Women in Transportation 2026
2026-04-08 17:30 - 19:00 (America/New_York)

Morphing Structures for Civil Engineering, from Gridshells to Burrowing Robots
2026-04-14 12:30 - 13:30 | C2SMART Center Viz Lab, 6 Metrotech Center, Room 460, Brooklyn, 11201
Shape-morphing metamaterials, mechanical systems and structures are designed to predictably achieve large shape changes when actuated. While pervasive in aerospace and mechanical engineering, these systems are seldom considered in civil engineering applications. This talk will concentrate on the morphing mechanics of some of the structures designed in our lab, highlighting some of their potential civil applications.
First, we will present a strategy to turn flat arrangements of structural elements into pop-up domes, investigating their deployment mechanics, load-bearing capacity and comparing them to existing structures such as gridshells. Then, we will illustrate how morphing structures can serve as the backbone of burrowing robots for geotechnical engineering applications, where they need to engage in complex interactions with surrounding soils.

Bridge Resource Program Rime Webinar: Fusion of SHM and WIM Data for Minimizing the Cracking Potential of Concrete Bridge Decks
2026-06-23 12:00 - 13:00
This webinar focuses on the fusion of Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) data and Weigh-In-Motion (WIM) data to predict strain responses from live truck loads and support early-age crack mitigation strategies. A digital twin of a multi-span bridge was developed using a Finite Element Model (FEM) and calibrated based on the SHM data. The webinar will present how truck traffic and load data from WIM and structural responses from SHM can be used in the FEM under realistic loading scenarios during construction to support decision-making for the pouring sequence. The fusion of SHM, WIM and FEM provides advanced predictions of structural behavior allowing for optimization of the concrete placement schedules by selecting a window of time to mitigate cracking while minimizing traffic restrictions.
This webinar will cover innovative methods for obtaining and combining analysis for
Nondestructive Material testing – Testing Concrete Samples and temperature over time for early age nondestructive strength evaluation of the structural element
Developing a Truck live load profile – Onsite Weigh-In-Motion (WIM) System profiles truck traffic
Bridge superstructure behavior under known truck load – Bridge Instrumentation using strain gauges, accelerometers, and deflectometers
Long term concrete shrinkage and thermal strain of bridge deck – Embedded sensor assessment of bridge deck & girder elements
Digital twin – Finite Element Model for identifying strains that can produce cracking
Post install evaluation – Crack Mapping and Analysis
Presented by Rutgers’s Prof. Hani Nassif, Dr. Chaekuk Na, and Michael Ruszala
