Villanova Engineering Professor Presents at Statewide Structural Engineers Conference
David Dinehart, PhD, Chair of the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department
Professor David Dinehart, PhD, chair of the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, was an invited presenter at the Structural Engineers Association of Pennsylvania (SEAoP) statewide conference in early June. This was the second annual conference for the organization, which was formed in 2009 to further the advancement of the practice of structural engineering in Pennsylvania and to provide a unified voice for structural engineers across the Commonwealth.
In “Applied Research in Structural Engineering,” Dr. Dinehart presented the challenges and benefits of conducting large scale experimental structural research. He reviewed case studies including load to failure tests of open web steel joists, composite floor systems, timber I-joists, fatigue tests of concrete bridge decks reinforced with steel and GFRP, and dynamic tests of wood frame shear walls and cellular beam moment connections. Experimental outcomes and lessons learned also were presented.
Other topics addressed by industry experts during the full day meeting included voided-slab construction, the role of the structural engineer in urban search and rescue, and implementing a 3D model submittal review process.
During his closing remarks, SEAoP President William Gillespie, P.E., announced that Villanova University will have the first student chapter organized by the Association. Assistant Professor Frank Hampton, PhD, will be the group’s faculty advisor.
SEAoP is a member organization of the National Council of Structural Engineers Associations (NCSEA). NCSEA was established in 1993 to “constantly improve the level of standard of practice of the structural engineering profession throughout the United States, and to provide an identifiable resource for those needing communication with the profession.” Visit www.ncsea.com to learn more.