Structural Engineering Firm Weidlinger Presents 11 Papers at SAVE Symposium

New York, NY, November 14, 2012 --(PR.com)-- Weidlinger Associates presented 11 papers at three sessions of the 83rd Shock and Vibration Symposium, the “leading forum for the structural dynamics and vibration community to present and discuss new developments and ongoing research.” The symposium, sponsored by HI-TEST Laboratories and the Shock and Vibration Exchange (SAVE), took place November 4-8, 2012, at the Sheraton Hotel in New Orleans, Louisiana.

The event is heavily attended by representatives from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (USDHS), Department of Defense (DOD), and other government agencies and private contractors and offers a variety of unclassified and limited-distribution sessions. Limited distribution sessions allow selected critical technology and research to be presented in closed forums to cleared U.S. government researchers and contractors.

Seven of the 11 papers presented by Weidlinger were part of a November 7 dedicated session, “Understanding the Security of Critical Infrastructure,” organized and chaired by Weidlinger Principal Dr. Mohammed Ettouney and Project Engineer Ms. Margaret Tang. “Over the last decade, Weidlinger has made significant contributions to improving the resiliency and health of our country’s infrastructure and developing cost-effective methods of reducing its vulnerability,” said Ettouney. “We welcome the opportunity to share our research on this vital subject.”

Seven of the 11 papers presented by Weidlinger were part of a November 7 dedicated session, “Understanding the Security of Critical Infrastructure,” organized and chaired by Weidlinger Principal Dr. Mohammed Ettouney and Project Engineer Ms. Margaret Tang. “Over the last decade, Weidlinger has made significant contributions to improving the resiliency and health of our country’s infrastructure and developing cost-effective methods of reducing its vulnerability,” said Ettouney. “We welcome the opportunity to share our research on this vital subject.”

Weidlinger engineers presented a variety of papers related to the sessions four subtopics: Understanding Security of Critical Infrastructure; Trends in Critical Infrastructure; Critical Infrastructure Tools and Processes; and Blast, Progressive Collapse, and Post-Disaster Performance of Critical Infrastructure.

Dr. Andy Herrmann, president of the American Society of Civil Engineers, delivered the keynote address for the daylong session, which featured a number of noteworthy authors from both inside and outside Weidlinger. A paper by Ms. Milagros Kennett of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, presented by Mr. Roger Grant of the National Institute of Building Sciences, addressed methods of helping infrastructure stakeholders to ensure optimal resiliency during and after manmade and natural hazard events. A paper authored by Dr. Sreenivas Alampalli of the New York State Department of Transportation discussed the components, limitations, and potential future applications of structural health monitoring (SHM) and nondestructive testing (NDT). Alampalli is the coauthor, with Ettouney, of the two-volume technical treatise Infrastructure Health in Civil Engineering. Other speakers represented Columbia University, the University of Michigan, and the University of Mississippi. Because of Hurricane Sandy, a number of scheduled speakers were unable to attend the symposium. In these cases, papers were presented by coauthors or colleagues of the authors.

At a special session chaired by Weidlinger Senior Associate Adam Hapij, Weidlinger engineers introduced an adaptive stratified sampling methodology that, compared to traditional Monte Carlo methods, permits researchers to minimize the number of calculations necessary to quantify the uncertainty associated with shock testing using either conventional underwater explosions or air-gun loading. This technique yields savings in both time and costs. A second paper described a method of assessing the vulnerability and probability of failure of critical, heavy equipment due to shock loading.

During an open session on modeling and simulation of underwater shock, Weidlinger presented two related papers concerning parameterization and prediction of pressure waves emitted by hydrostatic implosions of submerged cylinders.

Papers Presented

Open Session: “Modeling & Simulation of Underwater Shock”
“Parameterization of the Pressure Wave Emitted by Hydrostatic Implosion of Submerged Cylinders,” by Dr. Jeffrey Cipolla, Dr. Michael Shields, Dr. Pawel Woelke, and Dr. Najib Abboud

“Use of a Neural Net for Response Surface Based Prediction of the Pressure Wave Emitted by Hydrostatic Implosion of Submerged Cylinders,” by Dr. Michael Shields, Dr. Jeffrey Cipolla, Dr. Pawel Woelke, and Dr. Najib Abboud

Dedicated Session: “Understanding Security of Critical Infrastructure”
“Importance of Infrastructure Security to Modern Society,” by Dr. Mohammed Ettouney

“The Evolution of Critical Infrastructure Security,” by Dr. Najib Abboud

“Integration of Sustainability and Building Security,” by Ms. Colleen Kirk, Ms. Margaret Tang, Dr. Raymond Daddazio, and Dr. Mohammed Ettouney

“WIM Data, Risk Management, and Bridge Security,” by Ms. Margaret Tang, Mr. Ryan Anderson, and Dr. Mohammed Ettouney

“State of Progressive Collapse Knowledge and Research,” by Dr. Mohammed Ettouney

“New Findings on Progressive Collapse of Buildings and Global Structural Integrity of Damaged Structures,” by Dr. Simos Gerasimidis (Columbia University), Dr. Mohammed Ettouney, and Dr. George Deodatis (Columbia University)

“Development of the Post Disaster Assessment Tool,” by Mr. Adam Hapij, Mr. Adam Dick, Ms. Margaret Tang, and Dr. Mohammed Ettouney

Dedicated Session: “UQ/V&V of Large Structures to Shock Loading”
“A Combined Reduced Order and Substructuring Approach for Uncertainty Quantification of Heavy Equipment Response,” by Dr. Kirubel Teferra, Dr. Michael Shields, Mr. Adam Hapij, and Dr. Raymond Daddazio

“Bootstrap Monte Carlo Using Adaptive Stratified Sampling for UQ/V&V of Large Structures Subject to Shock Loading,” by Dr. Michael Shields, Dr. Kirubel Teferra, Mr. Adam Hapij, Dr. Najib Abboud, and Dr. Raymond Daddazio

The Shock and Vibration Exchange (www.savecenter.org) was founded to serve as a clearinghouse for persons interested in shock and vibration and related specialties. The primary goals of SAVE are to maintain the continuity and offerings of the annual Shock and Vibration Symposium and to continue offering five-day shock courses.

Weidlinger Associates, Inc., is a 300-person structural engineering firm that designs and rehabilitates buildings, bridges, and infrastructure and provides special services in applied science, forensics, and physical security. The firm, which celebrated its 60th year in 2009, is recognized worldwide for its innovative and practical design solutions and for its long-term commitment to advancing the state of the art in engineering. Headquartered in New York City, the firm has branch offices in the United States and the United Kingdom. For more information, please see www.wai.com.