Bridging the Gap between Academia and Practice: Project-Based Class for Prestressed Concrete Applications

Authors

Islam M. Mantawy, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Florida International UniversityFollow
Conner Rusch, University of New Mexico
Sushil Ghimire, University of New Mexico
Lucas Lantz, University of New Mexico
Hari Dhamala, University of New Mexico
Bipesh Shrestha, University of New Mexico
Anthony Lampert, University of New Mexico
Mohit Khadka, University of New Mexico
Anima Bista, University of New Mexico
Rhytham Soni, University of New Mexico
Abdulu Saleem Shaik, University of New Mexico
Eric Lujan, University of New Mexico
Mika Boyd, University of New Mexico
Richard Pickings, BridgeSight
Alexander Mabrich, Bentley Systems

Date of this Version

7-6-2019

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Educational approaches in structural engineering have focused on classical methods for solving problems with manual calculations through assignments, quizzes, and exams. The use of computational software to apply the learned knowledge has been ignored for decades. This paper describes an educational approach to tackle the lack of applicable practical exercises in the structural engineering class “CE 506-Prestressed Concrete” at a university in the western United States during the spring of 2017. The class was designed to provide students with the theoretical concepts of prestressed concrete and the ability to interpret applicable design codes. In their project, students continued to build this knowledge by designing a prestressed bridge superstructure according to a unique state design manual. Students prepared a literature review of their selected state in the U.S.A. and used commercial software to perform an analysis and design of their bridge. Additionally, students were asked to backcheck their design using theoretical methods through manual calculations. By the end of the class, students presented their projects in a head-to-head presentation format, to contrast the differences between their designs in a competitive style. This paper summarizes the class structure, the outcome of the design project, and recommendations for future applications of computer technology in structural engineering education.

Identifier

FIDC008123

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Comments

Originally published in Education Sciences.

Recommended Citation

Mantawy, Islam M.; Rusch, Conner; Ghimire, Sushil; Lantz, Lucas; Dhamala, Hari; Shrestha, Bipesh; Lampert, Anthony; Khadka, Mohit; Bista, Anima; Soni, Rhytham; Saleem Shaik, Abdulu; Lujan, Eric; Boyd, Mika; Pickings, Richard; and Mabrich, Alexander, "Bridging the Gap between Academia and Practice: Project-Based Class for Prestressed Concrete Applications" (2019). Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications. 6.
https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/cee_fac/6