GangaRao Working To Help Develop Design Standards

In addition to working with the Federal Highway Administration in developing specifications for bridge structures, Civil and Environmental Engineering professor Dr. Hota GangaRao is also working with three universities to develop a design standard for Load and Resistance Factor Design.

Professors from the University of Wisconsin and Virginia Tech are aiding the standard.

In developing a standard for Fiber Reinforced Polymers (FRPs), engineers are able to develop a wide range of structural shapes.

“In developing this guide for American Composites Manufacturers Association (ACMA), and manufacturing through the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), we will help design complex structural systems,” GangaRao said.

Complex designs include cooling towers, office buildings, and non-magnetic radars called “Radomes.”

The design standard will also enable enhanced bridge development; including getting past the current 6,000 ft limitations of single span bridges. According to GangaRao, self-weight limitations are keeping single span bridges from getting any bigger.

“FRP’s are four times lighter than steel,” he said. “With this standard, we should be able to clear that.”

10/19/2007