Structural Dynamics

Biomimetic Antifreeze Polymers

Anonymous — Fri, 14 Aug 2020 16:56:27 +0000

Biomimetic Antifreeze Polymers Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 08/14/2020 - 10:56

Full Title:

Year: 2017-21

Participants: Mohammad Matar, Shane Frazier, Jorge Osio-Norgaard, Anastasia Aday, Nathan Deanda, El Delesky

Primary Investigator: Wil Srubar III

Summary: In this study the effects of biomimetic antifreeze polymers were investigated for their use as an alternative to traditional air entraining agents in concrete exposed to freeze-thaw conditions in accordance with ASTM C666. Compression testing according to ASTM C39 was conducted to examine the changes in strength of polymer-modified concrete as compared to concrete containing a commercial air entraining agent. Various molecular weights and concentrations were explored in concrete samples containing polymer modifications. Results indicate that biomimetic antifreeze polymers do not significantly affect the compressive strength of concrete and may provide an alternative to traditional air entraining agents at lower concentrations than their air entraining admixture counterparts.

Image at Right:

Specimens with entrained air after freezing and thawing
Test specimen undergoing compression test
Specimens with biomimetic antifreeze polymer after freezing and thawing

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Engineered Living Materials (BioBricks)

Anonymous — Thu, 13 Aug 2020 19:04:50 +0000

Engineered Living Materials (BioBricks) Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 08/13/2020 - 13:04

Year: 2017-21

Participants: Rollin Jones, Marimikel Charrier, Bruce Zou, Juliana Artier, Aparna Nagarajan, Chelsea Heveran, Jishen Qiu, Liya Liang, Sarah Williams

Primary Investigator: Wil Srubar III, Mija Hubler, Sherri Cook, Jeff Cameron

Summary: The objective of this project is to engineer living materials to serve both biological and structural functions. Living Building Materials (LBMs) were created by inoculating an inert structural sand-hydrogel scaffold with Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002, a photosynthetic cyanobacterium. The scaffold provided structural support for Synechococcus, which toughened the hydrogel matrix via calcium carbonate biomineralization. LBMs represent a platform technology that leverages biology to potentially impart novel sensing, responsive, and regenerative multifunctionality to structural materials for the built environment.

Wil Srubar discusses BioBricks:

The objective of this project is to engineer living materials to serve both biological and structural functions.

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Shell Mechanical Engineering Senior Design Team

Anonymous — Fri, 27 Mar 2020 02:16:56 +0000

Shell Mechanical Engineering Senior Design Team Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 03/26/2020 - 20:16

Year: 2019-2020

Participants: Joe Borgerding, Isaiah Brooks, Austin Maes, Nestor Montejo, Andrew Townsend, Grant Stewart

Summary: A Mechanical Engineering Senior Design team, sponsored by Shell, worked with CIEST on their project throughout the 2019-20 academic year. The goal of the project was to design, manufacture, and test the vibration responses of different piping systems with and without mitigation methods applied. The piping systems included an expansion loop system and 90 degree bend system, and the mitigation consisted of fixed restraints. The systems were tested using CIEST’s large shake table. This hands on testing enabled their team to explore the effects of common mitigation techniques to better understand vibration as a phenomenon while gaining valuable experience with testing procedures and data processing.

A Mechanical Engineering Senior Design team, sponsored by Shell, worked with CIEST to design, manufacture, and test the vibration responses of different piping systems with and without mitigation methods applied.

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AP Research: Mycelium and Seismic Performance

Anonymous — Fri, 27 Mar 2020 01:50:48 +0000

AP Research: Mycelium and Seismic Performance Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 03/26/2020 - 19:50

Year: 2020

Participants: Anna Broerman, Kaitlyn Gentert

Summary: Erie High School student Anna Broerman, accompanied by her teacher Kaitlyn Gentert, investigated the inclusion of mycelium in cement bricks to aid in seismic performance for her AP research project. Mycelium is derived from fungus-like bacteria, such as mushrooms, and has been shown to maintain its strength long after death, making it an interesting component for mix design. Anna compared results from compression and 4-point bending tests between bricks with and without mycelium fibers to characterize material properties using CIEST's 10-kip (45 kN) Instron UTM. Using mortar, she then constructed small structures, again with and without mycelium, mounted to CIEST's 4-kip (18 kN) shake table to see if the fibers provided a natural seismic resiliency. With special help from Dr. Jaroslav Hruby, the structures were taken through frequency sweeps where the eigenfrequency was isolated and then taken to failure with increasing steps in acceleration. This was a valuable hands-on experience for Anna and Mrs. Gentert. CIEST hopes to continue teaming up with local high schools to provide unique and unforgettable outreach experiences.

