UB structural engineering researchers recognized with ASCE Moisseiff Award

by Sarah D'Iorio

The 2015 ASCE Moisseiff Award, given to an important publication in the area of structural design, has been awarded to a paper that was published as a result of experimental work carried out at the University at Buffalo’s Structural Engineering and Earthquake Simulation Lab (SEESL).

The selected paper, “Simulated Bilinear-Elastic Behavior in a SDOF Elastic Structure Using Negative Stiffness Device: Experimental and Analytical Study,” appeared in the Journal of Structural Engineering in February 2014. It was one of many papers that resulted from the multi-institutional research project NEESR-SG: Development of Next Generation Adaptive Seismic Protection Systems, which was funded by the National Science Foundation and included partners at Rice University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, University at Buffalo and Taylor Devices, Inc.  

The work recognized by the award was part of the doctoral work of graduate students Apostolos Sarlis of the University at Buffalo and Darma Pasala of Rice University. In addition to the two students, co-recipients of the award are Professor Satish Nagarajaiah of Rice University (a UB doctoral graduate), Professors Michael C. Constantinou and Andrei M. Reinhorn of UB and Douglas P. Taylor of Taylor Devices, Inc.

The work performed for this project resulted in one U.S. patent (issued), one U.S. patent application, 16 conference papers, three reports and five journal papers.

The ASCE Moisseiff Award, established by the Society in April 1947, is a memorial in recognition of the accomplishments of Leon S. Moisseiff, M.ASCE, a notable contributor to the science and art of structural design.