Students Organize 16th Symposium in Structural Engineering and Mechanics

The Structural Engineering and Mechanics (SEM) group held its 16th Student Symposium on Friday, March 20th at Monteith Research Center on Centennial Campus. The symposium featured presentations by 9 doctoral and 4 master’s students. Professor Michael Borden delivered a lecture on computational models for material failure.

Dr. Michael Borden delivered a lecture at the Structural Engineering and Mechanics symposium.
Dr. Michael Borden delivered a lecture at the Structural Engineering and Mechanics symposium.

Student presentations covered areas such as nondestructive testing, nanomechanics, material characterization, earthquake safety of bridges and buildings, base isolation, assessment, retrofit, and FRP strengthening of concrete and steel members, and flooding risk at nuclear power plants.

The symposium organizing committee was comprised of graduate students and was co-chaired by Omar Khalafallah and Emrah Tasdemir. The symposium was sponsored by FDH Inc. and Tindall Corporation. Dr. Abhinav Gupta served as the faculty advisor. Presentations were judged by Drs. Jim Nau, Tasnim Hassan, Chad Goodnight (PhD 2015), and Easa Khan (PhD 2015). The winner of the best presentation award was Harleen Sandhu for her work on flood defense structures at nuclear power plants.

The 17th SEM Symposium will be held in Nov. 2015. Companies interested in sponsoring the event should contact Lora Bremer at lfbremer@ncsu.edu.