Weidlinger to Present at 2015 ASCE/SEI Structures Congress

New York, NY, April 17, 2015 --(PR.com)-- Weidlinger Associates, Inc., will present technical papers on the protection of critical infrastructure, material failure prediction, blast analysis, and more during four sessions of the 2015 Structures Congress in Portland, Oregon. The conference, presented by the Structural Engineering Institute (SEI) of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), will take place April 23-25, 2015, at the Oregon Convention Center.

The three-day event will provide a forum to advance the art, science, and practice of structural engineering and will focus on new developments affecting critical infrastructure, including bridges and transportation structures, buildings, forensics, nonbuilding and special structures, nonstructural systems and components, blast and impact loading, and response of structures.

“The SEI Structures Congress is an excellent opportunity to share critical research in structural engineering and protective design while learning from industry leaders about the latest advancements in these fields,” said company President and CEO Dr. Raymond Daddazio. “Interfacing with colleagues, researchers, designers, project managers, contractors, students, and young professionals helps keep Weidlinger on the cutting edge of engineering innovation.”

On Thursday, April 23, Dr. Eric Hansen, Dr. Najib Abboud, and Mr. Chad McArthur will be joined by Mr. Vincent Chiarito, PE (U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center—Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory), to present research on the “Protection of Critical Infrastructure: Validating Computational Analyses with Physical Testing.” Also on April 23, Dr. Robert Smilowitz will moderate a technical session, “Blast and Impact: Validating the Performance of Structural Protection against Explosive and Non-Explosive Threats.” Ms. Peggy Van Eepoel will serve as moderator for an additional session titled “Overview of Major Updates to ‘Structures to Resist the Effects of Accidental Explosions,’ UFC 3-340-02, Change 1.”

On Friday, April 24, Mr. Dara Naderi, Dr. Macarena Schachter Adaros, and Mr. Scott Wood will present “Use of Ring Beam System for Progressive Collapse Retrofit.” On Friday afternoon, Smilowitz will join in a panel discussion, “Disproportionate Collapse: The Philosophy behind the SEI Disproportionate Collapse Mitigation Standard.”

On Saturday, April 25, Drs. Michael Woodworth, Eric Hansen, Najib Abboud, and Mr. Chad McArthur will present research on the “Protection of Cable-Stay Bridges from Accidental and Manmade Fire Hazards: A Rational Physics-Based Approach to Analyzing Vulnerabilities and Assessing Mitigations.”

SEI Committee Meetings
SEI has four divisions at the board level, comprising more than 100 committees, which produce programs, publications, conferences, and continuing education for the organization. SEI committees play a crucial role in establishing the codes and standards that regulate the design of structures. Weidlinger employees are active in a number of these committees, which will convene during the 2015 Structures Congress:

Blast, Shock, and Impact Committee, April 22, 2015 – Attendees will include Dr. Robert Smilowitz, Mr. Ross Cussen, and Ms. Peggy Van Eepoel. (Van Eepoel is the secretary of this committee.)

Disproportionate Collapse Standards Committee, April 22, 2015 – Attendees will include Smilowitz, Cussen, and Dr. Macarena Schachter Adaros.

Disproportionate Collapse Technical Committee, April 22, 2015 – Attendees will include Smilowitz, Cussen, and Schachter Adaros.

Blast Protection for Buildings Standards Committee, April 22, 2015 – Attendees will include Smilowitz, Cussen, and Van Eepoel.

Structural Wind Engineering Committee, April 22, 2015 – Attendees will include Dr. Anurag Jain. (Jain is the secretary of this committee.)

The Structural Engineering Institute (SEI) was established in 1996 as a means of advancing members’ careers, stimulating technological advancement, and improving professional practice. SEI drives the practical application of cutting-edge research by improving coordination and understanding between academia and practicing engineers. For more information, visit http://www.asce.org/structural-engineering/structural-engineering-institute/.

Weidlinger Associates, Inc., is a 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 employs about 275 full-time staff, celebrated its 65th year in 2014. It 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.