Italy.
  • McGann C., Dong C., Krauss K. and Wotherspoon L. (2019) Preliminary soil structure interaction analysis of an instrumented Wellington building. In Proceedings of the 2019 Pacific Conference on Earthquake Engineering 4-6 April, Auckland, New Zealand.
  • McGann CR. (2018) A New Learning Environment through Improved Learning Objectives in an Introductory Solid Mechanics Course. In Proceedings AAEE 2018: 6.
  • McGann CR. (2018) Bridge Foundation Pinning Resistance Implied by Equivalent Static Analysis Procedure for Liquefaction-Induced Lateral Spreading. In Geotechnical Special Publication 293: 10-18. ASCE. http://dx.doi.org/10.1061/9780784481486.002.
  • McGann CR., Aburn J. and Joubert J. (2018) Accuracy of the equivalent single pile method for lateral load analysis of pile groups. In Proceedings of the New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering (NZSEE) Annual Conference 13-15 April, Auckland, New Zealand.
  • Meite R., Wotherspoon L., Hayden C. and McGann CR. (2018) Influence of Masing damping on 1D site response using equivalent linear and non-linear methods. In Proceedings of the New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering (NZSEE) Annual Conference 13-15 April, Auckland, New Zealand.
  • Bhattacharjee PS. and McGann CR. (2017) Parameter study to examine role of 3D geometric effects on bridge foundation loads resulting from demands of liquefaction-induced lateral spreading. In Proceedings of the New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering (NZSEE) Annual Conference 27-29 April, Wellington, New Zealand.
  • de la Torre C., Bradley BA., Jeong S. and McGann CR. (2017) Incorporating Soil Nonlinearity into Physics-Based Ground Motion Simulation through Site-Specific Ground Response Analysis. In Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Performance-based Design in Earthquake Geotechnical Engineering (PBD-III) 16-19 July, Vancouver, Canada.
  • McGann CR., Bradley BA. and Jeong S. (2017) Comparison of CPT-Vs relations developed for loess and general Christchurch New Zealand soils using SCPTu. In.
  • Wood CM., McGann CR., Cox BR., Green RA., Wotherspoon LM., Bradley BA. and Cubrinovski M. (2017) A comparison of CPT-Vs correlations using liquefaction case history database from the 2010-2011 Canterbury Earthquake Sequence. In Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Performance-based Design in Earthquake Geotechnical Engineering (PBD-III) 16-19 July, Vancouver, Canada.
  • McGann CR. and Bradley BA. (2015) Ongoing development of a near-surface shear wave velocity (Vs) model for Christchurch using a region-specific CPT-Vs correlation. In Proceedings of the 12th Australia-New Zealand Conference on Geomechanics (ANZ 2015) 22-25 February, Wellington, New Zealand.
  • McGann CR., Bradley BA. and Cubrinovski M. (2015) A high-resolution shear wave velocity model for near surface soils in Christchurch using CPT data. In Proceedings of the New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering (NZSEE) Annual Conference 10-12 April, Rotarua, New Zealand.
  • McGann CR., Bradley BA. and Cubrinovski M. (2015) Spatial variability in surficial Christchurch soils via 5 m shear wave velocity Vs5. In.
  • McGann CR. and Arduino P. (2014) Influence of foundation pinning and deck resistance on the response of a Chilean bridge abutment to lateral spreading. In Soil Liquefaction during Recent Large-Scale Earthquakes - Selected Papers from the New Zealand: Japan Workshop on Soil Liquefaction during Recent Large-Scale Earthquakes: 131-141. http://dx.doi.org/10.1201/b16744-16.
  • McGann CR., Bradley BA., Cubrinovski M., Taylor M. and Wotherspoon LW. (2014) Comparison of existing CPT-Vs correlations with Canterbury-specific seismic CPT data. In : 8pp.
  • McGann CR., Arduino P. and Mackenzie-Helnwein P. (2010) Lateral resistance reduction for static analysis of lateral spreading. In Joint Conference Proceedings, 7th International Conference on Urban Earthquake Engineering (7CUEE) & 5th International Conference on Earthquake Engineering (5ICEE) 3-5 March, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan.

Key Methodologies

  • Finite element analysis - OpenSees
  • Constitutive modeling
  • Numerical modeling
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