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INSTRUCTORS:
David A. Rodriguez Jr., P.E.
Matthew J. Kraemer, P.E.
Ayman El-Zohairy, Ph.D
Lu Hui, Ph.D, P.E.
Mo-‘ath Awadeh
Narek Galustanian
Purpose and Background
These presentations were recorded at the ASCE Structures Congress 2025.
Numerical Blast Response of Cold-formed Steel Girts and Purlins (14 minutes)
This presentation examines the blast performance of cold-formed steel girts and purlins in pre-engineered metal buildings, with a focus on evaluating modern design assumptions against full-scale blast test data. The presentation explores revised single-degree-of-freedom (SDF) modeling techniques, boundary conditions, and connection behavior to improve blast predictions. Participants will gain insight into the differences between standard SDF models and finite element analysis results, and how to interpret these findings for improved structural resilience.
Encased Pultruded I-GFRP Beam under Impact Loading (15 minutes)
This session explores the impact resistance of encased pultruded glass fiber-reinforced polymer (I-GFRP) beams in composite systems subjected to dynamic loading. This session discusses experimental results comparing encased GFRP and steel beams with varying composite actions and shear connectors. Attendees will learn about the structural advantages, challenges, and failure modes of GFRP beams under impact, as well as ongoing efforts to develop numerical models for future analysis.
Analysis of Velocity, Shape, and Condition of Falling Structural Members under Collapse (15 minutes)
This presentation explores the critical role of falling debris in the progressive collapse of structures. Participants will learn how the velocity, geometry, and condition of structural members affect impact energy and the chain reaction of failures following local damage. The session reviews experimental and numerical studies that analyze resistance mechanisms, energy transfer, and detailing strategies to mitigate vertical collapse progression. Attendees will gain valuable insights into developing enhanced design practices to better predict and manage collapse scenarios.
Analytical Study of Response of RC Structures under Falling Debris Impact (15 minutes)
This session investigates how reinforced concrete (RC) structures respond to falling debris during progressive collapse events. The presentation discusses theoretical frameworks, finite element models, and experimental validation to analyze energy transfer and impact dynamics. Participants will gain insight into the influence of mass, drop height, and contact area on structural behavior and damage mechanisms. These findings support the development of safer, more resilient RC design practices to limit progressive collapse risks.
Lightweight MobileNetV2 Neural Network for Concrete Crack Identification and Evaluation (19 minutes)
This presentation discusses how lightweight AI models, such as MobileNetV2, can revolutionize the forensic evaluation of concrete cracks. This session reviews the development and testing of a mobile-friendly neural network for accurate crack detection and width measurement, even in high-resolution field images. Participants will understand how this tool can enhance consistency, reduce inspection time, and pave the way for real-time drone or smartphone-based concrete assessments.
Benefits and Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:
- Explain the limitations of traditional single-degree-of-freedom (SDF) models when applied to blast loading scenarios for cold-formed steel girts and purlins.
- Describe how revised modeling assumptions and boundary conditions can improve predictions of structural response in blast events.
- Describe the influence of shear connectors and composite action on the failure modes and impact resistance of GFRP-based structural elements.
- Define the advantages of using AI-based image processing methods over traditional manual inspection techniques for concrete crack evaluation.
- Analyze the dynamic response and energy transfer mechanisms of reinforced concrete structures subjected to falling debris impacts during progressive collapse events.
- Describe how the velocity, shape, and condition of falling structural members influence impact forces and the progression of structural collapse.
Assessment of Learning Outcomes
Students' achievement of the learning outcomes will be assessed via a short post-test assessment (true-false, multiple choice, and/or fill in the blank questions).
Who Should Attend?
- Construction Engineers
- Structural Engineers
- Project Managers
- General Contractors
- Early Career Professionals
- Builders
How to Earn Your CEUs/PDHs and Receive Your Certificate of Completion
To receive your certificate of completion, you will need to complete a short post-test and receive a passing score of 70% or higher within 1 year of purchasing the course.
How do I convert CEUs to PDHs?
1.0 CEU = 10 PDHs [Example: 0.1 CEU = 1 PDH]