Structural Engineering

Mechanics and Manufacturing of Architected Polymer Foam Composites

Speaker: Pavana Prabhakar, Charles G. Salmon Assistant Professor

Lightweight polymer foam composites are known to dissipate energy under extreme conditions such as severe compressive or impact loading when used as cores in sandwich structures. This is often accompanied with permanent damage or set under excessive deformation. A fundamental question we seek to address is - can we achieve shape recovery without external stimulus after load removal? That is, how do we achieve lightweight and resilient polymer composites? 

Transitioning to a Team in Professional Engineering

January 12, 2022 - 12:00 pm

Speaker: Senior Associate Jan Dougalas

This presentation provides insights and recommendations for structural engineering graduate students soon to transition into the engineering/construction workforce. Technical proficiency is assumed and thus the presentation focuses on project team roles and responsibilities and communication both within and external to the project team. A solution to a specific real-world challenge is provided as an example.

Faculty Life at a Major Research University: Getting the Job, What to Expect, and How to Survive

Speaker: Dr. Michael Todd

Ever wondered what it takes to get (and keep!) an academic job at a major research university, like UC San Diego? This presentation discusses how faculty job  searches are generally conducted, what to expect in the job search process, and then what  to expect and how to survive an early career faculty appointment at a major research  university. This seminar is targeted for anyone who might be interested in or is currently seeking a faculty position.

Seismic Evaluation and Retrofit of UCSD Buildings per ASCE41

Speaker: Dr. Akbar Mahvashmohammadi & Geoff Warcholik

University of California policy requires that all university buildings be seismically evaluated and rated. ASCE 41 provides multi Tier guidelines on evaluation of existing buildings at pre-defined hazard levels for compliance with pre-defined performance levels. All UCSD buildings were evaluated in a joint effort by KPFF and two other companies in San Diego. Buildings were screened by Tier 1 procedure. The buildings that were found to have potential problems under Tier 1 screening were investigated more closely per ASCE 41 Tier 2 evaluation approach.

Mass Timber: Systems and Recent Implementation

Speaker: Chris Putman

This lecture will explore the motivation and background of mass timber as a building material, current gravity and lateral design systems, and recent implementation. We will briefly discuss fire and building code, serviceability, and coordination with design and construction teams.

Comprehensive Treatment of Uncertainties in the Performance-Based Seismic Design of Ordinary Bridges

Speaker: Professor Joel Conte

This study focuses on the development of a rigorous framework for risk-targeted performance-based seismic assessment and design of Ordinary Standard Bridges (OSBs) in California. Rooted in the formulation of this framework is the performance-based earthquake engineering (PBEE) assessment methodology, developed under the auspices of the Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research (PEER) Center, integrating site-specific seismic hazard analysis, structural demand analysis, and damage analysis in a comprehensive and consistent probabilistic framework.

Seismic Performance of Reinforced Masonry Wall Systems

Speaker: Professor P. Benson Shing

Seismic design provisions in current building codes are to achieve life safety and collapse prevention for extreme load conditions. The behavior of reinforced masonry (RM) wall systems in a seismic event can be difficult to predict because it can be influenced by a number of factors, such as the reinforcement details, the wall configurations, the presence or absence of other structural elements, and the influence of horizontal diaphragms.

An Analysis of Clearance of the Red Blood Cell in the Spleen: A Coupled Biophysical and Structural Analysis

Speaker: Professor Robert J. Asaro

Red blood cell clearance occurs principally in the spleen and liver, although the precise mechanisms involved remain unclear. In sinusoidal spleens, such as in humans, rats, and dogs attention has often focused on the interendothelial slits (IESs) of the red pulp where passage may become difficult due to reduced blood cell “deformability” due to ageing or disease states, e.g. as in sickle cell disease or malaria. However, even if blocked in the red pulp, there remains the open question of how red blood cells are finally removed.

Optimization with High-Fidelity Digital Twin

Speaker: Professor Alicia Kim

With increasing computational power and sophisticated computational models, today’s complex systems engineering is turning to the concept of digital twin, a virtual representation of a connected physical asset.  Its primary value is in the capability to predict asset behavior in a range of conditions by leveraging the digital model.

The Emergence of Nanostructuring for Small-Scale and Large-Scale Metal Structures

Speaker: Professor Terry Lowe

Over thirty years of research elucidating mechanisms to create nanoscopic features in materials has enabled the emergence of reliable methods to manufacture bulk nanostructured metals and alloys. Nanostructured metals are becoming commercially available in engineered products for biomedical, aerospace, electronics, and energy industry applications. The adoption of nanostructured metals has followed patterns experienced for introducing other new advanced materials, but with some additional challenges.