SEM group hosts the 28th graduate research symposium

CCEE’s Structural Engineering and Mechanics (SEM) group held its 28th annual graduate research symposium on Monday, February 26, at NC State’s James B. Hunt Jr. Library. Assistant Professor Jason Patrick organized the symposium.

This year’s keynote speaker was Chaired Professor Anne Kiremidjian from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Stanford University, who is a member of the National Academy of Engineering. A pioneer in the field of seismic structural risk assessment, Kiremidjian discussed the various facets of wireless structural health monitoring and the development of theory, device and system integration over the years.

Graduate students from SEM presented their research in four technical sessions: Structural Behavior & Assessment, Modern Modeling, Seismic Analysis & Design, and Multiphysics Material Behavior.

Vikita Kamala, left, and Anne Kiremidjian, right

Ph.D. student Vikita Kamala, advised by Associate Professor Ghadir Haikal, won the Best Overall Presentation for “Numerical Modeling of Fiber-Reinforced Composites with Soft Interlaminar Inclusions.” She also received the Best in Session Presentation award in the Modern Modeling track. The following graduate students also received Best in Session Presentation awards: 

  • Structural Behavior & Assessment: Mohammad Qambar, a Ph.D. student advised by Associate Research Professor Greg Lucier and Assistant Professor Giorgio Proestos, for “Behavior of Dapped Ends in Thin-Stemmed Prestressed Concrete Beams”
  • Seismic Analysis & Design: Julio Samayoa, a Ph.D. student advised by Christopher W. Clark Distinguished Professor Mervyn Kowalsky, for “Seismic Behavior of External Socket Connections for Reinforced Concrete Bridge Columns”
  • Multiphysics Material Behavior:  Sandeep Kumar, a Ph.D. student advised by Patrick, for “Rectifying an Efficiency Measure for Vascular-based Thermal Regulation”

 

Attendees had the opportunity to ask the graduate students questions after each presentation to engage in deeper discussion about their research. The symposium included catered breaks and a lunch for the students, postdocs, and faculty to interact on a more personal level and discuss research amongst other diverse topics.

“The symposium continues to be a special day set aside for the SEM group to celebrate the state-of-the-art research happening within the walls of CCEE, but to also gain exposure to new and exciting topics being studied outside the university,” Patrick said.