Nebraska’s razing of Cather and Pound halls is helping engineers further define how large, multi-story buildings react to earthquakes, wind and blast loads.
In what is believed to be a landmark study at a public institution, a University of Nebraska–Lincoln engineering team is documenting how the dynamics of the two 13-story towers are changing as demolition crews remove internal structures in preparation for the Dec. 22 implosion. The team also plans to record data as the buildings fall to the ground.
The project, led by Civil Engineering's Richard Wood and Daniel Linzell, has two primary goals — expand the engineering field’s understanding of how large structures react to extreme events, and use data collected to refine engineering models and improve the resiliency of buildings.
“This is extremely unique in terms of a university and demolition company allowing students and faculty access to study a building when crucial pieces of its support system are taken out,” said Linzell, chair and professor of civil engineering. “Through this project, we hope to improve tools that predict the responses of large buildings so that substantial damage caused by extreme events can be prevented or mitigated.”
https://news.unl.edu/newsrooms/today/article/cather-pound-razing-offers-teaching-learning-moments-for-engineers/
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The high-tech new 3D printers being installed in the College of Engineering could help in the creation of a process for printing biological materials, such as tissue or skin or edible meat protein, that could save millions of lives worldwide.
Prahalada Rao, assistant professor of mechanical and materials engineering, and a team of researchers from Virginia Tech are working on a $1 million National Science Foundation Cyber Physical Systems (CPS) grant to develop the 3D printing process. The grant was written in collaboration with Rao’s postdoctoral adviser at Virginia Tech.
https://engineering.unl.edu/prahalada-rao-part-team-working-nsf-grant-develop-3d-printing-process-biological-materials/
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Pocket Science feature:
A team led by Linxia Gu, associate professor of mechanical and materials engineering, has found that modifying typical cardboard designs can help reduce injury risks in vehicle accidents.
https://news.unl.edu/newsrooms/today/article/could-a-cardboard-principle-boost-vehicle-safety/