PCI recognizes authors’ take on shear walls, SCC-cast girders, seismic provisions practice

Source: Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute, Chicago

The PCI Journal Awards Committee has named recipients of the four 2015 PCI Journal awards, recognizing the authors’ contributions to the institute and industry through technical and engineering articles in the bimonthly publication.

Ataur Rahman and Sri Sritharan have received the Martin P. Korn Award for “Seismic Response of Precast, Post Tensioned Concrete Jointed Wall Systems Designed for Low-to-Midrise Buildings Using the Direct Displacement-Based Approach” (March-April issue). It spotlights research expanding on previous work for post tensioned shear walls to support further use of prestressed concrete for seismic applications in mid- and low-rise buildings. Named in honor of the first PCI executive director, the award recognizes the paper offering the greatest contribution to advancing precast/prestressed concrete in the area of design and research.

Christopher Vanek, Victor Ryzhikov, Bijan Khaleghi, and Stephen Seguirant received the Robert J. Lyman Award for “Restoring a Collapsed Span over the Skagit River” (January-February), which details the cost effectiveness and schedule advantages of prestressed concrete girders to replace a damaged major arterial bridge in northern California. The article illustrates the cooperation among design, construction and fabrication parties to achieve exceptional results. The award recognizes the Journal article offering the greatest contribution in the area of plant production, site erection, or general construction using precast/prestressed concrete.

“Seismic Design Guidelines for Solid and Perforated Hybrid Precast Concrete Shear Walls” (Summer 2014) won the 2015 Charles C. Zollman Award. It tracks research complementing previous efforts to use precast, post-tensioned concrete walls for seismic design by providing clear and direct design guidance. Brian Smith and Yahya Kurama received the award, earmarked for the article covering the best state-of-the-art precast/prestressed concrete application.

Recognizing authors 40 years of age or younger who deliver outstanding papers on design, research, production, or construction, the 2015 George D. Nasser Award went to Samuel Keske and Eric Miller for “Live-Load Response of In-Service Bridge Constructed with Precast, Prestressed Self-Consolidating Concrete Girders” (Fall 2014). The full-scale evaluation of in-service bridge girders demonstrates that self-consolidating concrete performs comparably to conventional mixes in bridge girders, thus expanding the potential market and answering concerns about SCC specification. Keske, Miller, and other authors will be recognized at the 2015 PCI Fall Committee Days and Membership Conference, October 15–18 in Louisville, Ky.