Erie High School student Anna Broerman, accompanied by her teacher Kaitlyn Gentert, investigated the inclusion of mycelium in cement bricks to aid in seismic performance at CIEST for her AP research project.

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CU EERI Seismic Design Competition

Anonymous — Thu, 29 Aug 2019 19:37:32 +0000

CU EERI Seismic Design Competition Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 08/29/2019 - 13:37

Year: 2019

Participants: CU Sesismic Design Team Students

Summary: The CU Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI) Seismic Design Team competed in Vancouver for 2019 competition. The students worked very hard, testing multiple protypes on the CIEST Labratory shake table to perfect their building. The expeiencial learning that comes from these types of events are incredible!

The CU Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI) Seismic Design Team competed in Vancouver for 2019 competition.

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Seismic Evaluation of HSS Column Splices

Anonymous — Sat, 29 Jun 2019 04:24:54 +0000

Seismic Evaluation of HSS Column Splices Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 06/28/2019 - 22:24

Year: 2018-2019

Industry Partners: Prescient Co. Inc., J. R. Harris & Co.,

CIEST Personnel: Adan Salvador Camacho, Aldrich Valerian, Brice Lucero, Kent Polkinghorne, and company

Primary Investigator: Prof. Brad Wham

Summary: Project included development of a bi-directional loading system to apply simultaneous axial and lateral loading to 6 in. (15.2 cm) diameter columns and splice connections. Nearly 60 full-scale tests were conducted to support evaluation of a new structural building system for seismic applications. Accredited testing performed to ISO/IEC 17025 standard following protocols provided by FEMA 461.

Project included development of a bi-directional loading system to apply simultaneous axial and lateral loading to 6 in. diameter columns and splice connections. Nearly 60 full-scale tests were conducted to support evaluation of a new structural building system for seismic applications. Accredited testing performed to ISO/IEC 17025 standard following protocols provided by FEMA 461.

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Structural Testing of Steel Deck Diaphragm Assemblies

Anonymous — Mon, 14 May 2018 17:46:07 +0000

Structural Testing of Steel Deck Diaphragm Assemblies Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 05/14/2018 - 11:46

Year: 2018

Industry Participants: Prescient Co. Inc., J. R. Harris & Co., Ramtech Labortories, Hilti Corp.

Primary Investigator: Dr. Brad Wham

Summary: Structural assessment of cold-formed steel diaphragm assemblies was conducted in accordance with AISI S907. The cantilever-style tests were performed on 12 x 12 ft (3.7 x 3.7 m) square specimens and included both static and cyclic test protocols. Displacements exceeding ± 5 in. (12.7 cm) were applied to capture peak and residual strength of the joist/deck/fastener assembly, providing data relevant to system evaluation for seismically active regions.

Structural assessment of cold-formed steel diaphragm assemblies was conducted in accordance with AISI S907. The cantilever-style tests were performed on 12 x 12 ft square specimens and included both static and cyclic test protocols.

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Steel Bridge Competition

Anonymous — Wed, 18 Oct 2017 20:53:10 +0000

Steel Bridge Competition Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 10/18/2017 - 14:53

Year: Annually

Participants: American Society of Civil Engineers student chapter

Summary: Students in the American Society of Civil Engineers at CU �� compete annually against other universities in the region at the ASCE regional conference to design and construct a steel truss bridge. Scoring is based on aesthetics, weigth bearing ability of the bridge, and team work during build. This year's competition was hosted at the University of Utah.

Students in the American Society of Civil Engineers at CU �� compete annually against other universities in the region at the ASCE regional conference to design and construct a steel truss bridge.

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Earthquake Reconnaissance in Japan

Anonymous — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 19:44:22 +0000

Earthquake Reconnaissance in Japan Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 06/24/2016 - 13:44

Shideh Dashti, assistant professor of geotechnical engineering and geomechanics at CU-��, co-led a scientific reconnaissance team mobilized by the Geotechnical Extreme Events Reconnaissance (GEER) Association to travel to Kumamoto-shi, Japan, after the two earthquakes that occurred on April 14 and 16.

Full story here: Earthquake reconnaissance: Students learn in Japan

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Performance Assessment of Concrete Columns

Anonymous — Mon, 18 Jan 2016 07:00:00 +0000

Performance Assessment of Concrete Columns Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 01/18/2016 - 00:00

Full Project Title: Experimental Performance Assessment of Nearly Full-Scale Reinforced Concrete Columns with Partially Debonded Longitudinal Reinforcement

Year: 2016

Participants: Mohammad Taghi Nikoukalam, Prof. Petros Sideris and Derek Carpenter

Experimental Performance Assessment of Nearly Full-Scale Reinforced Concrete Columns with Partially Debonded Longitudinal Reinforcement

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