Center Activities 

Current and Recent Research Projects

• Development of Seismic Fragility Methodology for Non-Structural Systems    (Equipment and Piping)
• Seismic Fragility of Box-Type RC Shear Walls
• B2 Stress Index for Piping Elbows
• Failure Mechanisms of Piping and Components: Experiments and Analyses
• Reliability-based Design of Piping Systems
• Rocking and Sliding Behavior of Unanchored Objects and Equipment
• Heuristic Optimization Approaches in Structural Analysis and Design
• Seismic Analysis of Coupled Building-Piping Systems
• Combination of Modal Responses in Seismic Analysis and Design of Structures
• Seismic Qualification of Electrical Control Panels

Past Research Projects

• Load Combination and Analytical Methodology for IRWST and Other Dynamic    Loads in Piping Analysis
• Risk-Informed Assessment of Regulatory and Design Requirements for Future    Nuclear Power Plants
• Development of Advanced Technologies to Reduce Design, Fabrication and    Construction Costs for Future Nuclear Power Plants
• Response of Buried Pipelines to Surface Impact Loads
• Computer Programs CREST and INCA BS
• Internet-based Remote Operation and Control of Laboratory Experiments

Education

• Short Courses are offered in following areas:

o Construction Management for Nuclear Facilities
o Structural Dynamics
o Response Spectrum Method
o Seismic Analysis and Design of Equipment and Piping
o Reliability-Based Design and Probabilistic Risk Assessment

• Collaboration with Nuclear Engineering Department provides a framework for
   Structural Engineering graduate students to take a minor in Nuclear
   Engineering or for Nuclear Engineering graduate students to take a minor in
   Structural Engineering.
• Students at the Center not only take classes but also delve into problems of
   vital interest to the nuclear energy profession. Industry representatives
   provide their perspective to the students by participating on research teams.
• Some Graduate Courses offered by the Faculty are also offered as Distance
   Education Courses via Engineering Online program within the College of
   Engineering. Practicing engineers in the nuclear and other structural
   engineering companies have frequently benefited from these courses.

Outreach and Extension

• 19th International Conference on Structural Mechanics in Reactor Technology,     SMiRT19, Toronto, Canada, August -----
• 16th International Conference on Structural Mechanics in Reactor Technology,     SMiRT16, Washington DC, USA, August -----
• Biennial Symposiums on Current Issues Related to Nuclear Power Plant     Structures, Equipment and Piping (Decembers of '86, '88, '90, '92, '94, '96, '98)
• Customized in-plant short courses
• Participation in codes, standards and other technical committees and in    national and international conferences
• Enhancement and commercialization of computer codes
• Publication of Center reports, papers and articles in journals and magazines    and the Center newsletter
• Presentations to member organizations