Dr. Stanley Mumma was an invited ASHRAE Distinguished Lecturer in Memphis and Boston this fall; and will speak in Davenport, Grand Rapids, New Jersey, Hong Kong, Thailand and Singapore over the next few months. He has lectured on Dedicated Outdoor Systems and Chilled Ceilings, Floors, and Beams.
Dr. William Bahnfleth has been selected to serve as a committee member for the Committee on Protecting Occupants of DOD Buildings from Chemical or Biological Release. The National Academies will provide advice to the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) to assist it in its capacity to plan, design, construct, and operate future chemical and biological resistant facilities for the Department of Defense.
Visitors from JapanOn November 30, 2006 a group of Japanese professionals representing several glass manufacturers visited the department to learn about the AE research programs related to curtain walls. Mr. Tetsuo Terayama (Asahi Glass), Mr. Jun Saito (Nippon Sheet Glass), Mr. Masaaki Kamiya (Central Glass), and Mr. Hajime Moroo (Flat Glass Manufacturers Association of Japan) accompanied by Mr. Shinji Kawahara (Marketing Development Manager, Solutia, Inc.) and Ms. Nanette Lockwood (Director, Legislative Affairs, Solutia, Inc.) toured the Building Envelope Research Laboratory. Dr. Richard Behr, Dr. Ali Memari, and Mr. Paul Kremer hosted the visitors and explained several of the completed and on-going research projects. The Japanese visitors were interested to learn about advancements in seismic resistant design of architectural glass curtain walls.
Turner Construction Company: First Named Pi Program Instructor
A luncheon was held on November 13, to recognize the Turner Construction Company. The Turner Construction Company made a $300,000 contribution to our PI Program and became the first Named PI Program Instructor.
Thanks to the
generosity of alumni and friends more than $650,000 in pledges
to the PI program have been received to date. Additional information
on the AE Practioner Instructor Campaign can be found on our
website at: http://www.engr.psu.edu/ae/pi/index.asp.
Dr. Thomas Boothby's entry to the Art Alliance of Central Pennsylvania 2006 annual juried show, entitled "Katie Standing" won the Best Figurative award for the show. The work was on display at the Art Alliance's studio in Lemont, PA from August 25 through September 3.
Dr. Andres Lepage has been elected a
Fellow of Institute in recognition of his contributions to the
work of the American Concrete Institute (ACI). The American
Concrete Institute is a technical and educational society dedicated
to improving the design, construction, manufacture and maintenance
of concrete structures. With 20,000 members worldwide, the ACI
acts as a conduit for sharing innovative ideas and promoting
superior concrete technology.
An ACI member for more than 20 years, Lepage is a member of
ACI Committees 318-H, Seismic Provisions; 335, Composite and
Hybrid Structures; 369, Seismic Repair and Rehabilitation; 374,
Performance-Based Seismic Design; and 375, Performance-Based
Wind Design. He also served on ITG-4, High-Strength Concrete
for Seismic Applications. His research interests include the
design of concrete, steel, and hybrid structural systems subjected
to extreme events.
After a four-year absence,
a team of researchers from Penn State University returned to
the Dominican church of Santa Maria Novella, in Florence Italy.
As reported in earlier issues,
Professors Tom Boothby and Elizabeth Smith (Art History) 
have
joined together in a study that is based on Dr. Smith’s
finding that the gothic churches of northern Italy display a
structural system that can be distinguished from that of the
northern Gothic. Since their earlier visits in 1998 and 2002,
Professors Boothby and Smith have continued to collaborate on
the study of this key monument of Italian gothic design. However,
administrative issues have prevented their return to the building
itself until last summer.
Following an initial documentation
visit in April-May 2002, the structure was visited in July 2006
by a team consisting of Dr. Boothby, Ph.D. student Sezer
Atamturktur, and six faculty, researchers and students
from Politecnico di Milano. A return visit was completed in
September 2006. 
Preliminary findings include the detailed development of a structural model of two bays of the church, validated by comparison of measured vibration characteristics to actual vibration characteristics of the structure. Detailed analysis of the construction, and patterns of cracking and damage, coupled with structural and historical analysis of the construction of the nave show the sequence of construction from the crossing to the facade of the church, and reveal some of the decisions and modifications made by the builders during construction. Following work will describe how this model was transferred to the construction of the nave of Santa Maria del Fiore, the Cathedral of Florence, which was executed later in the fourteenth century.
The project is supported by a grant from the Kress Foundation European Preservation Program, administered by the World Monuments Fund®
CommencementCommencement
for the College of Engineering was held on December 22, 2006.
Architectural Engineering conferred 27 B.A.E., 25 M.A.E., 2
M. Eng. Degrees and 1 Ph.D.
Congratulations to our most
recent graduates!
.