Speaker
Description
Extreme events such as natural hazards and cyber-attacks pose a significant threat to critical infrastructure in many parts of the world that directly affect people's lives. The protection of the built environment is a vital and complex issue facing structural engineers. With the increased interest in smart cities, there is a need for an intelligent built environment. This research talk will present ongoing projects towards the Design of Resilient, Engineered, Autonomous, and Multifunctional (DREAM) structures. This talk will present on advanced mitigation using protective systems for earthquake engineering toward a new generation of intelligent structures equipped with sensors and control devices that can react in real-time during multiple hazards. We create these adaptive structures with human-like capabilities by using agent-based modeling, vibration control, and evolutionary game theory. We also use a patented neural dynamic model for design optimization of diagrid buildings, rocking-steel braced frames, and related structural systems. We evaluated the proposed methods on buildings and bridge structures subjected to earthquake loading and used cyber-physical testing for validation. The vulnerability of smart structures to cyber-attacks is also an exciting research pursuit. The DREAM structures lab is also interested in aerodynamic mitigation through reconfigurable materials and origami-inspired morphing building envelopes. Collaborative NSF-sponsored work includes understanding the tornado impacts on historical masonry buildings. This talk will also introduce a biomimicry design concept of applying aquatic life adaptations and patterns to urban planning and structural design. These efforts open the pathways for investigation of the next generation of sustainable smart communities that are significantly more resilient against extreme events.
